by D. N. Carter
“So, basically you are saying that symbols, then, pervade the Holy Scriptures. The Lord uses them to enrich our understanding, and we can use them to enhance our comprehension of his teachings?” Gabirol stated.
“Yes. Absolutely. But there should be cautions in searching for symbolic usage. Like all things, symbols can be misused. One form of misuse is when men come to worship the symbol itself rather than what it stands for. Unwise men worshipped the sun. Wise men understood that the sun is a symbol of the Son, the true light of the world. Another error, made by many, is to assume that scriptural symbolism replaces reality, that events are only allegories. Furthermore, in searching for scriptural symbols, we must be careful to remember that correct interpretations will always enrich our understanding of truths already revealed in clarity by the prophets. With these cautions clearly in mind, we may be prepared to understand and appreciate symbolism as a way of learning eternal truths from the Eternal Master Teacher, and that includes what the meaning is behind such things as the eagle that casts its shadow across the lands, but also far more sophisticated symbolism as detailed within the Book of Revelation and the New Jerusalem. For within that book alone, far more truths and mysteries are revealed that detail the very make up of man and this very earth we stand upon for it gives us the exact dimensions and size as well as our place in the universe,” the old man explained and shook his head knowingly. He smiled broadly as he sat back up straight.
“I pray ye are not simply playing with our minds this night,” the wealthy tailor chipped in then belched loudly with wind. “I do beg your pardons,” he grimaced, embarrassed.
“No, that I am not doing. But mark my words, if you take nothing with you from this eve, I am not preaching, though to quote biblical references, most people simply shun the information these days it appears, but keep in mind the books of Revelation, Daniel and Ezekiel must never be ignored,” the old man answered and slightly pulled his hood back further on his head. He raised his eyebrows revealing a clearer image of his wide blue eyes for the first time.
“And you will teach and reveal these secrets?” Gabirol asked, looking at him directly.
“Indeed I shall if you wish. But they are not really secrets as they have been in plain sight all along…and it would be my honour to simply point them out to you. This far this night I have but set the stage and foundations of the tale I tell. So now, despite this late hour, if you wish me to continue, I will reveal more of the story,” the old man said and leant forwards slightly, his blue eyes looking deep into the eyes of each of them in turn.
“Are you but a watcher, a traveller the Bible tells of that may one day knock upon our doors?” the farrier asked almost nervously.
“Ha…my dear man…no. I am no angel in disguise of that I can promise and assure you,” the old man replied.
1 – 13
“Hmmm. I am not so sure,” the farrier replied, looking at the old man. “You know much more than is normal for a mere mortal man…all from memory?” he quizzed.
“You flatter me. But do I not have notes I refer to here?” the old man answered and pointed at the parchments and leather bound notebooks.
“I have known this man many years. I can testify he is no angel,” Stephan joked.
The Templar looked at his brother at the far end of the table. Both raised their eyebrows at each other.
“You are not your average man that is for sure,” the Hospitaller said as he studied the old man.
“Oh I am. Believe me. And as I promised earlier, I will reveal just who I am before you leave. Stephan has kept silent simply not to ruin the tale.”
“Really now has he?” Sarah said and folded her arms and looked at Stephan with a mocking frown of suspicion and then smiled. “Well come on then, I won’t be able to sleep not knowing what happens, so please…continue. I confess that half of what you say goes straight over my head, but I like the underlying story of this Alisha and Paul,” she finished and nodded for the old man to continue.
Main road into La Rochelle, mid August 1178
A slight drizzle of rain was falling as Paul pulled up his foul weather leather cloak higher upon his head and pulled the peak out to shield his eyes. He hoped the bees waxing he had applied would keep it waterproof as heavier rain could be seen on the distant horizon. He patted his horse, Adrastos, and fed him an apple as they waited at the main entrance gates to the port. This was the third day he had waited patiently for Firgany and his family to arrive. With no supplies to deliver, they had told Philip they would be landing at Marseilles and travel directly overland to La Rochelle rather than sail all the way around Spain and Portugal. The ship must have been delayed and no word had been sent ahead. Paul should have been attending lessons with Niccolas but his mind was not on them and Niccolas knew this. Philip had said that Firgany would make his own way direct to the house when they arrived but Paul could not wait. Eventually he sat down on a small stone step next to the wall.
After an hour he looked up as he heard horses approach. As he looked south west, the sun was low on the horizon causing him to shield his eyes as it shone brightly through a gap in the clouds. A large rainbow arched across the sky. As the drizzle of rain began to ease, he could see the horses were a column of Knights Templar with the Order’s Piebald standard fluttering at the front of the column. He stood up excited knowing that Firgany would travel with their columns often.
Paul cut a slight figure of a soaked young man standing next to his horse as the column drew near. As it did, Paul immediately recognised Gerard at the front. Paul shrugged his shoulders puzzled. He shook his head in even more surprise when he saw it was his brother Stewart holding the Piebald standard next to Gerard. Paul had not recognised Stewart, with his beard, at first. Paul rushed out into the middle of the empty track as they pulled up in front of the main entrance. Behind him, several carts were making ready to leave La Rochelle causing a bit of a blockage at the gates. Quickly Paul rushed over to Adrastos, untied him and mounted. Pulling on the reins he moved towards Gerard and Stewart.
“Stewart!” Paul said loudly to get his brother’s attention.
Both Stewart and Gerard looked at him quizzically. Paul immediately pulled his hood back and down so they could see him.
“Paul. Why are you here? Is Father okay?” Stewart asked, surprised, just as the rest of the column pulled up stretching for some distance behind them.
“Oh it is you again. I see you have managed to break that horse in,” Gerard said aloud.
“Yes…though he must have been broken in before as I simply got on him without fuss…but how come you are back here already…and how come you are already a Gonfanier?” Paul asked as he steadied his horse.
Gerard looked hard at Paul, then at Stewart and raised an eyebrow waiting for Stewart to answer. Several of the carts from within La Rochelle started to move out and Paul had to move his horse and pull up almost next to Gerard.
“Brother, it is a long story. I shall tell later but, as you know, it is a great honour for me,” Stewart replied and looked at Gerard.
“I am best pleased for you, brother…and Master Gerard…I am glad that our first encounter has not had adverse repercussions for my brother,” Paul said diplomatically.
“That incident has long since been forgotten, boy. I am sure we will never have a repeat of such anyway…will we?” Gerard responded and smiled.
Gerard’s smile was disarming and confused Paul for a moment.
“No…,” Paul answered and smiled at his brother, relieved to see that his earlier run in with Gerard had not led to any untoward reprisals against Stewart. He knew that to be asked to be the standard bearer was indeed a great honour. How Stewart had come to be the Gonfanier so quickly raised a little concern in Paul’s mind. But Stewart looked happy. Soaked, but happy.
“Brother, why are you waiting here? I thought you would have been with Taqi and Alisha,” Stewart asked as the carts all filed past slowly just as darker clouds rolled in overhead threatening
heavier rain.
“Come on! Come on, move it!” a Templar sergeant started shouting at the cart drivers to move along faster before the rain hit them.
“Are they not with your column…for they are not here?” Paul replied concerned.
“Believe you me, boy, if they were with us, I would know about it. And if she does show up…make sure you keep her well away from me. Do you understand?” Gerard said but still smiling broadly as he looked at Stewart then back at Paul.
Paul frowned, puzzled at Gerard’s comment.
“They should have been here three days past, but not a sight nor word from them,” Paul shouted back above the increasing noise of carts and people. As the carts all cleared the entrance way, Gerard motioned with his right arm to move forwards and the entire column immediately started to move. Gerard simply looked at Paul and smiled, almost menacingly, he thought, especially as he gave Paul a slight wave and gestured to his own face a line, referring to the scar on Paul’s face. Paul instinctively ran his fingers over the healed scar as Stewart rode past him.
“We shall find out their whereabouts soon enough, brother, so do not fret,” Stewart said smiling and quickly struggled to hold the black and white standard upright as a gust of wind caught it.
Paul was pleased to see his brother again but Gerard’s look as he rode past him made him suspicious. Did Gerard know something about Firgany and Alisha’s whereabouts he was hiding? he thought. If he had caused any harm to occur to them, he would kill him he told himself. Stewart looked back at Paul and mouthed silently ‘See you later’ and waved briefly. Paul sat upon his horse as the remainder of the column entered La Rochelle.
“Hello again, Paul,” a voice called out from the rear of the column. Paul looked at the rear section of troops filing past to see who had called out his name. “Paul, ’tis I, Brother Teric.” Paul suddenly saw Teric at the very rear of the column. He moved his horse and rode up alongside him. “See, told you we would meet again,” Teric smiled just as the heavens opened up with a full downpour.
“Brother Teric indeed,” Paul said and nodded. “I take it you have no letters for us this time?” he asked as he rapidly pulled up his hood.
“Not this time. But I know of whom you ask. Their cart is in the next group with the Hospitallers. Gerard knew who they were immediately as soon as they arrived. He kept your brother away from them for reasons I know not. They arrived as we were leaving Marseilles and Gerard refused to travel as a joint column. Things are presently not good between our Orders, shall we say. The Hospitaller ships were delayed as a consequence of the growing feud between us, which I must confess is utterly ridiculous. But hey ho. The egos of men being what they are, eh?”
“Truly. But how come Gerard is back so soon? How did my brother become the Gonfanier and are you no longer on courier duties?” Paul asked as they entered beneath the port’s gates.
“Paul, I see much and I try to learn as much as I can. Gerard is shrewd as well as ambitious. He is surrounding himself with people he knows will be able to help him later on. And if they do not wish to help him voluntarily, he will call upon them to repay favours given. That is all I shall warn of at this time,” Teric explained.
“But what of you then?”
“Me? Gerard knows I know things too. So I for my sins have been duly promoted. A promotion I neither sought nor wanted. But here I am and the Lord obviously has other plans for me,” Teric replied and feigned a smile of resigned fate, then laughed.
“Brother Teric, I thank you for your words. I beg your pardon as I shall return to await the arrival of Alisha,” Paul said and began to turn his horse.
“Paul…just Alisha?” he smiled knowingly.
“And her father and Taqi of course,” Paul replied part embarrassed.
“And Paul…you have friends should you need them,” Teric said as he pulled away and gave a slight wave.
Paul was not sure what to make of that last statement. He dismounted and tied up Adrastos again and sat down on the stone step. He had no idea of how long the other column would take to arrive, but wait he would. He was relieved to hear that nothing untoward had happened to Alisha. He looked up in time to see the head and shoulders of Teric disappear over the ridge of the corbelled pathway as it led down towards the harbour area. He smiled as he saw Teric’s hand shoot up visible in a final wave. Paul liked him. His heart raced at the thought he would soon see Alisha.
Paul sat and waited until it was dark. He was beginning to get cold. Even Adrastos looked at him as if to ask why and what were they doing stood in the rain for so long. Suddenly Paul heard a horse being ridden towards the gate house fast up the track. As Paul stood up, the rider, a Knight Hospitaller, raced past without stopping. Paul felt a shiver run down his back. He turned to look down the track. Something was wrong.
Quickly he mounted Adrastos and was just turning to race off down the track when Gerard raced up closely followed by Stewart and several other Templars. Stewart shot him a look and galloped off after Gerard as he steadied his horse and balanced the Beausant standard forwards into the wind. Immediately Paul hurried after them without a thought. It was dark and the path was hard to see and the rain clouds made things even darker than normal. Stewart glanced back to see Paul at the rear of the column. Paul snapped his reins hard and sped up overtaking several Templars within moments. Without heavy armour on, Paul’s horse easily shot past the other riders and he soon caught up with Gerard and Stewart.
“Clear off, boy!” Gerard shouted back at him and shooed him to leave and concentrated on looking ahead.
The track was only wide enough for two horses at full gallop. Paul’s mind raced ahead to what might have happened. Had the column been deliberately ambushed? Was Alisha okay? With those thoughts in mind, he edged his horse forwards. Gerard shot a quick look of surprise at him as Paul steered his horse to the right of Stewart then seemed to accelerate even faster on the grass verge. Without looking back Paul sped off ahead into the rain and darkness, his only thought being Alisha.
After half an hour’s fast riding, Paul saw ahead lanthorns being waved just visible in the rain on the track. The track started to run downhill and curve to the left. As Paul raced around, his view obscured by some high hedges, he was immediately confronted by two Knights Hospitaller, each waving a lanthorn and burning torch frantically. Just as Paul saw them, he noticed a large oak tree that had fallen down in the wind blocking the road entirely. He was racing too fast to stop. Instinctively he pulled the reins up and motioned with his legs to leap. Adrastos snorted momentarily and then took off. Both knights ducked fast as Adrastos and Paul shot up and over them in a long and high arc. Paul closed his eyes as the large tree trunk loomed just ahead of them. He sensed himself going down. They had cleared the tree, but as Adrastos hit the wet muddy and slippery track, he momentarily slipped his footing, Paul flew forwards and wrapped his arms around his neck. As Adrastos kicked his legs and fought to remain upright, Paul fell around the front of him and hung from his neck. People rushed forwards to steady and calm Adrastos as Paul put his feet on the ground. He patted him on the side of his face and blinked as the rain fell harder.
“Are you mad?” shouted a voice as a Hospitaller sergeant approached from the dark.
Paul turned to see several carts and Knights Hospitaller behind him.
“That was an impossible jump,” someone said near the tree as others started chopping away at the trunk just as a large saw was being brought up by squires. They looked at him, puzzled. Paul’s heart was racing with exhilaration.
“Paul?” Taqi said as he approached, looming out of the dark towards him.
“Taqi!” Paul replied excited.
“Paul…you must be mad. What are you doing…apart from getting yourself killed nearly?” Taqi said and grabbed Paul’s arms.
“’Tis good to see you, my friend, for I had feared the worst. I…ha…I thought you had all been attacked or something,” Paul replied out of breath.
“Attacked�
�but why would we be?” Taqi asked.
Both looked towards the fallen tree as Gerard climbed up and onto the trunk. He scanned the convoy of carts, shielding his eyes from the rain before his gaze fell upon Paul and Taqi. Quickly he jumped down and approached them. Puzzled he looked at Paul and his horse then looked around at both sides of the track.
“How did you get this side, boy?” Gerard asked, confused, seeing no obvious way round.
“I jumped it,” Paul answered and held Adrastos’s reins tighter as he shook his head up and down as if to confirm what he had said.
“What? I do not believe it,” Gerard said loudly.
“’Tis true, Master. He cleared it in one leap,” a Hospitaller sergeant stated as he approached them. “Will take us at least an hour, perhaps two to cut this down into small enough sizes we can move,” he explained, the rain falling harder now.
“Is this a deliberate felling?” Gerard shouted.
“No…’twas just the wind. No signs of bandits or a cut off ambush being set up behind us but we could not be sure in the dark. That is why we sent our runner immediately,” the Hospitaller sergeant shouted back to be heard above the downpour.
Gerard shrugged his shoulders, looked about him then at Taqi and Paul. “That was some riding there, boy. But next time, do as you are told. Lucky for you, you have a great horse, thanks to me of course,” Gerard said loudly near to Paul with a smile. “Now go…I am sure you are desperate to find your woman. Make sure you keep her away from me,” Gerard then shouted as he moved away, ushering the sergeant to follow.
Paul looked at Taqi quizzically.
“I will tell you all about it,” Taqi shouted back.
Paul gave Stewart a quick wave as he appeared near the large tree as the saw was put to good use.
Taqi ushered Paul along with his horse towards the middle of the convoy of carts.