Outremer I

by D. N. Carter

  “So you answer vaguely…but I still suspect you were indeed a Templar yourself, though why you deny it puzzles me,” the stonemason stated, looking at the old man and the Templar in turn.

  “My friends, I swear this very hour, I was not a Templar. If you hear me out, I shall explain and reveal my connections…agreed?” the old man responded softly.

  “You have my attention, so please, continue,” the Templar said as the remainder all nodded in agreement.

  Tortosa (Tartous), County of Tripoli, coast of the Levant, June of 1178

  The Genoese single masted vessel rocked in the swell of the rough seas as it approached the coast. Grey clouds hung on the horizon blending into the distant mountain ranges as Alisha wrapped the shawl tightly around her face against the unusually cold winds as she stood against the railings of the forward fo’c’sle. The shawl was a gift her father had given her as they had boarded the ship back in Marseilles. Alisha accepted it more as a token of apology from her father about Paul and for leaving so soon. Exclusively made in the Yemen it was a plain weave cotton shawl dyed with a beautiful pattern and had painted inscriptions in black ink, and gold leaf. Expensive, it was made in the ikat technique, in which the cotton warp threads were bundled together and resist-dyed before being arranged on the loom to form patterns of arrowheads and diamonds. Inscriptions were called tiraz, from the Persian word meaning ‘embroidery’. They were produced commercially and Firgany had secured many contracts to sell and deal the shawls, but most were special order only to royal families. Alisha pulled the shawl up closer to her face as the wind pushed them ever closer to shore. She could see the small island of Arwad to her left, a sight she had seen so many times already in her young life, but this time, she felt comforted as she knew it meant they would soon be ashore. They were less than just three miles from Tortosa now. The single main sail ruffled loudly in the wind and she did not hear her father climb the stairs behind her and approach. As Firgany placed his hand upon her shoulder, she jumped.

  “Father, you scared me!” she said loudly.

  1 – 9

  “My dearest daughter, my apologies,” he smiled and grasped the rails to steady himself. He stood proud looking towards the shore line, Tortosa becoming more visible through the low swell and mist ahead. “I must apologise for this journey. It has not been the best that is for sure and this vessel is not the most desirable,” Firgany said staring ahead.

  Alisha looked up at him. She adored this man utterly and totally. Most people warmed to him, his kind expression and soft voice allied to his tall stature solicited respect and admiration. She was proud of him. She knew the choice of vessel had not been his, but the chaos and rush to return home before hostilities started took precedence over seeking passage in the usual larger vessels they had been accustomed to travelling in.

  “Father, it is fine. We are here now. And despite the smaller ship, I have to say, the crew have been particularly nice,” she said and held his arm whilst gently feeling for the presence of her hidden dagger tucked inside her waistband.

  “That is true. A finer crew we have not sailed with before…but I fear this journey has not suited Raja well at all,” Firgany stated and looked down at Alisha. She could see the obvious concern in his eyes.

  “She will be fine, Father, especially with the warmer weather here,” she said reassuringly.

  “I pray this is true. I shall go and rouse Taqi. I heard him playing the game of hazard again with the sailors…we shall be docking in under the hour God willing,” Firgany said, squeezed Alisha’s arm gently, kissed her on her forehead and left.

  Alisha stood still holding on to the thick wooden rails. Her thoughts drifted back to Paul. She looked about herself as several sailors rushed back and forth preparing to haul in the sails and steer the ship towards the harbour entrance of Tortosa as another sailor signalled from a watch tower on the island of Arwad as they sailed close by. Quickly she took out her dagger and began etching her initials and those of Paul into the dark wood. Once completed, she looked at the carved initials, pleased with herself, then realised how bright and obvious the carving stood out. She rubbed it hard with some of the sea water splashes nearby but it still remained very obvious. Another hand suddenly tapped her shoulder hard causing her to squeal and drop the dagger. Taqi caught it just in time before it could fall into the sea.

  “Taqi!” Alisha said and hit his arm hard. He laughed, his dark hair blowing freely in the wind, his smile beaming. He looked at the dagger and held it out for Alisha to take. “Thank you,” she said quietly and took the dagger back.

  “Does Father know you have that and carry it all the time?” he asked and leaned against the rails, then noticed the initials carved in the wood. He smiled broadly as he rubbed his finger across the initials.

  “No he does not. And if you dare tell him, I shall use this upon you, my dear brother,” Alisha answered and waved the dagger at him.

  “Fear not, sister. Both your secrets are safe with me,” Taqi replied indicating towards the initials. “Though as we both know, Father already knows only too well how you feel for Paul,” Taqi stated, tapping his finger on the carving. Alisha stood up straight, hid the dagger back inside her clothing and looked towards the shore as Tortosa drew nearer. “Alisha, in all seriousness, I love Paul too. He is more than a brother to me…but Father is right. You must not take things further with him. I say that for your own good,” Taqi continued but Alisha quickly turned her face to him, anger clearly fired in her eyes. “Is that anger or hurt I see, dear sister? I only say what needs to be said,” Taqi explained and grasped her hand tightly on the rail.

  Alisha stared at Taqi in silence. Her heart was pounding and she wasn’t sure whether she was angry at Taqi or hurt. Confused by her emotions, all she could think of was how long it would be before she could see Paul again. Just one kiss had been exchanged between them, but a thousand looks and thoughts had not ceased since they had this year again set eyes upon each other as if for the first time, in a whole new manner. She had always felt an overwhelming connection to Paul ever since she could remember. He was always there in her mind. He always seemed so much taller, stronger, smarter and protective around her. She was comfortable around him. But this year, it felt as if someone had opened the floodgates and let an ocean pour into her head and heart. She gulped, lost for words as she simply stared at Taqi.

  “Coming around!” one of the Genoese sailors shouted from the rear deck, breaking their thoughts.

  Within the hour the ship had tied up alongside the busy dockside stern first. It was far longer than La Rochelle’s and was teeming with pilgrims, merchants and military orders coming and going in a frenzy of columns, carts and horses in all directions. Taqi helped Alisha down the gangplank as stores and merchandise were being unloaded from the other gangplank. They waited for their father and Raja, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the dockside. The sun broke through the clouds with a welcoming feel of warmth. Both were astonished by the amount of Genoese and Venetian ships disembarking many pilgrims, more than they had ever seen before. Several Frankish knights immaculately dressed and clean, along with their squires, passed by, one giving Alisha a particularly harsh glare. Taqi stared back up at the knight. Their eyes locked. The look from the knight was hostile and he kept staring at Taqi as his horse drew him away.

  “Taqi, you must not incite such people by staring like that,” Alisha said concerned.

  “Why not? The arrogant fool stared at you like you were some piece of dirt upon his shoe…how dare he?” Taqi shot back instantly.

  “It does not matter, Taqi. Did you not think that perhaps he liked the look of me instead?” Alisha asked.

  “That was not a look of appreciation, my dear sister. Besides, you are too ugly for that,” Taqi joked, making light of the situation. “But that look was laced with hostility and malice…I fear what Father said may indeed be true. You can already sense the tension here. Perhaps we were indeed wise to leave when we did,” Taq
i exclaimed as he studied all the people on the dockside. Alisha held his arm and studied them too. There was indeed a very real and tangible tension in the area. Alisha felt unsettled.

  “Maybe…or perhaps as Father said before, a knight in shining armour is simply a man who has never had his metal truly tested. They all look far too well kept to me,” Alisha said, still looking at the knights as they pushed their way through the busy crowd.

  “Do not look so worried. No harm will come to you,” Firgany suddenly said from behind them as he led Raja slowly down the gangplank. In the bright sunlight, it was clear to see how pale she had become, her eyes darkened and shallow. She shivered despite the warm sun now shining. “We are safe here for I still hold the office of ‘Keeper of the Deeds’,” Firgany exclaimed and started to usher Raja through the busy traffic of people and carts.

  “Holder of what deeds?” Taqi asked immediately.

  “Keeper of the Deeds! Oh and just papers. When Philip and I were here in our early days, we helped with the construction of the cathedral. We were entrusted with copies of some papers and deeds. Basically just copies of the confirmation, made in June 1157, of an agreement drawn up after February 1152 between Master Everard des Banes of the Temple and Bishop William of Tortosa. They concern the construction of the new castle by the Templars here in Tortosa and the respective rights of the bishop and the Order in the diocese. It affords us some privileges shall we say,” Firgany smiled in answer. “Come, we must make our way to the cathedral where we can stay this night as guests of the bishop.”

  Alisha listened in but was more concerned by how frail Raja was looking. Both Taqi and Alisha looked upon the impressive citadel walls that fronted onto the shore line road. Some sections being four storeys high, other sections ornately built with arches and different coloured bricks. Palm trees were growing in neatly tended sectioned off areas in front of the citadel walls and buildings, creating a pleasing view all along the harbour’s length. After a slow walk through the port, they made their way to the main Templars’ Hall within the citadel itself. They entered via an arched entrance to the left side of a massively impressive donjon keep. The Templars’ Hall was situated to the left side as they entered but Alisha immediately saw the main Templar Chapel off to her right that she had heard Paul talk so much about. The Templar Hall was an impressive building several storeys high. Taqi and Alisha looked at each other quizzically. Firgany sat Raja down near a small circular water fountain in the court yard.

  “Please, sit awhile whilst I go and exchange my guarantees for coinage and gold with the local Marshal. I shall not be long. I shall also secure our accommodation for this eve at the monastery near the cathedral. We shall be safe there,” Firgany explained as Raja sat down wearily. “Is the sun too hot or would you prefer I move you nearer the shade?” he asked Raja. She simply shook her head no.

  Taqi immediately started looking around the courtyard and at several Templar Knights who were looking their way suspiciously.

  “Sit down, Taqi,” Alisha said, beckoning him to sit near her.

  Quietly Taqi sat down on the other side of Raja. They waited nearly an hour before Firgany came out of the main arched door way that led into the Templar Hall. They looked on as he shook hands with a Templar who was smiling broadly. He shook Firgany’s hand several times, clearly pleased to see him, patted him on the back, and then called two of the Templars standing nearby to his side.

  “Father never ceases to amaze me,” Taqi remarked as Firgany began to walk towards them accompanied by two Templars.

  “It is sorted. Come…and we even have an escort to the cathedral.” Firgany smiled broadly as one of the Templars raised his hand at another Templar on the far side of the yard. Within minutes, Raja was being helped up onto a small cart by the Templar. Alisha was helped up too, the Templar looking her straight in the eye and smiling. He was young looking and handsome and heavily tanned. His tunic was white but covered in dirt. He had clearly been in the land a long while, unlike the newly arrived Frankish knights they had seen at the port side. He had pale hazel green eyes and they reminded her of Paul though his hair was almost white blonde further bleached by the sun.

  It took less than ten minutes for the two Templars to escort the family on foot in front of the cart to the cathedral location, the young knight looking up at Alisha frequently, causing her to blush. This raised a smile on Raja. Firgany looked across from the other side of the cart whilst walking and gave the young Templar a look with a frown that made it clear he should stop. This made Raja and Alisha laugh quietly, the Templar smirking as he held the cart horse’s reins. When they arrived at the cathedral, the Templars helped Raja and Alisha down, Firgany and Taqi immediately supporting Raja as they took over from them.

  “There she is. A fine cathedral ‘Our Lady of Tortosa’. You know she was built on the site of a Byzantine pilgrimage church called the Sanctuary of the Virgin Mary. Both that and the Crusader church were built around the remnants of an earlier chapel said to be the first Syrian church dedicated to Mary, and legendarily to have been dedicated by St Peter himself soon after Mary’s Dormition and Assumption. The Sanctuary of the Virgin Mary was already around in Emperor Constantine’s time, and he apparently gave it honour. History records that there was an earthquake in AD 487 that destroyed most of the chapel but left its altar intact. It still houses an icon portrait of Mary attributed to St Luke, but then there are a fair number of icons apparently painted by him, including one at the Marian Pilgrimage Saidnaya monastery church too,” Firgany explained exuberantly, always enthusiastic about historical facts. Both Raja and Alisha shook their heads mockingly as Raja feigned a pained smile.

  The overall style of the cathedral was Romanesque, but some details had Gothic patterns and because the building was located near the ramparts of the town it was also designed to be part of the fortifications of Tortosa. Alisha had heard Paul and his father discuss both the cathedral and chapel many times but she had not really paid much attention to it before. Now as she stood looking at the cathedral, her heart ached and she wished Paul was with them.

  She followed her father and Taqi as they led Raja towards a side entrance on the west side of the cathedral. The young Templar hurriedly made his way in front of them and opened the small door. She waited as all entered, the Templar smiling broadly as he gestured she too enter. Almost reverentially she stepped inside. She looked up in awe and surprise as she moved to the centre of the building. She was presented with a sight of a blank canvas of whitewashed walls pierced by just the small door, above which were triangular arrangements of small windows with pointed arches marking the demarcation from Romanesque to Gothic. The impression was more of a defensive fortress than a church, she thought. The corner towers were a clear indication of its defensive design. It was very French and yet the most graceful even if somewhat devoid of Christian ornamentation churches she had ever been in, its empty volume swallowing her whispers as she said aloud that Paul should see this one day. Her eyes naturally followed the trajectories of the massive arches that soared from acanthus capitals as they reached for the vaulted ceiling. This place was built by men who intended to stay in the Holy Land forever, she thought.

  “I shall find you the key holder so that you may retire to your own rooms and freshen up before evening mass,” the young Templar said confidently as he walked away, his cloak wafting behind him as he exited via another door that led off to another set of rooms.

  “Magnificent, yes?” Firgany said as all looked up and around the cathedral’s interior.

  “If you say so, Father,” Taqi responded, standing with his hands upon his hips.

  “Look after Raja and sort your rooms whilst I go and meet with my travel friend to secure our passage home to Mawsil…I shall not take long, in fact I should be back in time for our early evening Maghrib prayer,” Firgany explained as he headed back towards the door they had come in through.

  “Can I not come with you, Father?” Taqi asked.

  �
��No, it is business I must do alone,” he answered and immediately left the cathedral.

  “Why all the secrecy all the time?” Taqi muttered.

  Shortly after Firgany had left, two squires entered the Cathedral and very politely led them out through the rear exit and to a collection of small but well provided dwellings. Each little block had a bed, washing facilities and private ablutions room with drainage direct to a waste system. They were informed that a meal would be served in an adjoining hall later and that they should rest as the afternoon sun would intensify. Raja settled herself in and immediately fell asleep. After Taqi and Alisha had checked on her, they were both eager to explore rather than stay put in the small cool rooms. Taqi wanted to visit the busy harbour area but Alisha wished to visit the main chapel she had heard so much about. It took just a few minutes to walk back to the main keep, Taqi escorting Alisha to the chapel doors.

  “Make sure you wait here for me to return. You know Father would not agree with us doing this…now I shall be back within the hour,” Taqi explained and started to walk away towards the citadel’s exit. As he did, he noted several merchants gathered nearby dealing with two Templars, one of them being the young Templar who had escorted them in. He waved in acknowledgement.

  Alisha entered the main chapel through its large gothic arched doorway. As she stepped inside, she was immediately struck by its height of nearly 50 feet. It was 80 feet long but appeared much longer. Like the cathedral, the walls were whitewashed. She walked down the central aisle looking to see where the so-called famous painting supposedly done by St Luke hung. Her footsteps echoed as she walked. She stood in the centre of the chapel looking around when suddenly two sailors appeared from behind one of the large columns that arched to the ceiling. They were well dressed but their faces were dirty, their teeth blackened and Alisha instantly felt intimidated by their presence. They started to walk towards her so she turned to hurry back towards the entrance but as she turned, a third sailor was already stood in front of her blocking the aisle. Nervously she pulled up her shawl with both hands, biting her knuckles. This made the sailors laugh.