Chapter 457 - 326: A Call from Afar

Balha frowned involuntarily, clutching the Crescent Talisman hanging from his neck.

Such a reaction was perfectly normal. Everyone feared the gray, lifeless skin of a leper. Most lepers were driven into the wilderness to fend for themselves and await death.

"What are you doing with a leper?" Balha demanded of Joseph.

"He... He’s my nephew." Joseph was at a loss for words.

"It is a curse from God, but it has its uses. No one takes an interest in a leper, or anything he possesses," Eric said.

"Is that so? I don’t particularly care. Just as the tax silver from a cesspit-cleaner has no stench of feces, the tax silver from a urine-collector carries no smell of piss. But the others under the Governor’s protection might not see it that way. Not everyone is as magnanimous as I."

"If you want to pass through this village and enter the Hamah City District, you’ll have to give me two Silver Coins." Balha gestured to Eric again, demanding the payment.

Eric feigned difficulty, patting himself down for a long moment before finally producing a Silver Coin and handing it to Balha.

"Are you deaf? I said two. You’ve only paid half, so you can expect only half of you to get through." With his right hand, Balha made a show of drawing his Sword partway from its scabbard in a clear threat. With his left, however, he held the Silver Coin up to his nose, sniffing it with a look of feigned ecstasy before dropping it onto the wooden tray.

"Our caravan suffered a calamity. As you can see, my lord, all that’s left is my poor uncle’s family and I. We’re heading south, and our travel funds are nearly gone." Eric’s distorted voice echoed from behind his tight-fitting mask, low and grating.

Balha detected the veiled hostility in Eric’s voice but dismissed it. He didn’t consider Eric a threat; he had twenty soldiers with him, and even more back in the village.

Balha sat down, accepted a cup of Kumis—a fermented mare’s milk wine—from one of his soldiers, and asked, "What sort of calamity?"

"A mob of Christian thugs. Just as you said, my lord, but far more terrible."

"In Mosul?" Balha asked, sipping his drink nonchalantly.

"No, they are everywhere in the north. The villages are all but abandoned, countless have been slaughtered, and merchants are now lambs to the slaughter. They show not a shred of tolerance or mercy for Heretics. Slaughter and plunder are their only aims."

"Just a mob of incited Christian peasants. Some Persians do the same thing all the time," Balha said dismissively.

"It started that way, yes. Until three months ago."

Eric stared into the distance as if watching the tragedy unfold once more. "A band of blond, armored warriors from the West, Swords in hand, ran rampant. They killed everyone on sight—man, woman, and child. No one was spared. They ransacked homes and seized Mosques."

"The local Christian villagers rose up to join them, growing bolder and launching their own unbridled campaigns of slaughter and persecution."

"Probably just some stragglers from the Byzantines. After their rule in Anatolia collapsed, they’re like rats, scurrying about, looking for a way to make a living. I even know one who made something of himself—he’s serving under the Fatima Vizier now." Balha waved his hand dismissively.

Eric continued, "I’ve heard this all stems from a call by the King of the Heretics in the West. They seek revenge against us on behalf of the Greeks. The Roman Emperor from the west has amassed an army of two hundred thousand, vowing to march, and the other Christian Kings have answered his call, leading their own armies to follow."

"After Manzikert, the Greeks all dressed in black and pleaded for help from across the sea. To rally the people to vengeance, they carried a painting of the Messiah—peace be upon him—which depicted a Turkic person flogging him. They would proclaim, ’Behold! This is the Messiah, and Muhammad, the Prophet of the Muslims, is trying to beat him to death!’ The Franks were deeply moved. The crowds grew and grew, even women joined. Those who could not fight were willing to pay the expenses of the Crusaders."

Balha spat the Kumis straight out of his mouth. Noticing the stares of his soldiers, he felt he had lost his composure and quickly feigned calmness. "This Kumis has a rank taste today. Mad! Crooked merchant. I’ll wreck his tavern when I get back."

But Balha’s hand trembled uncontrollably. He looked at Eric and forced a laugh. "Is it really that serious? You’re not exaggerating, are you? Hahahaha..."

"Despite our caravan’s caution, we were not spared. Only yesterday, we entered the Hama City territory. Before we knew it, only my uncle and I were left. They were well-equipped, no mere farmers. We only survived by hiding among the bodies of our guards."

"Perhaps that information is worth one Silver Coin," Eric said, looking at Balha.

"Not nearly enough. For all I know, you’re just telling a story."

"Perhaps you can go and verify it."

"Of course I will!" Balha roared.

"They have a lot of cavalry. They’re making a huge commotion and aren’t trying to conceal their tracks."

"I will. But now isn’t a good time. After all... I don’t believe I’ve had breakfast today. Before a fight, I must ensure that I, and my soldiers, are full of energy," Balha said with a straight face. He then looked over at Joseph’s wife and daughter. "I don’t want to hear any more about the Franks. Let’s return to your problem. You come to petition me, but you leave your wife and daughter behind. Are you trying to evade taxes? Tax evasion is an even more serious crime. You’ll have to pay more. However, considering your pitiable circumstances, and the valuable news you’ve brought me, this magnanimous lord will show you a way forward. This man beside me is one of the Kurds, a slave trader. He regularly buys slaves from me. I think your wife and daughter could fetch a fine price, bringing a nice profit to us both. Of course, you have another choice. How much are you willing to pay to keep them by your side? Pay enough, and you can take them away."

Balha gestured to the black-robed man beside him. He smiled, considering it a perfectly reasonable deal.

Joseph was speechless, until a pouch of money was pressed into his hand.

Joseph shot Eric a grateful look and immediately began placing Silver Coins on the table.

Balha watched him, counting each coin. Joseph grew flustered under his gaze but could only continue counting until there were twenty-eight Silver Coins on the table. "This is all I have, my lord," he said humbly.

"Everything?" Balha said. "I don’t believe you, Farhad. If that’s true, then I’ll let you keep one of your daughter’s ears. How does that sound?"

"Bring them here," Balha ordered his soldiers.

Joseph looked at Eric, trembling, hoping Eric would stop Balha’s plan. But Eric did nothing, simply watching as two soldiers walked over.

Balha and the Kurd continued their indifferent conversation as the two soldiers walked over to the waiting family. Joseph’s wife and daughter shrieked in protest, but their cries quickly dissolved into hysterical sobs.

"Oh, look at this lovely merchandise," Balha greeted them with exaggerated courtesy. "You are lucky girls. Today, you get the honor of my personal inspection."

His smile was laced with malice as he began to roughly inspect the two women, as if they were livestock.

He looked Joseph’s daughter over carefully, then turned to Joseph’s wife, pulling down her collar to examine her shoulders and chest.

"This little one," the Kurd said, pointing at the daughter, "One hundred Dirhams. As for this one," he gestured to Joseph’s wife, his tone contemptuous, "Fifty."

"But she’s more seasoned than the little one," Balha said, laughing. "That little one is just a piglet."

"She’s too old. Must be thirty or forty," the Kurd replied.

"The value of a virgin is truly immeasurable," Balha said, turning to Joseph with a sneer. "Don’t you agree? The two of them would sell for at least one hundred fifty Dirhams. So how about this? I’ll give you a discount. You give me seventy-five Dirhams, and I’ll let you leave with your daughter and wife."

Joseph trembled like a leaf and couldn’t stop himself from looking at Eric again.

Balha noticed Joseph’s glance. "What are you looking at him for? I knew something was strange. Don’t tell me... are they not your wife and daughter? Do they belong to this leper?"

Balha looked up at Eric, his grin widening. "How absurd. A leper with women? Has your cock not rotted off yet?"

He laughed triumphantly, and the surrounding soldiers roared with laughter.

"So, leper," Balha said, looking at Eric, "how much are you willing to pay for these two women?"

"Not a single coin," Eric replied coldly.

Balha narrowed his eyes, studying Eric. His soldiers were used to watching him toy with travelers, and Balha clearly savored the feeling of domination.

Balha’s gaze fell on Eric’s wrists and Helmet. "You have a fine Sword, leper. And I suppose that Helmet won’t do you much good after you’re dead. How about this: you hand over your Sword and Helmet, and I’ll let all of you go."