Outremer I

by D. N. Carter

  “Paul…today could prove very interesting. Word has it that several bandit groups have been busy along this stretch of road. You will have to keep the girls inside the caravans,” Taqi said excitedly and smiling broadly.

  “That explains why the knights are busy preparing for combat,” Paul answered as he studied all the preparations. Part of him felt apprehensive at the coming journey and his concerns for the safety of both Alisha and Arri. A short and stocky blacksmith approached Paul and Taqi, smiling, rubbing his hands through his wet thick black curly hair.

  “Sires…we have an hour before we move off. Do you require any last minute alterations to your armour or swords?” he asked now rubbing his large wet hands together.

  Paul looked at Taqi, bemused.

  “Sorry…we are not knights,” Taqi answered smiling back.

  “Sorry, sires! You most certainly look like knights…especially when wearing such a sword as that,” the blacksmith said pointing to Paul’s two handed sword. “May I?” he asked outstretching his hands in gesture to receive the sword.

  “Of course…,” Paul replied and unsheathed his sword and handed it to him.

  The blacksmith yelped as he received a mild static shock from the sword, and then smiled as he held it closer with both hands. As he studied the sword, he ran his fingers down the blade on all sides and looked carefully at the symbols upon it. He placed the blade against his face and closed his eyes. He then swung it around as if it was a twig. He laughed at its lightness.

  “By all that I am. Lord be praised I never thought I would ever see such in my life time. You say you are no knight…this says different!” the blacksmith exclaimed as he held the sword up to catch the sun upon its blade. It reflected a pearlescent colour and revealed several wood knot-like patterns along its length. “Well look at that…” Paul and Taqi leaned nearer to see what he was pointing at. “See that…I have only ever read of this. That wood-like patterning is Calbrin…Caliburn patterning. It means this sword was made the lost way. How come you have it upon your person?” the blacksmith asked and gently handed back the sword.

  “I had never noticed that pattern before I must confess. And my father gave it to me,” Paul answered as Taqi took the sword from him and started to hold it up to reflect the light.

  “What do you mean made the lost way?” Paul asked.

  “Lost…as in the method has long since been lost to us…many hundreds of years past literally. I know rumours claim it can still be found in the lands to the far east…but even then it is guarded. Did your father travel there?”

  “Not that I am aware. To be honest, I have not really asked much about it,” Paul replied.

  “Perhaps you should start asking. That is no ordinary sword. That one sword is worth more than every sword, spear, dagger and battle axe in this entire column. And there will be envious eyes upon it…so be guarded, young sire, for you may part company with it if you do not keep it about your person always,” the blacksmith warned and frowned.

  Taqi looked at him suspiciously but Paul sensed he was genuine.

  “Thank you. I shall.”

  “Please, I am sure we shall see much of each other during this journey. I am near the rearguard with my smithy cart. Feel free to join me and my family any time should you wish to learn more about it.”

  “Thank you. We shall.”

  “Good day to you both,” the blacksmith said as he walked off towards the knights near to Princess Stephanie’s caravan.

  “Did you hear that…he thought we were knights?” Taqi said enthusiastically.

  “I did. But I am no knight and simply having a sword certainly does not make me a knight either,” Paul replied as he looked around for Tenno.

  “Paul…it’s in your blood remember,” Taqi joked.

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

  “This sword you mention…’tis the same that sits there now upon the table…yes?” the Templar asked looking at the part sheathed sword.

  “Yes,” the old man simply replied and nodded.

  “And how does Theodoric know that both Alisha and Stephanie are, or were, to have more children and even know their sexes?” Ayleth asked quietly, but her stare concentrated.

  “Theodoric meditated, just like Tenno, but he also consulted charts just as Niccolas and Paul’s father had done likewise. Plus he also had a natural instinct for such matters with uncanny accuracy,” the old man explained.

  “Huh, no wonder people tried to burn him,” Simon laughed.

  “But I know that Princess Stephanie did go on to have both a boy and daughter…as you state he said. And I know that she named her daughter Alix. Her boy died young though…very young. I recall Reynald was inconsolable when he died,” the Templar detailed.

  “That is terrible…that she should lose a child,” Ayleth said, her voice saddened.

  “As I said earlier, all that you hear of Reynald is often harsh…but he was still just a man and loved his children just like we do. The loss of his son would have repercussions for sure…,” the old man said and lowered his head momentarily.

  “And Stephanie…she was prepared to give up a kingdom for Paul’s father. How?” Simon asked in his usual blunt manner.

  “She was just fourteen when she first met Philip. In fact he saved her life and from that moment onwards she was captivated by him. In her mind he was everything a knight should be…but also shrouded in an air of mystery as she often heard others speak of him. But Philip carried a broken heart that could not be filled or healed,” the old man sighed.

  “Well it obviously was as he was to marry Raja was he not?” Simon shot back.

  Sarah shook her head disapprovingly at his comment and tutted.

  “Again a fair point to question. But no, his heart had a hole that could never be filled in this life time. Raja understood that. But as you age, you will learn, that lust is fleeting and passes, but respect and mutual companionship grows stronger and a deeper kind of love grows. He loved Raja certainly…differently…but still love,” the old man explained and took a deep breath.

  “This hurts you to speak of does it not?” the Hospitaller asked.

  “Yes…as does telling this entire tale.”

  “Clearly. This is why I am grateful you have given us the opportunity to hear it. You said that Stephanie was married the first time in 1163, so she was what…seventeen. Quite old compared to others of her class for marrying,” the Hospitaller remarked.

  “Yes. She stubbornly refused all suitors and marriage arrangements as she hung on to the hope and chance that Philip would one day claim her for his own bride. Of course he never did.”

  “So how long did it take for them all to reach Outremer then?” Gabirol asked politely.

  “Well, some days they covered over twenty miles…others, less than eight. You must remember that the entire journey from Alanya to Kizkalesi Castle was some 120 miles. Whilst travelling they passed several pilgrims and couriers who brought news that indeed many vessels had been run aground or sunk out at sea during the fierce storms. Many had also perished along the coastal roads themselves from huge battering waves. This fact only strengthened Paul’s belief that he had made the best decision to travel overland.”

  “I thought Tenno and Theodoric were to have an archery competition. What happened to that?” the Genoese sailor asked as the wealthy tailor nodded with him.

  “Huh! Indeed. For the whole journey, at every opportunity they would both pick a target and loose off arrows. A costly exercise as they are expensive. Or challenge who could lift the heaviest trunk, hold two horses together. You name it or think of it, they competed. Sister Lucy was forever on Theodoric’s back moaning at him…out of concern of course that he would do himself an injury. The knights even started to wager who would win each event,” the old man explained and laughed to himself.

  “Quite a pair then?” the farrier remarked.

  “Oh yes…quite a pair and both seemed intent on winding the other
up often. Who could teach Paul the most about maps and navigation to swordsmanship? On more than one occasion Paul had to seek refuge inside Princess Stephanie’s caravan with Alisha.”

  “So did Alisha get on with Stephanie then?” Ayleth asked.

  “Yes. Very much so in fact. Princess Stephanie had several ladies in waiting who would usually attend to her every need, but whilst on the journey, she had found it liberating and enjoyable to be able to just be herself. Some of her ladies however were not impressed at being left out. Paul heard some of them make unkind comments about Alisha and Sister Lucy on more than one occasion. There were a few children in the convoy, which was common anyway, but there were also several priests and monks who without reason decided they did not like Tenno simply by the way he looked. Tenno of course ignored them and every morning early, he would put Taqi and Paul, no matter how tired Paul complained he was, through a series of physical tasks and taught them various moves to defend themselves using just their hands and opponent’s own body weight against them. Theodoric tried it once and instantly put his back out much to the merriment of all who saw him thrown over Tenno and onto his back,” the old man recounted. “It was in the early hours of the morning when the convoy was just eight miles short of Kizkalesi Castle that they received word that bandits in the region had seized upon the chance to attack and raid parties travelling, whilst most of the population was too busy helping those affected on the coast due to the storm,” the old man explained and cupped his hands together. “Due to rock falls and bridges being washed away, their convoy had to take a slightly longer route towards Kizkalesi and so they had to stop off at Kanlidivane. It gave the knights time to dry out most of their equipment and rest their horses.”

  “I myself have been there!” the Templar stated and smiled. “It is quite a remarkable ruin of a place. Lots of rock cut images…just like the ones in Petra.”

  “My, you have travelled haven’t you?” Miriam said and clasped his hand tightly as he just winked back at her.

  “Yes it is a remarkable place. It has an ‘other-worldly’ feel to its ruins. Quite romantic in a way. Theodoric of course had given one of his history lessons the night before detailing just about all there was to know about Kanlidivane. Tenno had sat and listened quietly. By the time they actually reached the place, Paul was, as ever, eager to check out all the carvings and old ruins for himself armed with his sketching parchments, much to the disappointment of Alisha, who was silently beginning to flounder under the conditions and constant lack of sleep from Arri, Paul being totally oblivious to her position and condition. Though Sister Lucy was aware and keeping a close eye upon her…thankfully.”

  “Typical man!” Sarah stated loudly and folded her arms, shaking her head.

  “He was young…and as is the way, blind to the suffering of a young mother as most of us have been guilty of,” the old man said.

  “Are there any sketches in your leather satchel?” Ayleth asked softly.

  “Of course. I almost forgot that. Gabirol…if you will, you will find several drawings he did of the ruins,” the old man answered as Gabirol pulled the large satchel near and opened it. “You will find many sketches. I have tried to place them order as this tale is told”.

  Fig 25:

  Kanlidivane, Tower of Zeus Olbios and sinkhole, Erdemli, Cilician Armenia, 1179

  It was mid afternoon, the sun blazing away fiercely in the sky when Tenno and Taqi started to guide their caravan back up against an old sandstone wall as Brother Matthew did likewise with Princess Stephanie’s far larger caravan. The blacksmith positioned his three carts nearby as his young daughter constantly looked out for Paul. She had developed a rather large crush on him. Theodoric and Sister Lucy were talking with the Hospitallers’ leader about how best to position their knights in case of attack. Theodoric had expressed concerns they were spread out and should be pulled together tighter but Brother Matthew had already insisted that his vanguard knights remain where he had positioned them. Frustrated, Theodoric raised his hands in despair and approached Princess Stephanie’s caravan.

  Paul opened the small rear door of his caravan and called out when it was almost against the stone wall. Alisha was breastfeeding Arri inside and was finding it difficult as the caravan was manoeuvred into position. Paul jumped down and lowered the steps to ensure it could reach the floor and not prop up against the wall. He quickly looked back inside to check Alisha was okay and she feigned a brave but tired smile. She was hot and uncomfortable and her breasts were painfully sore from Arri. She longed for a proper wash and Theodoric had told her there was a fresh water stream nearby they could all use to wash in. Paul grabbed his leather-bound parchment holder and drawing utensils pouch and went to close the door.

  “No Paul…please leave it open. I am nearly done here and no one can see inside. I am too hot,” Alisha said wearily.

  “Okay Ali. I wish I was able to do that for you,” Paul replied.

  “Do not be too long,” Alisha asked.

  “I won’t. We won’t ever be passing this way again so I just want to make some notes and sketches…you know, so we can one day show Arri where he has been,” Paul smiled.

  Alisha just smiled back.

  Paul hurriedly made his way towards the large sacred sinkhole Theodoric had told him all about. Taqi shouted out after him asking where he was going as he struggled to hold Adrastos back but Paul just gave a quick wave and ran off up the dirt path that let towards the old ruins. The blacksmith’s daughter saw him leave and immediately set off after him. Tenno just shook his head and smiled at Taqi.

  “I am afraid our young friend there has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. I just pray he does not let it get in the way of his wife and son…,” Tenno remarked.

  Taqi looked at him puzzled as he held Adrastos’s reins tighter.

  “What do you mean?” Taqi asked.

  “I was once like him. That is all,” Tenno replied, still watching Paul as he ran up the dirt track. Tenno’s gaze fell upon Princess Stephanie, who by now was standing on the steps to her caravan. She was looking at Paul also. Tenno frowned. Taqi saw this and followed his gaze towards Princess Stephanie.

  “She troubles you doesn’t she?” Taqi remarked just as Adrastos shook his head as if in response to say yes.

  “See…he knows too,” Tenno replied.

  “Knows what?”

  “That woman has desires upon young Paul.”

  “No! Alisha would kill her with her dagger if she knew that.”

  “Then do not let her know,” Tenno said and began to walk after Paul slowly.

  When Paul reached the summit of the dirt track on the brow of the raised hill, he stopped to catch his breath and take in the sight that lay before him, the sun shining brightly off the almost pure white chalk area exposed immediately to his front. Several ancient buildings lay in ruins just as Theodoric had explained. A large sinkhole was off to his left surrounded by more ruins.

  Paul recalled all that Theodoric had told him. That Kanlidivane was the ancient city of Kanytellis situated around a large, and considered sacred, sinkhole. It was not too far from the town of Kumkuyu on the coast but riders had already warned them that there was much storm damage there and why they had decided to stop here for the night instead. Just a few hundred feet away Paul could see one of the Çanakçı rock tombs. The sinkhole was about 430 feet in length and its depth was about 230 feet. Kanlidivane was once part of the Olbia Kingdom in antiquity. Paul could see the ruins north of him of a mausoleum built by Queen Aba for her husband and sons. Theodoric explained that there was still an inscription in the tower in the southwest which read ‘Built by Teukros, the son of priest king Tarkyaris of Olbia for Zeus’. By the first century, the Olbia Kingdom became a part of the Roman Empire. Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II rebuilt the city as a Christian religious centre and renamed it Neapolis. He could easily see the ruins of basilicas, cisterns and several more rock cut tombs around the sinkhole. Paul laughed to himself as he recalled
that Kanlidivane actually meant ‘bloody crazy place’. The majority of soil in the area was a bright red colour and many legends claimed that criminals were executed by throwing them into the sinkhole during Roman times. Paul began to walk towards the west of the sinkhole eager to see the Çanakçı tombs. He was unaware that the blacksmith’s daughter was following him.

  Kanytelleis was first founded in late 3rd century BC and a settlement on the site continued until the last century, Paul recalled. It had turned into ruin fast he thought as he approached the very steep and dangerous sinkhole which he knew was regarded as a sacred place reserved to the cult of Zeus Olbios. As Theodoric had explained, the first settlement began many hundreds of years before Christ and then gradually extended in all directions during the following centuries. Kanytellis thrived through Byzantine times as evidenced by the presence of several Byzantine churches and inscriptions. The extensive necropolis had many Roman burial tombs built in the form of miniature temples. Paul could see the remains of the Tower of Zeus Olbios, as well as the Armaronxas Family’s Relief, the Church of Papylos, and the temple tomb mausoleum. The tower was dedicated to Zeus Olbios in 200 BC by the Olbian priest-king Teukros, son of Tarkyares. The relief of the Amaronxas family is carved in a rectangular 12 ft x 6 ft niche on the rock wall of the holy chasm, beneath the tower of Zeus. The Church of Papylos stands at the northern end of the chasm and was built as a vow by a religious person named Palylos. Paul made his way to this ruin first. An inscription above the main entrance read ‘This is the door leading to God. Those who enter are saved. God help me’. The locals still consider Kanlidivane as some kind of mystical place. A shallow gorge nearby contains a Roman necropolis of the 1st century AD. The rock-cut family tombs are decorated with human reliefs and inscriptions. Paul also knew that in the area there were scattered remains of several aqueducts he wished to sketch.