by D. N. Carter
“’Tis too early…,” she sighed and winced again in pain.
“We went too far today.”
“No…That is not it. I…I think I just got a little too tense. We will be all right. I just need to rest a short while,” Alisha explained as Paul placed his hands upon her tummy. All the words Firgany had spoke of came flooding back. His heart skipped a beat. He closed his eyes and prayed. “Paul… look up and listen to me,” Alisha said softly. Paul looked up. “’Tis too early. But feel,” she smiled and moved his hands to the side of her tummy. Paul felt movement and a slight kick. His face broke into smile. “See…that is our boy saying hello. He is fine, so stop your concern,” Alisha said and placed her hand on the side of his face.
“What if it is a girl?” Paul asked and moved to sit beside her, his arm around her.
“’Tis a boy…I know…as do our fathers.”
Suddenly the back door burst open as Firgany rushed in still holding a large measuring stick. Alarmed he rushed over to Alisha.
“My child…,” he blurted, out of breath having just run from the outer barns.
“Father, I am fine…now both of you stop worrying. I am simply tired, that is all.” A heavy knock at the main front door drew their attention. Simon was just coming through the back door and immediately headed for the hallway. Firgany knelt next to Alisha looking concerned. “Worry not you two…we are going nowhere,” she laughed and patted her tummy.
Paul looked up into the hallway as he saw three figures walking towards the kitchen silhouetted by the sun shining through the main door. As the first figure stepped down, Firgany stood up fast.
“Pardon for the intrusion,” Gerard smiled and looked at Alisha first then Paul and Firgany. Paul stood up immediately and placed his hands upon Alisha’s shoulders.
“And you are here because?” Firgany asked as the local Templar Master and Brother Teric followed Gerard in, Simon apologising behind them. Firgany waved it was okay.
“I came to offer my apology and also congratulations. Would appear I spoke in error. I have now had the facts explained to me…a little better,” Gerard said as he removed his dusty gloves and placed them upon the main table.
Firgany looked at Paul and Alisha puzzled.
“’Tis okay, Father. We met Master Gerard earlier…just a misunderstanding,” Alisha said quietly and rubbed her tummy.
“Yes…always seems to be a misunderstanding between us!” Paul stated bluntly.
“Oh dear. I come to offer an apology and congratulations and you trade sarcasm instead,” Gerard responded and feigned a pained look.
“Why have you come really?” Paul asked, his tone clipped.
Gerard stood in silence for a few moments, looked at the local Master.
“In truth and out of respect for your father…and at the request of your brother, we have come to offer you some advice. Advice we strongly urge you to listen to,” Gerard began to explain when Alisha let out a sharp yelp and grabbed her stomach in pain. Both Paul and Firgany immediately knelt beside her. Gerard shook his head. “Touching,” he whispered but Paul heard and glared at him.
“Say what you must and leave, please. Your presence clearly upset Alisha,” Paul said and stood up straight.
“Calm down, Paul…Gerard is in fact trying to help…if you will listen to him,” the local Master interrupted raising his hand.
“Paul, Alisha…and of course the great Firgany…huh…I and my knights will be leaving within the next few days for Marseille and on by ship directly to Outremer. I tell you this as word has been received that Saladin, keen to prove himself further, is planning to attack Jerusalem at some time within the next few months. As we speak Master Odo de St Amand and Roger de Moulins are planning counter measures with King Baldwin. From what we understand, Saladin’s assault may even begin as early as May. If that should happen, all truces become null and void… which means all Muslims will become fair game!” Gerard explained whilst keeping his eyes fixed upon Alisha.
Alisha looked up at Paul trying to ignore Gerard’s stare. Paul looked at her briefly, her eyes wide and concerned.
“We have oft stayed here when truces have been broken, as they have just as quickly been re-established and no harm has befallen us,” Firgany remarked.
The local Master moved forwards.
“That may have been true in the past…but this time, things are very different. ’Tis why Master Gerard and the large force he brings with him must depart soon. It will become very dangerous for you to travel if all out war does indeed start.”
“But why do you warn us?” Firgany asked Gerard directly and rubbed his chin suspiciously.
“Why…As I said, out of respect for Philip and Master Odo’s wishes… but mainly because Stewart asked me to. Besides, I understand were you not due to leave soon anyway?” Gerard answered.
Paul looked at Firgany with suspicion.
“Why could not Stewart come and tell us this in person?” Paul asked.
“Need I point out the very obvious, young Paul,” Gerard replied and indicated with a nod towards Alisha.
“We shall help you be on your way before news breaks here. Naturally we cannot force you to leave but you know how people react when these things happen,” the local Templar Marshal said calmly and feigned a smile of assurance.
Sister Lucy came rushing in, looked at everyone and froze. She saw Alisha and rushed over to her. She looked at Gerard hard.
“Chances are we shall see not see each other again if you depart in time…but should our paths cross again…know it is not you personally I despise or hate…just what your religion stands for. It is not therefore personal,” Gerard explained looking at Paul and Alisha only.
“Not personal! I shall remember that then,” Firgany said coldly and folded his arms and stood up straight.
“’Tis time we were leaving…come. Our offer still stands. We can even escort you as far as Marseille if that will help,” the local Templar Marshal said.
“Thank you Marshal, but that will not be necessary,” Firgany answered still looking at Gerard.
“In that case, good day to you. Let me know when you are departing though…please,” the local Templar Marshal asked as he started to leave ushering Gerard backwards.
Gerard said nothing as he picked up his gloves and stepped backwards up the step into the main hallway. He nodded at Paul and then Alisha with a grin upon his face.
As Simon saw the three Templars out, when he closed the main door bolt, Alisha let out a deep sigh of relief.
“That man, with the stench of his sweat, his filthy surcoat, the smell of the metal of his chainmail and oil, he reeks of nothing but death!” she said and held on to Paul’s hand as he sat back down next to her.
“That he does,” Firgany exclaimed still rubbing his chin. “We must make haste, Paul. We need to store all away what we cannot take now. We can always come back for it later…the rest we must take immediately for I sense the Marshal would not have warned us needlessly and without good reason.”
“But Alisha is too far with child to travel now. I thought we would only travel once the baby was here,” Paul asked alarmed.
“That will not be a problem,” Sister Lucy interrupted sternly as she beckoned for Alisha to stand. “We shall borrow Niccolas’s caravan. You will be comfortable enough in that to travel to Marseille. We know you have sea legs so the crossing by sea will prove no hurdle at all,” she explained as Alisha stood. “You have pains, yes?” she asked. Alisha nodded in silence as she placed her hands upon her tummy. “They are normal…so no need to panic,” she reassured her and looked at Paul and Firgany in turn. She winked at Firgany. “So…looks as though we are all going on an adventure.” Alisha looked at her, puzzled. “Well you don’t honestly expect me to let you travel all that way unattended without another female…surely?” she smiled. Alisha sighed, smiled and placed her hand upon her arm.
Port of La Rochelle, France, Melissae Inn, spring 1191
“Oh
I do not like that Gerard. I don’t trust him at all,” Sarah commented.
“Did they leave immediately then?” Gabirol asked.
“No. Firgany was not one to panic easily. He knew the Templars’ network of messaging always exceeded normal posts by many days, even weeks. He arranged to borrow Niccolas’s caravan. Niccolas refusing to take payment for it saying he would be having no further need of it as his travelling days were well and truly over.”
“But why did they not take up Gerard’s offer of escort to Marseille?” Simon asked puzzled.
“In short…because he did not trust him one bit. He sensed he had desires on Alisha despite his obvious and apparent hostility towards her and Paul. But you must understand that Gerard was a man of his time, bold, brash, and courageous to the point of being reckless, confidant but also surprisingly charismatic…and very cunning too! Because of that very fact, he was not permitted or allowed to know and understand some of the Order’s must sensitive and highly regarded secrets. Only a very elect upper echelon of members within the Order ever had access to those and Gerard was most certainly not considered discreet enough or intelligent enough to fully grasp their meanings. What made things worse, however, is that Gerard knew that, and also that Firgany and Philip knew that. He was at least astute enough to realise that. Firgany knew that if he was to travel with Gerard’s troop, there would come a point when he would make a move to get those secrets, by force if necessary,” the old man explained.
“And Alisha…was the baby fine?” Miriam asked.
“Yes. As Sister Lucy wisely knew, it was just Alisha’s body going through changes and practice spasms. Gerard’s comments on the track had certainly not helped. Sister Lucy, who felt totally responsible for her condition, took on the whole task with vigour and an enthusiasm that belied her old age. As a consequence she demanded that Alisha rest prior to their departure. Paul and Taqi took the opportunity to get in one more hunting session before they left. They both knew that it was perhaps going to be the last chance they would ever get to do so as Taqi would be leaving them once they arrived in Cyprus, their changeover part of the journey, and it would be highly unlikely any of them would ever return again to La Rochelle.”
“That is quite sad really,” Sarah commented.
Woodland 12 miles north east of La Rochelle, late March 1179
The night sky was crystal clear revealing a dazzling display of sparkling stars visible through the newly budding tree branches above. The Milky Way stretched across the entire panorama as it arched from one side to the other. The forest floor was covered in a soft blanket of leaves from the previous fall and Paul and Taqi lay asleep upon their groundsheets wrapped in heavy blankets. Adrastos was tied up to a nearby tree as the glowing embers from their fire fizzled away, the remains of their catch partly still visible as it hung cold upon a spit. A rabbit, not quite the wild deer they had hoped for. An owl hooted off in the distance making Adrastos rear his head momentarily. The air was still and calm. A splash noise sounded out as something small fell into the water of a nearby pond a short distance away and Paul turned over pulling the blanket up higher as he curled up in a tighter ball to keep warm partly wishing he was home tucked up warm next to Alisha. Taqi suddenly sat up fast, alarmed, his eyes wide looking from side to side rapidly. Quickly he leaned over and pushed Paul.
“Wake up. Paul…wake up,” he whispered as he pushed him again.
Wearily Paul began to wake up properly, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. He looked at Taqi, puzzled.
“Paul…I have just had the most strange dream,” he whispered and looked around them at all the long shadows cast upon the ground.
“What…and why do you wake me to tell me this?” Paul asked bemused.
“Sssh! Keep your voice down…unlike you, I do not normally have dreams,” Taqi whispered and moved to sit next to Paul.
“’Twas probably the rabbit…not cooked enough perhaps.”
“Oh yes. Very funny. Honestly, Paul…it was so real,” Taqi whispered excitedly.
“How so,” Paul whispered back and sat up fully and shivered.
“You know that white haired old man who saved us that day?” Paul nodded in silence in reply. “Well…he was staring straight at me. He was sort of prodding me with a stick.”
“Are you sure it was a stick, Taqi?” Paul joked.
“Paul…this is no sexual fantasy, listen to me,” Taqi shot back and hit Paul’s arm hard. Paul rubbed his arm and scowled at him. “Listen…the old man was telling me to awaken. Kept on saying it…it was so real.”
“Well, we are awake now. And?”
“Paul…you and I were fighting with swords…really fighting too. We were both covered in blood…it was horrible. But then the white haired man appeared again and turned his staff towards two very strange looking beings. He told me they were the angels Munkar and Nikar standing beside the gates to Paradise telling me things. But I could not understand what they were saying. All I kept hearing was the white haired man saying repeatedly over them, ‘do not fight him and all will be as it should be’, so what make you of that?” Taqi asked perplexed.
“How would I know?” Paul replied, tired.
“Because you know these sorts of things.”
“You credit me with far more than I am.”
“No, Paul…you know things.”
“Well, it came true the first part…as in wake up, for I am surely awake now!”
A sudden whooshing sound cut their conversation short as a large axe flew above their heads and embedded with a thud into the tree immediately behind them. Instinctively Taqi pushed Paul down as a crossbow bolt zipped through the air above them just missing Paul’s head. “Quick. Follow me!” Taqi said as he started to crawl towards the thick bushes behind the trees and grabbed Paul’s arm, both their hearts racing.
“No, this is an ambush…we must leave here!” Paul said loudly and stood up fast trying to pull Taqi up with him. Paul began to run towards Adrastos as two more crossbow bolts flashed past between them. “Come on!” Paul shouted as Taqi tried to see where in the darkness the bolts had come from. Taqi stood up and ran to join Paul as he quickly untied the reins. Just as Paul did so, four tall dark figures stepped into view coming straight for them. Three had crossbows just visible as one was reloading. The fourth, the tallest figure, silhouetted against the backdrop of stars drew a large two handed broadsword. “Get on,” Paul shouted to Taqi. Taqi jumped on the back of Adrastos despite the saddle resting on the floor beneath them. Paul pulled the reins, used the saddle as a step and quickly jumped up in front of Taqi, who immediately wrapped his arms around Paul’s waist. Paul pulled on the reins hard causing Adrastos to rear up with a loud snort. Paul managed to hold on by tightly squeezing his legs. Taqi nearly slipped off the rear of Adrastos but he seemed to sense this and bucked his hind legs forcing Taqi and Paul into the middle of his back. Paul turned directly towards the four rapidly approaching figures. Quickly he pulled the small arming dagger he had inside his top out. “Hold tight, my friend,” Paul said as he kicked his legs and geed Adrastos forwards fast, holding the reins in one hand, the arming dagger in his right.
As they sped towards the four men, one knelt down to take aim with his crossbow. Paul steered Adrastos directly for him as the man with the drawn broadsword stood still, raised the sword high ready to swing at them. Adrastos part jumped forwards taking them all by surprise, including Paul and Taqi who fought to hang on, Paul’s arm coming down hard against the swordsman’s arm, his knife slicing into his forearm whilst at the same knocking him sideways, just as the kneeling figure dived out of the way. The two other men in the dark ran to take up position behind them and aimed their crossbows. Paul looked at the tall swordsman as he staggered backwards momentarily from the force of Adrastos striking him. His black tunic swung open briefly…but long enough for Paul to glimpse the pommel of the man’s arming dagger, with a Templar emblem upon it just visible in the moon- and starlight as it glinted. Stunned, Paul turned Adr
astos so the full force of him thrust against the man knocking him down completely. A crossbow bolt zipped the air as it flashed past his head, Taqi holding Paul tighter.
Paul directed Adrastos towards the small dirt track that led off towards the main road back to La Rochelle and without waiting around, galloped at full speed for it. Without looking back, branches slapping both of them in their faces and body, they dashed for the main road. As they pulled onto it hard, another crossbow bolt zipped the air past them. Paul steadied Adrastos, pointed him down the main road, and then set off at full gallop, Taqi holding on for dear life as they both rode without a saddle. They did not look back. Only several miles later when they passed a sign did they realise they were in fact heading away from La Rochelle.
“Damnation…we cannot go back that way. We shall have to go the long way round I am afraid,” Paul explained angrily.
“Pray whoever they are they have not had others visit upon Father and Alisha this night whilst we are away,” Taqi remarked.
Paul turned rapidly and looked at him in alarm.
“Lord Almighty…,” Paul said and set Adrastos into a fast gallop, Taqi grabbing hold again.
After several miles Paul eased up sensing Adrastos was tiring and began to trot keeping an ever watchful eye behind them. Paul told Taqi he saw a Templar dagger on the tall man.
“Gerard,” they both said aloud together.
Paul and Taqi made their way directly to the harbour and rode up to the Templar headquarters, Adrastos’s hooves echoing out across the deserted port side. Paul dismounted and ran up the stairs where two Templars blocked his path.
“’Tis late. What business says you this early morn hour?” one of them demanded, standing in front of him. Taqi checked himself all over to make sure he was not hurt other than several scratches from branches.