by D. N. Carter
“A drink will suffice,” Saladin replied. “And perhaps whilst I am here, you will honour me with doing a likeness of me,” he said and walked to the middle of the courtyard and looked around smiling. “I remember this place well…very well.”
Alisha looked at Paul, puzzled. Theodoric seeing the look on their faces stepped closer.
“This was once his property. Even Princess Stephanie stayed here once… as his guest of course,” Theodoric explained in a whisper.
Alisha and Paul looked at Saladin as he stood alone in the middle of the courtyard.
“So this is the man we hear so much of. The legend that is Saladin,” Alisha spoke quietly in Paul’s ear and held on to his arm.
Paul looked at his father, who was holding Arri tightly as Tenno stood beside him and bowed his head pleased to see him again. Sister Lucy sniffed and pulled at Theodoric’s singed shirt. Paul agreed with Alisha that Saladin was clearly a legend, but as he looked at his father, holding Arri as if he had known him always, he wondered who he really was; this unknown legend in his own right, who knew so many powerful people who all seemed to hold him and Theodoric in such high regard. He sighed and felt a real sense of pride in his father he had never felt before as if seeing him properly for the first time.
Port of La Rochelle, France, Melissae Inn, spring 1191
“The great Saladin himself?” the Hospitaller remarked.
“Yes, Saladin himself. Do you find this hard to believe?” the old man asked.
“I am open to all things…but Saladin…arriving at their home. Is that normal?”
“In Cairo, and in regard to Saladin, yes it was very normal. A truce was in place, and remember, Ernoul had given Paul a sealed envelope from Balian which had a further letter inside from Philip, but in all the confusion and concern over Turansha, Paul had completely forgotten about Ernoul’s letter. If not he would have known his father was coming and that he had been on a special commission to Syria to seek terms with Saladin in person. You see, many years before, as I have explained already, when Saladin was young, it was Philip, Firgany and Theodoric who had…a certain direct involvement in proving certain things about our world to him. They had remained close ever since. And indeed Saladin once owned the very property.
“So why did Saladin return to Cairo then?” Ayleth asked.
“Yes and did Paul do one of his drawings of him? I would love to see what this Saladin really looks like,” Simon asked excitedly.
“Gabirol…if you would be so kind…inside there is indeed a picture drawn by Paul of Saladin,” the old man said.
Immediately, Gabirol pulled over the leather bound folder, opened it and looked through several parchment sheets and vellum papers until he came across an image of a man holding a sword who looked like a Muslim soldier. He looked at the old man for confirmation. When he nodded it was, he removed the drawing and placed it in the centre of the table for all to see.
Fig. 53: Saladin.
“If this Saladin is such a noble and honourable man, why do we fight him still?” Ayleth asked.
“Religion!” the Hospitaller shot back instantly as he leaned forward to see the drawing.
“’Tis not really religion…more men and how they understand religion, and greed, vanity, power, all play a part,” the old man replied looking at Ayleth. “And as our knight friends here can confirm, much was down to the local commanders and their personal relationships with opposing leaders in Outremer as a whole. Sometimes Templars would march and fight alongside their Muslim counterparts against another regional foes.”
“Really?” Sarah asked, confused, as she leaned up on her elbows and studied the image.
“Yes, really. The Rule of the Templars, and to a lesser degree that of the Hospitallers, even permits military service in the armies of the Muslim Seljuks of Rum, that is Anatolia. Likewise battle hardened and well disciplined knights like Thomas and his men were highly prized and sought after.”
“But I thought Saladin spent all his time in Syria or attacking Jerusalem,” Peter said and shrugged his shoulders as he glanced at the picture of Saladin.
“No, that is simply propaganda. But Saladin was in Cairo due to many reasons,” the old man started to explain.
“Then please tell us, for I would like to know,” Gabirol asked.
“Well I think he looks handsome in a strange sort of way,” Ayleth remarked.
“He is indeed a handsome man. He could have any woman he chose, but his real love was a woman he longed to be with but distance and time often kept them apart more than he wished,” the old man explained. “Saladin would often say that if you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner. Husam believed this totally too.”
“Is that true about that evil Turansha then?” Sarah asked.
“No…not quite! But his words that not all you fight are your enemies did stick in Paul’s mind. Sometimes a great truth can still be told by a great liar.”
“You mentioned that Ernoul gave Paul a letter, which he forgot to read. What was the letter about…not from his father but Balian’s?” Gabirol asked.
“Ernoul’s letter,” the old man repeated and smiled, paused for a moment then continued. “It was a letter from Balian stating that he wished it to be formally known that he wanted Paul to be registered as one of his notarised knights in time of crisis.”
“What does that mean?” Ayleth asked.
“It means if an arriere ban or call to arms is issued by the king in Jerusalem, or by Balian himself, Paul would join them. It would afford him certain privileges in return should he himself get into trouble and require assistance…a lot of knights affiliated themselves in this manner, but Paul chose not to,” the old man explained as both the Templar and Hospitaller nodded in agreement with him.
“Is that all?” Gabirol asked, looking puzzled.
“You miss very little…for there was more. A letter from Princess Stephanie too.”
“Oh dear, I bet it was not good?” the farrier remarked.
“’Twas not bad neither. But Paul never read the letter, but I shall come to that,” the old man replied.
Simon with his arms folded looked across at Gabirol to make sure he was making a note. As Gabirol wrote, Simon winked at him.
“And Percival and Nyla, they were to wed. Did they, and what were Attar, Tenno and Theodoric doing that nearly killed them?” Peter asked.
“Yes they were to wed, and Attar, being the keen alchemist he is decided to make some powder that explodes. Pretty harmless when mixed and lit as it usually burns off in a bright flash, of different colours, but Tenno was demonstrating how when compressed inside a tube, it could be used to launch another smaller pack of the powder into the air. Percival did not realise it should not be lit indoors and decided to light the powder. He was indeed lucky to survive. In fact they could have all been killed.”
“Sounds more like a weapon to me,” the Hospitaller commented.
“Yes indeed the stuff they made could be weaponised…”
“So Saladin turns up and if things had gone really wrong, they could have all been killed? End of Saladin by accident,” Simon commented. “But you still have not explained why he was in Cairo.”
“He had to be there. He left Farrukh-Shah in charge of Syria, whilst he returned to Cairo. He intended to spend the fast of Ramadan in Egypt and then make the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in the summer. But for unknown reasons he changed his plans regarding the pilgrimage and was seen inspecting the Nile River banks in June that year…but I can tell you that it was because he was very interested in the new ship designs and strange vessel Paul had designed. But he was also again embroiled with the Bedouin too; he removed two-thirds of their fiefs to use as compensation for the fief-holders at Fayyum. The Bedouin had been accused of trading with the Crusaders and, consequently, their grain was confiscated and they were forced to migrate westward. Later, Ayyubid warships commanded by Husam waged against Bedouin river pi
rates who were plundering the shores of Lake Tanis.”
“What is Ramadan?” Ayleth asked.
“Ramadan, ’tis in the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed in daylight hours. Almost all Muslims try to give up bad habits during Ramadan and some will pray more or read the Qur’an. Ramadan fell on the 19th of January in 1181,” the old man answered.
“And have I understood correctly, that Saladin not only fought Christians but other Muslims, for I did not know this before,” Ayleth continued.
“That is very correct, just as too many Christian kings fight each other, their Muslim contemporaries do likewise. So Saladin could never relax from conflict both from outside and within. In the summer of 1181, Saladin’s former palace administrator Qara-Qush led a force to arrest Majd al-Din, a former deputy of Turansha in the Yemeni town of Zabid, while he was entertaining Imad ad-Din at his estate in Cairo. Saladin’s intimates accused Majd al-Din of misappropriating the revenues of Zabid, but Saladin himself believed there was no evidence to back the allegations. He had Majd al-Din released in return for a payment of eighty thousand dinars. In addition, other sums were to be paid to Saladin’s brothers al-Adil and Taj al-Muluk Buri. The controversial detainment of Majd al-Din was a part of the larger discontent associated with the aftermath of Turansha’s departure from Yemen and subsequent early death in Alexandria. Although his deputies continued to send revenues from the province, internal conflict grew between Izz al-Din Uthman of Aden and Hittan of Zabid. Saladin wrote in a letter to al-Adil arguing how they had conquered Yemen which was a treasure house yet had seen no reward or advantage in obtaining it only expenses in troops et cetera. Saif al-Din had died earlier in June 1181 and his brother Izz al-Din inherited leadership of Mosul as a direct consequence. On December the fourth, the crown-prince of the Zengids, as-Salih, died in Aleppo but prior to his death, he had his chief officers swear an oath of loyalty to Izz al-Din, as he was the only Zengid ruler strong enough to oppose Saladin. Izz al-Din was welcomed in Aleppo, but possessing it and Mosul put too great a strain on his abilities. He thus handed Aleppo to his brother Imad al-Din Zangi, in exchange for Sinjar. Saladin offered no opposition to these transactions in order to respect the treaty he previously made with the Zengids. It was always a game of cat and mouse for Saladin and his position was always under threat,” the old man explained. [85]
“You sound as though you admire him?” the farrier said bluntly.
“I do and I make no apology for that fact. I am sure King Richard will likewise come to admire and respect him also just as many who have actually met him do,” the old man replied instantly.
“You think so?” the farrier shot back cynically.
“We know so!” both the Templar and Hospitaller responded in tandem. They looked at each other and laughed.
“So on a happier note. Did Percival and Nyla marry? Was it a grand affair… what did she wear?” Sarah asked excitedly, changing the subject. Stephan shook his head, smiling at her.
“Yes they married. Not so much a lavish affair,” the old man replied. “Nyla had spoken at length with Alisha about her wedding day and she wanted hers to be conducted in the same fashion. With Oathing Stones, beside water, virtually the same words and everything. But there were surprises in store that day, and some very notable guests,” the old man finished and rubbed his chin.
Cairo, Egypt, January 1181
Paul, dressed in a fine cream and gold silk robe, knocked on Percival’s door. Everyone else was waiting near to the lake shore a short distance from the rear entrance. Alisha held Arri as Philip nodded at Paul.
“Sister Lucy will let us know when Nyla is ready but make sure he is there within the next five minutes. We have some important guests in attendance this day,” Philip said as he ushered Alisha toward the exit.
Paul knocked harder upon Percival’s door. After a few moments stood in silence, Paul slowly opened the door to see Percival dressed in his full armour looking very smart, but kneeling in prayer. The room was fairly dark as the afternoon sun had moved behind the outer wall. Quietly Paul shut the door and walked over to Percival as he continued to mutter words in prayer. Paul knelt down beside him and placed his hand upon his shoulder.
“Percy. It is time. Everyone is in place and waiting,” Paul said softly.
Percival sniffed, opened his eyes and looked at Paul, his eyes full of emotion and looking fearful.
“I cannot do this,” he suddenly blurted out.
“What? In heaven’s name why not? You love Nyla do you not?” Paul asked, confused and shocked.
“More than life itself. That is why she deserves better than me.”
“What? What rubbish are you speaking?”
“’Tis not rubbish but true,” Percival replied and looked down as tears ran across his cheeks. He sniffed again and wiped his sleeve across his face. “I am not who you think I am…and…and your father tells me we have honoured guests attending who claim to know me, yet they do not.”
“Percival, you are not making any sense. What are you saying?” Paul asked, puzzled, and pulled Percival’s face to look at him.
“My friend. I have lied to all of you and the shame is too much to bear. I cannot inflict my shame upon Nyla when I am exposed this day.”
Paul’s mind raced as he recalled the words of the female beneath Jerusalem that told him Percival lies but that he is a good man. He shook his head.
“Percy…I know not what lies you speak of, nor do I need to know…but I know you are a good brave and noble man. And there is a woman out there who loves you more than her own life. Whatever lies you speak of, ’tis not important today. It is what you do and how you live now that is important.”
“Paul…I have lied to all of you. I am not what you think.”
“Really pray tell how so. For I know you as an honourable and brave man and one who saved my life. That is all I need to know,” Paul replied and rubbed his hand across Percival’s shoulders.
“No. I am a deceiver of the worst kind,” Percival cried and rubbed his eyes with his hands.
“Tell me how so.”
“I am not Percival. I am just a lowly humble squire…who…who…” Percival tried to explain and paused as he caught his breath. “Your father tells me a certain Queen Tamar from Georgia is here to seek truces and terms with Saladin. Your father and Theodoric know her well and have invited her to this wedding. She will recognise me and know that I am not the Percival she knows of,” Percival explained, shaking his head, with panic written across his ashen white face. “Everything I have struggled and fought so hard for, I am about to lose. The Lord takes his vengeance just as Lord Balian said so long ago,” Percival said, his nose running and tears falling from his eyes.
Paul grabbed him hard with his hands and pulled him around forcibly and looked at him as he shook him to open his eyes.
“Look at me, Percy. I do not claim to understand what you are telling me, but I do know you are a good, noble and honourable man who has shown me nothing less…and you have my support and I will back you all the way. But you cannot run away from this today. You will go out there and you will front it when you meet this Queen Tamar whoever she is. My father says she is a godly woman. She may not recognise you but she will recognise the good man that stands before her.”
“I cannot. I have lied to Thomas…all of his men…,” Percival cried.
“You think we did not know that?” Thomas suddenly interrupted as he opened the door fully and stepped into view. Percival’s eyes widened in alarm as his jaw dropped in shock. Paul looked up at him as he slowly walked nearer. “Percy…do you honestly think us that blind that we did not see how naive and untrained you were when we first met you? Stand up, boy!”
Percival looked at Paul, confused. Paul helped him stand up straight.
“What are you saying?” Percival sniffed.
“You had ill fitting armour clearly not made for you, you did not know the basics of sword fighting and soldieri
ng. You were like a pup amongst a pack of wolves,” Thomas explained quietly and smiled. Percival looked at Paul again and back at Thomas totally speechless. “But you showed great promise and real courage. We all have a past. Some choose to forget it and start again. That much we knew and accepted for that is all we needed to know. You have more than proved yourself worthy of being called a knight…perhaps more honourable than most of us,” Thomas continued to explain and placed his right hand upon Percival’s left shoulder and looked him in the eye. “Now honour us and our faith in you by getting your virginal arse down to the lake and marry that woman before one of us misfits does.”
“Is there anything about me you do not know?” Percival asked, wiping his nose.
“Much I am sure…but enough to know we have your loyalty and that is all we need to know. You can best most of us in combat now and we are proud to count you as one of us. When we asked you to join us, we knew then you were keeping things back from us…but we are all guilty of that to one degree or another. We judge a man by what he does…his actions and as Tenno keeps banging on, ’tis the intention. Your intentions toward us have been nothing but admirable and honourable, and that is how it shall remain! We shall deal with any comments this queen may say,” Thomas said reassuringly as Percival let out a nervous laugh. “In time, when you are ready, then you can tell us about your true past…now go.”
“Here, wipe your face dry,” Paul remarked as he handed Percival a small handkerchief.
Percival cleared his nose and wiped his eyes. Took a deep breath and looked at them both in silence. He was lost for words.
“We’ll follow you down,” Thomas said and patted Percival on the back as he ushered him out of the room.
Paul stood just behind Percival’s right shoulder as Thomas stood behind his left side. Percival’s eyes darted from side to side as he walked towards Theodoric, who was waiting stood inside a circled off area just a short distance away from the lake’s shoreline. On either side stood all of Thomas’s men and several Mamluk guards. Philip stood to the side dressed in his full Naval Templar’s outfit. To his left at the front, Percival could not believe his eyes when he realised that both Saladin and Husam were stood beside a tall and slender young women dressed in expensive attire. His heart jumped and he gulped hard standing still momentarily as he feared the woman turning and exposing him. He was surprised that Saladin himself was even present but the woman, if she was indeed Queen Tamar, made his stomach knot. Thomas prodded him in the back to move forward. Percival gulped again and slowly walked towards Theodoric. Percival looked at Luke nervously as he winked at him.