Outremer I

by D. N. Carter

  As Theodoric led Paul towards a large white tent being erected by the newly arrived Templar force, he noticed two dead bandits still pinned against one of the main food wagons by Tenno’s arrows. Taqi was already washing off blood from his hands in a hastily set up cleaning trough. He caught sight of the blacksmith and his wife being led towards the mound where Tara had been killed. His stomach churned and he felt sick. As Paul neared the tent, several knights, including the blonde knight, were sat at portable stools talking to Tenno, who was showing them his bow and personal crossbow. The blonde knight stopped talking and stood up to greet Paul.

  “Ah…the mighty bull’s head slayer no less,” the blonde knight remarked, smiling.

  Paul did not think there was much to smile about as Taqi rapidly came over to him.

  “You okay, brother?” he asked.

  “I am not sure to be honest,” Paul answered then looked back at the blonde knight, only now noticing how young he appeared. Paul looked around briefly until he saw the tall man he had killed. He was laid out flat on a wooden plinth, his bull’s head helmet by his side.

  “Our forces have hunted him for years with no success. He has killed many of our best during that time…and yet you kill him and make it look easy,” the blonde knight exclaimed as he placed his hands upon his thick belt.

  “And you are who exactly?” Paul asked tiredly as his body started to react to his earlier physical extreme actions.

  Theodoric stepped forwards quickly.

  “Paul…this is Guy de Lusignan,” he explained and part nodded in his direction. “You remember…the man Princess Stephanie told us about and whom we were supposed to meet at Tarsus. Fortunately for us he arrived just in time with his Templar escort and as you can see, many other French knights. ’Twas very fortunate!”

  Paul looked at Guy suspiciously. Something about the man made him feel uneasy. He was immaculately dressed and presented. Other knights fawned about him except one other knight who immediately stood up when Paul’s eyes met his. He had a serious face, dark short hair and was well dressed, but his armour was filthy and clearly well used. He smiled at Paul as he stepped forward.

  “Paul…it is Paul, yes?” the knight asked, his voice gentle almost and polite. He proffered for Paul to sit on a stool next to him.

  Paul looked at the stool then over the man’s shoulders to see the blacksmith fall to his knees where Tara lay dead, her mother putting her hands to her mouth. Paul’s heart sank with sadness. Without any further words Paul just walked towards them. Guy frowned and pulled a face of disdain at being ignored as Paul walked past him. He stared at Paul as the other knight laughed and patted his back.

  “My Lord, that is one man I think you will never control as he clearly follows his own path,” the knight said as Theodoric stepped past them and shrugged his shoulders. Taqi and Tenno immediately followed Paul all looking at Guy as they passed him. Guy raised both his hands surprised they had all walked away from him. He looked even more surprised as Princess Stephanie hurried past him to follow Paul.

  By the time Paul arrived next to Tara’s mother she had her right hand over her mouth shaking as she sobbed, her left hand resting upon the blacksmith’s shoulders as he leaned over Tara. He was holding both her hands together, her face still holding the smile she died with. Her eyes were fixed open and the blacksmith just cried uncontrollably over her. A large lump welled in Paul’s throat and he was oblivious to the presence of Taqi and Tenno as they came and stood behind, closely followed by Princess Stephanie and Brother Matthew. Tara was dead because of him. She had deliberately placed herself between him and the arrow she saw coming. Paul walked around to face the blacksmith. He looked into the eyes of the mother. She looked back at him, the same pale blue eyes Tara had, and they were filled with absolute pain and anguish. Paul felt his heart jump and as though he was falling inside. He fell part exhausted to his knees next to Tara opposite the blacksmith. After a few moments the blacksmith looked up at Paul as tears constantly fell down his cheeks.

  “My beautiful Tara…look…look what they have done to her…look,” he cried clutching her hands tighter. “LORD WHY!” he suddenly yelled out, closed his eyes and fell forwards across Tara’s lifeless body and sobbed again, as Tara’s mother covered her face with both hands and cried more. Princess Stephanie stepped closer and put her arm around her as tears welled in her own eyes. “WHY?” he yelled again.

  Paul felt utterly wretched. She was dead and it was his fault he felt.

  “She…she…she saw the arrow coming,” Paul started to explain, his voice shallow and pained, his throat dry. The blacksmith looked up slowly and wiped his sleeve across his face. Paul could see the raw emotion in his eyes. “She followed me to the ruins. And…and as soon as I saw her, we… we…,” Paul coughed. “I started to bring her straight back here when they all appeared. We started to run when they fired at us…and…and…and,” Paul could not finish his words and just slumped lower on his knees.

  Princess Stephanie quickly wiped away a tear. The blacksmith just stared at Paul for what seemed an age to him.

  “’Twas not your fault,” Tara’s mother said emotionally.

  “She died saving you…,” the blacksmith finally blurted out.

  Paul closed his eyes for a moment and waited for the tirade of deserved abuse that was to surely follow. When it did not come, only silence and the sound of a gentle wind blowing in the grass, he again opened his eyes to see the blacksmith kissing Tara’s hands and rubbing them against his face. Paul’s heart was aching so heaven only knew the pain he was going through he thought to himself.

  “I…I do not know what words I…,” Paul started to say when the blacksmith suddenly grabbed his hand tightly, very tightly!

  “Say nothing…nothing. It will give us some small measure of comfort in the years ahead to know she died for something,” the blacksmith said through gritted teeth. Paul wasn’t sure if he was angry with him or about to threaten him. Tenno thought the same and instantly stepped forwards and part unsheathed his sword. Paul immediately shook his head no at him. “Tara did not die for nothing today…I only beg of you…please… please do not turn her sacrifice into one made in vain. Live well…live Godly and live long, and never…never,” the blacksmith said as more emotion rose in his voice and tears again fell down his cheeks, “never forget her!”

  Paul gulped hard. “I shall never forget her. She not only saved my life… but by doing so she also saved my wife and my son. I am forever indebted to you. Both of you,” Paul replied and looked up at Tara’s mother.

  “No…not us. To Tara,” the blacksmith said softly now, the rage and anger receding in his eyes. He lowered his head and held Tara’s hands close to his chest. With his left hand he gently closed her eyes, kissed her softly on her forehead and broke down in tears again just sobbing as his wife knelt down beside him and cradled him in her arms.

  Paul looked up to see Tenno looking at them, clearly saddened also. Princess Stephanie wiped away another tear trying to compose herself as Taqi shook his head. Slowly he moved round next to Paul and gestured he stand up. Once he had stood up, Taqi ushered him away and back towards the main group and caravans just as three Hospitallers headed their way to deal with Tara. As Taqi helped Paul walk back towards his caravan and Alisha, they again had to walk past the big tent now fully erected. Tenno walked close behind them, as ever vigilant, checking their surroundings constantly. Theodoric ran over to them just as they reached it.

  “Boys…though I guess boys hardly applies after today. You will need to talk about what happened here today. Don’t, and I mean it, do not keep it inside. If you do, it will bite you in the arse later…trust me on that one. And I am sure Tenno would agree…yes?” Theodoric said and looked to Tenno to confirm his comment. Tenno simply nodded yes silently. “Now come with me. I need you all to follow me and be properly introduced to Guy and his entourage. We still have a very long way to travel together. The last thing we need to do is offend their sensi
bilities.”

  Paul looked across at his caravan. All he wanted to do now was to clean himself up and hold Alisha. The reality of what had just all happened was only now beginning to sink in. He looked at Taqi, who despite being covered in blood himself looked just as he always did…calm and composed!

  “Taqi…thank you. And I am sure Ali did not mean to slap you so hard.”

  “Er, I bet she did,” Taqi laughed just as Theodoric directed them towards Guy and his other knights.

  “Ah…let us hope we can finish our conversation this time,” Guy said and frowned as they approached.

  “Ignore him. He just wants to get to know who the great ‘bull’s head’ slayer is,” the softly spoken knight beside Guy said and moved forwards to shake Paul’s hand.

  Paul looked at his own hands still covered in blood. He raised them both to show them.

  “We have excellent female assistants who would be more than happy to help bathe and clean you,” Guy said smiling.

  “I am married…but thank you,” Paul replied trying to remain pleasant.

  “So are most of us…but that doesn’t stop us,” Guy said aloud and several knights and sergeants laughed.

  Paul’s eyes fell upon a very handsome black haired knight dressed mainly in dark green with an even darker green overtunic over his chain mail. He sat quietly set back from the rest. Guy noticed him looking at the knight.

  “That is Percival…though we call him Percy. He is new to all of this madness and mayhem,” Guy stated aloud again.

  “Certainly is madness,” Paul replied.

  “You are clearly a fighting man. Why do you look so scorned at my comments?”

  “Why? Huh…me! I am no fighting man,” Paul shot back with irritation evident in his voice.

  “No…then how do you explain that?” Guy retorted instantly pointing to the man Paul had killed. “Do you know just how many knights, men and women that monster has slain these past two years alone?” Guy asked and paused as Paul stared at the body. “He was once a great knight…yet he became bored and greedy…and hungry for power…yet he was reduced to stealing, murder and robbery…and you single handedly brought him down,” Guy continued to explain as he moved to stand closer to Paul. “So do not tell me you are no fighting man.”

  “Please, sire…Paul is exhausted after his display today. Today was in fact his first ever combat,” Theodoric explained as Guy eyed Paul up and down.

  “Then that is even more remarkable a feat…or just luck! But I shall call you the ‘Bull’s Head Slayer’ henceforth,” Guy said staring at Paul.

  Paul looked into Guy’s eyes. They looked cold and Paul sensed he had a very wide cruel streak as the older and kinder looking knight beside him stepped forwards.

  “Gentlemen…we will have more than enough time to acquaint ourselves over the next few weeks. And sorry…I have not introduced myself. I am Barisan…though most here call me Balian. Sometimes Balian the Younger, or Two, of Ibelin. Balian de Ibelin to be more precise,” Balian explained and bowed slightly to acknowledge Paul, then Tenno and Taqi in turn.

  Paul liked this man immediately. He had a gentle and more polished manner about him. He must have been in his mid to late thirties Paul thought and the fact that his armour was clearly one that had been used spoke volumes compared with Guy’s pristine armour stood next to him.

  “I am honoured to meet you…all of you. I am remiss with my manners for I have not said thank you for your timely arrival this day,” Paul finally replied.

  “You are welcome. ’Tis what we do…and we do it well,” Guy said, his tone laced with boastful sentiment.

  “Right,” Paul said and paused for a moment just looking at Guy.

  “Come on you lot…you need cleaning up,” Stephanie suddenly said as she walked towards Paul and began to usher him away. “As you said, we shall have plenty of time to acquaint ourselves later. Come on.”

  Guy bowed his head again slightly as Paul was pushed around by Princess Stephanie. Paul looked back over his shoulder at Guy and Balian before Theodoric turned his head forward with his hand and grabbed his left arm as Princess Stephanie held his right arm. Tenno remained where he stood studying Guy.

  “Paul…just walk with us and say no more,” Stephanie whispered as they walked.

  “Yes. And pay no heed to Guy’s remarks. He is just a peacock after all. And once all their pretty bright feathers fall out, you know what you are left with don’t you?” Theodoric said without whispering.

  Both Paul and Stephanie looked across at Theodoric as Taqi caught up and walked besides them.

  “No! What are we left with?” Taqi asked, bemused.

  “Just a cock of course!” Theodoric answered with a big grin.

  As knights from all the Orders collected up the dead bandits and others busied themselves making the entire column secure with posted sentries, Paul stripped off to his waist as more boiling water was placed in the large bowl in front of him by one of Princess Stephanie’s ladies in waiting. She stared at him quizzically as she poured the water. She then handed him some compressed soap. The sun was just beginning to set on the mountains behind them.

  “From my lady, sire. It helps wash off the blood easier,” she explained as Paul smelt the scented soap. She stood motionless for several minutes just looking at him. He raised his eyebrows as if to ask what else? “Sorry, sire. Forgive me staring. It’s just…it’s just that everyone is talking about you…and your sword and what it did,” she explained and looked at Paul’s sword fastened around his waist by a simple rope. He had still to return to the field to recover the scabbard. Paul briefly looked at the handle then back at her. She smiled, curtseyed and quickly turned and walked away, blushing.

  “How come I don’t get any soap? Favouritism!” Taqi joked as he stood opposite washing himself using another bowl.

  Paul found it difficult to reconcile himself to the fact that he had actually killed another person and that Taqi had also done so yet seemed totally unaffected by it. Paul asked himself if he was somehow softer than the others. He felt totally drained and weak inside. He certainly had not enjoyed the experience, that was for sure. Most of the events he found difficult to even recall in any detail. He looked across back at the caravan where Alisha was sat inside with Sister Lucy and Arri. As soon as he was clean, he would go to her. He did not want the stench of blood to touch her or Arri. He felt shaken inside and desperately sad for the blacksmith and his wife. Adrastos, still tied up next to the caravan, suddenly raised his head and looked his way as if he had sensed him and snorted. Tenno stood nearby watching everything, when Theodoric approached carrying a small box he had opened and was helping himself to its contents.

  “Hmmm. These figs are absolutely wondrous. As is the ginger…hmm!” he stated as he popped in another mouthful. Tenno shot him a look of disapproval. Theodoric just smiled and carried on eating as Paul and Taqi washed themselves.

  “Where did you get those from?” Taqi asked as he splashed water over his face.

  “These? Oh…they are from Balian…as a gift. They help relax you after fighting. Very good for you,” Theodoric answered and ate another fig.

  “And he just gave them to you?” Taqi enquired as Paul threw him the soap.

  “Well yes…to give to you two,” Theodoric answered and quickly took another fig before handing Paul the box smiling broadly. “Seriously…take some. It will help calm you down.”

  Paul looked inside the light wooden box. Inside it had been sectioned into two halves and lined with a stiff type of linen to hold dried figs and stem ginger caramelised in sugar. Paul took a piece of the ginger and began to eat some. He shuddered from the taste, the first time he had ever eaten it. Tenno even nearly smiled at seeing Paul’s face. Taqi suddenly stood up straight as he saw the blacksmith approach Paul from behind and he indicated he look around. Paul turned to face him just as he was upon them. The blacksmith stopped in front of Paul and hesitated still clearly very emotional. Paul sighed at the obvious
pain he was in.

  “Now don’t be saying anything. Just let me say what I have to say and I shall be gone,” the blacksmith began but stopped as he fought to control his emotions. He took several minutes to compose himself. “I have to tell you, my wife and I do not hold you in any way to blame for Tara’s death this day. ’Twas obviously the Lord’s will. She be in a far better place now. But…” He paused as he tried to catch his breath as emotion again overwhelmed him. “But…we know she liked you a lot. To the world she was just one…but as I am sure you have heard before, to us, as one, she was our world. I perhaps spoke out of turn earlier telling you how you should live your life henceforth. ’Tis not what Tara would have asked.”

  Paul quickly pulled on a clean white undergarment shirt and leaned forwards as tears welled in the blacksmith’s eyes.

  “Please, what you said earlier. You have every right to ask, in fact demand, it of me. And I swear from this day onwards, until the day I draw my last breath, I shall never forget her. I shall forever be indebted to your family and I will live the best and most godly life I am able to live. I swear it,” Paul explained softly but intensely as emotion etched across his own face.

  The blacksmith grabbed Paul’s forearms and Paul locked his hands upon his. Tenno looked on closely as Theodoric held a fig next to his mouth. The blacksmith started to cry as he stared into Paul’s eyes.

  “Young sire, you are already truly a Godly man. Forgive me,” he cried and looked down, shaking his head.

  Paul looked at Theodoric and Tenno quickly. Theodoric shrugged his shoulders as if to intimate not to ask him what to do. Tenno shook his head at Theodoric then motioned to Paul to hug the man. Without further hesitation Paul just pulled the blacksmith closer and put his arms around him as he sobbed his heart out, his tears soaking into Paul’s clean shirt. After a few moments, the blacksmith stopped sobbing but remained held in Paul’s arms. Eventually he stepped back away from Paul and looked at him. He bowed his head respectfully, acknowledged Tenno and Theodoric and turned away, stood up straight and walked away back towards his own carts without any further words. Theodoric then popped the fig into his mouth. Only as the blacksmith walked away did Paul notice that Alisha, holding Arri, was stood nearby with Princess Stephanie and Sister Lucy having witnessed the whole event. Alisha smiled and feigned a brave face and beckoned him to come over.