“Antioch will be a formidable stronghold,” Sir Edmund remarked, glancing at Alexander. “Its walls have kept invaders out for centuries. Tariq will not yield it easily.”

Alexander nodded, his expression calm but resolute. “We will not need him to yield. If we take Antioch, we control the route south—and we sever Tariq’s line of defense.”

Gautier’s eyes glinted with ambition. “A siege is only as good as the commander’s nerve. If we can trap his men before they’re fully fortified, we can take the city by force.”

As the Crusaders continued, the lands around them shifted from open plains to rocky terrain, the winding paths leading ever closer to the looming walls of Antioch. The city was a jewel on the edge of the Empire, and its capture would mark a significant victory. But Alexander knew that Tariq would not leave it undefended.

Within the walls of Antioch, Tariq ibn Sahl surveyed the city with an air of grim determination. The Crusaders’ advance was faster than he had anticipated, and he understood the threat they posed. Antioch was not just a military stronghold; it was a symbol, a city that represented the strength of the Muslim world along the Byzantine border.

He moved through the winding streets, issuing commands to his officers. “Reinforce the eastern gate,” he ordered, his voice firm. “Every archer, every soldier with a blade is to be stationed along the walls. And set up supplies within the city—food, water, ammunition. We are not retreating from here.”

His men moved with urgency, stacking crates of provisions and fortifying the city’s defenses. Walls were reinforced, watchtowers equipped with archers, and lookout posts established along every vantage point. He wanted the city prepared to withstand a siege, to make the Crusaders pay for every inch of ground they dared to take.

Abbas, his loyal lieutenant, approached him. “Commander, our scouts report the Crusaders are closing in. They seem intent on trapping us within the city.”

Tariq’s jaw tightened. “They believe they can box us in,” he replied, his tone edged with contempt. “But we will make Antioch a fortress they cannot penetrate.”

He turned to his officers, his gaze sharp. “Send word to the outposts. We need every available man here. Antioch must hold—if they want this city, they will have to pry it from our hands.”

But even as he spoke, a shadow of doubt crept into his mind. He knew the Crusaders were ruthless, driven by a fervor he had rarely encountered. If they surrounded Antioch, his forces would be trapped within, cut off from reinforcements and supplies. And though he had fortified the city, he understood that the Crusaders’ conviction would not be easily shaken.

The Crusaders advanced southward under a sky tinged with the golden light of dawn, their banners of red and white fluttering in the cool morning breeze. Their march was relentless, driven by a purpose that extended beyond conquest—their sights now set on Antioch, a city of strategic and symbolic importance. The news of Tariq’s atrocities had solidified their resolve; there would be no turning back until the city was reclaimed and their holy mission fulfilled.

Alexander rode at the front, his gaze fixed southward, the weight of his responsibility pressing down on him. Beside him, Sir Edmund and Gautier kept pace, their expressions mirroring the intensity of the journey. Behind them, ranks upon ranks of knights, foot soldiers, and archers followed, their armor clinking in unison, each man’s heart filled with the fiery conviction that they were instruments of God’s will.

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Fantasy Dragon with Large Belly Amidst Misty Clouds

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