Early the next morning, news of last night's internal conflict spread through the entire Crusader camp like wildfire.
A great many Gaulish nobles were outraged, clamoring for the culprits to be severely punished and for vengeance for the slain knights.
But from last night onward, the German Crusaders had kept their camp gates tightly shut, with heavy guards stationed at the entrance. No matter how the people outside cursed and shouted, they refused to open the gates.
At that moment, beneath the palisade, more than a dozen knights wearing Bucket Helms arrived, surrounding a richly dressed knight.
Leopold on the wall scrutinized the newcomers.
The knight atop a tall, fine horse removed his Bucket Helm and shouted,
"Good day, Lord Leopold. I am Manuel of Poitiers, son of Bohemond, the sole legitimate heir to the Duchy of Antioch. Please allow me to extend my most sincere greetings to you."
Reynald of Châtillon had also once been Duke of Antioch, but he had entered Antioch as a son-in-law. After his former wife, Constance of Poitiers, died, he lost his right to rule Antioch.
Still, that was hardly a loss. Reynald promptly latched onto Countess Stephanie, while the Poitiers-Antioch branch could only bear the empty title of duke and live in exile at the court of Jerusalem.
"Good day, knight."
Leopold, who had come up onto the wall, sneered inwardly. Antioch had been in the hands of the heathens for years, yet this man still clung to the title of a duke's son. Did he really think it made him so distinguished?
The same could not be said for Count Josselin of Edessa, another member of an exiled "royal house," whose circumstances were far better. At the very least, he still possessed some scattered lands within the Kingdom of Jerusalem, enough to