by D. N. Carter
“I shall fetch Father and be back shortly,” Taqi explained and left the room as several sailors started to file past loudly on their way out.
‘Do not be long,’ Paul thought, eager to get back to read over the document he had on loan. Perhaps he could ask to borrow it for longer, he told himself. A sudden noise went up in the passageway as sailors started jeering and commenting on the fairness and prettiness of a young woman trying to pass in the opposite direction. The door suddenly swung open fast and the woman quickly entered the room, slammed the door, and bolted it shut. She paused, just standing there with her back to Paul as the sailors joked and laughed aloud and continued on their way.
6 – 11
“Heathens…dirty heathens,” the young woman said through pursed lips.
“Er hum,” Paul coughed to alert her to his presence.
The woman jumped, letting out a yelp of fright, quickly swung around to face Paul and raised a curved three bladed dagger immediately up in defence. Paul’s heart raced.
“Wohooo…friend, not foe,” Paul blurted out, surprised, and raised his hands in defence.
The young woman stepped closer toward him, lowered the dagger slightly, stood up straight and pulled back the hood that had been obscuring her face. She moved even closer studying Paul’s face in the dim light. She outstretched her hand and gently moved his face into the main beam of light entering through the door slot portal.
“Paul,” she whispered in a soft voice as she stood back. Paul stood up, his gaze never leaving her. He towered over her as she moved backwards further and the side of her face lit up as she passed in front of the light.
“Alisha?” Paul said, partly shocked. He let out a laugh of relief. “You can put that away now,” he continued as he moved nearer to look closer at her. As she moved fully into the light, she smiled nervously and quickly unbolted the door. Her eyes were wide and her pupils large to compensate for the low light. Her dark partly curled hair appeared almost black. A large section of a fringe hung down across her eyes and she quickly wiped her hair aside, but it just as quickly dropped back across her eyes again. She smiled and blew her hair upwards with a quick puff, but again it fell in front of them. Paul gently leaned forward and, with his finger, pushed her hair up and tucked it under a thin gold cord hair band that ran across her forehead. “Alisha, my word, you have changed,” Paul exclaimed and stood perfectly still very near to her, just staring.
Alisha did not move her gaze from his as both searched out each other’s thoughts. Alisha smiled broadly, her eyes darting from left to right of his. Paul felt his heart beat faster and felt embarrassed and struggled to find something to say. He continued to stare and both did not even notice when Taqi opened the door fully.
“You have grown much too since last year, Paul,” Alisha said, still looking into his eyes intently.
“Did no one tell you it is impolite to stare at someone,” Taqi coughed.
“Yes,” both Alisha and Paul said in unison, still looking at each other.
“Oh please. Paul, nooo, do not go down that route, too predictable,” Taqi joked as he moved to take the dagger from Alisha. She quickly stepped aside and pulled the dagger in close.
“No, this is mine,” she replied curtly and started to tuck it away under her cover shawl.
The dagger was a very rare Indo-Persian one with a Damascus steel blade split into three diamond profile prongs, each following a yataghan-style curve, with points. An inlaid gold border was set at the base of the blade, with the grip virtually covered in gold floral designs, with an unknown symbol in the centre of each side and a flared pommel with a gold nut. The sheath was metal and felt lined, with another symbol on the left side and gold floral designs at the throat, tip and along the rear edge. Not only lethal and able to puncture chain mail, it was ornate and expensive.
“Where on earth did you get that from?” Paul asked, smiling awkwardly but not taking his eyes off of Alisha. The last time he had seen her she was annoying, far shorter and looked like a boy to his mind. Not the beautiful big-eyed woman that now stood before him.
“I did not steal it. A woman with blonde hair kept insisting I take it when we boarded at Tortosa. She was very tall. She scared me, to be honest. I refused several times but on the last day when our ship set sail, I was looking over the side from the aft deck when she ran alongside and threw it at me from the dockside. I caught it. No idea why, so I keep this, especially as there are too many seriously deranged disgusting men on this ship. Plus I can use it to comb my hair,” Alisha explained then pulled her coverall top down straight.
“It is the bad light. Would make an old crow look beautiful,” Taqi joked, seeing how Paul was looking at his sister. He grabbed Paul’s shirt and started to pull him toward the door. “Come on, Father wants us all up top.”
Alisha blushed visibly despite the dim light, smiled broadly and shrugged her shoulders. She followed them out into the passageway, Taqi pulling Paul as he kept looking back at Alisha. She shook her head and could not help herself but smile back. Paul was no longer the tall skinny silly looking boy she had left the year before. As they climbed the central stair well to go up onto the top deck, the sun bathed them in an explosion of sunbeams through the furled sails and rigging. Paul pulled away from Taqi’s grasp and stopped so he could look at Alisha properly in the full light. She stopped just in front of him, placed her hands behind her back and smiled again, part embarrassed and partly keen to see Paul in the full light of day too. It was only now that Paul could see she was wearing a full-length dress, a pale grey with darker spots but it shimmered with a dark blue and green tone. The dress had long sleeves that ended with a bracelet of patterned lace, the same of which ran around her neck and down her sides. Lacing strings were perfectly set down her arms and around her waist, accentuating her slim figure. It was an expensive dress for sure he was certain of that. Her long slightly curled dark hair hung loose with just a thin gold cord headband to hold her long fringe in place. This was not the same boyish looking girl, who always dressed in baggy attire, he had said farewell to last summer.
“Some old crow looking, I think not,” Paul stated, looking again directly into her eyes. She looked at him almost quizzically as if searching for something. The intensity of her gaze was mesmerising. How come he had not seen her like this before, he thought.
It was only then that they noticed Firgany standing but a few feet away with his sister Raja. Both stood with their arms folded looking at the pair of them. Firgany was dressed in a full-length cream coloured overcoat with intricate embroidered bands upon the sleeves and around his neck. He simply smiled and flicked his head to his left indicating for Alisha to go with Raja. Without any further words, Alisha moved over to where she stood as her father looked at her with mocking disapproval. She gently tapped his forearm as she passed him.
“Assalamu Allakham, my young friend,” Firgany said with authority behind his voice.
“Wa Allakham Assalam,” Paul replied politely and lowered his head in a slight bow and show of respect.
“I see you have grown…considerably it appears.” Firgany then smiled, looking at Paul then back over his shoulder at Alisha. “And it is apparent that fact has not gone unnoticed by others,” he continued, then looked back at Paul. “Perhaps I will be requiring the services of a chaperone,” he joked.
“Erm, I do not think that is necessary, I erm, I mean, I mean after all she has a, erm,” Paul clumsily spluttered, about to mention Alisha’s having a dagger but was cut short when she very slightly shook her head no. He knew immediately what she was implying so said no more.
“Too many erms there, Paul,” Firgany said in a serious tone and looked hard and straight at him. Paul stood still, feeling exposed. He blushed, which made Raja and Alisha both smile. “Haaa, fear not, Paul. I am teasing you. Come, come it is good to see you,” Firgany then bellowed laughingly and placed his arm around his shoulder. “I need you and Taqi to go and meet someone for me to secure a cart
and horse as I understand they are now in short supply,” he stated and began ushering him and Taqi towards the exit gangplank. As they went, Paul glanced over his shoulder one more time at Alisha. She smiled back and gave a slight wave and inadvertently also raised the dagger into view. She quickly hid it back under her cover shawl, but too late for Raja not to see. She raised an eyebrow but smiled nonetheless.
Under instruction from Firgany, Taqi and Paul found themselves on the other side of the harbour with a note and written guarantee to hire a cart and horse. Usually Paul’s father would have already secured one but with all available carts being used for the building works, and the ship having been delayed by two days, they had to source another one. Several heavy carts were being unloaded of stone blocks ready for cutting and shaping near an area marked off and covered by large canvas awnings to shield the stonemasons from either the sun or the rain. As they stood waiting to be seen by the lead stonemason, they moved into a shaded area out of the sun next to part of the new northern tower. Wooden scaffolding was being added up the side of the partially constructed wall. Both noticed a very tall and broad shouldered white haired man, dressed in a full-length white mantle and large staff type walking stick, looking at them with a fixed stare. He was walking fast directly towards them not looking at anything or anyone else. Taqi nudged Paul’s side and indicated to look at the man approaching.
“I know. I see him. Do you know him?” Paul asked.
“Never seen him before, but he looks sort of angry and he is coming straight for us,” Taqi half whispered, trying to move his lips as little as possible. The tall man sped up, and then broke into a run straight at them.
“Er, er looks like he means business with us. Bet it’s the father of that girl you gave your cope to,” Paul exclaimed with alarm rising in his voice. Taqi shook his head no then both looked left and right to see if there was anyone else about. Paul grabbed Taqi with both hands to pull him aside as the tall man was nearly upon them just as Taqi did likewise to Paul but pulled in the opposite direction. Both froze as a voice shouted out loudly from above.
“Watch out below!!!”
Both Taqi and Paul looked up instantly as timbers from the scaffolding started to splinter into pieces as several large stone blocks that had broken loose from a carrying basket smashed their way downwards, collapsing the wooden scaffolding as it went directly above them. They opened their mouths in shock; it was too late to move. Both clenched each other tightly, closed their eyes, and then suddenly, thump! They felt the side impact of the tall white haired man slam into them full force, his powerful arms wrapping around both of them completely as he dived at them, causing all three to fall backwards against the wall pulling down a sheet that had covered a closed off section of a new stairwell. As the three landed heavily on the floor just inside the stairwell, Taqi and Paul tried to struggle free and move, but the man cowered over them holding both, down protecting them, as splinters, shards of wooden beams and dust exploded around them. With a thunderous crash, the stone blocks landed just feet away from them, exactly where they had just been standing, but a broken lump of stone caught the back of Taqi’s head, knocking him out. Paul’s ears rang from the noise and he coughed as he tried to spit the dust from his mouth. He tried to sit up but, again, the man just held his position above them, his eyes closed tightly holding his breath. Paul felt what he thought was warm water on his chest, and he looked down quickly to see his prized top covered in blood.
“Oh my Lord, oh my Lord, I am injured,” he said frantically and again tried to squirm from under the man. He turned to face Taqi and was shocked to see he was not moving, his eyes shut tight. Horns started to blow and echo out and voices of people shouting and screaming started to fill the air. Paul stopped struggling. The tall man’s weight and strength holding him was simply incredible.
“You…are…not…hurt!” the man said in a clipped drawn out and pained voice. Then he opened his eyes wide and stared hard at Paul who tried to pull back as the man looked directly into him it felt, but his head was already pressed firmly into the dirt at the base of the stairwell. “But……I am!” the man blurted out. It was only then that Paul noticed a large splinter of darkened wood sticking out of the man’s left side. It had gone right through him. Paul grasped the man’s arm and was instantly struck by how solid he felt. The man blinked away some grit in his eyes and stared into Paul’s again. “Do you remember me?” the man asked suddenly in a gentle but firm voice. This question surprised him even more. Paul shook his head no. “Look again. Do you remember me?” The man’s skin was very pale and looked different somehow. He had no pores, but that could be the fine white dust that now covered all of them. Suddenly a rush of noise and chaos filled Paul’s ears again as the other sounds around him came back. Taqi started to regain consciousness and began to cough out dust. He tried to open his eyes and looked across at Paul. “Remember me,” the tall man quietly said and immediately stood up as several people started to pull Paul and Taqi out from the stairwell as others rapidly cleared away wooden scaffolding beams to clear their exit.
Paul just lay still flat on his back as others removed the material and the man stood up straight, looked down at Paul, then Taqi as he started to sit up. The wooden splinter still protruded from the man’s chest but he seemed oblivious to it now.
“He saved their lives he did. Did you see that? Did you see the speed he ran?” an old man’s voice was heard stating from among the crowd.
“Paul, Paul!!!” Taqi started to yell in panic seeing all the blood on his top.
Paul motioned Taqi away and shook his head as he tried to sit up. The tall man kept looking down at him. His eyes were a pale blue but with flecks of bright green and grey. He simply nodded at Paul, then Taqi, took a step backwards, turned and walked away into the large crowd that had gathered. Hands were now all over Paul and Taqi trying to pull them out. Within moments, both were carried out into a clear area with no dust or debris and were laid upon blankets as someone shouted for a physician. Paul tried to see where the man had gone but he could not see him.
“I am fine, fine!” he shouted. “’Tis the tall man that is hurt. Find him!” he shouted louder. Taqi rubbed his head and sat up just as a Knight Hospitaller knelt down next to him and pushed him back down again. As Paul went to sit up properly, Alisha appeared in front of him and knelt down quickly. Her eyes were ablaze with fear, as she rapidly looked him over pulling at his blood stained top to see where the injury was. Her hands became covered in blood as she tugged the material. Paul could see the alarm in her eyes, which were welling with tears. He clasped his hands over hers and squeezed them tightly as she looked up into his eyes. “’Tis not my blood. It is the other man’s, I am fine,” Paul explained, clasping her shaking hands tighter.
She looked at him confused for a moment, then at Taqi and then all around her at the crowd that surrounded them. A single tear rolled down her face. Paul could not believe the strong sense of emotion he suddenly felt at that exact moment for her. Something inside of him just opened up engulfing all of his senses in an emotional wave that made his heart jump and it took his breath away.
“You are okay…you are sure you are okay?” she asked repeatedly as Paul nodded yes.
“Hey, don’t worry about me, I actually got knocked out but I am fine,” Taqi interrupted as the Hospitaller checked him over carefully.
Firgany pushed his way through the crowd and looked upon Taqi and Paul, horrified at the sight of them. Paul immediately raised his hand to him and smiled still holding Alisha’s hands with his other.
“Allah be praised for sparing you both. ’Tis a miracle for I have just seen what you so narrowly escaped from. He is merciful this day,” he said emotionally and outstretched his hand for Taqi to take. Paul stood up and pulled Alisha up with him still clasping her hands.
“It was only down to the tall white haired man who threw himself upon us to move us out of the way. But he is hurt and I cannot see him now,” Paul explained as e
veryone started to look around to see where he had gone.
“I think he is the wood supplier from Malta. He always comes every year so he won’t have gone far,” a short stocky carpenter said aloud as people started to rush off to see if they could find him.
2 – 34
“Please, anyone, find him. Make sure he is okay and let him know I wish to repay him for his kind deed this day,” Firgany asked the crowd.
“We shall follow the trail of blood. We will find him and make sure all is well and bring him to you if he is able,” the carpenter said as he started to look for traces of blood on the ground.
Firgany nodded an appreciative acknowledgement and ushered Taqi, Paul and Alisha away from the crowd. Paul glanced to look at Alisha. She quickly let go of his hand and wiped hers with a cloth but the blood stuck to them. She looked up at Paul, realising he was looking at her. She feigned a smile and the realisation of her show of emotion started to register. Paul mouthed a ‘thank you’ and she simply nodded a smile back despite blushing. Firgany noticed this. As Firgany walked with them towards Paul’s home, they all looked ahead as Paul’s father, Phillip, came running down the track towards them, alarmed.
“Father, we are all fine…and this is not my blood either. We are fine,” Paul explained quickly as his father reached them and eyed them over rapidly. He grabbed Paul’s arm and pulled him close and hugged him tightly, trying to hide his emotion, the relief clearly visible. He cupped his hands around Paul’s face.
“My son, my dear son…a runner came informing me you had been buried beneath a collapsing wall. My heart almost failed me,” his father gasped. Paul was taken aback, surprised by this uncharacteristic show of emotion from his father, a man so usually calm, and collected.