After the Mameluke's somewhat reluctant consent to the deal the advisor had offered him he took point and led the group towards the city. The advisor feared getting into the city would be troublesome if it weren't with the company of a massive crusading army on their victory march, but now he hoped he could enter the city and retrieve the scrolls.
He had called the others to follow him, each in their own tongue. He said that to avoid local patrols and any combat they should follow the Mameluke and enter the city of Cairo where they would meet one of the advisor's old colleague and friend able to find them a boat they could use to traverse the Nile with and later enter the Mediterranean.
The boiling noon sun scorched the sand the crusaders walked on, but luckily for them they were about to hit solid rock as the neared the city. The edges of the city walls could be seen from a distant as the company approached the outskirts of the outer walls, with small farmlands using the channels and the waters of the Nile to water their crops. Farm animals roamed the land in small patches of dirt and some farmers stared as the group of beaten crusaders made their way to Cairo, accompanied by a fully armored Mameluke.
They went through the farmlands relatively safely with the occasional stone being thrown at them and th y stopped before the one of the side gatews of the city. In front of them was a gathering of beggars sitting at the entrance begging for a Zakat, while bored guards stopped caravans and carried tolls or checked suspicious travelers for contraband. The Mameluke and the advisor on horseback approached the guards at the entrance as they raised their spears and prepared to finish the crusaders off. They were simple militia, wearing some leather vests, an iron cap and gauntlets and carrying a spear. More than a few archers became aware of the group and began to address their firing holes, each preparing to draw their bow and aim at the Christians. The walls were massive and contained many notches near the gate, a place from where archers could fire their bows. The walls themselves had enough room to go through and even had some quarters for soldiers and working girls.
The Mameluke stopped and hailed the guards. "I bring prisoners of war. This one wants to convert to the true faith, and he requires an Imam to witness his speech. The others had escaped the Christian army and wish to join our faith as well. Let us pass, I will see to their conversion today". The soldiers at the gates laughed and shouted a few words up to the archers. The advisor left his horse behind at the gates but didn?t pay the man for keeping it safe. He knew he wouldn't need a horse where he would come to.
Entering through the side gate, the others could witness the glory of the city of Cairo. In the distance was the upper echelon of the city, where some of the market made its profits and the government buildings made their place. A great mosque was atop all of the others, intimidating them for a moment before moving on. They walked through the streets and followed the Mameluke as he made his way towards one of the smaller mosques in the city.
"Mameluke, me and my company would like to clean and cleanse ourselves before we say the shahada and declare our loyalty. Would you kindly show us a place of lodging where we could prepare for a day before we enter Islam?", the advisor asked the Arab as he waddled forward and breathed heavily, clearly tired and worn out from the journey. The Arab agreed and soon enough they ended up in a fancy looking inn where they could stay for the night. The place was on one of the main street and usually served travelling merchants, so they were surprised to see armed men with crosses on their clothes. After the local militia arrived the Mameluke sorted out all of the problems and the men were admitted to their rooms. Each room accommodated for three people, and the advisor did his best to group up the men according to their speech. He knew the time for action is nigh, and that the robbery would commence later tonight. For now, he supposed, the others could spend some time in their rooms. He would have to tell them the truth this time, well, only part of it, so they will help him find the scroll and leave Cairo.