Swords of Justice
Chapter 27: Discussing the Plan
Darkness fell, and they all entered the tent where the discussion would take place. Commander Jalal asked them to sit around the strategy table, which was covered with a map of the city and the palace layouts.
The council was led by Commander Jalal and his assistant, Deputy Salman. The rest included Hamza, Muawiya, Qasim, Fateh, and Moataz, along with Princess Hasna. The Lady arrived late, exchanging brief glances with Moataz—they hadn't seen each other in a long time.
Jalal: Alright, we're now ready to discuss our plan one last time before launching the attack... As you can see, this is the palace layout. To be honest, I still don't fully trust all of you, so I won't reveal everything. But the plan is simple, not complicated.
The palace has two main gates: the grand gate and the servants' gate.
The Grand Gate: This is the main entrance to the palace. Everyone enters through it, and it's well-known, which makes it the hardest to breach.
(He pointed toward the back of the palace.)
The Small Gate: This is used by servants and guards. All supplies enter through it, and it will also be guarded.
Since Hamza is the strongest among you, he will be our trump card, and Fateh will stay with him.
The main gate is massive, so we need something powerful to break through it. Moataz and his men will be responsible for that.
The Lady will remain here with Princess Hasna, protecting her from combat.
Princess Hasna (objecting): I want to participate.
Commander Jalal (firmly): No. I'm sorry, but you are not a warrior… and no one knows who will survive tomorrow.
Qasim: What about the back gate?
Commander Jalal: Muawiya will handle it.
Muawiya (surprised): Why did you choose me specifically?
Jalal: Because you once told us you infiltrated your own school and destroyed it from within. That's exactly what you'll do again. Entering through that gate means getting into the heart of the army's supplies—you'll be devastating to them.
He then turned to Hamza and continued:
Jalal: And you, Hamza… once Moataz breaks through the main gate, you'll lead your soldiers straight into the palace and finish them off.
Qasim (raising his hand): And what about me?
Jalal smiled and said:
Jalal: If Hamza is our trump card… then you are our dark horse.
Qasim smiled, even though he didn't fully understand what he meant, but he felt there was something cunning behind it.
Everyone seemed satisfied with the plan until Hamza interrupted:
Hamza: You didn't mention the most important thing in war—the number of soldiers. How many do they have?
Commander Jalal paused for a moment, then said:
Jalal: What I know is… the palace soldiers are twice our number.
Everyone was shocked, and tension spread across their faces. He continued:
Jalal: They also have General Jaafar—a former strategic commander in the army. He's more cunning than me, and defeating his plans won't be easy.
He paused briefly, then added:
Jalal: But trust me… the truth always prevails. And by God's will, we will be the victors.
They all smiled, their resolve hardening to win tomorrow and fight with everything they had.
Commander Jalal: You may leave now. We begin the attack at dawn, so you should rest early tonight.
They left the tent and headed toward their own. As the Lady was leaving, Moataz called out to her:
Moataz: How are you… Lady?
She looked at him without saying a word and walked away.
Moataz felt troubled, still believing he was to blame for what happened to her. But the Lady said nothing—not because she blamed him, but because she felt guilty for abandoning those she once saw as her second family and walking down the path of crime… believing that Moataz now hated her.
Hamza stood under the night sky, unable to sleep. Princess Hasna approached him and said:
Hasna: You can't sleep either, can you?
Hamza (still gazing at the sky): I'm not the only one.
Hasna: I know… tomorrow is a decisive day, and everyone is afraid.
Hamza (staring at the stars): The stars decorate the darkness of this pure land because they still believe in it… so let's be like them. Let's light Dar Homsan with their beauty and drive away injustice, just as the sun drives away the darkness of night.
He then turned to her and said:
Hamza: We will win.
Princess Hasna blushed and stepped back, saying:
Hasna: We should get some sleep.
She left.
Inside her tent, she whispered to herself:
I take back everything I said before… when I claimed there were no real men in this era. I've been captivated by Hamza's presence and his manliness… He truly is the maker of peace.
Hamza remained alone for hours, staring at the sky, wondering:
Can peace and justice ever be achieved in warring kingdoms?
To be continued…