Chapter 96: The Death of the King (4)

Cesar had been guarding Baldwin's side. Hearing Amalric I's call, Baldwin immediately pushed his hand to signal him to go out immediately.

Amalric I and Baldwin shared a tent. This was requested by Amalric I, just as he insisted on setting up the tent here—within a distance that the Saracen cavalry could reach in one charge—adjacent to the tent where the negotiations were being held.

He did not want to appear before the Saracens because he could not sit upright, nor could he stand for long—but he had always held fast to his duty as the Lord of the Holy Land, even though he was dying, and was unwilling to easily abandon the obligations that the King of Jerusalem should fulfill.

Besides his responsibility to the Lord, Amalric I was also worried about his son. He knew that his injuries were beyond redemption, and even if he could linger for a while, he would be unable to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Crusader commander.

It was not that he had no regrets. Amalric I thought he had at least ten or twenty years of life left. During this time, he could fully teach Baldwin to be a qualified successor. Even if Baldwin could not have an heir due to leprosy, he could still pass the throne to his half-brother, and his bloodline would still remain on the throne of Jerusalem, forever glorious, forever great...

But what he did not expect was that the Byzantine Princess eventually only gave birth to a daughter, not a son, and he could no longer return to Jerusalem, which meant that Baldwin would take over his crown and become the new King of Jerusalem, and his successor could only be the son of his sister, Princess Sibylla.

Amalric I did not have much confidence in this daughter. True, she did have an ambition that ordinary noblewomen did not have, perhaps because she had seen too many "achievements" of those female elders, she also wanted to become a true king who could manipulate the government and even war, rather than an ornament or puppet with only a name.

But as people had worried, a person who could not wield a long sword could not become the King of Jerusalem, and a woman even less so. So no matter how intelligent and decisive she was, she would eventually have to transfer power to her husband, unless she could also receive God's blessing and the saint's favor, and take knights to the battlefield.

If her husband could transfer power to their children—this result could not be said to be the worst—but if they had no children, or her husband had a child from a previous marriage, or her husband suddenly tired of being a queen's husband rather than a king in name and deed...

And what worried Amalric I most was that his only successor, Baldwin, clearly still held some fantasies about his sister Sibylla, but relatively speaking, Sibylla... Ever since Sibylla accepted that marriage without hesitation—Count Etienne was more than twenty years older than her! She still did not care at all and was even full of joy—the King knew that Sibylla might also love her brother, but this family affection clearly could not compare with her ambition.

He also knew that Sibylla had once suggested "creating an accident" to Baldwin. At that time, he was still somewhat disgusted with Cesar and did not oppose it, even feeling it was somewhat feasible, but now thinking about it, if he really indulged Sibylla... Did Sibylla say so really for Baldwin's sake?

Or was she more willing to let Baldwin become a truly lonely person?

"Come closer," he said to Cesar. "Child."

The King had Heraclius give him many potions that could numb the body and reduce pain. He knew that this behavior would not only aggravate the decay of this body, but death would also come faster. But even if he could delay it for a few days or months, what could it do? He would rather remain clear-headed at the last moment to leave a glimmer of hope for Baldwin, for his family, and for Jerusalem.

He looked at the black-haired boy. Even after such a fierce battle and the erosion of the flames, he was still so dazzling and eye-catching, and the faint sorrow lingering between his brows made people feel pity—Amalric I could now fully understand Abigail's jealousy of Cesar.

If Cesar were also the son of a duke, no, even if he were just the son of a count, Abigail would not hate him so much.

It was precisely because he was of humble birth, yet had a bearing and character that David, Abigail, and even Baldwin could not reach, that made people unable to eliminate the evil thoughts in their hearts.

The King once thought this was a good thing, but at this moment, he could not help but feel deep regret, even remorse. If he had arranged a background for Cesar before this—letting him become the son of a knight, he could have given him a castle!

Baldwin would not be isolated and helpless in the court later...

The King closed his eyes slightly, putting this useless emotion aside: "How many days have you and Baldwin been fasting?"

Cesar was slightly startled, but immediately understood the King's meaning. After all, Heraclius had already reminded him that if he and Baldwin could win a glorious achievement in this battle, the King could take advantage of this achievement to hold the "sword-granting ceremony" for them in advance and formally promote them to knights.

Before Shawar's conspiracy was exposed, Cesar thought the King would hold the ceremony for them in Fustat. Later, Heraclius told him that the King still wanted to complete this important work in the Holy Cross Castle of Jerusalem—this was, after all, the territory of the pagans. Even if it had become the Christians', it would take some time to turn the Saracen temple into a Christian church.

According to tradition, the fasting period ranged from three days to a week. But now Amalric I could no longer be sure if he could wait that long. He asked Cesar this in front of several knights, clearly wanting him to shorten the process as much as possible.

Cesar did not hesitate at all and immediately replied: "A week, we have been fasting for a week."

Amalric I smiled. He knew Cesar would not let him down.

"Then, tomorrow," the King said in a weak voice. "When Heraclius returns, tell him..."

The knights beside him could not help but show surprise. Not to mention Amalric I's current condition, there was no Christian church here... Where should these two young novice knights go to pray and receive blessings?

But since the Patriarch of Jerusalem was here, this worry was superfluous.

After Heraclius returned and heard what Cesar relayed, he immediately arranged it crisply. They set up a new tent, which was larger than the one Amalric I was currently in, as there would inevitably be many witnesses for the subsequent "sword-granting ceremony."

The King's urgency was justified.

Baldwin was fourteen years old this year, at a very delicate stage. According to his age, he was an adult, but not yet at a convincing age. But if he were knighted, the questioning and contempt for him would be much less.

After all, the prototype of the knighting ceremony was the coming-of-age ceremony of ancient Germanic warriors.

When an ancient Germanic person was considered capable of shouldering the obligations and powers of an adult, he would be granted a shield and javelin by his leader or father in front of all the fully armed warriors. After completing this ceremony, the young man would be considered a warrior and a formal member of the tribe.

After the Germanic people converted to Christianity, this custom remained. For example, Charlemagne's eldest son received a long sword from his father's hands when he was not yet thirteen.

Although Amalric I's current state could be said to be in imminent danger, neither Heraclius nor anyone else could persuade him to return to the tent to receive treatment and recuperate quietly—whether for the King, the Prince, or Jerusalem, they had to complete this ceremony as soon as possible.

As the two main witnesses, Bohemond, Duke of Antioch, and Raymond, Count of Tripoli, also heard the news. Compared to Bohemond, who was always unpredictable, Raymond's reaction this time was especially large.

Amalric I was suspicious of him.

In the court of Jerusalem, no one was more suitable to be Baldwin's regent than him. By doing this, was the King not saying that he did not believe Raymond would sincerely assist Baldwin? Not only that, he also believed that Raymond would usurp the power in Baldwin's hands during the regency—so even if he was about to die, he had to let Baldwin become a knight in advance to avoid being restrained by him.

He almost wanted to rush out of the tent to argue with Amalric I, but as soon as he walked out, he suddenly stopped. What could he say? Not to mention that Amalric I was still his monarch, even if he walked over like this to appeal his grievances, it might not necessarily evoke Amalric I's mercy and apology, but would instead make Amalric I further believe that he really had ulterior motives.

He had to suppress his boiling mood and turn back.

On the way back, he suddenly saw a stone. Regardless of what mood he was in, Raymond walked over as if possessed, lifted it, and suddenly put it back. His speed was so fast that he could almost guarantee that he had not seen whether there was anything alive under the stone—such as an insect or a snake.

His heart was pounding, even though he had been trying to tell himself that he did not want to divine the King's life or death.

This was a very popular method of divination at this time and place. When a person was seriously ill and dying, his friends and relatives would go out and flip over a stone at will.

If there was life under the stone, whether it was an insect, a snake, a frog, or a toad, as long as there was a small life, it meant that the person could live. Otherwise, there was absolutely no hope of survival.

Raymond knew he should not do this. He walked out a distance, but turned back without warning, his trembling hands flipping over the stone.

There was nothing under the stone.

————

A cross was soon set up in the new tent, inlaid with fragments of the True Cross. The King brought it, originally wanting to use it to boost morale when the siege fell into a stalemate, but he did not expect Shawar to take another shortcut, so it was not used.

Now it was set up in the tent, with a simple altar made of clothing chests in front of it.

Even so, it was God's holy dwelling on earth. Anyone, as long as he was a Christian, would cross himself when passing by this tent or seeing it.

Cesar and Baldwin were brought into the tent. They had already bathed and prayed—this was a great test for Baldwin. He had exhausted his strength in the previous battle and had his hands burned because he wanted to rescue his father. The double torture of illness and flames constantly tortured his body. His lips were gray and white, but his cheeks were as red as fire.

He and Cesar walked hand in hand. Anyone could see that he was putting most of his weight on his companion—seeing this, the clerics of the Patriarch chanted the scriptures much faster.

The two young men had changed into white long shirts and draped red robes. The white long shirt meant purity, and the red robe meant they would fight for Christ.

The temporarily erected altar was covered with a layer of snow-white linen, on which were placed a spear, two shields, and a long sword—representing the weapons and armor of Baldwin and Cesar, and also important things for them to destroy enemies and protect themselves on the battlefield.

They were placed here, both to ask God and the saints for blessing and to use the holy weapons as a guarantee for their faith.

They were to perform worship and prayer in front of the altar all night, and when dawn came, the bishop would come to preside over the mass for them.

This night was unusually long, even longer than the night of the "Selection Ceremony," or rather, on the night of the "Selection Ceremony," they were full of expectations, but at this moment, they were full of sorrow.

Early the next morning, Heraclius hurriedly performed mass for them.

Amalric I no longer lay on the soft couch, but insisted on walking from the original tent into this holy place himself.

The witnesses had all come: Raymond, Count of Tripoli; Bohemond, Duke of Antioch; Balian of Ibelin; Joscelin of Edessa... and the Grand Masters and Priors of the Templars and Hospitallers, as well as important figures in various Crusader armies...

They watched the two young men kneel before the King—of course, it should be one, and then the other, but the King probably could not persist for so long. This special treatment made Bohemond rarely show displeasure—it was one thing to be knighted by the King, but to be side-by-side with the Prince—tsk, his son would only be knighted by Baldwin in the future. Thinking of this, it was really unpleasant.

It was Raymond, who had always valued status, who was stunned, not knowing what he was thinking.

It was not until a word suddenly jumped into his ears that he was startled and broke free from his thoughts.

Raymond turned around, but he could no longer see the person who spoke, but he should not have heard it wrong.

The person said: "Will."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 97 =====