The fall of Arqa sent shockwaves through the fractured County of Tripoli.
In the days that followed, traders, scouts, and frightened nobles carried the same message down every road:
"Jerusalem is moving again. And this king… he builds as fast as he conquers."
For Roland, Chapter 20 was only the opening stroke. The real campaign — the one that would carve his name into the stones of history — began now.
Consolidation Before the Storm
Arqa's streets buzzed with motion. Engineers inspected walls, scribes collected census records, and soldiers patrolled markets to keep peace. What Roland had learned from earlier chapters guided every decision:
Stability after conquest
Protection of local people
Immediate economic repair
Symbolic acts that showed Jerusalem was a leader, not a looter
Amalthea reported to Roland in the provisional council chamber.
"The irrigation channels north of Arqa are repairable. If we fix them, Arqa can feed itself again."
"Do it," Roland said. "We expand faster when the lands behind us are stable."
Sir Aldric entered next, helmet under his arm.
"Your Majesty, scouts have confirmed that Hisn Akkar is lightly defended. If we take it, Tripoli's southern border collapses."
Hisn Akkar — a fortress perched on a steep cliff, once a proud guardian of the region.
Roland nodded slowly. "Then that's our next step."
The March to Hisn Akkar
The army left Arqa with renewed purpose, their numbers bolstered by fresh volunteers — villagers who had seen Roland's reforms and wanted a future under his banner. Every chapter since 11 had grown the kingdom, and now the people of Tripoli could see the pattern:
Where Roland marched, order followed.
The journey was rugged. Hisn Akkar was nested atop a deep ravine, reachable only by narrow paths. A perfect natural fortress.
But Roland wasn't relying only on medieval methods.
Roland's Plan
He studied the cliffs and terrain through a modern tactical lens.
"They expect a direct climb," Roland said. "So we won't give them one."
He ordered:
Engineers to scout the ravine for hidden paths
Archers to take positions along the lower ridge
A small elite unit to climb at night and secure a secondary platform
A decoy force to make noise at the main gate
His men followed the plan with precision.
The Fall of Hisn Akkar
The siege began before dawn.
The defenders rushed to the main gate, yelling down at the "invaders" — Roland's decoy force. Meanwhile, the elite unit scaled the steep side path Roland had identified. The climb was brutal, but at the top they overwhelmed the guards silently.
Moments later, the inner gate swung open.
Roland's army poured in.
The defenders, realizing they had been outmaneuvered, surrendered within minutes.
Hisn Akkar had fallen.
Sir Aldric exhaled, amazed. "That fortress was supposed to be impenetrable."
Roland gave a small grin. "Most walls aren't as strong as people think. It's the people inside who make the difference."
A Different Kind of Victory
Again, Roland ordered no plunder.
Instead:
Wells were cleaned
Storehouses measured
Local leaders brought in peacefully
Road connections to Arqa mapped and repaired
A garrison placed, not to oppress, but to stabilize
Tripoli's population began seeing a pattern:
This king doesn't conquer. He restores.
Whispers spread from village to village:
"Jerusalem's king has brought water back to Arqa."
"He rebuilt the trade routes in Galilee."
"He doesn't kill civilians—he protects them."
"He might be the ruler we need."
Tripoli's lords watched these developments with growing fear.
Because they could see clearly:
Roland was not a raider.
Roland was a builder of nations.
And those men — men who relied on chaos to hold power — had no place in the kingdom he was creating.
The Path Opens
With Arqa secured in Chapter 20 and Hisn Akkar falling in Chapter 21, the southern border of Tripoli was broken.
Roland stood on the fortress walls as the sun set, looking toward the coastline of Tripoli.
"We've taken two gates," Amalthea said quietly. "Now the lords of Tripoli will be forced to unite… or fall one by one."
Roland nodded.
"They won't unite," he said. "Greed keeps them divided. And division… is how we win."
He looked west — to the heartland of Tripoli, full of cities and castles that once belonged to the Crusader states.
"We move at first light."