Dondarian remained calm in his flight from the holy city. He was alarmed at the speed in which the walls were breached, and the Christian forces poured in. He was one of the first to plug the gaps that formed in the breaking Muslim lines, and one of the first to retreat. He would not die that day for a pile of rubble.

Making camp he gathered his scribe and a brave messenger willing to ride back to the city to deliver a message to the leaders who were no doubt toasting themselves to their victory.

QUOTE:

To the Leaders of the Christian forces, Prince Hugh of Montfort, Protosebastos Smelgar, Grand Master Hyrkan de Silcross.

Congratulations on your victory, the battle was hard-fought and we could have given no more. But it appears that in our route, our amies were disbanded and separated. Our forces now head home to regroup. So i have been instructed to appeal to your good nature, and allow a cease-fire so that we can travel home in safety. My messenger will take any letters of correspondance back to me, please treat him well, i can already see the fear growing in his eyes having to travel back into the depths of danger to deliver this to you. I would like to hear a reply from all of you regarding this matter. I am sure you, yourselves will need time to repair the city in which you destroyed, and treat your many wounded.

With Respect,
Dondarian de Vignolles
Vizier of Foreign Affairs of the Fatimid Court.

"Ride hard, my friend we need an answer as soon as possible, and trust in Allah that you will remain safe!"

The messenger swallowed hard, bowed deeply to the Vizier and then departed.

Soon after the battle a messenger coming from the Fatimids camp arrived at Jerusalem. The Prince of Antioch inspected exact in this moment the guard at the gate in direction of the Fatimids retreat. So he could adopt the message. At first he gave order to cater the envoy meantime reading the message. The messenger looked a little bit surprised about the friendly hospitality but soon he gripped the offered food with a smile in his face. After reading the note the Prince decided to send a man to deliver the message to the other army leaders of the allied forces. As well he wrote a short first answer to the Vizier of the Fatimids.

QUOTE:
To Dondarian de Vignolles, Vizier of Foreign Affairs of the Fatimids Court

It’s honourable of you to send congratulations about our victory.

It was the heaviest battle for me since I became the ruler of Antioch. But this day isn’t a day of great joy. Of course Jerusalem is in our hands again but this victory was a dearly purchased victory. So many brave and valiant fighters have died. But be sure enough other knights are well prepared for further battles. In contrast to your armies our armies well equipped and can resupply very quick.

But now to your request. There is one thing that the people of Antioch incensed: Your attack to our province Edessa. They won’t forget this as soon. To fight against us at Jerusalem is one thing – to attack our homeland is another thing.

It’s not a knights behavior to fight against an enemy which armies were disbanded. So I’ll speak with my allied about your appeal about a chease-fire for some times. One requirement I have to such a chease-fire-period. I want your and the Persian promise that you don’t attack Antioch homeland in this war again. If this is given I agree with a chease-fire with a fixed date.

There is another important question. Do you speak for the Persian too? Since this war started I heard nothing from them. No declarations – no messages – only nothing. And at last. You always can be sure Hospitallers treats an envoy human and fair.

With respect

Hugh of Montfort
Prince of Antioch

The message was given to the Fatimid envoy. He hurried to bring it back to the Vizier as quick as possible. The Prince went to the assembly room of the allied to confer about the appeal for a chease-fire.

QUOTE:

Dondarian de Vignolles
Vizier of Foreign Affairs of the Fatimid Court.

Peace be upon you, Your Eminence

My army controls Jerusalem, and---as has always been the case during Roman administration---your messenger is free to worship here as he is called to do. Grace is now restored and all individual Knights professing to the Abraham Faiths may come in to and go out from the City as they wish.

The Roman Empire is not in the business of pursuing individual Knights of other nations, even if those nations be enemies; accordingly you and your compatriots have nothing to fear. If it is your wish to use the grace you are thus granted to reform your armies and attack us, once again, then so be it: we shall then have the honour to fight you, once again and with God's blessing we shall defeat you, once again.

But for myself I would have it otherwise. This is in fact the fourth war I have fought against your master. He and I are now both old men, and perhaps it is time for us to move on to other things, more fully informed by the grace of God. I am prepared to take on the burden of remedy for the damage your forces did to Antioch, and would like instead to see all combatants participate in a Turney, which I shall hold in the City.

What say you?

I have the Honour to Remain, Sir, Your Eminence's Most Humble and Obedient Servant
Smelgar, Protosebastos of the Romans

QUOTE:

Dear Prince Hugh of Montfort.

I was only briefly aware myself of plans to attack Edessa, and on my own admition, it was I that led the forces to your lands. Please try to understand, how we did not realise the value you put for having Edessa, our scout reports that came back informed us that no governor if those lands had charge there so we attacked to distract and divert your attentions.
I will pass your appeal on to my Sultan. But in honesty I believe that an attack on your more populated shires would not have happened. I hope this answer is good enough for you. Because I am afraid that no silver compensation will be delivered to you for this attack.

As for the Persians, u can not speak for them. They may have other desires. But we stood side by side with these brave men and women of Allah, and I would like to see them safe as they take time to recover also.

Lastly, I thank you personally for the treatment of my messenger. He now stands eager to return to you as soon as I command it.

With respect
Vizier Dondarian de Vignolles.

QUOTE:

Protosebadtos Smelgar,

You show kindness, when I had shown ruthlessness, and hospitality where I had shown hostility. My messenger was awe-struck at his warm welcome, you have my thanks.

You and my Sultan I fear shall always be opposed to each other and your goals. But for now, and with no sign of pursuit, we can allow time for the battlefields to bathe in silence whilst we reflect on the events that have passed and those which will come to pass.

If I were to be entirely honest with you Protsebastos, the damage done to Antioch was minimal. The land my army encountered there was sparsely populated and largely uncultivated, which is why we struck them there. It was my hand that waved the order. Please let me know if this is still an issue that will need addressing. But I am not willing to deliver any amount of silver to Antioch for this.

A tournament sounds good, but I do not think that having us fight each other in different circumstances will aid at all in having a shirt time of peace. If perhaps we made plan also for a separate turned for our nations? Perhaps then we can both relax and enjoy these events without looking over our shoulders.

With respect,
Vizier Dondarian de Vignolles

QUOTE:

Dondarian de Vignolles
Vizier of Foreign Affairs of the Fatimid Court.

Peace be upon you, Your Eminence

Grace is not mine, but my Lord's: it is him that deserves your thanks!

I am, as always, tempted to sin. As we say in the Roman Empire:

QUOTE:


Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Or as I have recently discovered it is said, in the language of the northern reaches of the Empire:

QUOTE:

Doamne Iisuse Hristoase, Fiul lui Dumnezeu, miluieste-ma pe mine pacatosul

I should very much like to host all at a Turney in the City, but I would also be open to attending a separate Turney at your castle, if that is your proposal.

I have the Honour to Remain, Sir, Your Eminence's Most Humble and Obedient Servant
Smelgar, Protosebastos of the Romans

QUOTE:

Protsebastos Smelgar,

We have already begun preparations for a turney in our lands, my proposal was to both host our separate turneys simultaneously, so that we can both enjoy a time of peace with all our knights attentions towards honing their skills and earning some silver.

To answer your question more directly, we have not permitted ourselves to go to your tournament, and unfortunately you and your knights will not be welcomed into ours.

With respect

Dondarian de Vignolles.

QUOTE:
Dondarian de Vignolles
Vizier of Foreign Affairs of the Fatimid Court.

Peace be upon you, Your Eminence

As you can see, we have allowed your Turney to proceed free of menace.

I intend shortly to announce a Turney to occur at the City; may I presume that you will extend to us the same forbearance we extended to you?

I have the Honour to Remain, Sir, Your Eminence's Most Humble and Obedient Servant
Smelgar, Protosebastos of the Romans

QUOTE:

Protosebastos Smelgar,

Peace be upon you also.
You have my word and the word of our mighty Sultan that you can have time to prepare and host your tournament in the same safety that was granted to us. I thank you for your kindness in this matter and return it completely. No harm shall befall your lands by our hands and I am certain that our Muslim brothers will honor this request also, although I am in no position to speak on their behalf.

I wish you and all participants of your event good fortune.

With respect and kind regards,
Dondarian de Vignolles,
Vizier of Foreign Affairs.

QUOTE:
To his Imperial Highness Smelgar, Protosebastos of the Roman Empire,

Your Highness, I am well aware of the fact that you have requested your tournament in the City to proceed without any menace and we have given you our word that it will be done. However, it seems the tournament in question has been organized in Constantinople instead of Jerusalem, which was not part of the agreement and which represented a violation of the mentioned agreement in the first place.

But although the tournament has not been organized in the location you had previously mentioned, I have decided to extend this favor and allow you to proceed with the tournament organized in your Empire's capital. Which is why I give you my word that no Fatimid troops will enter Jerusalem until your tournament is over.

I also wish to remind you that the agreement did not say anything about the lands surrounding Jerusalem. To those we will show no mercy.

Insha'Allah!

Alar I, Sultan of the Fatimid Islamic Sultanate

QUOTE:

Alar I, Sultan of the Fatimid Islamic Sultanate

Peace Be Upon You, Most Warlike Sultan

I can address the source of the confusion: when a Roman says simply "the City" without qualification he means Rome, either the Old or the New, that is, Constantinople. Likewise an adherent of the Orthodox faith. This you know, from the time before you fell first into heresy and further into apostasy. However, I have reviewed my communication with your minister and will admit that my use of the phrase "the City" was inconsistent in one instance (the first) and so I must accept blame for misleading those unfamiliar with Roman custom, though I do not count yourself amongst the ignorant.

As for your threat: it is an old threat, and likewise the response; the Roman Empire and the Orthodox Church will respond with vigour should any place Christians in peril.

I have the Honour to Remain, Sir, Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant,
Smelgar, Protosebastos of the Romans