Outremer I

by D. N. Carter

  “Abadan laa tansynii,” Philip said directly to Taqi.

  “What…what did he say?” Paul asked perplexed.

  “He said, don’t ever forget me,” Taqi answered and sighed as Philip again bowed his head briefly.

  Tenno stood away letting go of the reins and Philip quickly took up the slack, cracked them and geed the horse forwards. Philip raised his hand at the Hospitallers and then trotted off back up the track through the tree line. Paul watched as his father vanished from view over the brow of the track, his cloak blowing up high behind as he sped off. Alisha turned around and tearfully looked up at Paul.

  “Paul…you really must learn your Arabic if we are to live in Alexandria,” she said softly, her voice still shaken. “Hayet albi enta,” she whispered then gulped emotionally.

  Paul looked at her quizzically and frowned he did not understand.

  “It means, you are the life of my heart,” she explained and rested her head against his chest again.

  Paul felt himself stand taller upon hearing those few precious words from her. It gave him enormous strength. Taqi stood closer to him as Tenno walked over. Tenno stood in front of them, his massive frame blocking out the view of where Philip had ridden off. He frowned at Paul as if waiting to be told what to do next.

  “Your father said Frejus…so to Frejus we must go…now!” Tenno said in his clipped deliberate tone.

  South of France: Draguignan Pierre des feé

  The route to Freju passed through the small village of Draguignan in the Var-era Chalcolithic region, which took just a day to reach, with Freju itself being another day’s journey on from there. Paul sat in the caravan with Alisha comforting her most of the journey whilst Taqi and Tenno took it in turns to steer up front. Alisha said very little and just lay against Paul most of the way. The Hospitallers escorted them as they had promised Philip they would. It was late afternoon when they reached their stopover location next to the Monferrato main track a kilometre northwest of the village. Sister Lucy knew the place well and directed Tenno to pull up near a small orchard next to an imposing stone farmhouse. Next to it was a large set of standing stones known as the ‘Pierre Fairy’, a dolmen set of stones with a legend accrediting them as fertility stones. They were also the largest megalithic stones in Provence. The locals called it ‘Peiro the fado’, the name ‘Pierre Fairy’ being the French translation of this name. It consists of three vertical slabs of 7 to 7.5 feet high, the table top stone measuring more than 16 feet in length and weighing 60 tons and covering an area of 60 foot square. The top stone is called ‘the capstone’. It was rumoured that it would have taken three months and 300 men to cut, move and mount the stone. Both Firgany and Philip held this idyllic spot in high regard. Sister Lucy had informed Alisha of this fact and why she thought it may help to rest overnight there.

  Tenno locked the caravan wheels and climbed down and stretched his arms and legs as Taqi remained where he sat in silence. Tenno viewed the hills in the distance and the tall slender cypress trees everywhere. The Hospitallers dismounted and hurriedly set about making camp as a local approached from the main farmhouse building.

  Paul sat up slowly trying not to wake Alisha as she lay against him. Sister Lucy was asleep on the opposite bench, face down and arms folded part leaning against the door exit. Paul smelt Alisha’s hair and stroked her head softly, his left arm placed around her waist and resting his hand upon her tummy. He smiled as he felt the very slight kick beneath her dress from the baby. His mind wandered to how his father was, how Stewart was feeling and if Gerard had been involved in Niccolas’s death. Paul could hear some shouting getting louder outside, the dialect being of Provence, so not any of the Hospitallers in his group. Alisha stirred slightly and began to stretch her arms as she yawned.

  “I’m awake,” Sister Lucy said quickly looking up and coughed. Her cough woke Alisha completely. She opened her eyes and smiled and rubbed Paul’s arm. Her face suddenly changing to one of sadness as she fully awoke and recalled her father’s death. She sniffed, rubbed her eyes and sat up properly as Paul moved to sit upright. “What is that commotion outside?” Sister Lucy asked and leaned out to see.

  Taqi heard the commotion of people jeering and shouting on the road to his side and looked over to see several local villagers pushing and hitting a man dressed in a dirty old white habit. The man fell to the floor and one of the villagers started to kick him. Taqi jumped down from the rider’s seat and rushed past the dolmen stones and approached the group of nearly twenty or so men and women. A large overweight woman raised a broom and was about to hit the man on the floor, who was struggling to cover his head from kicks.

  “Hey! Hey…stop that,” Taqi shouted out.

  Paul heard him shout and instantly stood up and rushed to exit the caravan, pushing past Sister Lucy.

  “Stay here,” he said as he jumped down from the rear of the caravan. He saw Taqi almost upon the group of villagers and he ran to join him.

  “Clear off you, whoever you are this is no business of your like,” one of the male villagers shouted back.

  “Taqi, what happens here?” Paul asked as he stood next to him.

  “’Tis not your problem, boys…now be away with you,” the overweight lady stated, still holding the broom high above her head.

  Paul rapidly studied the situation. The crowd were clearly angry and hostile, the man on the floor bloodied, his face swollen already and both his eyes closed from bruising. As the man rolled onto his back, Paul saw a worn patch where a cross had once been sewn.

  “This man has leprosy yet he denies it and drank from our mead barrels…,” a tall muscled man stated and moved to kick the man again.

  “No!” Paul shouted and without hesitation ran forwards and pushed the muscled man back hard nearly causing him to stumble but his colleagues behind him steadied him.

  “Oh…look…we have a young hero here,” the muscled man mocked.

  Paul immediately knelt down next to the man, supported him and lifted him so he could look at his face. Blood was oozing from his split lip and several cuts to his face, his eyes closed due to swelling and his forehead and hands were covered in blisters and scabs. He coughed as he tried to speak.

  “Are you mad, boy…he has leprosy,” someone at the back shouted.

  Paul looked at the subdued area where a badge was once sewn.

  “Rick, ’tis me…Paul,” Paul whispered.

  “The boy knows this leper,” the overweight woman shouted as the muscled man leant forward to grab Paul from behind.

  “Touch him and you will regret it,” Taqi stated sternly.

  The muscled man paused briefly to look at Taqi, grinned and then grabbed Paul and lifted him up hard to his feet. Quickly Paul turned to face him as the muscled man pulled his fist back to punch him. Suddenly the man’s face contorted in pain and he started to go backwards and to his knees. Paul looked ahead. Tenno was standing behind the muscled man using just one hand to squeeze the man’s right hand, Tenno’s gaze staring hard at all the villagers, who watched amazed. The muscled man squirmed in agony and tried to twist away from Tenno, but Tenno did not move.

  “Please…please…please I beg of you…let go,” the muscled man pleaded in agony, sweat beading across his forehead. Tenno continued his stare at the crowd. The overweight woman lowered her broom and they all began to back away slowly.

  Alisha appeared beside Tenno carrying the large two edged sword in her right hand, wearing a bright blue shawl around her shoulders. She placed her left hand upon Tenno’s that was crushing the muscled man’s hand. Gently she squeezed her hand over Tenno’s, his hand huge in comparison. Tenno broke his stare at the group and released his grip instantly, the muscled man falling to the floor holding his hand with his left still in agony. Alisha then stepped forwards and walked slowly in front of the crowd looking at them all in turn one by one. She said nothing as she looked into the eyes of each of them. Several of them looked away or down in shame. After she had walked past the
last person, her left hand over her tummy, her right hand holding the sword, she moved to face Paul. She outstretched her right arm and offered him the sword. Despite its size, the sword was remarkably light due to its unique manufacture and material construction. Seeing this, one woman crossed her heart and knelt down and began asking for forgiveness. Taqi just starred bemused at what he was seeing as several Hospitallers came and stood behind them. Sister Lucy edged her way next to him shaking her head, surprised at Alisha’s obvious effect upon all present. Two more villagers knelt down and crossed their hearts. The muscled man looked up at Alisha, still in pain. Paul took the sword.

  “You forgot this…do not ever enter into trouble again without it,” she said softly.

  “Who…who are you?” the muscled man asked in pain, nervously looking behind him at Tenno still towering over him.

  Paul tied the sword around his waist quickly and looked at the crowd as they all stared at Alisha. Taqi moved to help the elderly injured man on the floor. Paul likewise knelt to help lift the man whom he knew to be Rick. As they both lifted him to his feet, the muscled man stood up holding his hand in pain. Alisha walked over toward him slowly looking directly into his eyes. He backed away hesitantly as she drew nearer. Paul looked on concerned as he struggled to hold the weight of Rick, who could hardly stand, his head hung down.

  “Wh…what are you going to do?” the muscled man asked nervously as he moved backwards, tripped on the edge of the track and fell to his knee. Alisha walked up and stood immediately in front of him and stared into his hazel green eyes. He stared back and all stood in silence as Paul watched. Taqi shook his head, he had no idea what she was doing, as Sister Lucy edged her way nearer to her. As Alisha stared into his eyes, hers wide and her pupils large, she did not blink. After what seemed an age, the muscled man’s bottom lip started to quiver and tears began to well in his eyes as he was flooded with emotions. He was still holding his right hand up with his left when Alisha moved to place her hand upon his. He flinched momentarily, but then saw the slight smile start on her face. Very softly she placed her hand over his injured fist. She tilted her head slightly as she looked deeper into his eyes. Sister Lucy shot a look back at Paul, bemused, as Tenno watched, his face still fierce. The muscled man let out a nervous laugh as the pain simply left his hand. He blinked, amazed, and smiled as tears fell from his eyes totally unashamedly. Several in the crowd fell to their knees and crossed their hearts. Taqi looked at Paul, totally confused. The muscled man knelt down in front of Alisha, grasped her hand with both of his and kissed her hand softly and cried. Alisha looked at the crowd of people. One of the Hospitallers knelt down followed by another, then another until everyone was kneeling. Paul looked at them all in surprise and then at Alisha.

  “Paul,” Rick coughed painfully as he tried to speak.

  “This man knows you?” Taqi quizzed as he struggled to hold him up.

  Alisha turned to look at Paul and Taqi holding Rick. She let go of the muscled man’s hands and walked across to them. She looked at Rick’s swollen and bruised face and gently placed her hand upon his cheek. Immediately he coughed, stood up straighter and shook his head and took his own weight on his legs. His eyes were still closed, swollen, as he placed his hand upon Alisha’s hand still on his face.

  “Blessed are you, mother of our Lord,” Rick coughed out.

  Instantly several more in the crowd crossed their hearts and whispered prayers.

  “No, I am just Alisha,” she replied softly and looked sadly at the state of Rick’s face. Sister Lucy approached and gently pulled Alisha’s hand away from Rick’s face. “Do not worry, ’tis not leprosy.”

  The muscled man stood to his feet looking at his hands, still amazed. He looked at Tenno, who narrowed his eyes. ‘Sorry’ the man mouthed to him.

  “Come, child…with me,” Sister Lucy said aloud and began to usher Alisha away.

  Paul looked on concerned as Alisha seemed to be in some kind of trance almost he thought. He had never seen her like this and Taqi shook his head, also bemused.

  “Lucy,” Rick whispered upon hearing her voice.

  “Rick…what in the Lord’s name are you doing here?” Paul asked as he started to escort him away from the track.

  “My good friend, Paul…’tis a blessing and a miracle you have shown up this propitious day,” Rick replied tiredly as they followed Sister Lucy and Alisha through the line of Hospitallers, who looked at Alisha intently and bowed as she passed them in turn.

  “Who is this?” Taqi demanded just as they approached the caravan, Sister Lucy helping Alisha back up the rear steps. Adrastos neighed from the front still coupled to the rig.

  Tenno followed up the rear of the party walking backwards keeping an ever watchful eye on the crowd, who were all still kneeling.

  “She is with child…yes?” Rick asked.

  “Yes…but tell me, what are you doing here?” Paul asked again as they sat him down on an old tree stump near the dolmen stones.

  “I am heading for Outremer…to join the ranks of the Knights of Lazarus as their physician,” Rick explained as he felt the swelling upon his eyes.

  “What…why?” Paul asked as he studied Rick’s face.

  “I was asked to.”

  “Who are the Knights of Lazarus?” Taqi asked as Tenno stood beside them.

  “They are knights afflicted with leprosy based in Jerusalem. I mentioned this as I took a meal at the yonder inn. Next thing I know I am being thrown out, kicked and beaten,” Rick explained.

  “But last I saw you, you were well and tending your vineyard,” Paul stated.

  “Huh…my vineyard is dead. My home is a ruin I can ill afford to repair and my days are numbered…so when a good friend asked me to assist with the Knights Of Lazarus, I thought, why not…plus your father came looking for me so I knew it was time to leave.”

  “Why would my father looking for you cause you to leave…besides, that was many months ago,” Paul asked.

  “Young Paul…I have had to walk all the way and I am not as young as I was. Plus my health took a dive. I know it is a momentary ailment, and that is why I came here. To seek remedy and healing from the stones and the power that runs through this land,” Rick explained.

  “Power…what power?” Taqi asked, confused.

  “He speaks of the power of the dragon lines,” Tenno interrupted. Taqi looked at him even more confused.

  Rick coughed and looked up at him but he could not see through his swollen eyes.

  “You know of such things?” Rick asked, surprised to hear Tenno’s comment.

  “Indeed I do,” Tenno said sternly.

  “Tenno knows much about many things,” Paul remarked as Sister Lucy stepped back down the rear steps of the caravan. He looked at her as she looked at Rick. “How is Alisha…and, er, what was that all about just now?”

  Sister Lucy came over and knelt in front of Rick, grabbed his chin hard and moved his head from side to side as she checked his injuries.

  “Hmm! You look familiar. Your eyes, they will recover in a day or two so you will see again,” she explained matter of factly then stood up again and looked over at the villagers now all talking amongst themselves and pointing at the caravan. “I am not totally sure what occurred just now… but Alisha says she does not remember any of it.”

  “What…is she not well?” Paul asked frantically.

  “No…no she is well. Very well considering. But I believe strange things are afoot at this place this hour,” Sister Lucy explained further and looked again at Rick.

  “Rick here knows of you,” Paul said as Rick instantly grabbed his forearm hard.

  “He does? I know not him.”

  “Rick, explain,” Paul said as Rick squeezed his arm tighter.

  “I…I once knew a Lucy, but not you I am sure,” Rick coughed out, pained, his voice deliberately deepened.

  Sister Lucy studied him carefully and looked over his garments and clothing. She noted the subdued patch where a badg
e was once sewn. Quizzically she looked at Paul and Tenno.

  “I do not know this man,” she said bluntly and placed her hands upon her hips.

  “This is the man Rick I told you and father about whom I met in Rochfort last year,” Paul explained.

  Sister Lucy rubbed her chin suspiciously.

  “Hmm. Well, keep him warm, let him sleep and I shall sort his wounds shortly after I have sorted Alisha with a meal,” Sister Lucy said as she moved away.

  “Paul…please, place me upon a blanket beneath the stones…I will be fine then…trust me,” Rick asked quietly.

  Paul looked at Taqi then Tenno, who nodded they should.

  “If he knows of the paths of the dragon, then it will help him,” Tenno stated as Taqi shook his head again, puzzled.

  2 – 6

  “Who speaks words of knowledge in a strange accent?” Rick asked stretching out his hands to feel who was in front of him. Tenno stood back a pace.

  “He is named Tenno. He is a traveller and a navigator from the far eastern Orient,” Paul answered as he supported Rick as he faltered upon his feet.

  “A Nautonier…today is indeed proving providential after all,” Rick smiled.

  Paul, Tenno and Taqi helped Rick to lie down upon a thick blanket beneath the stones as he requested, Rick asking question after question of Tenno. When he was settled, Paul uncoupled Adrastos and tied his reins near to a Cypress tree where he could graze and then joined Alisha and Sister Lucy in the rear of the caravan whilst the Hospitallers set up camp for the evening. All the villagers had dispersed as he stepped up into the caravan.

  Alisha looked at him and smiled broadly, her hands placed across her tummy as she sat at the end of the left hand side bench, Sister Lucy stirring a hot drink.