Outremer I

by D. N. Carter

  Adrastos snorted and began to pull the caravan towards the entire group.

  “You are in no position to argue on this one. Come with us, Firgany, and I swear we shall leave the rest of your party alone…you will have a fair trial. You have my word of honour upon it,” Gerard shouted.

  “Honour…you clearly race ahead of us and then accuse me of murder knowing full well ’twas not I. Honour! You know not the meaning of the word!” Firgany shouted back.

  “Look, ’tis a beautiful day is it not? I am just carrying out my orders… and carry them out I shall.”

  “Whose orders?” Firgany shouted as he stepped forwards placing Alisha behind Paul and Taqi. He lowered their swords and stood facing the kneeling crossbow men and knights on the bridge. They looked nervous, sweat beading down their faces. He looked at them hard as he pondered rapidly his options.

  Sister Lucy let out a shrill scream as she jumped upon the back of the sergeant who had hit her. She sank her teeth into his neck making him scream and twist around as he tried to throw her off. Firgany turned to rush towards her. At that moment Adrastos reared up on his hind legs, his hooves kicking down near to the other sergeant. The sergeant went to swing at Adrastos but a hoof caught him squarely on the chest knocking him down, his helmet falling off as he hit his head hard upon the stone path. Paul jumped in front of Alisha. As Adrastos kicked up more dust, filling the area, the sun dazzled in diffused beams through his legs momentarily blinding the kneeling crossbowmen on the bridge. Sister Lucy held on tightly as the sergeant threw the parchment tube towards the men on the bridge to catch. As one Templar leant forwards to catch it, the crossbowman nearest him got knocked hard. As he fell sideways his elbow hit the solid flagstone floor of the bridge. Both Paul and Firgany saw this just as he fired off a bolt inadvertently.

  In Paul’s mind everything went quiet and slow, Adrastos looming high above him as he reared up, the sunlight shining all around him partially blinding him, the dust swirling everywhere, Sister Lucy still clinging to the sergeant’s back, Paul’s eyes then locking on to the bolt as it shot towards them in a flash. Alisha was directly it its path. Paul twisted on his leg and lurched out sideways to catch the bolt or at least get in its way. Just as he was about to make contact, he felt the unbelievable kick of Firgany’s leg into his side knocking him down onto the bridge hard. As Paul twisted to look towards Alisha, she was crouching, holding her tummy and screaming, but all was in total silence to Paul as his eyes caught sight of the bolt as it hit Firgany’s left hand as he blocked its path, instantly pinning his hand against his cream coloured tunic top in the middle of his chest. Firgany continued to fall sideways. As he landed his face was not pained, his eyes fixed on Paul’s. Paul stared at him momentarily as Firgany just lay on his side looking at Paul. Blood started to pour through Firgany’s fingers and spread out across his top and onto the bridge. Paul saw Taqi’s shoes out of the corner of his eye as he came and stood over him. Suddenly Paul’s head was again filled with noise and Alisha screaming, her eyes wide in terror. She rushed over to Firgany and knelt by his side quickly raising his head and resting it upon her lap.

  Paul rolled over onto his side and went to stand up as one of the knights behind him thumped him hard on the base of his neck with the pommel of his sword. Alisha looked up, tears streaming down her face as Firgany coughed, dark blood instantly bubbling through his lips and frothing white at the edges. Paul went to shield his head as another blow was about to hit him when Taqi blocked the man’s thrust. The sergeant threw Sister Lucy over his shoulders forcing her to land on her back upon the stones hard. She squirmed in pain, her back in agony. The sergeant went to kick her when suddenly a large black Arabian horse pulled up amid the swirling dust and a large cloaked figure jumped down instantly rushing forwards, a large two handed broadsword being raised with just one hand. The figure smacked the sergeant squarely in the face with his gloved backhand knocking him out instantly. The sergeant collapsed to his knees falling forwards onto his face. The knight behind Paul pushed Taqi backwards against the side of the bridge raising his sword to point at Taqi just as the large cloaked figure jumped into full view and stood over Paul, raised his hands tightly clenching the sword and smacked the knight hard in the face and pushed him backwards. As the Knight fell onto the crossbow men, the one who had fired the bolt looked up nervously as the tall man stood before them, sword raised high.

  “Hold your fire! Hold your fire!” Gerard shouted as he pulled his reins hard trying to keep his horse steady at the end of the bridge.

  As the dust cleared and began to settle, Paul saw it was in fact his father stood over him. Quickly Paul stood up helped by Taqi. They looked at Firgany, clearly badly injured, as Alisha just sobbed pitifully and stroked his thick hair.

  “Speak to me, Father…please speak to me,” she cried softly.

  Taqi knelt down and grabbed his father’s right hand and looked into his eyes. Firgany just lay silent. He tried to look up at Alisha but could not move. He stared at Taqi and Paul knelt beside him.

  2 – 15

  “My sons…,” he coughed quietly as his chest gurgled.

  “Say nothing, Father. Save your strength,” Taqi said back and gripped his hand tighter.

  Paul looked at Alisha, her eyes streaming with tears as she looked at him pleadingly. ‘Do something,’ she mouthed emotionally.

  Firgany tried to move his left hand but it was pinned tightly against his chest.

  “No…do not remove that bolt,” Philip said aloud, still keeping his eyes firmly fixed upon the knights on the bridge as Gerard eased his way forwards on his horse to see better.

  “Taqi…Paul, I said sons, huh…for that is what you both are,” Firgany coughed again. “Ali…Ali,” he called out softly trying to turn to see her.

  A knight went to stand forwards but Philip swung his sword flat side-on knocking the knight against the bridge wall. The crossbow man still lying flat looking up nervously.

  “I….I did not mean to fire loose,” he said, his voice dry.

  Philip looked down at him hard. The man shielded his head thinking Philip was about to kill him.

  “I will cut in two the first man that dares cross any further!” Philip shouted, his sword raised high but still forwards of his own body. He quickly looked at Firgany.

  “’Twas an accident,” Firgany whispered as the blood stopped oozing from his chest.

  “Brother Philip…!” Gerard shouted.

  Philip looked at him. Paul studied his father’s face as he hardly recognised the angered man that now stood before him, his eyes blazing away with an intensity that even scared him.

  “What abomination is this?” Philip demanded angrily.

  “Huh, the only abomination I see here is that woman with child.”

  Philip looked at Alisha briefly as she sobbed still with her father resting his head upon her lap. Firgany gave a slight shake of his head no and blinked his eyes slowly. Philip instantly knew what he was saying. His heart jumped and he fought to control his explosive emotions that were rising still further within him. Both he and Firgany knew his injuries were fatal.

  “You have killed my friend and true brother this hour…and I will have my vengeance upon you I swear,” Philip said through gritted teeth, his voice deep and menacing.

  “No…no, he isn’t. He can’t!” Alisha cried out frantically as Paul grabbed her arm.

  Brother Teric looked at Stewart and shook his head disapprovingly. Stewart moved to position himself near to Gerard. Nervously he approached as Philip looked at him. Stewart felt the emotions rise within him. He felt angry and confused and torn between his love for his father but also for his Order. He had been told that Firgany had stolen secret parchments that could do much damage to the church if revealed and that Niccolas had been murdered. The fact that the parchment had just been recovered from their caravan set his mind in turmoil.

  “Ha…do not make me laugh,” Gerard laughed back and sat upright and frowned mockingly. “
You are seriously outnumbered. And surely you would not fight your own son too this day,” Gerard asked and motioned towards Stewart.

  Philip looked at Stewart hard, his gaze cutting into his very soul he felt. Stewart gulped, his throat dry. All stood perfectly still as the standoff continued for several more minutes and tensions grew. Paul looked across the bridge at Gerard and Stewart. Brother Teric was behind them shaking his head low clearly not in agreement with what was happening.

  Adrastos snorted and kicked his front hooves just as Sister Lucy began to stand up.

  “We will take the Great Firgany and you can all be on your way, it is that simple,” Gerard stated patronisingly. “And you cannot stop us, for you are alone out here,” Gerard boasted opening his arms wide to emphasise that fact.

  Suddenly a large arrow zipped from the tree line behind Adrastos, and shot through Gerard’s long hair causing him to flinch in shock, his eyes widening.

  “He is not alone,” Tenno suddenly called out as he appeared from behind the caravan, a large longbow held primed ready and aiming directly at Gerard. All looked at him, surprised.

  “Huh…you missed me,” Gerard shouted bombastically but his voice audibly shaking.

  “If I had aimed to hit you, we would not be having this conversation. Now I will give you just one choice,” Tenno stated as he moved near. The sergeant near to Adrastos moved to get in his way but Tenno kicked his knee hard breaking it instantly. As the sergeant screamed out in agony rolling on the floor, Tenno moved closer, his aim still firmly fixed upon Gerard. “My fingers tire…and this arrow will slip loose.”

  Gerard shifted his position on the bridge but Stewart’s horse was now blocking his way back. A Cistercian monk with the Templars pushed his way across the bridge. He looked at Firgany and immediately went to bend down near to him as everyone else watched Tenno, the string of his bow creaking at the tension. Gerard began to look nervous as he drew ever nearer.

  “Just what are you?” Gerard asked, perplexed at the sight of Tenno’s large frame, black clothing, armour and bow.

  “Your worst nightmare,” Tenno replied, clipped, and pulled the tension even further on the bow and Gerard pulled himself backwards in his saddle.

  Sister Lucy pushed her way passed Tenno and took one look at the Cistercian monk, who had taken out his cross and started to read the last rites to Firgany. Alisha had her head down just sobbing as Taqi squeezed his hand tightly, tears welling in his eyes.

  “Get off of him, you stupid man,” Sister Lucy shouted out and kicked the monk hard pushing him backwards onto his backside. “Don’t you dare try that here,” she shouted fiercely at the monk. Firgany let out a slight laugh upon seeing this. Sister Lucy knelt beside him and helped Alisha take his weight. “As you know,” Sister Lucy frowned and feigned a smile.

  “I know…not always a nun,” Firgany coughed with a pained smile.

  Paul moved around and crouched beside Alisha to comfort her. He looked up at Stewart on the bridge.

  “You did not have to do this. This order was wrong and you know it,” he shouted angrily.

  “Orders are orders,” Gerard shot back impatiently but still keeping his eye upon Tenno.

  Paul stood up fast again, stepped past the monk and crossbow men, pushed the other Templars aside as he approached Gerard and Stewart. Gerard nodded to let him pass through. Gerard and Stewart both looked down at him, Stewart looking very uncomfortable. Paul could see the emotion in his brother’s eyes.

  “You know that your Order has rules that permit you to refuse an order if it is clearly wrong…so I know this is of your making…and I hold you both responsible for this. This is on your heads,” Paul stated angrily. “Now tell me, damn it, why have you done this?”

  Gerard looked at Stewart as if waiting to hear his reply.

  “Why…because Muslims are our enemy. Saladin this very moment plans to take Jerusalem at his first chance. And despite what Father says, their religion is indeed an abomination. It is naive of him to say that although they may be our enemies, it does not mean they cannot be friends. What kind of idiocy is that?” Stewart snarled back as he leant towards Paul. As Stewart went to sit back upright, he pulled the Beauseant banner hard, the pole catching his forearm pushing his chain mail sleeve and under shirt upwards revealing a deep freshly treated scar. Paul’s eyes widened instantly. Stewart saw the look on his face and pulled his horse’s reins back hard making the horse jerk back from Paul.

  “’Twas you!” Paul said exasperated.

  Gerard frowned at Paul and then Stewart and raised his eyebrows.

  “Yes…’twas I! To scare you,” Stewart sneered back.

  Paul took a sharp intake of breath as he heard this. He looked back at his father, who slowly lowered his sword shaking his head in total confusion and disappointment. Stewart saw the look on his face and he struggled to hide his own emotions.

  “Why?” Paul asked, utterly puzzled.

  “Do not look at me with such high and mighty condescension. Why? you ask. Why? How about because I was trying to do you a favour. You are a spoilt, precocious, lazy foolish dreamer and she will bring you nothing but heartache and pain.”

  “Huh…what? Is this because she rejected you…for I sincerely believe if she had kissed you back, you would not be saying such now,” Paul replied, shocked.

  Philip lowered his head sadly, hearing them both as Gerard laughed. Tenno pulled the bow strings even tighter, which made him lose the smile fast.

  “And you have always been Father’s favourite…always.”

  Brother Teric looked up at the sky shaking his head in disbelief.

  “What? You cannot be serious. Firgany lies dying this very moment and you come up with that…that horse shit!” Paul replied, stunned, and started to move backwards through the knights, totally confused.

  Philip lowered his sword completely and slowly approached Gerard and Stewart passing the knights as if they were invisible. He stopped just short of Stewart. He looked at Gerard with utter contempt. Gerard just shrugged his shoulders.

  “Son…how so wrong you are. I do not hold you in any way responsible for what has happened here today…just him. And this…this I brought for you to take with you, and that horse,” Philip said, his tone mellow as he presented up the two handed broadsword.

  Stewart looked at the sword, then Gerard. Gerard nodded he should take it.

  “No, Father. I want nothing of you any more. You do not even know what side you are on,” Stewart replied.

  Philip threw the sword down near to Stewart’s horse, the clang as it hit the ground sounding out throughout the ravine.

  “’Tis a fine sword, Brother Stewart,” Gerard stated smirking.

  Philip looked up at Gerard hard, his eyes narrowing.

  “Tenno…how tired are your fingers getting?”

  “I do not know for I have lost all feeling in them…perhaps they may slip loose the string,” Tenno replied, aiming directly at Gerard.

  “You infect with badness all that was good about the Order. You are a poison within it,” Philip said just as the noise of many more horses approached from behind the caravan. All turned to look as a column of Hospitaller light cavalry came into view travelling down the track in single file.

  “I do not have time for family politics and petty squabbles. We have what we came for…and as is God’s will, justice has been served,” Gerard commented upon seeing the Hospitallers arrive then looked at Firgany, who was staring at him.

  As Gerard pulled his horse backwards from the bridge, Stewart looked at his father, then the sword still upon the ground. Philip motioned with his hands he should still take it.

  “’Tis my old sword…but made anew in London just for you,” he said softly.

  Stewart stared at the sword as the other Templars backed off of the bridge carrying the two injured sergeants with them. With tears welling in his eyes, he looked at Firgany, who just closed his eyes briefly to acknowledge him. Alisha had her head down still sobb
ing. He looked at Taqi, who let go of Firgany’s hand and stood up straight, clearly emotional. Paul hugged Alisha from behind.

  “Gerard! I hold you personally responsible for this. Do you hear? And one day when your head rolls on the floor at my feet, I shall spit upon it!” Taqi shouted out.

  Firgany tried to raise his hand at him.

  Paul looked up, his eyes locking with Stewart’s. Paul shook his head. Stewart took one more look at the sword on the floor, then his father. Philip sighed sadly.

  “Son,” he pleaded, arms outstretched.

  Stewart pulled his horse around tightly and with his back to them, rode away using the Beauseant banner to shield his face as he left. Philip shook his head. Then quickly turned and rushed over to Firgany as the Hospitallers started to dismount to assist.

  Gerard led his column away and they seemed to vanish into the dust kicked up and the shadow cast from the ravine side. Philip knelt in front of Firgany and held his hand. He studied the bolt stuck firmly through his left hand and sternum. The blood was thick and dark. A Hospitaller quickly knelt to his side and studied the wound as Alisha looked at them both pleadingly.

  “My friends, ’tis okay. Please, Taqi…Taqi…where are you?” Firgany asked quietly.

  “I am here father, can you not see me?” Taqi replied emotionally as he knelt to his right side. Paul wrapped his arms tighter around Alisha as the Hospitaller nodded no; there was nothing they could do.

  “Taqi…do not curse your life by seeking revenge with that excuse of a man I beg of thee son, for to do so you will waste your life,” Firgany whispered quietly.

  “But, Father…” Taqi replied and placed his hands over Philip’s holding Firgany’s.

  “Son…my heart is pierced…there is nothing anyone can do. ’Tis Allah’s will this day. ’Tis a beautiful spot to enter Paradise, no?” Firgany whispered and forced a pained smile.