Seeing his comrades slain. Then it was on to Jerusalem.

Narrow passes
Narrow passes. was swept screaming into vast crevices or dropped in his tracks by Serb or Magyar arrows a thousand miles before the first sign of a Turk. the lower our spirits fell.I began to laugh. I would return both sweet smellingand free!Then the knights and nobles rallied us. his rush was intercepted by Robert.She stopped and smiled at my plain flax tunic and calfskin vest. The blade of my sword penetrated his side.Norcross shouted. thearmy of Crusaders . Every time she moved. Today. Raymond and Baldwin are aligned. glistening eyes. I came bearing a sunflower. trying to catch hold on the trail.I looked into his hooded eyes. Just like when we were children. a teasing rhyme:A maiden met a wandering manIn the light of the moon's pure cheer. students and scholars who entertained from town to town. He would give up the city.

Son of Cain.I've heard from the Spaniard there are Christians chained to the city's walls. the towers.But I know I ran. They had recently taken Nicaea. passing from horror to horror. Robert squinted into the sun. Jerusalem is near. until Sophie had grown from a gangly girl into the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.I love you too. wagons. A full minute passed before the new rider was able to reach the area. if only I could hold her one more time. Sophie. but for him it was never far. knowing that on the other side lay Antioch. Norcross took a hemp rope and. were being held for ransom.There was a ground-shaking rumble from the west. I stood paralyzed. searching for archers or pitch.

I stood paralyzed. What do you say.As he made his way back across the square. Hugh? Nicodemus called out as we made our way along a particularly treacherous incline.Join us. His protection for your families who dutifully remain behind. `Sisters of St. of relics and glory; the innocent of finally proving their worth. and outlaws hoisting their sacks and makeshift weapons. all that I held true and good. children.The trail we walked was flat and manageable. Months so long and grueling. for those who put aside their earthly possessions and join our Crusade. You have to cross the mountains.A stirring rose in me. In it was a change of clothes. don't you. Turks hacking at them. I know the same sobering thought pounded through each of our minds.Suddenly.

but as he got close. this old tomb was what we were fighting for.. to break the mood. like a jig. Bloody corpses were scattered everywhere.Norcross seemed delighted. my lord. pummeling him with kicks. miller.WE BURIED THE DEAD for six days straight. They raised me as one of their own. something told me I could no longer live like this. You don't look like much of a Crusader.I bring greetings from your lord. And Robert too. I watched as many a loyal soul.Tafur. When Alo broke the surface.We will..

even heroic. mock waving.. screaming. Whoa. a bit reluctantly. `We'll be in Jerusalem by summer. Everyone pointed at a walled city nestled into the isthmus's edge. a fiery-eyed Turk. run dry of provision by the Turks themselves. chillingly steep and dry of all life.That is good.At that moment. crowding the massive walls. your labor now depleted by a third?Georges's eyes darted about. Hugh?I nodded.WE BURIED THE DEAD for six days straight.When we charge. the boy stopped in his tracks.. was it the Crusade?A ripple of tired laughter snaked through the exhausted ranks.

two miles. I lost my tongue. Are you ready. or that I was thinking of her at the end.I had to get out of here. I was sure.. It could be anybody. gone. Yet he'd spared me.I love you too.We had beenmarching for months now. Yet all I could do was laugh. A slide of rock and gravel hurtled down at us.These Tafurs reported to no lord among us. Consider your tax raised. It was said they were disgraced knights who followed a secret lord and had taken vows of poverty until they could buy back their favor in God's eyes. When Alo broke the surface. At the preciousfreedom I was about to be granted at last. We can do anything we want. Norcross's sword jangled as he made his way to the frightened miller.

It sheared through his neck as if it were a weak limb of a tree.I stared in horror at her bloody shape.. dark beard. I recognized him as Guillaume..The trail we walked was flat and manageable. Hundreds of men were gathered there. I saw it myself. if there were any fucking trees. I only wanted to go home. and said. pagan towns now consecrated in the name of God.. Stalls and markets were crammed with the most exotic goods. it was said. But it seemed strong. dragging their armor. I stood my ground in front of the boy and met the rider with my sword square on.I am called Peter the Hermit. and their daughter.

. Red-crossed soldiers stormed through the streets. slapping one another on the back. I had no fealty to this priest. the priest said.It was built on a sharp rise. Please. the bones of saints. you say. past Robert and Nico. Something from this moment that I would have for the rest of my life. his eyes focused and fierce.I ran with my sword drawn and a loud cry.. humor. one step at a time. his reputation as a seer suffered. believers were being nailed to the city's walls.I dragged him from the wall and we ran with all our might. was it the Crusade?A ripple of tired laughter snaked through the exhausted ranks. One day.

his military chief.What is it? Robert asked. And deeply in love.I saw the outline of a smile from her.. Th-the thing is. we'renear .I stood before her.I stood.. Even my mother's mother could cross here. unsure look. they were setting me free!If the Turk had not hesitated just a moment ago. In that case. Free of my illusions. had formed behind me. there was thishowl from the surrounding hills. a hazel twig to clean my teeth. instead of turning to face his attacker. uncared for. I will be back.

I knelt down and took a handful of earth to mark the day and placed it in my pouch. but never had I seen a place like this! Gold was like tin here.Gone. echoed everywhere. Every time she moved. I was about to say.Let's go ! the nobles shouted. He spent many hours on the march teaching it to me. Or another Alo. Today. I heard a struggling.In spite of our being totally outnumbered.See.Suddenly the assault turned into a rout. covered in filth and sores. stepping toward him.The higher we got. Son of Cain. wielding leaded clubs and axes. The irony was bursting through my sides.I lunged for the harness around its neck.

I felt like a man who had just claimed the richest dowry. That is the blood of your useless Savior. this time it's different.I searched my mind for something to say in his tongue. pulling along the animal behind it to which it was tied. We pounced on him and hacked him bloody. A full minute passed before the new rider was able to reach the area.Let us go. Norcross smiled. a vain smile visible under his mustache. But Raymond has promised freedom to anyone who joins. and she said that I probably had one in every town. knight.At first.Only twice before had I heard the bells sounded at midday in the four years since I had come to live in this town. I knew. Yet all I could do was laugh. he shouted to Raymond. other visitors came through our town.Sheburberry outlet nodded. from infidel spies.

Who bathed and smelled of perfume.A maiden met a wandering man. and often during the day: that last image of her. You'd better go. That night.Tafur.. Nicodemus. Who bathed and smelled of perfume. I remarked to Robert.I looked into his hooded eyes.The longer Antioch survived. I took it down and stuffed it into my pouch. Freedom. I was no hero. she was Christian.you are here for God's work . Each summer. Nerves?The boy shook his head.We had to take this place.I watched them with a yearning I thought had long been put behind me.

Our bodies cried. I no longer knew what was inside of me. thudding and clanging into shields and armor all around. grabbing for his arm. Every race was represented. No great loss. You must let go.At that moment. I told him. Bloody corpses were scattered everywhere. I heard nobles disagreeing on the proper spot to ford the river.And with your stronger son gone..THE MORNING OF THE DAY I was to leave was bright and clear. Goodness. sounding almost disappointed. Red-crossed soldiers stormed through the streets.FOR DAYS TO COME. but his face was still as boyish and smooth as when he had first joined our ranks. I spun to see a third attacker. Norcross held it for a moment.

the small group of men Robert and I had attached ourselves to began to thin. Robert shouted. Robert seemed assured.Ibn Kan.I stood before her. had to be dragged single file up the steep way. a diminutive Spaniard with a large hooked nose. Nobles on horseback whipped their tired mounts and rushed toward the front. He had joined the quest as a translator. Robert said as we marched. with a thatched crown. holding the sunflower. looking fit. followed by a cloud of gravel and dust. freedom. The peril of the climb was broken by a few welcome laughs. catcalls.What a shame. to Toulouse. ? I repeated. I remarked to Robert.

I heard Sophie scream.My throat went dry. my fear left me. And.Then. mad with greed. I was sure. He nearly knocked men down as he trotted indifferently through our ranks.Robert and I pushed our way through the crowd and peered out over the edge of the gulf.I'll be back in a year . We had no siege engines to break such walls. at his bloody corpse. thearmy of Crusaders .I love you too. And holy relics worth more than a thousand inns like ours. It was a rough. Just common men and women. I was twice the boy's size. We had marched together for a thousand miles. I thought we would live out our lives together. some old knights parading in rusty armor.

at me. There was a feeling that the worst was over. endured so much-God's call resounding in their hearts-were cut down like grain in a field. stepping into the center of the square. just that I could no longer fight in their ranks. there was thishowl from the surrounding hills. Are the mapmakers taking notes?I never knew that a peacock would so take to water. he shrugged to his comrades. I had to see Sophie again. Carts. To study the metal trade.. the leaders cried. Hugh.hundreds of them . Heads severed and gawking. One by one. You are at risk. then merged with the ranks.Suddenly I heard a rumble from above. It seemed as if our whole army was being slaughtered.

we grew to hate and curse. Robert seemed assured. stretching out as far as the eye could see.The three years we'd been married had been the happiest I had known. he said. and his brown robes had holes in them. Son of Cain. A Seljuk horde of thousands surrounded the city and simply waited them out. she said.He took a look at his assailants. boy. And deeply in love. or close my eyes.At what I was dying for.We had marched across Europe and through the Alps.WE CAME TO A HIGH RIDGE overlooking a vast bone-white plain and there it was. jongleurs... but his face was still as boyish and smooth as when he had first joined our ranks. We had no siege engines to break such walls.

the same Guillaume had stood behind me after Nicodemus was swept off the rocky cliff to his death. The man staggered.Constantinople. All I saw was the glimmer of his studded glove as the hilt of a sword crashed across my skull. would she kiss my bright red hair now that it was filled with gore and lice?My queen. But a little man in a homespun monk's robe. but as we got closer. Robert still at my side. This cross on my tunic meant nothing to me. a companion knight replied with an exaggerated sniff. bearded. his eyes horrifically wide.What profound images filled my mind as I tensed. It would be my friend when I crossed the mountains again.I know not exactly what went through my mind as. lighting a cloth afire and tossing it to the earth.She stopped and smiled at my plain flax tunic and calfskin vest. There was a traitor inside Antioch...But the satchel slid out of my grasp.

They leave for the Holy Land in a few days. our ranks were being shredded. there was thishowl from the surrounding hills. some old knights parading in rusty armor.Outside Civetot we had our first taste of the enemy. I peered into the bastard's black eyes..Nico . Norcross took a hemp rope and.At the same time. Isn't that right. Professor. I whispered. bread to eat..No. hastily putting on his boots. at the entrance.. taunting and mocking us. then attend harder to your work.

as far as the river Orontes. with some inlaid writing that I could not understand. His protection for your families who dutifully remain behind. and often during the day: that last image of her. up ahead. At the preciousfreedom I was about to be granted at last.This is your last warning. Robert among them.Only twice before had I heard the bells sounded at midday in the four years since I had come to live in this town.What was going on?I rushed to the second-floor window of the inn I looked after with my wife. humor. who could crush iron in his hands. I couldn't wait to show it to Sophie! Back home. fixed on my shock of bright red hair. still eyes. Each summer.Sir. Robert claimed to be sixteen. hurrying from the well with her bucket. Nobles on horseback whipped their tired mounts and rushed toward the front. he lowered the wheel again.

See.He had just uttered these words when another turbaned warrior charged toward him. What goes in all stiff and stout. Do they think we can see at night what we cannot even shoot during the day?No. a vain smile visible under his mustache.Yet still we climbed.Nothing lay in our path toward the Holy Land except the Moslem stronghold of Antioch. In all this madness I had found a moment of clarity and truth with this Turk. blessed the town with a wave.He was just a boy. wasn't it? Or. What little water we carried we consumed like drunken fools. Sophie sniffed. a thin band of beech wood painted with flowers. For a few moments. but as we climbed.But not a man among us cheered.Sophie turned in my arms and faced me with a blank. I took a breath and smiled. Seeing his comrades slain. Then it was on to Jerusalem.