The messenger had ridden for three days without rest.
When he finally arrived in Tripoli, his horse collapsed in the outer courtyard, foam dripping from its mouth. The guards rushed forward, but the man held the leather tube to his chest as if it were his heart.
"For the King of Jerusalem," he rasped.
Roland was summoned at once.
Words Sharper Than Steel
The council gathered quickly. Amalthea, Sir Aldric, Bishop Evrard, and Lucien stood around the long table as Roland broke the emir's seal.
The parchment smelled faintly of incense.
"King of Jerusalem,
Your restoration of the coast has disturbed the balance that kept peace between our realms.
We do not object to your rule — only to your ambition.
Withdraw your forces from Tripoli and Acre, and recognize the old borders.
Do this, and there will be peace.
Refuse… and the deserts and hills will answer for us."
Silence filled the hall.
Aldric laughed once, humorless. "He asks you to give up half your kingdom."
Bishop Evrard frowned. "He offers peace through submission."
Lucien crossed his arms. "That's not an offer. It's a test."
Roland folded the letter carefully.
"And tests deserve answers."
The King's Reply
Roland did not rush his response.
Instead, he ordered envoys sent to every city along the coast and inland territories. Governors reported back with numbers — grain stores, troop counts, ship readiness, road conditions.
Jerusalem's growth since Chapter 11 now revealed its strength:
Coastal ports could support fleets year-round
Inland farms produced surplus grain
Roads allowed fast troop movement
Garrisons could reinforce one another within days
Only then did Roland write his reply.
"To the Emir,
Jerusalem seeks peace, not retreat.
The lands you ask us to abandon are governed justly and defended lawfully.
We will not surrender them.
But we will receive your envoys — in Tripoli — if you seek true negotiation."
He sealed the letter with wax and handed it to the messenger.
"Ride fast," Roland said. "History moves quickly now."
Shadows Within the Kingdom
While foreign eyes turned toward Tripoli, danger stirred inside the kingdom.
Lucien returned late that night with grim news.
"The Compact of the Old Blood is moving," he said quietly. "They're spreading rumors — saying your reforms will erase noble rights and church privileges."
Roland exhaled slowly.
"Truth spreads slower than lies," he said.
Amalthea looked troubled. "If they stir unrest while we face an external threat…"
Roland nodded. "Then they become something worse than rivals."
He turned sharply.
"They become collaborators."
A Show of Strength
Roland knew words alone would not deter the emir.
So he ordered a demonstration.
Within a week:
Jerusalem's fleet sailed openly along the coast
Garrisons drilled in full view of the cities
Cavalry columns moved along major roads in disciplined rotations
Siege engineers tested machines outside Tripoli's walls
Not to threaten the people.
But to show the world that Jerusalem was ready.
Foreign merchants took notice.
So did spies.
The Envoys Arrive
At sunset on the eighth day, three riders entered Tripoli under a banner of truce.
They were dressed in fine silks, their armor ceremonial but sharp. Their leader bowed slightly — respectful, but not submissive.
"I am Rashid ibn Khalaf," he said. "Envoy of the Emir."
Roland met him in the great hall, seated on a simple throne of carved wood — not gold.
"You are welcome in Tripoli," Roland said. "Speak."
Rashid studied the hall, the banners, the guards.
"You are not the king we expected," Rashid admitted.
Roland raised an eyebrow. "And what did you expect?"
"A conqueror drunk on victory," Rashid replied. "Instead, I see… a ruler."
Roland leaned forward slightly.
"Then speak carefully. Rulers listen."
A Dangerous Truth
Rashid lowered his voice.
"There are forces beyond my emir watching you," he said. "Powers older and larger than our realms. They do not want a strong Jerusalem."
Lucien's hand drifted toward his sword.
Roland raised a hand, stopping him.
"Who?" Roland asked.
Rashid hesitated.
"The Sultanates to the north. And
others."
"Others?" Roland pressed.
Rashid swallowed.
"Men who profit from chaos. War traders. Lords without banners. They move behind courts and thrones alike."
Roland felt a familiar chill.
The unseen enemy.
The one who had left warnings before Tripoli.
"So why tell me this?" Roland asked.
Rashid met his gaze.
"Because if Jerusalem falls, the coast burns. And if the coast burns... everyone loses."
The Chapter Closes
That night, Roland stood alone on Tripoli's walls, watching torches flicker in the distance.
His kingdom was strong.
But strength made enemies.
Both visible...
And hidden.
Behind him lay a united Jerusalem.
Ahead lay diplomacy balanced on the edge of war.
And somewhere in the shadows, men who feared order sharpened their knives.
Chapter 24 ends not with battle - but with the knowledge that war was inevitable.