Crowned King

For the Alexandrians, these days were undoubtedly the prelude to the death knell of judgment.

Adil, the Governor of Egypt personally appointed by King Saladin, master of Alexandria, and the king's most trusted younger brother, had been slain in battle. More than half his elite troops had been lost, and the survivors had ceased to be an organized force. Many had ravaged the countryside and become bandits.

Laughably, the routed troops had begun fighting among themselves while fleeing. Whether they were fighting over supplies from the camp by Lake Burullus or over the Sunni-Shia dispute, no one knew, but the two sides had battled fiercely enough to dye the lake red with blood.

In the end, it was the Crusaders marching on Alexandria who intervened forcefully, separated the mutineers, and turned every last one of them into prisoners.

As reports of the Crusaders advancing on Alexandria continued to arrive, the mood within the city began to shift dramatically.

At first, it was said that "the Frankish devils massacred the camp at Lake Burullus, and the blood of the faithful stained the lake red."

The nobles left behind in the city began calling upon the militia to defend it, vowing to live and die with Alexandria.

On the second day, news that "the unspeakable cannibal demon king had crossed the Nile River and occupied Damanhur" arrived alongside the routed soldiers. Details of that day's battle, including the shocking full account of the "battle that slew a god," were revealed, and the tide turned at once.

Many well-informed Saracen nobles no longer dared show themselves to vie for the power vacuum left by Adil's death. Instead, they hurriedly packed their belongings, hired ships, and fled.

On the third day, news came that "the despicable heathen demon led his army past the ruined