December 1218 A.D. – The Nile Delta – Messenger from Home

Yenovk had seen enough of this campaign. It had been over five months since he’d left his hometown and journeyed to Egypt. Apart from the combat he’d seen at the siege of the citadel, the rest of the time had been tedious. Yenovk and his fellow Mamluks were often just being used as a display of force. In order to ensure the local Egyptian peasants knew who was in charge.

He was therefore pleased to see the messenger arrive that morning from Mosul.

“As-salaamu ‘Alaykum”

Having passed on his greeting the messenger proffered the letter he’d been carrying.

Yenovk started to read. It was from Badr al-Din Lu’lu’. It was bad news. The ruler of Mosul had died. Al-Qahir had actually passed away in July, a month before the great Sultan al-Adil. Lu’lu’ was extremely concerned for the continued prosperity of both himself and Yenovk. It looked as though forces close to Mosul, may be preparing an attack. They were trying to take advantage of the power vacuum, left by the Sultan’s death. They also knew that the Atabeg, al-Qahir’s son was as yet too young to succeed him. Lu’lu’ had himself been named as the boy’s guardian. He had also been officially recognised as the deputy Atabeg.

A local warlord Imad al-Din Zanki who ruled the nearby fortresses at al-Aqr and Shush had already begun hostilities. His troops had launched an attack on the citadel at al-Imadiya in Kurdistan. This was an important garrison that had long been controlled from Mosul. Lu’lu’ was alarmed that if this outpost was to fall, an attack on Mosul itself could be imminent.

Given the dire state of affairs at home, Yenovk could no longer be spared. The defence of Egypt would need to be left to others. He was required for guarding his own wealth in Mosul. He gathered his belongings and with his fellow soldiers prepared for the long journey home.