Crusade by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page B

said Kalawun. “The city will not keep out a determined force indefinitely. The Mongols managed to take it before.”
    The other governors nodded. The city of al-Bira was their first line of defense on the Euphrates frontier. If the Mongols took it, they could use it as a staging post from which to launch further attacks on Mamluk territories in Syria. Five years ago, under orders of Abaga, the Mongols had crossed the Euphrates and raided down to Aleppo, but they had caused only minimal damage. The Mamluks had been lucky. With a stronger force, they would have been deadly. The bones of eighty thousand Muslims buried beneath the dust of Baghdad were testament to that.
    Baybars looked to Ishandiyar. “I am counting on you.”
    “I will not fail you, my lord.”
    “Make sure of it. I do not want the Mongols to hold any position that could threaten my rear when I continue my campaign north. Abaga is no fool. He will be aware that my raid in Cilicia last year was a prelude to an invasion of Anatolia. He knows I seek to expand my empire. And with the Seljuks reportedly growing restless with his rule, his position has weakened. I knew he would flex his muscles sooner or later. But if he takes al-Bira, my plans for expansion in Anatolia will be gravely hampered.”
    “My Lord Sultan,” Mahmud cut in quickly, “you have not yet discussed those plans with us. Before the messenger brought this news to you, I was going to ask if we might now speak of your strategy for the coming year. As you must be aware, there is some dispute over which of our enemies requires our attention first.”
    “Yes, Amir Mahmud, I am well aware of what goes on within my own court.” Baybars smiled humorlessly. “But perhaps you would like to inform me further?” He moved to the balcony ledge and leaned against it.
    Mahmud answered, unabashed. “My lord, of all the sultans of Egypt who have warred against the Franks, you have delivered the most victories to our people. Of their once great empire, the Western Christians hold just a few scattered cities on the coast of Palestine. You have destroyed the castles of their knights, driven fat barons out of towns once inhabited by Muslims, returned to us mosques that were turned into churches, slaughtered the infidel in their thousands.” Mahmud’s voice rose in passion as he spoke.
    Baybars didn’t look impressed. “What is your point?”
    “There are those within your court who believe it is time to finish what you started when you proclaimed the jihad against the Christians sixteen years ago. They believe it is time to erase the Franks in Acre and Tripoli and the other strongholds they possess, time to drive them once and for all from our shores.”
    “They?” said Baybars dryly.
    “I will admit, my lord, this is something I personally hope for. But so do many here.”
    The fourth amir, an old Mamluk veteran called Yusuf, who had so far been silent, was nodding in time with Mahmud’s words. Ishandiyar looked thoughtful.
    “You agree with this?” Baybars asked them.
    “The truce we signed with the Franks was, by your own admission, my lord, only meant to be temporary,” said Yusuf in his scratchy, ancient voice. “Reports from our spies in Acre say their pope has been in council with rulers of the West to discuss a Crusade. Why give them time to launch another? I say we end them now.”
    “I would counsel caution,” said Ishandiyar slowly. “Let us first deal with the Mongols at al-Bira before making any firm plans. We may need to put all our resources into that.”
    “I agree,” said Mahmud swiftly as Baybars nodded, “we need to safeguard the city, of course. But if we are victorious, then let us at least speak of our concerns over the Franks before any campaign against the Mongols in Anatolia is launched.”
    “What do you say, Amir Kalawun?” asked Ishandiyar.
    “I have already spoken to the sultan of my thoughts,” replied Kalawun. He ignored the affront in Mahmud’s