Outremer I

by D. N. Carter

  “Almost ashore, Ali,” Paul reassured as he held her whilst his other hand grabbed firm against a wooden beam.

  “This is not the way for a pregnant woman to travel,” Sister Lucy commented as she watched the sailors knock the large wooden bolts aside, the doors both instantly beginning to fall forwards letting in brilliant blasts of sunlight along the top, getting ever wider. The men holding the retaining ropes all took up the tension and slowly let the two doors lower until they hit the sand of the beach, a rush of fresh air entering the hull immediately. Alisha raised her hand to shield her eyes as Paul gently led her forwards and down the right hand side ramp as Tenno and Rick followed them. Taqi was left holding the rope to tie up with two Genoese sailors.

  It was mid afternoon, the sky a crystal clear blue and the air was welcoming and warm. Alisha stepped off the ramp onto the soft sand and immediately bent down and removed her sandals and white socks, pulled up her dress slightly and walked barefoot upon the sand and took in a deep breath, her eyes shut as she let the sun’s rays bathe her face with warmth. Sister Lucy smiled to see the colour come back into her face. Paul gently ushered her aside as several horses were led down the ramps.

  “Has been a very long time since I was last here,” Rick exclaimed with his hands upon his hips as he looked up the steep rock face further down the beach.

  Alisha opened her eyes to see before her a large cliff and outcrop of rock with many little houses built both on its side and cut into the cliff directly. She could see there was a large fortified church at the very top. She looked at Rick.

  “And where exactly are we?” she asked.

  “My dear child, we are now on the beach at Scilla in Calabria…and up there, that is where we shall stay this night. Will give you time to get some proper rest and the horses can get some exercise,” Rick explained and pulled Sister Lucy close to him. She pushed him away playfully shaking her head no.

  “Will Gerard not stop here on his way?” Tenno asked.

  “No. Ships from Marseille take the southern open seas route direct to Malta or Cyprus. We have to stay as near to the land and pass through the Strait of Messina. Look yonder you can see Sicily there,” Rick explained as he turned around and pointed to the shore line across the water.

  Alisha smiled broadly and held Paul’s hand.

  “I sense much history here,” Paul commented as he looked around them and towards the busy little fishing port a short distance down the beach.

  “Oh there is indeed, my young Paul, there is indeed. Now come, the walk to the top is not easy. Best we start now so we can walk slowly for Alisha,” Rick stated and grabbed Sister Lucy’s hand.

  “As I keep telling you all…I am pregnant….not ill,” Alisha laughed in response.

  As they began their walk to the top of the large rocky outcrop they cut through several very narrow streets, more like wide paths, with Rick keen to explain the place’s history. Alisha smiled often as they walked through the charming little alleyways, at the many fishermen outside their homes making fishing nets, repairing their boats or preparing for the next early morning fishing trip. Taqi ran to catch them up holding a small parchment letter of introduction from the ship’s Hospitaller captain to hand over to the gatekeeper of the fortified church.

  “Do you all know that this place Scilla, Skylla in Greek, is the traditional site of the sea monster named Scylla of Greek mythology? The fortified church ahead that dominates the area divides the village literally into two distinct areas. To the south you can see Sicily, Messina and into the Strait of Messina itself. Scilla is famous for its swordfish…and you must try it before we leave,” Rick explained.

  Sister Lucy shook her head as she walked beside him still openly holding his hand tightly.

  “Never heard of the place or its famous swordfish,” Paul remarked as he helped Alisha step across a small open water shoot.

  “Yes you have…you just don’t remember when yet,” Rick laughed in reply.

  After a half hour walk, the party reached the top of the rocky outcrop and entrance to the part constructed ground plans of a new castle next to a fortified church. An older temple structure still stood overlooking the Mediterranean Sea below them, its azure colouring looking glorious and rich in the afternoon sun. Alisha took it all in as Paul just studied her face, a beautiful joy to behold, he thought. Tenno smiled seeing them both stood against the waist high stone wall.

  “I have never seen the sea so blue as this,” she remarked, her hair blowing back in the warm breeze. “Please, how long shall we be staying here?”

  Tenno looked at Rick and raised an eyebrow.

  “According to the captain, they usually stay two nights at most to exercise the horses, take on more fresh water before we sail the longest leg of the journey, which means sailing around the heel of Italy then heading out across the open sea to Greece and then stay at the St John Hospitallers’ staging post on the island of Chalki…a small island next to the larger island of Rhodes,” Rick explained as Sister Lucy stood with him. Taqi jumped upon the wall and stood with his hands upon his hips, his white shirt catching in the wind.

  “Taqi, get down, you fool!” Alisha said alarmed, the sheer drop on the other side falling several hundred feet. Taqi smiled at her.

  Tenno walked over to him just as a gust of wind inflated his shirt almost pulling him forwards. Tenno grabbed his belt and pulled him off the wall hard onto the stone path.

  Taqi’s eyes were wide and he smiled broadly but more from nerves.

  “Do not be so eager to waste your life!” Tenno said bluntly, not a hint of emotion upon his face.

  Rick shook his head disapprovingly at Taqi’s reckless stunt and tutted.

  “Taqi, do you know that mythology tells us that Scilla was in fact a beautiful young girl, the daughter of Niso, who was King of Megara. She was loved by the marine god Glauco, and transformed, by a wizard named Circe, into a monster with six heads of ferocious dogs who devoured sailors passing through the Strait of Messina below,” Rick asked him, trying to challenge him intellectually.

  “Of course not. How would I know that?” he replied almost laughing, Tenno still giving him a disapproving look.

  “Well, you should if you had listened to your father’s teachings,” Rick stated. Alisha shot him a look as Sister Lucy thumped his arm hard. “Sorry…that was perhaps uncalled for. I apologise…to both of you.”

  “I know that this sea passage was and has been feared since antiquity by all populations, due to strong marine currents, and that the name derives from the Phoenician skoula for rock, or Greek skola for dog, or Skylla, later translated into Latin as Scylla and Scyllaeum. But I only know that because Niccolas kept on teaching it to me. But I never thought I would ever end up actually here,” Paul commented.

  1 – 5

  “Good man…did he also tell you that Scilla was founded at the time of the Trojan War twelve hundred years before Christ? This place often clashed with Tyrrhenian pirates who were settled in this coastal area, and therefore became an important fortified post to preside over the Tyrrhenian coasts. It was noted under the Romans by the name of Oppidum Scyllaeum. Slaves, guided by Spartaco, known commonly as Spartacus, took refuge here during the revolt of 73 BC. But what I say now that is of importance and what I hope you will remember for later, is that between the eighth and tenth centuries, Basilian monks arrived here in Calabria, and founded a monastery in Scilla and a church known during ancient times as San Pancrazio. Just where we are standing now in fact,” Rick explained.

  “You still love it don’t you?” Sister Lucy said softly.

  “What?” Rick asked smiling as she held onto his arm.

  “Speaking, teaching, educating. You have not changed that much,” Sister Lucy stated looking at him longingly. Alisha smiled seeing her look so lovingly at Rick as Taqi pretended to be sick behind them, Tenno glancing a look at him and shaking his head.

  “Well at least trust me when I say the swordfish has to be tried to be beli
eved,” Rick laughed and hugged Sister Lucy. Alisha and Paul laughed at them. It was a joy to see two people still clearly very much in love and happy at their old age.

  “Well I shall need to present this so we can get a room for the night,” Taqi stated and waved the note of introduction.

  That evening they all sat within a whitewashed room with a large open window that overlooked the sea below. A large balcony gave access to stand outside but Alisha felt nervous and slightly dizzy as she looked down the sheer drop beneath them. Taqi stood upon the balcony with apparently no concern. The Hospitaller captain joined them for some food before he was due to do his evening vespers. Rick managed to arrange for them to try the swordfish. All laughed when Alisha took one bite and, very unladylike, spat it out instantly apologising profusely as she did. Rick roared with laughter, which made them all laugh. Even Tenno let out a very slight laugh, grinning momentarily. Alisha looked at him and gave a knowing smile of assurance to him. She could sense his pain. Paul had told her what he had said on the boat and it made her feel sad inside how he must be feeling. But Rick had everyone laughing again within moments. Taqi pushed him with questions to tell him about his father and Paul’s father, but he was reluctant to say much. Sister Lucy explained that in time she was sure Rick would tell them more than enough about their fathers when he took himself to the garderobe room. It was only then that Taqi actually sat for a moment and truly realised and felt the loss that he would never again see his father. He sighed heavily and Alisha knew why. Even Tenno nodded at him. Sister Lucy, sensing the mood, was becoming sadder and decided it was time they should try to get some sleep.

  Alisha and Paul were shown to their own room by one of the local monks who inhabited the fortified church and buildings. Once alone inside, Alisha walked up to Paul and wrapped her arms around him tightly and rested her head upon his chest. The monk had placed a single burning oil lamp upon the small table. It cast just enough light for them to see, but more light was entering through the open window from the moon and stars. The room had no curtains and just a single wooden board to close across the window. The sound of the waves of the Tyrrhenian Sea below, which almost penetrated the homes which continually face the force of the water, was amplified in the silence of the night air in an impressive rhythmic sound of the sea almost like a musical background.

  “Paul, I want you to hold me tonight. I want you to make love to me,” Alisha said quietly, her voice tinged with sadness.

  “What…really? But will that not hurt the baby? Is it right to even?” Paul asked and moved her face gently to look at her.

  “Of course it will be okay. It has been so long since I showed you my love, and I need to feel you in me…as a part of me. And please…please promise me…that if ever we become parted like Tenno has from his family…promise me you will come back to us no matter how many years may pass.”

  Paul smiled instantly and looked into her eyes. Scented warm air blew in through the window to his left.

  “Of course. That is an easy promise to make,” Paul replied, a little perplexed by her words. “As for making love to you this night…I thought I would have to wait many months after the baby was born before we would be able to again.”

  “Not at all, my man. There are gentle ways,” she explained and kissed him softly upon the lips. Instantly Paul became aroused and Alisha could feel him against her thigh and she let out a laugh and giggled, breaking the kiss. “Come…,” she said softly and pulled him towards the bed. “But you will need to undress me completely,” she smiled.

  Instantly Paul half ripped off his own shirt, threw it to the floor and knelt upon his knees next to the bed in front her.

  “Are you sure about this?”

  Alisha nodded and started to unlace the front of her dress. Gently Paul began to help her undress until her dress fell away and she eased herself back onto the bed, Paul pulling the dress off completely. He removed his remaining clothes until he was naked and Alisha giggled again as he lay down next to her as she turned onto her side, her back toward him. He tucked himself up close to her naked body, her skin touching his sending shivers throughout his body. He placed his arm around her and her ever growing tummy. As his arm rested upon it, he could feel the baby move. Alisha grabbed his hand and placed it over what felt like a foot pushing up. Quietly they lay still just hugging each other, Paul fully aroused but also too conscious of his baby. He kissed Alisha on her shoulder, then her neck as she moved to reveal her neck fully, her eyes closed.

  “I cannot believe how much I want and need you,” she whispered.

  “Nor I.”

  Alisha raised her right leg up and Paul placed his hand under her knee to take the weight. She pushed back against him feeling him ready for her. Paul stroked his hand down the inside of her thigh and immediately felt how moist she was between her legs. She moaned softly. He could feel his heart beating faster as hers did also. He moved his fingers across her very gently and she shivered with pleasure and very slowly gyrated her hips backwards. Paul guided himself to the very edge of her and very slowly pushed himself inside her. Both shuddered from the rush of overwhelming pleasure that swept through their bodies. But Paul did not move back and forth, just simply rested inside her as one. He used his fingers to stroke her and her body gradually convulsed as she soon reached a climax and pushed back against him. She bit into his hand as she tried to remain quiet as a massive orgasm overwhelmed her senses. Paul kissed her shoulder again and just held her as her body reacted to the orgasm and gently caressed her until she relaxed. He lowered her leg, and they just lay still together, Alisha falling asleep shortly afterwards. Paul pulled up the clean cotton sheets and just lay awake, his arm around her and feeling the odd movement from the baby inside her. He had not climaxed, yet still felt utterly satisfied and relaxed. Many thoughts ran through his mind. Right now, at that very moment, he thought to himself, had to be the best moment of his life so far. His mind drifted back to comments that his father, Niccolas and Rick had touched upon about his bloodline and references to a ‘Crimson Thread’. He rubbed his hand gently over Alisha’s tummy. ‘I have not even met you yet but I would lay my life down for you already,’ he thought to himself…the baby’s foot pushing out as if in response, making Paul smile.

  The following morning after a very light breakfast, the Hospitaller captain asked them to meet him as soon as they could down on the beach in front of the Tarida. When they arrived early, horses were being loaded back on, Adrastos proving problematical and reluctant to board as two Genoese sailors struggled to guide him up the ramps. Paul immediately went over and calmed him. After several minutes he managed to get him to walk up and into the canvas harness. Once Adrastos was secure Paul rejoined the rest outside. The sun was still low on the horizon as the Hospitaller captain approached them carrying various sea charts. He wore just a dark brown habit, his sword strapped to his side, not his usual full black mantel with a large white cross upon the chest and chain mail.

  “Good morning. Sorry we have to leave today so early, but I am conscious we should take to the seas today whilst the winds are favourable. We have a long open sea leg ahead of us once we pass the southern heel. It can prove quite rough so everything is being tied down and all persons are to wear only light gear,” the Hospitaller explained.

  “Why only light gear?” Paul asked.

  “In case the ship is swamped and goes down,” the Hospitaller captain answered looking at Paul, puzzled, as if he should know that.

  “If the ship goes down, you do not want to be weighed down with heavy armour,” Taqi quipped and raised an eyebrow at Paul.

  “Tenno,” Paul said looking at him.

  “If it is all the same to you…I shall keep mine on,” he replied.

  “You sure about that?” the Hospitaller captain asked.

  “Yes. The ship will not be going down. And I have swum many times before in this,” Tenno stated emphatically. Rick approached Tenno and looked him up and down and raised an eyebrow a
s if questioning his statement. “You do not believe me?”

  “If you say so…I believe you. You must be a very strong swimmer that is all,” Rick stated.

  “I am!” Tenno replied, clipped.

  “Please, we must leave as soon as we can…and I shall need some of you to help get us off the beach,” the Hospitaller captain said as Tenno and Rick seemed to size each other up.

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

  “Was there tension between Tenno and Rick, Theo, whatever his name was?” Ayleth asked.

  “Yes. You could say there was. Tenno was a self controlled man and he saw Rick as being somewhat undisciplined. A Maverick even and perhaps an opportunist, but more worrying for Tenno, he could not understand why Rick lied. Truth was everything to him and in his mind marked out exactly what type of a person you were in his eyes. He was also surprised at the change in Sister Lucy his presence had upon her,” the old man explained.

  “If his name is really Theodoric, can you not refer to him as such?” Gabirol asked.

  “Would it not confuse you if I changed his name now?”

  “Not I for I am not fully aware of this Rick to be honest,” Ayleth replied first.

  “If Theodoric…oh I have just realised where he got Rick from,” Simon stated with a broad smile as if he had just broken some great code.

  “Call him Theodoric I say,” the Templar stated.

  “Fine by me,” Peter said shrugging his shoulders.

  “And me,” the wealthy tailor agreed.

  “Does it make a difference?” Sarah asked, perplexed.

  “It makes no difference to this story…but it may in the future when people learn of this tale,” the old man replied.