The Crusaders are Attacking

Things have been rather quiet as of late in the kingdom of Baibars.

There has been no attack and no one has gone missing.

Anna has trained and studied a lot in these past couple of days but not all good things last forever.

Anna is within Baibars courtroom which is filled with many of Baibars generals.

It could be said that all of them are having a war counsel.

" Sire, it is time, we have gotten reports that King Louis the IX and his army of approximately 15,000 to 20,000 strong are close to Jerusalem " said one general.

" We must act now " said a second general.

Baibars was quiet for a moment.

" Ready my armies and tell them we ride at dawn towards Jerusalem " said Baibars.

All the general agreed and then went to do as they were told.

The only ones left in the courtroom was Anna, Aaqil and Baibars (and Azi and Ana too)

" Aaqil " said Baibars.

" Sire " said Aaqil.

" I am going to say something I know you would not agree with " said Baibars.

Aaqil was quiet.

" I want Anna to join me in the war against King Louis the IX and his crusaders " said Baibars.

Anna was in shock but Aaqil was not too happy about Baibars decision.

" Sire I ask that you reconsider " said Aaqil but Baibars just looked at Aaqil.

" Sire! She is but a child. I understand that she has gotten a lot stronger thanks to your training but even so, I must advise against this… Anna would be in too much danger " said Aaqil.

Anna did not say a word.

" Wow. I did not know that Aaqil cared that much " said Azi.

Baibars then looked at Anna and then said

" What do you say Anna, do you want to join me in battle against the crusaders "

Anna looked at Baibars and then at Aaqil and then back to Baibars. Anna then said

" I would be honored to my sultan "

Baibars smiled while Aaqil looked away.

Anna walked over to Aaqil and gave him a hug and then said

" I will be fine, I promise "

Aaqil just looked down at the child hugging his legs.

" Enough of that. I was only worried that my student would fall behind her studies " said Aaqil.

Both Anna and Baibars just smiled.

" Then it is settled. Be ready at dawn Anna. For at dawn we ride to war " said Baibars.

Anna was at the bakery with Hadil and Asia enjoying some cake.

" WOW. Are you really going to war! " said Hadil.

" Yep " said Anna.

" Are you not sacred? " asked Asia.

" No not really. I will be fighting alongside the sultan " said Anna.

Hadil and Asia just looked at Anna.

" But if I am being honest…. I am kind of excited " said Anna with a smile.

Hadil and Asia were now looking at Anna with concern.

Back at the inner castle.

Baibars had just finished a prayer to God.

" Are you worried sire? " asked Aaqil.

" Not at all. For I know that I ride with the best men a King could ask for. Plus I have my assistance by my side, so I have nothing to worry about " said Baibars.

Aaqil looked down at the floor.

Baibars put his hand on Aaqil's right shoulder and then said

" I promise that I will bring her back safe and sound "

Aaqil looked at his sultan with a smile.

A new day has arrived and with it dawn.

Sultan Baibars was at the gates to his kingdom and behind him was his loyal army.

Baibars looked at his soldiers who some were on horseback and some on foot and then Baibars looked at Anna (who was on horseback) besides him.

All of them had bows, spears and swords.

Baibars inhaled and then said

" My soldiers, please listen to my words. I am a Sultan only in name because the one thing that truly makes this kingdom work and prosper is all of you. I would be nothing without any of you, so I thank God for giving me the chance to meet all of you "

Baibars then raised his sword.

" Now! Who wants to join me in protecting God's sacred city! " yelled Baibars to all his soldiers.

All the soldiers raised their weapons and yelled that they were ready, even Anna yelled.

" Now let us go " and with that, Baibars and his army rode towards Jerusalem.

" Don't worry Anna, I will protect you if anything dangerous happens " said the little fairy Azi.

" I too will be by your side " said Ana.

Anna smiled and then said

" Like the sultan said. I would be nothing if it was not for you two "

Ana and Azi just smiled and then all of them rode towards Jerusalem.

Some time had passed but Baibars and his army was now standing in front of Jerusalem and in front of them all was King Louis the IX and his crusaders.

" So that is them " said Anna.

" Sacred? " asked Baibars.

" Are you kidding? When do we begin " said Anna.

Baibars just smiled.

Baibars then noticed that King Louis rode towards the middle of the battlefield but his crusaders did not move an inch.

Baibars knew that this meant that Louis wanted to talk but only to him.

" All of you stay here " said Baibars to his army.

Baibars looked at Anna and then said " You too "

Anna nodded.

Baibars now rode towards Louis.

Louis and Baibars met in the middle of the battlefield.

" Hello you pagan sultan " said Louis.

" And hello to you, you christian King " said Baibars.

Baibars and Louis just looked at each with fake smiles.

" What do you say to just giving Jerusalem to me. In return I will make sure that no muslim will die this day " said Louis.

" Unfortunately it is not that simple " said Baibars.

" What a shame…. "

" Indeed "

" Then war it is " said Louis who then rode back to his crusaders.

" Indeed…. what a shame " said Baibars who rode back to his army.

King Louis the IX was now in front of all his crusaders

" Come now my fellow crusaders, these pagans are not going to crucify themselves! " yelled Louis.

King Louis the IX raised his sword up to the heavens and then charged (with his crusaders) towards Baibars and his army.

" Anna whatever happens you stay close to me " said Baibars.

" Sire " said Anna.

Baibars also raised his sword towards the heavens.

" Man! Let us show these crusaders the true meaning of jihad! " yelled Baibars and charged (with his army) at King Louis.

The two armies finally met on the battlefield and so, the holy war in God's name had begun.

The battle which had just begun felt like forever.

Every second was like a year for the soldiers but all of them pushed through and kept on fighting.

Blood and bodies could be seen everywhere and the only thing that could be heard was the warcry of the men.

Baibars was killing every crusader near him but that was when King Louis came from behind Baibars on horseback.

King Louie was close to behead Baibars but that was when a arrow pieced his right hand which forced King Louie to drop his sword.

King Louie looked at where the arrow came from and saw that it was Anna that had shoot the arrow.

Baibars punched King Louie in the face which sendt King Louie down the ground.

" I owe you one " said Baibars.

" If only he knew " said Azi but Anna just smiled.

The battle lasted for a couple of hours but eventually sultan Baibars was the one victories and King Louie was captured and what happened to King Louie is already written.

Baibars and his army were riding back to their home.

" So how does it feel winning your first jihad? " said Baibars.

" Not so bad but I am more concern with my reward " said Anna.

" What reward? "

" The reward for saving you sire "

" And here I thought that serving as my assistance was the greatest reward "

Anna and Baibars just looked at each and then laughed.

" Let us go home " said Baibars.

" Yes, my sultan " said Anna.

But far off, within mother nature.

Veles had seen the whole battle and saw the blood of the fallen sink into the ground.

Only one thought ran through Veles mind

" They will pay "