The Pact Below the Castle

On the tenth day, the kingdom's relief forces arrived fashionably late, like the police showing up at the end of a movie.

As they crested a hill, the first thing they saw was thousands of Saracens cleaning up the battlefield.

"The castle, it's really lost, hasn't it?" Baldwin, who had rushed here as fast as he could, let out a mournful cry in his heart and immediately gave the order to prepare for an attack.

But then someone reported that an envoy from the castle commander, Grand Knight Otto, was requesting an audience.

"The castle is still standing?" Baldwin found it hard to believe as he listened to the envoy's account. "So these Saracens are...?"

"Just prisoners!" The envoy, though bandaged from head to toe, replied with a gleam in his eyes. "Please have the army camp near the city walls!"

Thousands of the kingdom's troops slowly approached the castle, and it was then that someone with sharp eyes noticed a dozen or so Templar Knights standing guard over the thousands of Saracens.

"Why aren't they resisting at all?" Baldwin asked in surprise, looking at the prisoners who were free to move their limbs.

The envoy's eyes turned fanatical as he looked towards the city gate, where Norn's wooden cannon was placed, its dark muzzle pointing at the crowd. The terrified prisoners had no thought of resistance.

"Prince Baldwin!" Norn, limping, jogged over from the city gate. "I've missed you guys so much!"

In reality, Norn's true thought was: If you had come earlier, would I have had to go through all this suffering?

Baldwin looked at limping Norn and then at the injured Otto and others, feeling a deep sense of guilt. If he hadn't been careless and fallen into an ambush, the castle wouldn't have had such a tough time.

"You've all worked hard!" Baldwin's eyes were full of praise.

"Not at all, not at all, it's just that this military expense..." Norn looked hopefully at Baldwin, after all, he had come out this time as if working for free, having been in danger several times, and even taking an arrow in the thigh, he had to get some reimbursement for the gunpowder and equipment from the king.

"You'll get your share," Baldwin said with a hint of exasperation, only Norn could be so blunt about money.

Seeing the kingdom's army approaching, a Saracen envoy galloped over, holding a white flag high and shouting, "His Highness the Sultan invites His Highness the King to meet and discuss a peace treaty."

It was the same tent and location as ten days ago, only this time it was much more formal. In the middle of the tent was a magnificent long table, with Baldwin and Saladin each bringing four high-ranking court officials seated on either side, and a scribe at each end of the table drafting the treaty.

Otto and Norn, as the castle's commanders, were also allowed to join the peace talks, of course, the injured Norn brought a small attendant.

In Norn's view, if this peace talk were to take place a thousand years later, the description would probably be like this:

Both sides first engaged in a friendly and cordial conversation.

"How is Your Highness Baldwin's health? Shall I send the royal physician?" Saladin asked with a smile.

"No need. It's a pity that I didn't get to meet His Highness the Sultan last time at Montgisard," Baldwin nonchalantly pointed out the fact.

Both sides were extremely frank.

"To achieve peace, the castle must be demolished!" A powerful noble of Saladin's shouted, frowning and glaring.

"Fat chance! Want to demolish the castle," Baldwin's military advisor provocatively slapped his face, "Come and do it yourself!"

The kingdom fully respected Saladin's opinion.

"The peace gold can be at most 10,000 gold coins, no more," Saladin's treasurer said with a pained expression, as if the money were growing on his body.

But the kingdom reserved its position.

"Our army's mobilization costs a fortune, without 100,000 gold coins, there's no treaty," the kingdom's treasurer bared his big yellow teeth, ready to take a big bite out of the other side.

Both sides increased their understanding.

"The Mamluks are of such noble status," the kingdom's etiquette officer praised the other side.

"The knights of Christ are even more noble," Saladin's etiquette officer reciprocated.

"So I think it's reasonable for your side to exchange three warrior prisoners for one Mamluk Christian knight!" Both sides spoke in unison.

Both sides fully exchanged views on the pilgrimage issue.

"Infidels can come to Jerusalem to pilgrimage and settle here," the bishop said coldly, "But they must pay a pilgrimage tax of five silver dinars per person and a settlement tax of thirty silver dinars."

"Pilgrimage is such a sacred thing! How can it be measured by money?" The other side's imam said with a compassionate tone.

"So what is your side's opinion?"

"Can the amount be negotiated?"

The meeting was beneficial.

"Now that my kingdom's relief forces have arrived, and with Thunder to assist, we can shatter you in an instant," Raymond put his foot on the stool, instantly looking down at the other side.

"Our army still has more than 4,000 people, twice as many as yours. If it comes to it, we can end the talks and fight to the death!" The other side also slammed the table and stood up, staring defiantly at Raymond.

Norn, sitting on the side, rolled his eyes at the noisy meeting. It was supposed to be a peace talk, but in reality, it had turned into a place to show off acting skills.

Saladin's side clearly put on a good show. Despite having lost at least 4,000 men under the castle and having low morale among the remaining troops, they followed the principle of not losing face even in defeat. They all blew their beards and glared, as if they had a blood feud with the other side and couldn't wait to end the talks and meet again on the battlefield.

The kingdom's side had slightly worse acting skills. Take the military advisor who was about to draw his sword but was stopped by his companion just now: his movements were a bit exaggerated and lacked coordination with his companion, resulting in a small pause before drawing the sword.

But it could be understood, after all, the kingdom's army had just suffered a defeat, and the hastily gathered relief forces were less than 2,000 people, with varying quality, so they lacked confidence.

But with Norn's outstanding performance in the castle defense battle, the kingdom's side did not lose face in the situation.

However, Norn knew that in fact, both sides were exhausted and did not want to fight anymore.

But at the peace talk, it was necessary to show the determination to fight to the death with the other side, otherwise, it would be impossible to get the most favorable conditions.

The first day's talks naturally ended in discord, but on the second day, the two sides, now in tacit understanding, quickly concluded the treaty.

The main terms of the treaty were as follows: First, both sides signed a five-year peace treaty based on their current areas of control. Second, Saracens were allowed to pilgrimage and trade, subject to taxation. Third, all prisoners were to be exchanged immediately. Fourth, Saladin was willing to give Baldwin 50,000 gold coins as a gift of friendship.

With the seals of Baldwin and Saladin affixed, the treaty was officially signed, and both sides formally ceased hostilities. As for when the next war would break out, only God knew.

Before leaving the peace talk venue, Saladin looked at Norn with deep meaning and said in a very gentle tone, "Baron Norn, I am looking forward to our next encounter. Next time, I won't lose!" He laughed and then turned to leave.

Norn bowed slightly, and when he got up, he was also very happy, after all, the war was over, and he could go back to his manor.

Norn suddenly noticed that his little attendant was constantly observing Saladin.

"Sassan? What's up?"

"No. Nothing." Sassan withdrew his gaze and imprinted this figure in his heart.