In the Shadows of the Mountains - Chapter Fourteen: The March to Antioch

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.