Hearing Lothar's almost accusatory question, the expressions of the two Kings turned faintly cold, and neither spoke.
Seeing Leopold cough and prepare to speak again, Raymond hurriedly cut him off.
"Your Majesty, the army besieging Homs is growing larger by the day. The surrounding forts, villages, and towns have all been uprooted. The prospects of the holy war have never been better, and this is entirely thanks to your achievements in Egypt against the heathens.
"But as you know, the Kingdom's northern territories are narrow and long, with only a few coastal towns. They cannot sustain the supplies required by so many troops. That is why we have been unable to take Homs."
It was not exactly a lie, merely a matter of emphasizing some things while downplaying others.
After all, they had seized no small amount of supplies from the towns and villages around Homs. Their failure to capture the city certainly was not due to a lack of provisions.
"Your Majesty, there are other reasons as well."
Leopold shot Raymond a sidelong glance and snorted. "The military council has acted unfairly, seeking private gain for its own men. Spoils and supplies have all been distributed first to the troops under their command.
"My subordinates, as well as the German Crusaders fighting in the Holy Land, cannot even fill their stomachs. They even forcibly requisitioned the mounts of many German knights, then humiliated them by saying they were only fit to stand alongside infantry.
"It is precisely this unfair treatment that has left my soldiers with no will to fight."
Raymond was furious inside. He had already put things so plainly, yet this country bumpkin from Austria still wanted to lodge accusations against him?
Was sheltering rioters and standing by while internal conflict broke out somehow honorable?
Lothar frowned