by Kevin Ashman
‘For evermore?’ she whispered as she gazed up at him through her tears.
‘For evermore,’ he confirmed through tears of his own and pulled her into his arms.
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The End
Author’s notes
Obviously the main storyline is fictional but the locations and historical events have been based on real happenings in the past. On occasions the timelines have been tweaked to make the storyline fit but some of the more interesting facts, as far as can be ascertained with current research are listed below.
The True cross.
It is said the true cross was kept in Jerusalem for hundreds of years after the death of Christ. The age was a turbulent one and after many conflicts, it seems it disappeared for a while before being re-discovered in Jerusalem by Arnulf Malecorne of Rhodes during the first crusade around 1100ad. It is reported that a fragment of the cross was embedded in a golden crucifix and became the most holy relic of the time. In 1187, the king of Jerusalem, Guy of Lusignan, along with Raynald of Châtillon, Gerard of Ridefortand and Raymond III of Tripoli, fielded an enormous army to defeat Saladin at the battle of Hattin in modern day Israel. However, Saladin was victorious and inflicted a crushing defeat on the Christians as well as capturing the cross.
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The Ismailis
The Ismaili’s were enemies of Saladin and he eventually campaigned against them in the Jabahl Bahra mountains. However, a sub sect called the Hashashin (the predecessor of our word, assassin) were experts in the art of assassination and history records that during the campaign Saladin woke to find a dagger stuck in a table in his tent. Attached was a note demanding Saladin withdraw his army and pointing out how easy it would have been to kill him. Saladin swore the intruder was no less than the Ismail leader himself, Rashid ad-Din Sinan and he was so shaken up, he sued for peace with the Ismaili people.
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Al Kahf Castle
The castle still exists and is based on a spur of rock rising from a valley floor. It can only be approached via an entrance through a cave and is said to have been impregnable. It was built by the Ismailis and the body of Rashid ad-Din Sinan is said to have been buried there.
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The Slaughter of the Innocents
When Richard the Lionheart freed Acre from Saladin’s forces in 1191 he took almost three thousand prisoners, men women and children. He demanded a ransom including the return of the true cross but Saladin stalled and when he failed to produce the ransom, Richard had his men march the prisoners out onto the plains before Acre and killed every one. It was terrible act and one that has reverberated down the ages as an indictment of Crusader brutality.
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The City of Acre
Acre was probably known as Akko or something similar in the thirteenth century and the name has changed through the ages. The towers listed were real as was the castle of the King’s constabulary along with the Templar and Hospitaller headquarters. In 1291 Baibaars finally took the city, the last major stronghold of the Crusaders.
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The Tower of flies
The tower was real and was a major strategic defensive structure at the harbour mouth in Acre. There was indeed a chain stretching between the tower and the mainland which was used as a barrier to ships. The name is reputed to have been given to the tower by the soldiers of the first crusade, thinking they had arrived at the city of Ekrom. Ekrom was a city whose deities included Ba’al-zebub which translates to ‘lord of the flies’
Torture Methods
The methods of torture in the book are based on real methods at the time. Torture was seen as a punishment for most crimes and those listed herein are just a tiny selection of those that may have been employed at the time.
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Krak des Chevalier
Krak des Chevalier was known as ‘Crac de l'Opital’ at the time and is one of the most magnificent castles in the world. It was rebuilt by the Hospitallers in the twelfth century and sits on the remains of a previous castle built by the Kurds. In 1271, Sultan Baibaars laid siege to the castle and after causing severe damage by mining the outer walls, managed to get the defending Hospitaller Knights to surrender while the castle was still intact. It is said that the defending Castellan received a note from the order’s grand master, Hugh de Revel, authorising the surrender but current thinking believes the note was a forgery arranged by Baibaars himself.
More Books by K. M. Ashman
The India Sommers Mysteries
The Dead Virgins
The Treasures of Suleiman
The Mummies of the Reich
The Tomb Builders (Coming Soon)
The Roman Chronicles
Roman I – The Fall of Britannia
Roman II – The Rise of Caratacus
Roman III – The Wrath of Boudicca
Roman IV – Boudicca’s Daughters – (Coming Soon)
The Medieval Saga
Medieval I – Blood of the Cross
Medieval II – In Shadows of Kings
Medieval III – Sword of Liberty
Medieval IV – Ring of Steel (Coming Soon)
Novels
Savage Eden
The Last Citadel
Vampire
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