Outremer I

by D. N. Carter

  “I thought it was just another Templar fort and a chapel,” Taqi replied as the Templar sergeant smiled.

  “True, the tower serves two purposes, as both a chapel and a fortress. Its walls are nine, nearly ten feet thick, constructed of massive and carefully fitted limestone blocks. The ground floor contains the chapel, dedicated to St Peter. The second floor, as you shall see, can be reached by a flight of stairs, and serves as a dormitory, and contains many small angled windows that can be used by archers to defend the tower. Cut into the rock below the tower is a water cistern and a weapons cache, essential elements in the case of siege. The surrounding walls are just as impressive,” Firgany explained further as the caravan approached the widening track to the main wall entrance.

  Alisha looked around at the stunning views stretching out all around her, the sky a clear blue and the scent of oranges and lemons filling the air from all the orange and lemon trees surrounding the hill. She smiled, feeling happy, thinking of Paul and hearing her father speak.

  The caravan soon passed through the arched entrance of the outer wall and pulled up in the small square in front of the main keep. Taqi looked up at the commanding structure. Quickly he helped Raja down from the cart, lowering the rear steps. As he helped her walk a few paces, Nicholas appeared and offered to help Alisha down, his strong hand clasping hers tightly as she stepped down. She smiled and thanked him then walked over to Taqi and Raja. Blushing, she looked at him briefly as he stood still just looking at her with a big smile. His older Templar friend, Brother Baldwin, slapped him on the back.

  “I keep telling you, Brother, it isn’t ever going to happen,” he joked.

  Firgany walked towards the keep’s main doors when suddenly several mounted Knights Templar rushed through the main wall entrance in a cloud of dust and noise, pulling up hard between the keep’s door and Firgany, forcing him to stop and jump back out of the way. As the dust settled and Firgany wafted away more dust from around his face, he looked up to see Reynald peering down from his horse. As the eight other Templars dismounted, Nicholas and his colleague immediately went to them as Reynald moved his horse nearer to Alisha, Raja and Taqi.

  “We meet again, young maiden, and so soon,” he grinned, looking directly at Alisha.

  Nicholas saw this and quickly walked back towards them.

  “Stay away young knight, this has nothing to do with you,” Reynald said coldly to Nicholas.

  “Sorry sire but this family is my charge,” he replied immediately.

  “Lords have mercy upon me…where is the respect these days? Do I not out rank you?” Reynald snapped, irritated, and pulled his horse’s reins hard to control it.

  “My lord, yes indeed…but my orders are from the Marshal himself and I follow his orders first,” Nicholas shot back confidently.

  “Sire, what issue goes on here, pray tell?” Firgany asked as he moved to face Reynald. Reynald moved his horse to circle around Firgany. Firgany could see that Reynald was trying to intimidate him for whatever reason. “I see you have a fine and rare Turcoman there for a destrier,” Firgany stated and folded his arms.

  “There be no issue here. And you must be the great Firgany I hear so much about of late,” Reynald said loudly, still circling upon his horse about him.

  “I am he. Though do not listen to rumour or any story about me for I am what you see…just a man going about his business,” Firgany politely said and opened his arms.

  “Hmm. You have much influence around here. Surprisingly so on the local Grand Master of the Order,” Reynald said, suspicion obvious in his voice.

  “My friend, I have had dealings with the Order for more years than I care to remember. My family owned much of this land.”

  “Not any more they do not. And you are not any friend of mine,” Reynald said coldly then turned his gaze to Alisha again. Alisha tucked herself behind Raja and Taqi.

  “That is a pity…for your sakes,” Firgany replied and folded his arms again and stood up straight and stared hard at Reynald. Reynald rode his horse slowly around Firgany several more times but Firgany did not move as Reynald stared at him, hatred clear in his eyes. “I pity you sire, for you are clearly an angry man,” Firgany finally said.

  Reynald’s eyes widened in anger.

  “You have no understanding of the anger I hold for your kind,” Reynald snarled as his horse jerked back and forth sensing tension in the air.

  “Then best you learn fast the rage you will unleash for being so ignorant of ‘our kind’ and learn too to check that anger and hatred you have, for it will most surely come back upon you tenfold,” Firgany said calmly and unfolded his arms ready for any trouble.

  By now the other knights had gathered nearby and were all standing around with the other people from the caravan looking on.

  “Do you provoke me?” demanded Reynald.

  “No, he does not provoke you…you deliberately provoke him!” Alisha shouted and rushed to stand beside Firgany. Reynald’s horse reared up as she ran past and he struggled to calm the horse.

  “Dare defy me, maiden, and you will rue the day for your insolence,” Reynald barked.

  Firgany pulled Alisha behind him as Taqi then ran across to join them just as Firgany noticed Raja swaying, raising her hand to her brow. Quickly he ran towards her but Nicholas rushed up and caught her just in time as she collapsed. He knelt as he lowered her to the ground; his Templar colleague Brother Baldwin quickly grabbed a square matting board to shield her from the sun. Firgany knelt down beside them and took her weight from Nicholas.

  “Thank you,” he said to Nicholas gratefully.

  “You are welcome, friend,” Nicholas replied loudly and stood up and looked directly at Reynald as Taqi and Alisha rushed behind him and looked at Raja, concerned. “Are we finished here, sire?” he asked Reynald direct.

  Reynald strode around on his horse still staring at them, and then dismounted passing the reins of his horse to one of the other Templars from his group. He slapped his leg with his own riding gloves as he turned his back and walked off towards the main keep’s entrance. Several of the other Templars shook their heads disapprovingly at Reynald behind his back, one giving Nicholas a thumbs up.

  “Quickly, we must get her inside,” Firgany said and lifted Raja in one move. “Perhaps now, Ali, you will see why it is necessary you two stay here whilst Taqi and I complete the journey alone to Mawsil,” he remarked as he carried Raja towards a building clearly marked with the standard flag of the Knights Hospitaller.

  As Alisha and Taqi followed their father, she looked to her left in time to see several more carts and horses enter the main wall gate, her gaze immediately falling upon two of the sailors who had acted so threateningly towards her the previous day. They were grinning and looking directly at her.

  “Father, I do not feel comfortable in this place,” she remarked as Taqi noticed where and at whom she was looking.

  Nicholas and his colleague were following directly behind and they too looked across at the two sailors.

  “Why and what business do sailors have coming here this far inland from their ships?” Taqi asked aloud.

  “A good question. And one we shall make our business to find out,” Nicholas remarked.

  Alisha followed Nicholas to the main keep as Taqi collected their luggage trunks and carried them with the help of Brother Baldwin. The keep looked impressive and very strong as she looked up. As she stepped inside, the temperature was a welcoming cool. She hesitated when she saw Reynald standing in front of a table, with an elderly Templar, the keep’s Marshal, spreading open assorted maps. He noticed as the group entered and immediately stood up straight as they drew near. Light streamed in through massive Gothic windows on the far wall lighting up the huge arched columns that supported the Keep.

  “Ah, she cannot keep away from me,” Reynald said loudly, grinning. “Fear not, young lady…you may find me rude and abrasive, but I am a realist. I hold no personal grudge against you. You have my word you will b
e protected and treated well whilst you reside here,” he explained and looked at Alisha hard. He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head waiting for a response.

  “We are grateful, sire,” Taqi replied as he placed a heavy trunk down near to Alisha.

  “I said she will be protected and treated well…I did not say the same rule applied to you,” Reynald shot back and rubbed the sweat on his ginger beard.

  “Leave my brother alone…we have more right to be here than you do!” Alisha said defiantly, her eyes ablaze with fury at Reynald’s words.

  “Ha! Such spirit…you would make a fine wife! If you were a Christian… Pity your brother does not have the same spirit and courage as you,” Reynald said bombastically.

  “You dare question my courage…you…a man who attacks defenceless caravans of women and children,” Taqi shouted back and pulled Alisha behind him.

  Immediately the elderly Knight Templar behind the main table rapidly walked around to the front and between Reynald and Taqi.

  “Gentlemen, please. This will not help anyone. You, sire, are tired and I suggest you freshen up and rest…and you, young friend, you should learn to show some respect to your elders,” he said calmly and put his arms up between them keeping them apart.

  “Reynald!” Firgany suddenly shouted as he entered the shaded entrance hall, sunbeams silhouetting his large frame in the doorway. “Dare not push this argument further this day for I will demand satisfaction of an apology…even if I have to force it from you myself right now in front of all these people,” he said walking towards them, his stare at Reynald intense as he moved to stand directly in front of him.

  Reynald moved to grasp his sword, Alisha letting out a shriek of fright just as Firgany grabbed his hand and tightly squeezed it hard against the sword handle. Face to face both men squared up to each other. Firgany squeezed Reynald’s hand even harder. Reynald could not draw his sword and Firgany stood perfectly still staring fiercely into Reynald’s eyes as pain was registering upon his face, but he fought to hide it. He looked at the other Templars in the room as Nicholas shook his head disapprovingly.

  “You all side with these Muslims?” Reynald snarled as sweat ran down his forehead. He was surprised at the immense strength in Firgany’s grip. He went to move his left arm up but Firgany immediately grasped his wrist. “You are lucky that I am weary from my trip and exhausted for this would end very differently this day for you,” he said gritting his teeth from the pain.

  “Gentlemen, please…disengage…I implore you,” the elderly Knight Templar said and stood next to them. Firgany kept his gaze fixed upon Reynald.

  “I leave here in two days. My sister and daughter will be staying whilst I am away. I am personally charging you with their care and protection. And if so much as a hair is harmed upon them, I will hold you personally responsible…and there will be no place you can hide for I will find you and hunt you down like a dog…,” Firgany said, his voice deep and his tone clipped. Reynald looked at him harder, his eyes registering the pain in his hand as Firgany applied even more pressure.

  “I am not a man to threaten with impunity,” Reynald said, pained.

  “’Tis not a threat…it is a promise,” Firgany said almost in a whisper and leaned in to Reynald forcing him to arch backwards against the table. “And for your troubles, and as I am a fair man, I will even pay you in gold for your trouble upon my return as that is the only thing you understand,” Firgany stated and let go of Reynald’s hand but remained standing directly in front of him. Reynald stood up straight and rubbed his hand. He looked at Firgany, who stood a clear two to three inches taller than him. Firgany raised an eyebrow. “Try me if you dare,” he said as Alisha put her hand upon his back.

  “There will come a day I am sure when we can settle this…but for today, today this shall be allowed to pass,” Reynald said as he moved away from Firgany, picked up a rolled up map from the table then walked back nearer to Firgany and pointed at him with the map. “And yes, I shall ensure your women folk are protected whilst here…and yes, you will pay for that privilege in gold, mark my words,” he stated and brushed past Firgany hard knocking his shoulder. But Firgany did not move and Reynald bounced off of him. Nicholas let out a laugh as he did so. Reynald walked past him and tapped him on the head with the scrolled up map. “Brother Nicholas, choose your side carefully,” he commented as he stretched his hand open and closed, quickly glanced back at Firgany, smiled and nodded his head, winked at Alisha and then walked out of the door.

  Nicholas smiled, his arms folded calmly. “Well, that was a good start. Shall we start again?” he asked cheerfully as he looked at Alisha and Firgany.

  Alisha smiled back nervously as Firgany put his arm around her. Taqi shook his head in disgust at Reynald’s behaviour. Just outside the door, Reynald passed the two fishermen who had been listening in on the confrontation; he nodded at them as they acknowledged him. Both looked at each other grinning.

  The elderly Knight Templar Marshal of the Keep quickly hurried Firgany and his family to their own rooms situated on the upper floors. Raja had to be helped all the way by Taqi and Nicholas together up the wide open steps. Firgany pointed out the substantial wooden banisters he had personally helped install many years back. The open stairways leading to the top sections afforded easy access to fire down upon anyone entering the keep, he further explained. Alisha smiled at hearing her father give yet another mini history lesson, relieved he had sorted out Reynald. But she instinctively knew it had only served to brew trouble for the future. She did not trust or like Reynald. She noticed Nicholas looking at her again and she smiled back awkwardly. She even felt slightly guilty thinking about Paul and how he would feel if he could see her smiling at another man. But Nicholas, like Paul, made her feel protected too.

  Alisha spent much of the next two days attending to Raja, helping a Knight Hospitaller to administer medicinal beverages and to reduce her temperature as a fever took hold. The Hospitaller was helped by a female Knight Hospitaller, which surprised Alisha to learn about women serving within the order. Slowly she began to relax more as she had seen neither Reynald nor the two sailors again since the day of their arrival. Reynald had taken his maps and left on another patrol. Nicholas seemed to be everywhere she went with his ever present smile and fellow Brother Templar Baldwin always at his side. She smiled at his funny name being Upside. She also spent many an hour at the top of the large keep just looking out across the beautiful countryside that spread out for many miles all around. Eventually the hour came early on the third day when Firgany summoned them all into Raja’s room. He and Taqi had their travel sacks packed and ready to leave. Alisha noted they were travelling light. With Raja being practically bed ridden, she knew there was no way she could go with them.

  “My beautiful sister,” Firgany said softly as he stroked Raja’s forehead. “Rest and make yourself well. We shall be as quick as we can. Upon our return, we shall make for Alexandria directly, I promise. Philip will in due course meet us there so think upon that day,” he continued then looked up at the concerned look in the Hospitaller’s eyes.

  “Her fever has broken…but she will need total rest to convalesce for quite a period of time,” the Hospitaller explained.

  “Will she be fit enough to travel upon our return?” Firgany asked as Raja clasped his hand, Alisha sitting next to her on the bed.

  “If we can secure the hemp we require in time, of course,” the Hospitaller answered.

  “Good…good. Then, Alisha, you will be accompanying us to the edge of the county. You will take charge of the special hemp and bring it back,” Firgany explained, much to the surprise of all in the room.

  1 – 22

  “Father, surely not. One of the Templars could surely collect and return it?” Taqi quickly said as Alisha looked stunned.

  “If only it was that simple…I have sent word and received a reply from my associates who produce the special hemp. It is much more than just a mere herbal remedy. But my frien
ds who procure the stuff are very distrustful of the likes of Reynald and by association any Templars connected to him…so they have insisted upon someone I can trust totally. So I am afraid that falls to you, my dear daughter.…but fear not, you are allowed an escort, so Nicholas, whom my friends do trust as honourable, and his companion will accompany you,” he explained slowly as he looked at Raja.

  “You cannot put her at risk like that just for me,” Raja protested, her voice weak.

  “My dear, we have no choice and, besides, I have total faith in the abilities of Nicholas and his colleagues and I know the area well. Besides, the very people we will meet are more than able to protect all of us. Alisha will travel with us until we rendezvous with them. ’Tis but half a day’s journey. Nicholas will only need to escort her back…trust me, dear sister, on this,” Firgany explained reassuringly and looked up at both Taqi and Alisha in return.