Chapter 147: The Sultan's Funeral (Part 1)

This was the second time Geoffrey had entered Apoler. The first time he came here, it was as an envoy of the Knights Templar to see Sultan Nur ad-Din and discuss the purchase of Edessa with him.

Although when he stood before the Sultan and made this request, Nur ad-Din just laughed loudly and refused them without hesitation, he still generously called them guests from afar and gave them quite generous hospitality.

This experience left a deep impression on Geoffrey: the ancient city, the prosperous streets, the coming and going crowds, the magnificent castle, the majestic Sultan, the docile ministers, and those gorgeous rooms, bronze chandeliers, and pools and fountains seen everywhere—but when they lived here, they could not feel at ease. They were, after all, the Sultan's enemies, Crusader knights—just as a monk accompanying them said, it was like curling up in a cave where a dragon was coiled. Everything in sight was brilliant gold, translucent gems, precious documents, but corresponding to it was the omnipresent shadow when the dragon spread its wings, and the fire and thick smoke it spat from its mouth when it roared loudly.

The timing of this visit was even more dangerous and unfavorable.

The Lady and princes of Apoler were not prepared to let too many people know that Sultan Nur ad-Din's coffin would enter the city today. The people walking beside them only cast curious glances, but this was a very prosperous city after all, and it was not strange to have Christians in the queue. They crossed the city silently with the ministers and generals who came to meet them and arrived at the Triple Lion Gate of Apoler Castle.

Apoler Castle had only one entrance, located on the south wall. Leading to the first gate was a long, steep staircase without parapets—after all, this huge building was originally located on high ground, and the surrounding crowd had already been dispersed. The eldest prince and the second prince, the two adult princes, walked out of the gate with their attendants and soldiers. Their faces were filled with genuine grief, at least it seemed so—as soon as they saw the coffin covered with coarse black cloth, their tears rolled down, and they drew the daggers at their sides one after another, cutting their own cheeks.

This behavior was also done by the Crusaders when they mourned the deceased Amalric I, except that the Crusaders did so following the ancient Roman tradition, while they followed the Turkic custom. Afterward, they competed to place their blood-stained hands on the coffin, leaving mottled traces on the black fabric that were not very bright but rich in blood.

The youngest prince was held in the arms of a eunuch, and an attendant symbolically cut his arm—then wiped the blood on the black cloth—he was too young to control the force.

Next, Sultan Nur ad-Din's remains would receive the mourning and remembrance of relatives and friends in the hall of Apoler Castle. Their priests would chant scriptures for him, and his sons would groom him and change his clothes. And the First Lady, Second Lady, and Third Lady would place simple burial objects into his coffin in turn—generally, these were the things the Sultan liked most during his lifetime—such as daggers, rings, or books, etc.

Besides this, the Sultan's favorite mount during his lifetime would also be buried underground. Although the Saracen doctrine did not advocate human sacrifice, likewise, when the old king and the new king alternated, some young women in the Sultan's harem would always die silently. You could view this as a way for the First Lady, the future Queen Mother, to clean up the harem, or you could view it as their worry for their husband and monarch—they sincerely believed that these slaves could ascend to heaven with the Sultan and continue to serve him there.

Of course, there must also be some private grudges involved.

The Christian delegation was arranged behind the second gate.

Apoler Castle was not just a military fortress; it was also the Sultan's front court and harem, so its area was incomparably vast—its footprint was about equal to nine Amalric I.

Without being here in person, it was hard to feel the huge difference. People who came here for the first time could hardly believe their eyes—their residence was between the second and third gates. Looking out from a high place, one could see the entire Apoler Castle, which was a continuous ocean of giant stones. The layered walls were like lines on a miniature painting, the courtyards were like the green and blue filled in, and the golden or white domes were like pearls dotted in it, shining in the sunset glow. This was no longer a castle; it was a city.

"I hardly dare to think about how many lives, how much time, and how much money it would cost to take this place down..." a Crusader knight sighed.

"Even if all the armies of the Franks and the Apennines were exhausted, they might not be able to take this place. You might be able to move the stones lying on the road, but how do you move a towering mountain?" his companion continued.

"Stop saying those discouraging words," another knight retorted. "How many solid fortresses or strongholds were broken by external forces? Now Sultan Nur ad-Din is dead, and the legacy he left behind will be divided by his three sons. As long as one of them develops greedy thoughts, even if they use black iron to cast the walls, use brass to build the gates, and call the devil to work for them, it will only accelerate the speed of this fortress's collapse."

"We have already seen those three princes today. Who do you think can become the final winner?"

"This is not something we can speculate on. The Saracens are quite absurd and rash in these aspects—if it were in Frankish lands, then the eldest son should become the undisputed Sultan, but according to their faith, they should choose the most capable person—this is a bit embarrassing. These two, no, three princes, I'm afraid they won't be able to settle it without a good fight."

"This is a good thing for us."

"It could also be a bad thing," a more sober knight said. "When will the Sultan's funeral end?"

"The ceremony may last for seven to eight days. After that, he will be buried in the place he chose, possibly behind a temple in the city. Only then will it be time to decide the winner."

"Do you think they will decide the ownership of the territory through negotiations?"

"Perhaps."

"Do we have to wait until that winner appears to complete this mission?"

"Should be." A knight stroked his face: "Just hope the new Sultan is a person who keeps his promises."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 148 =====