The Master of Muscigny (The First Admiral Series Book 5) (19 page)

The Citadel, Damascus, May 16
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The anti-gravity generators whined shrilly as the three-compartment Universal Alliance Troop Transport pivoted gracefully over the south courtyard and dropped down slowly to a perfect landing.

In the courtyard itself, panicked soldiers and courtiers scattered in all directions; fleeing for their lives in the face of the terrifying gleaming pale-blue monster that had just landed in their midst. Crossbows and lances were pointed at the flame snarling beast by terrified guards as more soldiers spilled out from their barracks and into the screaming, seething mass of humanity in the courtyard. And, as the whine of the anti-gravity generators slowed to a deeper drone, the soldiers began to make a nervous cordon around the gleaming and terrifying intruder.

Inside the Transport, First Admiral Billy Caudwell checked his appearance on one of the two dimensional View Screens in the first compartment, and pronounced himself happy with his turn out. After all, he considered, you couldn’t go visiting Royalty looking like a scruff-bag, could you now? Sliding his hand into the image of the one-piece uniform overall, Billy drew the pulsar pistol from the holster and checked that it was primed to the lowest setting. Then, satisfied that the pistol was not about to accidently kill someone, he slipped it back under the camouflage of his Personal Environment Suit image. With the pistol secured, Billy checked the Landing Trooper Battle-Blade in his boot before establishing full force shielding on the PES and making sure that the teleport mechanism would activate instantly upon receiving his thought-command.

With the last of the civilians clearing the courtyard, Billy dropped the hatch on the first segment of the Transport open, and strolled nonchalantly down the five steps to the courtyard floor. In the brilliant sunshine of a Damascus afternoon, Billy noted that there wasn’t a cloud in the perfectly blue sky.

“Good afternoon, everyone!” Billy announced loudly as the hatch on the Transport closed silently behind him, the ULTra device in the Personal Environment Suit translating his words.

Amidst much shouting and confused protests, the shocked and frightened soldiers in the courtyard dodged nervously at their posts, pointing their weaponry at the intruder who had emerged from the flying beast. The braver soldiers nervously edged forwards with razor sharp weapons pointed at the blue-overalled stranger. The less courageous edged backwards with their pointed weapons, seeking safety in numbers amongst their equally terrified comrades.

Holding his empty hands up in front of him, Billy turned them over to indicate that he was unarmed as the soldiers continued to shout and yell contradictory orders and threats to each other and the newcomer. Crossing his arms across his chest, Billy waited patiently, with a smile of wry amusement, for someone to establish some kind of order from the chaos that had broken out with his less than orthodox arrival.

“Be Quiet!!” a Saracen officer finally shouted at the top of his voice to bring some form of order to the courtyard.

A few seconds later, the last of the terrified cries were silenced as the officer strode confidently towards Billy. Scrutinising the tall, battle-scarred officer, dressed almost entirely in black with a gleaming metal breastplate and conical helmet, Billy could see that this was a man who knew his trade.

“Good afternoon, sir,” Billy snapped his heels together and gave a short bow. “Admiral Caudwell of Muscigny to see His Majesty the Sultan,” he announced. “I don’t have an appointment, but it is rather important.”

“Welcome, Admiral.” The Saracen officer saluted with a bow, without setting the curved scimitar in his hand back into its scabbard. “I shall enquire if his Majesty is available to see you.”

The officer spoke with the assurance of a man used to giving orders and being obeyed. Billy nodded at the returned compliment and was glad that he was dealing with someone who was not likely to panic and do something stupid. Turning from Billy, the officer looked up at one of the numerous balconies around the courtyard, which were crammed with anxious and curious people, and looked to a dark figure dressed in black. The figure nodded briefly to the officer and then walked calmly back into the chamber that adjoined the balcony.

“His Majesty would be pleased to grant you an audience, if you would please follow me.”

“No need,” Billy replied with a smile. “I can find my own way, thank you,” he added and issued the thought-command via the PES to the teleporter in the Transport.

An instant later, the newly arrived stranger vanished from the courtyard in a blinding flash of brilliant white light that dazzled the already confused and frightened soldiers.

In the Private Apartments of the Sultan, a blinding flash of light announced the arrival of the unexpected guest from the courtyard. Stunned by the sudden flash of dazzling light, the Sultan, through years of practice, managed not to show any surprise as a human being emerged from the blinding flash.

“Peace be upon you, Your Majesty,” Billy bowed as guards came bursting into the Chamber to protect the Sultan.

“And, upon you be peace,” the Sultan replied as he waved the ‘dismiss’ gesture to the guards.

“My apologies for the intrusion, Your Majesty, Admiral Caudwell of Muscigny, and, may I say that it is a great honour to meet you.”

“You flatter me, My Lord Admiral,” the Sultan said diplomatically as he ushered Billy to sit at the table surrounded by cushions that stood in the corner of the room.

“No, Your Majesty,” Billy replied, sitting cross-legged, “where I come from we know of the courage and chivalry of Saladin.”

Saladin, the seasoned veteran soldier, had quickly recognised a kindred spirit in the red-haired intruder in the strange blue garment, and realised that if this was an assassin, he would have been dead long ago. The flying vessel spoke of a technology far in advance of anything he possessed, and the trick with the light was something even the court magicians couldn’t manage.

“So, how may we help you?” Saladin asked. “Do you bring a message from Baldwin?”

“No, Your Majesty, I bring a message from me and an opportunity to bring home your nephew held by the Christians.”

“My nephew?” Saladin said calmly, knowing that the young man was held in the dungeon of the Palace at Jerusalem. “You bring me an offer for my nephew from Baldwin?”

“Erm, not quite, Your Majesty. I wish to trade with you for Templar Grand Master Odo of Saint Armand.”

“Impossible!” Saladin snorted. “I would not trade even my nephew for that spawn of evil!”

“You might wish to reconsider that position, Your Majesty.”

“Why? You don’t even have the boy! He’s in the deepest dungeon Baldwin has, and Baldwin will never let him go, let alone for a Templar.”

“Let us say, His Majesty in Jerusalem is being ‘persuaded’ that this trade has some value for him and his Kingdom, and, it would show good faith to you.”

“Fantasy! And, daydreams!” the Sultan blustered, waving dismissively at Billy.

“Well, if Your Majesty insists.” Billy shrugged reluctantly, rising to his feet. “But when that Templar force marching from Acre reaches Jerusalem and slaughters every Muslim in the city who doesn’t convert, I’m sure your people will be most understanding when they find out that you could have prevented it.”

“Wait!” the Sultan yelled. “What do you know of these Templars from Acre?”

“Well, Your Majesty I know that they are part of plot to overthrow Baldwin for allowing Muslims and Jews to worship in Jerusalem...”

“You mean that they do not serve Baldwin?”

“No, Your Majesty, the Templars and some very powerful nobles want Baldwin removed, and a new, pure Christian Kingdom established.”

“It starts to make sense now,” Saladin mumbled to himself as his mind worked the permutations and the host of implications of what he was being told, “and, who leads this plot against Baldwin?”

“What appears to be a renegade senior Templar from Europe and some very powerful noblemen in the Jerusalem court, Your Majesty.”

“Which noblemen?”

“We believe that the most senior is Amalric of Lusignan.”

“The High Constable? No, he’s Baldwin’s most loyal man.”

“Even loyalty can be twisted for a Crown, Your Majesty. With Baldwin dead, who would rule Jerusalem?”

“His nephew.”

“A young boy, Your Majesty, and who would be Regent whilst the boy is still of tender years?”

“There might be a dozen powerful men in Jerusalem who could become Regent.”

“And, who has the loyalty of the Christian Army, Your Majesty?”

“The High Constable,” acknowledged the Sultan.

“The Templars have no love for Baldwin, formerly cursed by God, and Amalric would happily take the throne with Templar support.”

“So, they do not plan to invade Egypt?”

“They will eventually invade Egypt and Syria, Your Majesty. With all the Muslims in Jerusalem slaughtered, you would be deposed for not protecting them and your empire would fall into civil war...”

“Easy prey for the Crusaders.”

“Exactly, Your Majesty.”

“And, how do you propose to stop this massacre?”

“As we speak, my Physician and my Head of Security are in Jerusalem outlining the plot to King Baldwin, who will no doubt root out the traitors in his midst.”

“And, these Templars?”

“That’s why we need the Grand Master, Your Majesty. Templar Grand Masters are elected for life. Every member of the order is sworn to obey the Grand Master,”

“And, you believe that this creature will stop the massacre in Jerusalem?”

“I believe that Grand Master Odo will have had ample time to reflect on his circumstances in your dungeon, Your Majesty.”

“What if he refuses to help?”

“Then I’ll personally bring him back to rot in your dungeon again.”

“Will you also stop the massacre of Muslims?”

“If needs be, Your Majesty, but King Baldwin will not stand idly by and watch his subjects being butchered.”

“A Christian King would not defend Muslims.”

“Yet, he allows them to worship freely.”

“He allows them to worship in Jerusalem because he fears me!”

“If he feared you, Your Majesty, your people would already be dead and both of your countries ruined by war!” Billy brutally slammed the argument closed. “Baldwin allows them to worship because it is the right thing to do!”

For a moment, Saladin’s eyes flashed with anger and outrage. The ruler of Egypt and Syria was not used to being challenged. Yet, deep down, he knew that the stranger was right. Saladin knew that he would have allowed Christians and Jews to worship in Jerusalem had he been King because it was the right thing to do. Looking into the eyes of the red-haired stranger, Saladin saw the utter conviction in Billy’s face. A great truth had been spoken, and the Sultan was wise enough to recognise it.

“You speak wisely, my friend, how do you know that Baldwin will release my nephew?”

“Baldwin is a reasonable and intelligent man; he is also a King who understands the realities of ruling a Kingdom, and that compromise is often better than war.”

“You have faith in this King in Jerusalem, do you not?”

“I have enough faith in him, plus, if he does refuse, I can simply take your nephew the same way I travelled from the courtyard to here.”

“You would simply take this Templar animal from me as well wouldn’t you?”

“Of course, Your Majesty, I would defy you if I thought it would save those innocent people in Jerusalem.”

“What if Baldwin does not fight to protect them? Would you fight for them?”

“If all else failed, Your Majesty, I have armed, flying ships that would chop all of those Templars into dog food.”

For a moment, Saladin looked at Billy’s face and saw honesty and sincerity. At that moment, the Sultan trusted the stranger and knew that the people of Jerusalem would be safe.

“Then, it appears I have no alternative other than to grant your request,” the Sultan said, smiling. “I will write a release order for him to your custody.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, I can collect him later today.”

“That must truly be a wondrous ship that you have, my friend.” The Sultan began to scribble on a blank piece of parchment.

“It is indeed, Your Majesty. Perhaps, when this is all over, you would care to take a trip in her?”

“Now, that would be most stimulating!” Saladin’s eyes shone with expectation as he continued to write.

“It would be my honour and pleasure, Your Majesty.” Billy bowed politely with a smile.

“I would also like to meet this King Baldwin that you have so much faith in,” Saladin announced as he finished the release order.

“Personally, I’ve never met him, Your Majesty, but my Physician places a great deal of trust in him, and my Physician is nobody’s fool.”

“Your Physician who cured him of the leprosy?” Saladin questioned, handing over the order.

“Yes, Your Majesty,”

“Could you arrange such a meeting with Baldwin?”