by Griff Hosker
“You will say nothing. You will smile as though all is well.”
“Lord?”
“There was something about his look which I did not like. You had heard of Aqua Bella before we came, had you not?”
“Of course. All knew the tale of your grandfather and how he had made a fortune when he was lord of Aqua Bella.”
“And Raymond knows that too. I see now why we were chosen. They think we might know how to find the treasure however once we have it then we are no longer needed.”
“Do you know how to find it, lord?”
“Not really but I remember my grandfather describing it to me. As we ride I will try to recall the details. We will take Skuld and one of the horses we captured. Leave the others here in the stables. They will be safe enough. As for our weapons and clothes; we have few enough of them. We will take them.”
William was practical. “And food, lord?”
It was my turn to smile. “Oh, I think we will be fed. At least until they have the treasure and then we watch our backs.” I then told him of Jarl Birger. “Get to know his squire. There may be just four of us against the world!”
We gathered before Acre while there was still the chill of night upon the air. Robert of Blois and his squires were the last to arrive. I saw that they had with them four sergeants at arms leading sumpters. We had food. Robert of Blois said, “It will take us three days to reach our destination. We will take it in turns to be the vanguard. I will lead for the first part of the journey.”
As we headed south down the coast road Jarl Birger turned and said, “The safest part of the journey for our illustrious leader. I would hazard a guess that when we reach the high ground and the places where there may be an ambush then it will be one or the other of us who have that dubious honour!”
I laughed, “Now who is being the cynic?”
We rode hard while it was dark. I did not think that Robert of Blois would wish us to fail before we even reached Aqua Bella. We would avoid the castles which the Muslims had captured. Thanks to our victory at Arsuf, Saladin was still rebuilding his army. He wished to drive us from the land he had captured but he had his borders to guard too. He had his own eastern borders threatened by barbarians from the east. Getting there might not be the problem. Getting out would.
When dawn broke the heat began to build. We found a grove of trees beneath which we could shelter during the heat of the day. There was a stream and the horses were given grain. They were vital. A knight who was on foot was dead. We had avoided all contact with any of those who lived in this land but as I drank from my water skin I saw shepherds on the hills. A column of Franks would be reported. We would not be unusual. The garrison from Acre often sent patrols out to seek battle with the enemy. I think that Guy of Lusignan had picked our number to deter enemy attacks. We could defend ourselves against the Turkish patrols.
As we rode, later in the afternoon, Birger said, “I do not think that King Richard has ordered us to go on this treasure hunt. He is in negotiations with Saladin’s men. He is not even in Acre. I think our King of Jerusalem is looking to enrich himself before the peace is signed.”
“You mean King Richard will forego the capture of Jerusalem?” Jarl Birger nodded. “But he swore that he would capture it.”
“And he has failed. I believe the best that he can hope is that he will secure the coast for those who remain. As for me, as soon as I am paid for this I intend to take ship for home. You should come with me. You could earn money as a sword for hire. Men talk of your courage defending your father. You would become a rich man.”
“No, Jarl Birger. I have a manor at home. I, too, will take ship but mine will end its voyage at Stockton. I have much to rebuild. I know not how my valley fares. Like you, for me this is a means to an end. I sup with the devil for the good of my people.”
I saw Robert of Blois had one of his squires ahead of the column. He was looking for a site at which to camp. It was getting towards dark and I smelled the smoke of a cooking fire. Suddenly Robert of Blois raised his sword and shouted, “Charge!”
I had spied no enemies. There had not been the sudden flurry of arrows which normally preceded an attack by horse archers but Birger and I drew our swords, our spears were on our spare horses, and leaving our squires we galloped after our leader. We had been at the rear of the column. When we reached the huddle of huts which were on either side of the road I saw the villagers lying on the ground. Even as we rode up Robert of Blois took the head of a woman fleeing with a babe in arms. There was a sickening crunch as the baby’s head hit the ground. He had slaughtered a whole village.
Sheathing his sword, he smiled, “Food is cooked. Have the squires dispose of the bodies.”
One of the other knights, who also had a bloody sword said, “How? The ground is hard.”
“Cover them with rocks! I do not want my sleep disturbed by rats feasting on flesh!” He looked up as he saw the two of us with clean swords, “And our little virgins can stand a watch today! As they have not raised their swords in anger they can keep watch while we sleep.”
I was about to object when Birger, sheathing his sword, said quietly, “Peace. Our time will come. We will share the shift. Let us lay these innocents to rest.”
While the other knights laughed, Birger and I toiled with the squires to cover, as best we could, the dead with stones. The mother and her dead baby were the hardest to bury. The woman had seen no more than fifteen summers and the babe was less than a month old. The squires of Robert of Blois did not help us. They saw to their lord’s needs. I had not had the opportunity to speak with the squire of the valley, Raymond of Thornaby. I had determined that I would, at some point.
It had been a poor village. Blois’ squires had searched for coins but found but a pathetic few. The food also reflected their poverty. It was a porridge made from grains and cooked in a mutton stock. A few vegetables and dried fruits enlivened it. Many of the other knights complained at the lack of drink. Birger shook his head, “They are Muslim! They do not drink wine! Do these knights know nothing?”
I had been examining the other knights. They looked to be desperate men. I suspected that their sponsors had died and, like me, they were desperate to return to England. Unlike me they were willing to do anything to facilitate that!
I took the first shift. William joined me. After making sure that our horses were well watered and fed we went to a rock which stood higher than the tallest hut. After taking off my spurs we were able to scramble to the top. I had been taught to scout by Masood, my grandfather’s scout who had been raised in these parts. He had shown me how to move as little as possible and yet to gather as much information as I could. He showed me how to use my nose and ears as well as my eyes. William had none of those skill yet nor had I had the opportunity to teach him. We remained silent and listened to the sounds of the night.
There were creatures out there. This land was hot and most creatures which hunted did so at night. The animals which died did so silently. There would a flurry of wings or a scrabble of claws and then silence. I was mindful of Robin’s death and we had been careful, as we climbed the rock, to watch for reptiles.
I knew that the massacre of the villagers was a mistake. It would bring down the wrath of the warriors in these parts. It might take a day or so to discover that they had been killed but they would find our trail. I could differentiate between a Turk and Frank from their tracks and their horses. The Ayyubid were even better at tracking than I was. When we returned there would be an ambush. It had been so unnecessary. Had we left the villagers alone they would have forgotten us. We had been seen already by shepherds. Fearful of Franks they would probably have shared their food with us. My grandfather had told me of knights such as Robert of Blois. One, de Waller, had slaughtered my grandmother’s family. The slaughter of the villagers was the last straw. I would find a way home, even if I had to ride the whole way!
I woke Birger when I deemed it to be the middle of the watch. I rolled up
in my cloak and I was asleep instantly. A lesson my father had taught me was to sleep when I could.
Robert of Blois had obviously decided to punish us. I knew not why. We had been at the rear of the column by his orders. We could not have helped him slaughter the villagers even had we wanted to. He sent us and our squires to be the vanguard. “Ride a thousand paces ahead. If there are horse archers then you should flush them out.” Once again, I saw a grin from Raymond. We were bait!
I turned to William and Petr, Birger’s squire, “Stay ten paces behind us. Skuld has good ears. If we are attacked then ride back to the column.”
“But lord…”
“Obey me William. We trust to God and our own senses.”
Jarl Birger chuckled as we rode south, “You are young in years, Thomas, but old in experience. You have said what I would have and I am ten years your elder.”
I shrugged, “From when I could barely ride I rode abroad with my father. I learned to sniff out Scottish ambushes. I will not fall foul of an Ayyubid arrow!”
We found an olive grove during the midmorning and Birger decided we would rest there. “If our captain likes it not I care not. He will be glad enough of our spears and swords if we are attacked.”
In the event nothing was said. We watered at the small stream. One advantage of being first was that we could fill our skins and let our horses drink before the rest had muddied the water. After the sun had passed its zenith we rode again. It was still unbearably hot but Skuld had become acclimatised and I had ensured that she drank plenty of water.
As we rode I scanned ahead and to the side. I did not make the mistake of moving my head quickly. I used my eyes to sweep the horizon. I sought out things which should either be there or not be there. I expected birds and animals to fly and to scatter when we approached. I did not expect it two hundred paces from us. I listened for bird song. The absence of it would cause a worry. I looked for horse droppings on the trail. A good warrior would pick them up to hide his trail but I noticed that Robert of Blois had not bothered to do so. He was leaving a trail that a blind man could follow.
Birger must have noted what I was doing, “You should reconsider coming to Sweden with me. A man with your talents would do well.”
I had no intention of deserting my father’s valley a second time but I humoured him by asking him about his home, “This Jarl Birger Brosa, is he a kinsman?”
“His title is The Jarl Birger Brosa. It means he is chief lord in Sweden. He is second only to the King. He is a second cousin but most of the families are related. His forebear gained power but did not seek to be king. I think that was wise. They escaped the plots and battles between Denmark, Norway and Sweden. They hold the balance of power.”
“And these enemies they fight. Why do they fight them? Is it for land and conquest?”
He shook his head but he was smiling, “What a cynic you are! But you are right. They say it is because the Estonians and those Rus who live in the area around Novgorod are not Christians. That is just an excuse. The only place we can expand is east. The Danes do the same by their borders. They use the Teutonic Knights much as the Templars are used here. Bishop Albert intends to create an order of knights to drive the pagans hence or convert them. When I return with a piece of the true cross then the Order of the Brothers of the Sword will be created.”
“And you will be one?”
“I will. Not the master but a senior one. I have experience of this Crusade. The land in Estonia is easier for fighting. You are never thirsty!”
I spied, ahead, a village. It was even smaller than the one de Blois had raided the day before. Turning to Birger I said, “I cannot let these be slaughtered. Stop and examine your horse as though it has a stone. I will go and warn them.”
“A cynic with a conscience! You are an enigma wrapped in a riddle. My people would love you!”
I spurred Skuld. The villagers stopped when they heard her hooves. I saw the men fingering weapons. I took off my helmet. Masood, before he had died, had taught me the language. Since I had been in the Holy Land my skills had improved, “If you wish to save your lives then ride into the hills. The lord who leads us is a cruel man. I beg you to leave and save your lives.”
An older man with a beard and a long scar running down a lifeless eye spoke to me. “So that you may take what little we have? We have done nothing wrong.”
“I know. Take what you will but go quickly, I beg of you.”
An old matriarch looked up at me, “I see honesty in his eyes. He speaks true. Let us go for we know how cruel the Franks can be.” She looked up at me, “May Allah reward your kindness, Frank!”
They moved quickly. I dismounted and when Birger and the others rode in I said, “They fled when I approached.”
“Why did you not stop them?” Robert of Blois’ voice was angry.
I smiled, “I took an oath when I became a knight. I do not kill women and children!”
He dismounted and came over to try to face me down. I stared into his eyes and did not flinch. He was a bully and my father had taught me how to deal with bullies. He decided not to force the issue. I suspect he was not certain he would win, “Then as punishment you shall do a duty again tonight!”
Birger dismounted, “No we shall not! Choose others.”
“I am captain and I decide!”
“And what will you do if we refuse?” He pointed to the hills, “The ones who fled will tell the Ayyubid horsemen of our presence. Can you afford to be without four warriors? For,” his voice became low and threatening, “if you begin something then you had better kill us for we will take many of you with us.”
It was Robert of Blois who blinked first, “This is not over. When we return to Acre I will have you punished.”
Birger laughed, “If we get back to Acre alive then I will accept any punishment dealt by King Richard. However, I do not think you answer to King Richard, do you?”
And I nodded, “We have seen through you, Robert of Blois!”
I saw that his words had struck home. For the first time Robert of Blois looked nervous. Birger had been right. This was nothing to do with King Richard. We should have turned around there and then and returned to Acre but we did not. Many months later when I thought back to that moment when we chose to go on I wondered if this was meant to be. Certainly, that was the moment when there were four of us against all of the rest. We were in hostile lands surrounded by enemies we had brought with us.
Chapter 2
The rest all pointedly ate together. We were being ostracized. As the four of us sat around the fire in the hut that we had been forced to use, William kept looking nervously out of the opening that passed for a door. “What if they try to slit our throats in the night?”
Birger chewed the tough piece of meat. He spat out some gristle, “They will not, at least not until your lord has been of some use to them. They need him. His grandfather lived in Aqua Bella. I think that the squire, Raymond, has made himself useful to Robert of Blois. He has told him that you know where the treasure might have been hidden. We are safe until then. After?”
Depressingly Birger was right. “Now when they have the treasure we had best watch out. The daggers will no longer be in men’s eyes but their hands!” I stood, “However, to be safe I will bring an extra pair of eyes.” I went outside and brought in Skuld. Birger laughed. I shrugged, “If anyone tries to enter then he will let us know. I will make up for the sleep I lost last night.”
When I awoke, we were all safe. Birger came back having made water. He was laughing to himself, “What amuses you, Swede?”
“While we had a goodnight’s sleep, they had ten men watching us and our horses. They thought we either meant to do them harm or flee.”
“How do you know?”
“They are not as good as we are at keeping watch and I heard them. They are worried about you, Thomas and you are right. They mean to shorten our lives!” I took satisfaction that we had had a small victory.
“
I think, my friend that you were right the other day. None know of this save the King of Jerusalem and Robert of Blois. We are treasure hunters and we are dispensable. The only survivors will be Robert and his squires. The quip about not sharing the treasure was not a quip; it was a prophecy!”
We had less than a day to go to reach our destination and this time we were relegated to the rear with the horses and baggage. I do not know if Robert of Blois feared that we would join with those inside the fortified hall or not. It suited us.
We were now deep into the territory controlled by Saladin. There were many trails and small tracks which crisscrossed this land. We had not stayed on the main road. My grandfather had told me that he and his men at arms, when they were protecting pilgrims, had often used the smaller trails. Robert of Blois must have had a map from the Hospitallers for we had rarely been on the road. I knew that, by now, men would be hunting us. The dead villagers and the reports from their shepherds would have let them know that Franks were deep into their land. They would have no idea that we were heading for Aqua Bella. I had no idea what they thought our purpose to be but they would hunt us until they found us.
We laid up in the heat of noon but we left earlier than we had, hitherto. Our leader was keen to reached Aqua Bella. There was now a noticeable air of apprehension. The other knights and squires had made a cacophony of noise whilst on the road but now, as we were so close, they were looking over their shoulders. We stopped in the early afternoon. We had rejoined the road and it twisted up to higher ground. Robert of Blois led us to a dell.
“We wait here until dark. The hall is just half a mile away. We tether the horses here.” He jabbed a finger at Birger and me. “Your squires can guard them.”
I did not like that but we could do nothing about it. I would speak with them before we left. I suspected that the intention was to leave us in Aqua Bella, dead and then return to kill our squires.
“Leave your shields, spears and cloaks here. They will encumber us. Some of us will have to scale the walls. I will point to those who should climb. They will have to slay the sentries and let us in. Get some rest. Once we have the treasure then we ride back as quickly as we can. I would do it in two days.”