His troops, his family—his children and wife—all lay tortured and killed around the bloody encampment.
The smell of seared flesh and bodily fluids filled his nose as he fell to his knees and howled at the sight of them, knowing with grim certainty the blasphemous horrors that had been done to each before they were cruelly slaughtered.
As the crusaders stood over with smug faces, prepared to do the same to him, his bitter weeping turned to manic laughter.
The lead crusader’s haughtiness vanished, becoming subtle, though noticeable, indignation at the sound of their victim’s twisted mirth.
“At what are you laughing!?" he barked gruffly. "This was your family. Those were your daughters, and your son, and your wife!" he mercilessly insisted, gesturing toward a pile of bodies, all of which were naked and mutilated almost beyond recognition.
“Those were your soldiers," gesturing again to another heap of brutalized flesh in similar condition.
“They lie dead at YOUR feet and by OUR hands!”
With laughter calmed into solemn amusement, he looked up into the eyes of his would-be tormentor, flashing a grim smile, “Yes, yes they do," he said with a quiet sigh. "And yes, they were indeed mine, but I no longer have need of them." For now, I have you…" his voice slowly rising, his intention turning to the group at large and gesturing to their macabre handiwork "YOU are now my family…my sons and daughters…you are my soldiers. You will carry forth MY darkness and evangelize farther and wider than I otherwise ever would have been able."
Praised be the Darkness of Domination!
Go now, send me unto my Glory and carry forth the Word of the Wordless!