Chapter 451 - A Worrisome Ally

If you comprehend, it is not God             

-        Augustine of Hippo

"Is there a possibility that those Rumelians have some hidden connections with those infidel deities living in this land, to purposefully create a mini earthquake to destroy all of us? Of course, with the shelling as a signal or some sort."

The guards looked at one another with faces of uncertainty and bewilderment, they have followed the Sanjek for almost fifteen years at least, and they know that their liege are strongly against superstitions, magical thinking and religious fundamentalism, while, at least last time. Maybe it is just because age has finally gotten on to their liege? The guards thought, and remained quiet knowing that the Sanjek would not want to make a foul out of himself in front of them.

Hüseyin Çelik  too realised that he said some thing inappropriate of his old image, made an embarrassed laugh and murmured in defence of himself. "Just if, just if… You never knows what those slyest Rumelians are up to…"

A messenger outside the tent came to break through the atmosphere of awkwardness in the interior. "Honourable Sanjek! The Bey of Kesriye has arrived outside our camp expecting to see you."

"Let him in."

The young war lord stormed in to the room, and finally laid his anxious mind to rest upon seeing the seemingly perfectly fine Sanjek leaning back against his couch. He quickly walked up to the Sanjek and sat down on the ground, holding the old Sanjek's hand as a form of courtesy, posing the image as an obedient junior and sub coordinate. He then proceeded on to asking about the senior's well being and health conditions, and received a positive answer from his audience.

However, the elder Sanjek soon moved on to the next topic, which made the bey of Kesriye totally unsure whether his liege is still in good psychological conditions from the injuries in his head. The old Sanjek re-iterated his idea regarding the unknown God helping out with the Rumelians, and upon hearing these shocking words, he turned serious and replied to his liege in a stern manner. "Honourable Sanjek, who spread these rumours of defiance and blight around reaching your ears? This man should be detained and executed at once!"

The Sanjek coughed in embarrassment and quickly bluffed the issue over.

"So, they reported that the Rumelians have developed a strange kind of shell… or bomb that is able to blast on a large area, with no idea where it came from, able to spread shock wave after shock wave damaging the minds of our brave holy warriors, and leave no shell fragments behind?" The young war lord glanced through the report and asked the guard. "And according to your spectaculations, if they are to use this kind of bombardments on our walls, it shall be demolished completely overnight?"

"Yes, that is what the report from the gunnery specialist says your highness." The guard bowed down and reported cautiously to the young noble war lord who is known for his relatively not so great temper. "We are mere humble servants who escorted him there, and I must admit that we believe what he mentioned in the report is true."

"Am I being ignorant? Or am I lagging behind time in terms of weaponries and explosives? I do not recall any form of black powder that has such a colossal explosion and after effect…If, let us just say if." The war lord started analysing with his eye brows tightly shut. "If the Rumelians have developed such an ability, why do they not use it on our camps? On our barracks? I would have done that if I am the commander of the Rumelians to achieve maximum impact on our troopers. Or at least if I had such a weapon, I would not have chosen to launch an operation on this valley here, instead I would just come in to the open and make a brute break through in to the southern Epirus."

"So, what you are saying is… The Rumelians, they can only apply this kind of mysterious bombardment with some special criteria in place first?" The Sanjek came in to realisation too, admiring the young man's swift thinking.

"I am entirely sure my liege, or we can comfort ourself with this idea, at least." The sturdy war lord sighed. "But as a faithful Muslim I must follow the teaching and codex of the All Mighty Allah, so I shall not make my conclusion till I inspect the area with my own eyes, please if you do not mind my prestige sons of Osman, lead the way and show me the site where those kafellehs massacred our comrades, please."

The guards led the owner of Kastoria out towards the site of the explosion, leaving the whining Sanjek and his advisors behind, and of course the maid who is refilling the bottle of breast milk.

The Sanjek lifted up his fragile index finger and pointed towards the outside. "You see, that is the kind of youth that is suited to lead the peck of abandoned horses in Epirus. He is not even trying to hide his ambitions to us. Today he can make a speech right in my tent and teach me on the principles set by the Mighty Allah and command my guards, I cannot possibly imagine what he is capable of doing tomorrow."

"That is exactly the thing we are worried about the most, my liege." The advisor hurriedly bowed and agreed with his monarch. "I am afraid that he shall take the chance of you getting injured, and start spreading his influence among our men. He might be the best herdsman to lead the herd of lost horses back to the Sultan… But I do not think he shall reserve a position in the herd for your… yet to be descended colt.

The Sanjek narrowed his eyes upon hearing the words as he suddenly glared at his advisor, totally unlike an aging sickling stuck to bed.