Outremer III

by D. N. Carter

  “Ali…watch Ali,” Paul yelled as Tenno ran past him directly into Paul’s chambers.

  “Assassin,” Percival stated looking at the dead Ashashin cut in two almost. “But why?”

  “There is another…maybe more,” Paul said loudly as the other men rushed into Reynald’s chambers, Princess Stephanie grabbing the bed sheet to cover herself as Reynald tried to get to his feet visibly shaken.

  Paul suddenly noticed the far end window of the corridor was partly open. It was a sheer drop outside onto the main glacis and was usually bolted permanently shut. Seeing Tenno now beside Alisha and Ailia, he quickly ran toward the open window. But no way could the other assassin have got that far from the bedroom doorway in time, he thought. As he approached the last section of the corridor cautiously, he sensed something above him in the roof of the vaulted archway. He looked up to see the other assassin pressed up against the arches using his arms and legs to support himself in position. The moment Paul saw him, the man let go and fell on top of him. As they hit the stone floor, Paul tried to roll over, but so did the man who was now holding Paul’s wrists. Paul lunged his right hand upwards trying to get his sword high enough. The man stared hard at Paul for a moment, quickly looked back and saw Percival and several other knights rushing toward them. Suddenly the man rolled himself forwards over Paul, letting go of his wrists, then in one smooth rolling move jumped at the window like an acrobat. Instantly and without hesitation the man climbed out and started to move along the thin outer wall balustrade supports. Paul rushed over to see where he was going. The wind blew up against him. Paul hated heights and he felt momentarily dizzy looking down the sheer nearly 200 foot drop below. If he did not follow the man, he would get away and he needed to know if they had been after Reynald or his family. He tied the waist strap of his night shirt tighter and pushed his sword through it. He took a deep breath and climbed out onto the small wooden catch balcony then onto the stone ridge just inches wide. Gripping another upper stone ridge with his fingers, he started to edge his way along the outer wall just as Percival leaned out.

  “Paul…are you mad…you hate heights. Get back. We can find the assassin for he will not get far,” Percival called out.

  The assassin stopped momentarily and looked back toward Paul, but Paul ignored Percival and continued to follow. Quickly the assassin started to edge his way around the main keep wall and toward the large angled northern support buttress. Paul was physically shaking not daring to look down but simply focusing on getting to the man. He flinched as a spark lit up the wall above him as a metal star bounced off just missing his head. He gulped grabbing hold tighter to the upper ridge, his stomach in his mouth. The assassin reached the buttress but there was a steep gap between the wall and buttress itself of nearly twelve feet at least. How would Paul engage him up here he wondered as he edged himself ever closer to the assassin. Another metallic star sparked off the wall as another was thrown at Paul. Determined and hoping there were no more assassins present, Paul pushed on, the tension in his shoulder finally registering pain from the embedded star. Paul froze momentarily as he saw the assassin turn and hesitate as he stood on the precipice about to leap across the sheer drop to the buttress.

  7 - 3

  “Paul…for the love of Alisha and Ailia, come back,” Percival shouted.

  The wind blew hard against Paul in a sudden gust and he had to grip even tighter. He looked at Percival leaning out of the window as far as he dare, resting his arm upon the small wooden catch ledge. Paul looked back just in time to see the assassin leap, hurtling through the air and land hard on the side of the buttress and grabbing hold with his hands on a flattened section just feet wide. The assassin pulled himself up easily onto the ledge then vanished out of sight over the other side. Paul knew if he did not follow him, he would escape. Once Paul was positioned opposite the buttress where it narrowed into a smaller section, he saw the small platform the assassin had jumped to. He turned so his back was firmly against the wall and focused on the single platform only, not daring to look down. If he slipped, there was nothing to grab hold of. The wind kept gusting and he feared that if he jumped, the wind would slow him and he would miss the edge altogether. He could hear Percival calling out but his words were being carried away by the wind. He took a deep breath, waited for a drop in the wind then jumped forward as hard as he could throw himself outward. As he fell through the air toward the edge of the buttress, he immediately realised that he was going to fall short, his legs flaying beneath him. He heard Percival scream out his name as Paul reached out his arms…his hands just smacking the top of the platform then sliding backwards to the very edge fast. Frantically he tried to grip the surface but his own body weight was pulling him downward and the wind felt like it was trying to force him down further. With anger rising he dug his fingers down deep into the grainy stone, but still he was slipping, his legs just dangling in mid air.

  “Not like this!” Paul called out frantic and looked down briefly knowing he was going to fall. In the dark he could not see the edge but tried to see where it curved. If he could hit that, he may stand a chance and roll down the face of the glacis. Then his fingers went, his heart stopped and he knew there was nothing he could do. “Sorry, Ali,” he whispered, closed his eyes and felt his fingers graze across the stone.

  Suddenly he felt the strong grip of a hand around his left forearm. He stopped falling away and hung in the air suspended by the man on the platform. Paul looked up, puzzled, his heart beating so fast and his ears ringing. Another hand grabbed his forearm and then he realised the man was trying to help him.

  “You will have to throw your leg up to gain a foot hold on the recess just in front of you, then let me pull you up,” Taqi said, out of breath.

  With his ears ringing Paul was stunned to hear what he thought was Taqi’s voice. But he was in no place to argue. He kicked his leg forward and after two attempts he felt the ridge of the recess and quickly wedged his foot into it, then used the leverage to push himself up slightly, with his right hand, he reached over and grabbed the man’s shoulder and slowly began to pull himself up onto the platform. The assassin rolled over as he hauled Paul over to safety, lying on him.

  “Taqi…is that really you?” Paul asked out of breath, his throat dry.

  “Yes, you reckless fool. What were you thinking?” Taqi replied as a gust of wind blew into them hard.

  “Me reckless?”

  “Yes…I am trained to do this and far fitter than you,” Taqi replied still holding Paul tightly.

  “I am as fit as I have ever been,” Paul replied, still gasping for air.

  “But clearly not as fit as me…what of Ali and Ailia? You have responsibilities, you bloody fool.”

  “What the…just what the hell are you doing here killing Reynald’s men then?” Paul demanded. “And why did you come back to help me…you could not have known it was me?”

  “As soon as I landed on you I knew ’twas you and then I heard Percival call out your name and I knew only you would be mad enough to follow. I threw the stars to warn you off. ’Twas not I who killed Reynald’s men…’twas my friend…he must have been discovered.”

  “But why are you here?”

  “Paul…think back…’twas your idea…one that Master Rashid thought wise and expeditious to execute,” Taqi replied and looked over the side of the buttress as the wind blew against them hard as sleet started to fall.

  “My idea?” Paul exclaimed, surprised.

  “Was it not you who suggested it would be a good idea to threaten Reynald, in his own bed in the dead of night just as Al Rashid did to Saladin?” Taqi explained and looked down again.

  “’Twas…yes, but I never thought any of you were really listening,” Paul replied and shook his head. Shouting below drew his attention and he looked down at several torches being waved and blowing in the wind many feet beneath them. “You still have not answered why you came back for I cannot see how we get down for one, or how you can make good your
escape now.”

  “I knew you hated heights remember…and I knew you would not make the leap successfully if you tried it…as for escape…that moment has passed. I fear you must now kill me, my friend, least you hand me over to Reynald’s torturers…for you know he will torture me.”

  “What?” Paul asked, alarmed.

  “You must, and you must do so quickly…that or I jump headfirst,” Taqi replied and grabbed Paul’s arm tightly and looked at him, just his eyes visible through his blackened face mask. He pulled it up and off over his face so Paul could see him properly in the dim light of the far distance rising sun. “You must.”

  “No…absolutely not. Think of Alisha…it would end us. There has to be another way,” Paul replied and tried to think as more men gathered beneath them. “You jump and I swear by all that is holy to me and upon Alisha’s soul, I will follow you this very hour,” Paul blurted out emotionally and grabbed Taqi’s arms tightly. “I will not let go…”

  “Paul…they will torture me and I will pray for death…you cannot allow this to happen to me. ’Tis our way. We are not allowed to surrender, ’tis forbidden, you know that,” Taqi reasoned with Paul and looked at him.

  For several moments they both just looked at each other.

  “I cannot get down from here without you…”

  “Good one, my friend, and it just proves you should always study carefully where you live. There is a stone ladder that runs up this buttress for repair access purposes…you will get down just fine,” Taqi answered and smiled. “You know I cannot be taken alive. Alisha need never know it was me either.”

  As Paul looked at him, he knew what he was saying was true, but he could not simply let him kill himself.

  “And you say the stone ladder is down that side?” Paul asked and half leaned over to look. Taqi leaned forward slightly to confirm but as he looked down, Paul pulled up his sword and using the pommel end, smacked the base of Taqi’s skull hard enough to instantly knock him out as Tenno had shown him more times than he cared to remember how to. “Sorry, brother, but I cannot allow you to kill yourself. I promise I will find a way,” Paul said as he held him tightly. He looked over and down the sheer drop and wondered how he would get Taqi down whilst he was unconscious. He looked back at Percival still leaning out of the window trying to see what was going on. Beneath him all he could see was the steep main glacis. If it had not been for Taqi’s sacrifice, he would now be smashed upon it and most certainly dead. He shuddered as he thought of Alisha. He shook his head and wished he had not chased Taqi, but he could not have known it was him.

  “Hey…Paul,” Theodoric suddenly called out from somewhere close. “Over here…this way. Take the plank!”

  Surprised, Paul looked off to his left over his shoulder to see a large wooden plank waving about in midair in the darkness, Theodoric, Ishmael and several of Thomas’s men were holding the other end through a small opening in the main stone wall. Quickly he grabbed the end and guided it until it rested flat upon the platform.

  It took just minutes for Paul to tie a rope around Taqi and then guide him across the plank as Ishmael and Thomas’s men pulled him across slowly, Paul fearful the plank would snap at any moment as it creaked, the wind trying to prise them off like some evil force refusing to let them go. As soon as Taqi was through the hole, Theodoric reached out and grabbed Paul and pulled him in firmly, Paul falling onto the stone walkway that ran inside the wall.

  “How did you know there was a hidden access way here?” Paul asked, out of breath, as Ishmael lifted Taqi up, still unconscious. Paul started to shake uncontrollably.

  “Believe me, I know every tunnel, every passage way and escape hole. Next time, don’t be so bloody fast to throw away your life…or mine with a heart failure.”

  Reynald appeared through the turret’s door some feet away fuming, his face red with rage and still dressed in only his long nightshirt. He saw Taqi still bundled upon the floor with Paul now stood over him. Quickly Reynald lifted his sword and unsheathed it throwing down the scabbard. Gerard closely followed him as well as Stewart, Nicholas, Upside and several other Templars, the flaming torches casting flickering shadows only adding to the look of rage upon Reynald’s face.

  “Stand aside, Paul, whilst I run that sneaking bastard through!” Reynald bellowed as he approached. Theodoric immediately went to block Reynald’s way but he pushed him aside hard and raised his sword in both hands, the blade pointing down. Paul stepped fully over Taqi as he started to come round and raised his arm to block any move Reynald was going to make. Reynald glared at Paul angrily, spit foaming at the sides of his mouth. “This assassin just tried to kill me…now move aside or so help me God I will strike you down too,” he fumed.

  “I cannot do that…for if this man had wanted you dead, you would already be dead,” Paul replied as Theodoric tried to stand between them.

  “Theo, get out of my way for by Christ no matter the friendship between us, I will have you arrested.”

  “My Lord…’tis true what Paul says. And, even if it is not, then think onward…this man is a valuable asset with which to bargain…perhaps even exchange for gold…let alone the intelligence we can get from him,” Theodoric explained as Stewart stepped closer to Paul.

  “I think you will find that this man came to warn you, not kill you,” Paul started to explain as Taqi rolled on the floor half unconscious.

  “’Tis the son of Firgany is it not…Alisha’s brother no less,” Gerard stated as he looked down at him.

  “What!” Reynald bellowed even louder at Paul in a long drawn out manner. “So you brought this man and his accomplice into my castle to kill two of my men and have me run through in my sleep?”

  “If that was so, then why did Paul just risk his life trying to stop him from escaping and who do you think killed the other assassin?” Theodoric said and deliberately stood back in front of Reynald’s sword. “I would check whatever message has been left for you before you run anyone through this night.”

  Reynald stared at Theodoric hard and his entire body shook with rage. Theodoric raised his eyebrow and tilted his head slightly as if to ask him a question.

  “He could be right you know…about exchanging him for gold,” Gerard commented and rubbed his chin and then patted Reynald on the shoulder. “I think best you retire and check on your good wife…I will have this one in chains and in the morning we can find out exactly his intentions. What do you say?”

  Slowly Reynald lowered his sword, his gaze falling to Paul’s hand firmly placed upon his own sword ready to draw.

  “I will decide what to do with that man in the morning…,” Reynald said loudly and flounced around still full of anger and pushed past Nicholas and Upside.

  “’Tis one less I owe you,” Gerard said quietly to Paul. “But whatever happens with this one, I strongly suggest you take your family and your men and leave for I know Reynald, and he will snap soon of that I am certain.”

  “Thank you,” Paul replied.

  “Thank him…he mentioned the only word Reynald probably heard this night…gold,” Gerard said nodding toward Theodoric and then looked down at Taqi. “Take him to the dungeon…and make sure you keep him well observed and bound.”

  Stewart and Nicholas immediately helped lift Taqi up with Ishmael taking his legs. Paul took a deep breath of relief and as he breathed out, the pain in his shoulder suddenly tore through him as it registered. He grimaced, momentarily going dizzy, Theodoric just managing to support him in time.

  “Come, we must have that seen too…and Alisha is going to kill you for sure this time,” he said as they began to follow Taqi being carried.

  “How do we explain this?” Paul asked in pain.

  “Exactly as it happened…and somehow we need to keep Taqi alive and get him out before we leave. If not, he will never leave this castle alive.”

  “Paul!” Alisha called out from behind as she rapidly walked toward him closely followed by Tenno carrying Ailia. She flung her arm
s around him when she reached then looked at him, his nightgown covered in blood. “Were they after us?…are you hurt?”

  “I could not stop her coming down here,” Tenno stated.

  Paul looked at Theodoric briefly before taking both of Alisha’s hands.

  “No…they were trying to leave a warning message for Reynald,” Paul answered and hesitated as Alisha looked at him intently. “It is Taqi.”

  “Oh my Lord…,” she gasped pulling her hands away from Paul and covering her mouth in shock. “Is…is?”

  “Taqi is still alive. He has been taken to the cells beneath the west wing.”

  “I must see him at once,” Alisha replied, anxious, and spun to rush away. Paul reached out and grabbed her hand, stopping her. She turned and looked at him, puzzled. “What…why do you restrain me so?”

  “You will not be allowed to see him. Not yet anyway,” Paul answered as Theodoric nodded in agreement. “We shall not leave as planned until we have secured his release with Reynald.”

  “And you think that animal will agree to let him leave?” Alisha asked angrily.

  “We will get word to Al Rashid…we can negotiate this…trust me,” Theodoric interrupted. “I know Reynald well enough. But I advise you all still leave as planned.”

  “No…I will not leave until I know he is safe,” Alisha shot back.

  “You need to consider other factors in this matter,” Theodoric remarked and nodded toward Ailia half asleep in Tenno’s arms.

  “Ali…we will find a way, you have to believe us on this,” Paul said and clasped his hands around hers reassuringly and smiled. “We will.”

  “Why does the Lord test us so?” Alisha asked quietly, her voice emotional. “Will it ever end?” she sighed and rested her head against Paul as he wrapped his arms around her. He grimaced again in pain.

  Paul followed the guard, one of Reynald’s own men, down the wide stone stairs toward the iron gated entrance to the cells. He passed Paul a burning torch whilst he unlocked the thin iron door, and then pulled two heavy bolts to release the door mechanism. There were no windows and only one single oil lanthorn to illuminate the main foyer area. It smelt damp coupled with a sickly sweet odour of previous occupants. The air was still and frigid, the cold sharp.