Outremer I

by D. N. Carter

  “I have this moment read my Taoist ‘Book of Changing’ and consulted my I Ching carefully for guidance on this matter. I fear there is deceit here and lies…and lies I cannot abide by,” he explained, his voice slow and deliberate. His gaze fell upon Rick. “But I have always followed the way of I Ching and it has brought me thus far…so I shall again trust what it shows me this night.”

  “And what does this book of yours tell you?” Taqi asked nervously as Tenno and Rick just stared each other out. Taqi nodded at Tenno to push for his response.

  “It shows me that despite his lies…for they are still lies…I must stay and protect you all. Including him.”

  “Hey look, I am more than capable of looking after myself believe me,” Rick shot back.

  “That I have no doubt of, for it shows you as a mighty soul…but you will still need me.”

  “You mean, they will need you?” Rick replied as Sister Lucy shook her head. Rick looked at her as she looked up at him.

  “No…you included,” Tenno remarked and clasped his hands together and stared at him hard.

  “I think it is a great idea you come with us. I also think it would be an even better idea if we all got some sleep for we will have a very long and busy day tomorrow,” Sister Lucy said and held onto Rick’s hand again not even trying to hide her clear affection for him.

  “Can I ask just one thing?” Taqi asked.

  “Of course. But whom are you asking?” Sister Lucy replied.

  “Er…Tenno first…what book did you ask, and you, Sister Lucy, are we to still call you Sister or what?” Taqi asked hesitantly.

  “’Tis still Sister to you, young man. This changes nothing about me,” she replied instantly and raised Rick’s hand up still clasping it tightly.

  “If you have a mind to learn, I shall be happy to explain the I Ching to you,” Tenno answered politely with a slight bow of his head.

  “So, who sleeps where now?” Taqi asked even more hesitantly.

  Alisha let out a slight laugh as both Rick and Sister Lucy looked at him bemused but smiling.

  Port of La Rochelle, France, Melissae Inn, spring 1191

  “Oh my Lord I do not think I can take in much more of this information and emotional turmoil,” Sarah sighed and wiped her face.

  “I too must confess that I am struggling to comprehend all that is explained. If what you speak of was spoken within my church walls, I fear they would burn you alive for sure,” the wealthy tailor explained.

  “I did not think someone like you would even attend a church,” Simon remarked, which immediately solicited a look of hostility from him.

  “Then ’tis perhaps a good idea that we too should retire for the night,” the old man interrupted.

  “No…no you must not stop for we will not hear the end of this before we must leave,” the Templar stated his voice raised in alarm.

  “What if I said that I could have your ships delayed?” the old man replied quietly and looked at them both. Miriam placed both her hands upon the Templar’s forearm, looking sad.

  “How…are you going to conjure up a storm?” the wealthy tailor said harshly.

  “No, my friend. And if what you hear this night is disturbing you or making you fear that the Devil walks amongst us now, you must take your leave of us soonest,” the old man said calmly, looking directly at him.

  “No…no that is not what I am saying for I would like to think myself a little more enlightened than perhaps some in my church,” he replied awkwardly.

  “Please, all of you, I tire so I believe that perhaps we should continue this tomorrow,” the old man said wearily and sat up.

  2 – 23

  “But shall I ever see you again?” Miriam asked the Templar, her voice shaking with emotion.

  “Hey…maybe you two knew each other in a previous existence eh?” Simon joked.

  “Your jokes and oft ill spoken comments are beginning to grate upon me, fishmonger,” the Templar said tersely.

  “Nothing in life happens by coincidence, Simon…nothing,” the old man exclaimed as he went to stand. “Now please, ladies and gentlemen. I really must seek some rest. But know this, when it comes to the words I have spoken of and will speak more upon… that words have the power to destroy or heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world and we are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world. Remember that if nothing else.”

  “Please…must I beg of you to stay and tell more?” the Templar asked as he stood up.

  “My dear Templar friend. These bones of mine are tired and I cannot. But I shall tell you this…all of you here now present. Come back early in the morning, which is but only a few more hours, and I shall finish this tale,” he explained softly.

  “But I cannot for my brother and I must leave tomorrow.”

  “No…you do not have to leave tomorrow. You are both masters of your own destiny. And any of you here who wish to stay the night, there are plenty of bunks free you may make use of,” the old man explained as he gently picked up the sword from the table. “And before you say it, Simon, no this is not a trick to con you into board and lodgings at this late hour, for I shall cover all your costs this night.”

  “Well amen to that as it sure beats walking all the way back across the town home,” Simon replied with a big grin and rubbing his hands together. “Does it include breakfast?”

  Sarah shook her head frustrated and silently banged her hands up and down slowly.

  “’Tis true all who wish to stay the night. And yes breakfast will be included at no charge to any of you,” Stephan explained as the old man stepped past the Templar and Miriam as the Hospitaller moved out of his way, Simon remaining sat at his chair between them.

  “You shall not be leaving us tomorrow. That I do know, so see you early, my Templar friend. Goodnight all,” the old man said softly, bowed his head slightly and with the sword cradled across his chest, made his way to the main hallway and stairs.

  Miriam looked at the Templar with a large smile. He smiled back.

  “Right oh. To bed it is for all who wish to stay the remainder of the night…in separate bunks,” Stephan said and looked at the Templar and Miriam, who were looking into each other’s eyes. “So who is staying?”

  Everyone in the room put their hands up. Sarah pretended to bang her head upon the table.

  “In that case, follow me!” she exclaimed and stood up raising her arm high to follow her.

  The following morning, the old man was already sat in his chair near to the big fireplace when the Templar entered the main room first out of the group. Stephan was opening the main window shutters and glanced over at him with a smile. Sarah was already in the kitchen preparing breakfasts. He shielded his eyes as large beams of sunlight flooded into the room. The Templar, dressed only in his white habit, coughed as he made his way to sit opposite the old man.

  “Looks like it will be a glorious day today,” the Templar remarked, his voice sounding dry.

  “Let us hope so,” the old man replied softly “Here, I have something for you if you wish it,” he continued as he leant over and handed the Templar a small sealed envelope. The Templar took it and looked at the wax seal marked with the emblem of the local Templar Marshal. He looked at the old man, puzzled, and shook his head, confused. “Do not worry. I can tell you that there is no need of you worrying about being on time for your ship. And if after today you wish to join it still, simply give me that envelope back…but if you have other desires or intentions, open the envelope then…but only then.”

  The Templar sat back in his chair confused studying the sealed envelope and looking at the old man. Both sat in silence as the rest of the group eventually came down from their rooms in various states of tiredness. Sarah entered the room and placed several jugs full of fresh clean water drawn from the well.

  “And where is Miriam?” she asked the Templar direct.

  “How should I know?” he replied.
Sarah placed her hands upon her hips and looked at him quizzically and raised her eyebrows. After a few moments, she raised them even more. “Okay…she will be down shortly,” he answered sheepishly.

  The old man smiled as the Templar looked at him, embarrassed.

  “Fear not for I make no judgement…and what is in that envelope still remains valid,” he explained as Simon entered the room scratching his head and yawning.

  “Ah Simon…just the man,” Sarah said loudly. “If you want any breakfast, I need someone to first flush out the main garderobes and then all the privy chambers. And as you knocked one of the double doors off the main garderobe last night, please kindly fix it and just flush the chutes with the water I have already put there ready,” she explained and looked at him with a mocking frown. “And lift the wooden lids first before flushing.”

  “Why me?” he instantly asked.

  “Because it was you who broke the door by half hanging off it earlier last eve and it was you who left a sizable mess in there when we went to our chambers…need I say any more?” she stated. “Now run along and I shall reward you with a very sizable breakfast…and make sure you clean your hands afterwards.”

  As Simon began to walk away still rubbing his head, Miriam entered the room looking rather embarrassed. The Templar sat up straight, smiling at her, which put her at ease immediately. She smiled broadly and moved to sit next to him. The old man smiled at them both as the Hospitaller entered just wearing his surcoat and no chain mail.

  “Brother…you have my soap still,” the Hospitaller exclaimed frowning and looked at Miriam. “But I guess you can keep it,” he commented as he began to pour himself a drink of water.

  “Miriam…in here now!” Sarah shouted out from inside the cooking area.

  “Excuse me,” she said softly, touched the Templar’s arm and stood up and quickly made her way past the farrier and wealthy tailor as they came into the room.

  “She is a fine woman,” the old man said as the Templar watched her walk.

  “That she is…probably too fine for the likes of me,” he replied, still following her with his eyes.

  “She clearly does not think that.”

  “We shall see,” the Templar sighed.

  “Did you enjoy using the wooden barrel baths in your rooms this morning?” the old man asked as the Genoese sailor entered looking very tired.

  “No as Sarah did not manage to heat any water for us. Apparently she had a more important guest staying who required it this morning,” the Hospitaller explained.

  “Ah yes…Stephan’s sister-in-law from Britain,” the old man replied.

  Stephan approached and looked at everyone around the table and smiled, rubbing his hands together.

  “Right, Sarah and Miriam will simply cook up some items and spread them on the table for you all to help yourselves as she is eager to hear more of this story. She did not stop asking me questions last night when we got into bed,” Stephan explained. “And er, we have an extra guest joining us this morning if that is acceptable…Sarah’s sister.”

  “I suspect we shall have plenty more join us when you open the doors later,” the Templar remarked.

  “No…not today we shan’t for I have signed we are closed today. Besides, ’tis Sunday after all,” Stephan answered.

  The old man leaned over and handed the Hospitaller a sealed envelope. Puzzled he looked at it as he accepted it and looked at the wax seal marked with the seal of the local Hospitaller Marshal. He frowned hard as he looked at it again and then his brother, who waved his own envelope. He broke the seal instantly and went to open it.

  “No! You can only open it after you have heard the rest of this story,” the old man quickly interjected. The Hospitaller looked at him very puzzled and then his brother and shook his head. “’Tis nothing to be concerned about I assure you of that.”

  Simon entered the room and then washed his hands at the main Lavers stone basin near the entrance to the main hall. He sniffed the air smelling the scent of freshly baked bread and bacon.

  Gabirol entered the room looking very refreshed and clean and pulled up a chair where he had sat the night before. He nodded good morning at all and started to rub his teeth with a small cloth and a mixture of herbs, including the ashes of burnt rosemary, to clean them.

  Stephan quickly brushed the floor around them with a broom as Miriam and Sarah started to bring out several trays covered in various freshly cooked breads, thick bacon slices and scrambled eggs. Sarah fetched some plates as Miriam handed out eating utensils and tankards. Stephan poured out some sweet smelling herbs of lavender, camomile and rose petals around the room. The Hospitaller looked at the floor.

  “I have only just noticed that you do not cover your floors with rushes or straw. That tells me you must be learned in the ways of better hygiene as our Order practices,” he commented. Stephan just smiled and nodded yes.

  All turned to look at a tall dark haired and elegantly dressed young woman enter the main room through the doorway which led onto the main hallway. She stood and paused, her hands together, looking shy and apprehensive. Her dark hair was tied back in a small gold band, her dress full length and so dark a green it almost appeared black, the lacings down the side from her arm to her hips were pulled together tightly to accentuate her figure. She looked pale but her eyes were a sparkling blue. Nervously she stepped down the single stone slab into the main room and smiled as she approached, Simon’s jaw dropping open.

  “’Tis Alisha,” he blurted out.

  “No…you have mistaken me for someone else,” the woman explained politely and kept her hands clasped together.

  “Come, child. Come join us for breakfast,” the old man said and stood and proffered a seat. “Come and introduce yourself.”

  Nervously, still rubbing her hands together, she moved to sit near the end of the table near to Gabirol. Immediately he stood up, and pulled another chair forwards for her to sit upon. As she stood next to it, Gabirol gently eased the chair forwards and she sat back down upon it. He sat down immediately and looked at her with a broad grin. Simon and the farrier both looked at her as Peter finally entered the room looking very much the worse for wear. The young woman turned her face to look at him, revealing her white slender neck just as Miriam walked over and stood next to the Templar. She saw him looking at her and she hit his shoulder hard with a mock look of disdain. He rubbed his shoulder then quickly placed his arm around her waist and kissed her thigh with no thought of hiding his clear liking for her.

  “I knew it…just knew it,” the Hospitaller exclaimed shaking his head but smiling at his brother and a blushing Miriam. She sat down between him and the Templar, the old man smiling as he studied the faces around the table. Peter walked over and stopped right next to the young dark haired woman and looked down at her.

  “And you are?” he asked bluntly whilst scratching his head.

  “Oh…me…Yes. Sorry. I am Sarah’s sister. I am from England and I only arrived yesterday,” she explained softly.

  “And your name is?” Peter asked again bluntly.

  “Oh…silly me. I am Ayleth,” she answered and smiled at everyone.

  “’Tis truly a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Gabirol said as he slightly bowed his head towards her.

  “Eat before the food gets cold,” Sarah said loudly and motioned with her hands for them to start. “And her name, Ayleth, means noble, so behave yourselves.”

  With that, they all began to help themselves and talk quietly to each other. It was nearly half an hour later before the Templar wiped his hands and mouth on a small piece of cloth and looked at the old man. The Hospitaller watched them both.

  “Please, old man…we still do not know your name. You said before it was not necessary to know, but can you not let us know now?” the Hospitaller asked as he studied his brother looking at the old man quizzically.

  “My name truly is irrelevant…but as I feel I have begun to know you all better, I will tell you the n
ame I was known by once. Walter Ward, and it meant dweller by water and guardian or watchman,” the old man answered.

  “Once you say. So you have obviously changed your name now, yes?” the Hospitaller asked.

  “Yes. But I have been known by many names…and that is all I am prepared to say on the matter…for now at least.”

  “’Tis all I need to know…for now…so please, if we are all now ready can we continue with the tale you tell?” the Templar asked politely and looked at the two handed sword hung over the corner of the chair the old man sat in.

  Gently, the old man lifted the sword up, part unsheathed it and placed it upon the edge of the table and pushed it forwards moving some of the plates in its way. He paused with his hands on the sword and closed his eyes for a few moments as if in prayer. He opened them and looked directly at Ayleth.

  “’Tis people like you all gathered around here this day that future generations shall look back upon and hopefully say thank you. But if you fail, they shall condemn you, and yet it shall be yourselves you condemn,” the old man said and looked at all of them one by one in turn. “For remember this now. Who controls the past controls the future.”

  They all looked at each other perplexed.

  Amphitheatre de Frejus, Provence, 1179

  Paul was the first to rise as the noise of the Hospitallers breaking camp and the other pilgrims talking woke him. He shivered as the cold morning air blew gently against him. Old fires smouldered in tall columns of white smoke that snaked and curled upwards as coughs and people waking up began to rise in volume. Adrastos neighed and raised his head as Paul stood beside him. Just as he patted his neck, he noticed Tenno sat perfectly still just a few feet away next to the trunk of a tree almost hidden from view. Quietly he moved around Adrastos to see what Tenno was doing. Sat crossed legged, a black blanket set out in front of him, Tenno was studying what looked like a rolled out mat of white strips of bone joined by stitching. Next to it where several pieces of rectangular polished pieces of wood with engraved symbols upon them. Tenno sat up straight and drew a deep breath and then sighed, his hands placed upon his knees and he just sat there motionless and quiet. Adrastos neighed louder and kicked his leg as if impatient. Slowly Tenno turned his head and looked up at Paul watching him.