Belem faithfully executed Eric's plan, and he reveled in it.
Hundreds of horsemen were split into small groups, riding hard between Damascus and the Sea of Galilee, turning everywhere they went into scorched earth.
They burned villages, destroyed wells, and drove the villagers into the wilderness, creating a scene of chaos and despair.
Granaries were plundered, livestock were herded back to Damascus, and the path they left behind was nothing but ruins and devastation.
It was not just plunder, but a meticulously planned slaughter.
They wanted more than just food and supplies; they wanted to utterly destroy all life in this land, turning it into a barren desert of death, flooding Tutush's camps with refugees, isolating the Muslims of Jerusalem, and weakening Tutush's army with hunger.
Fear was the most effective weapon.
