by D. N. Carter
When Paul entered the hall, he immediately saw Balian sat at a table at the far end in front of a set of large windows with Guy standing looking out as several of his Frankish knights talked over several maps spread across the table. The hall was devoid of any adornments or shields on the walls, just plain walls and stone floor with the exception of several large crimson red curtains hanging from various places. The Hospitaller marshal sat upon a large chair off to the side and looked at Paul as he came near.
“Paul…please, take a seat,” Balian said and offered him a chair.
“Is there a problem?” Paul asked hesitantly.
“No…not at all,” the Hospitaller marshal answered and stood up quickly.
Balian looked at the marshal and Paul immediately knew that there was obviously some kind of problem.
“Paul, I shall not lie to you. It seems we may, I stress, may have a little problem,” Balian explained and showed Paul the chair again to sit.
Paul clasped his hand around his sword handle unsure of what was about to unfold as Guy smiled broadly and folded his arms as he leant against the side of the window.
“Please, do not look so worried, ’tis not that bad,” Brother Teric said, trying to reassure Paul, seeing the tense look written upon his face. “And you will not have need of that…I assure you,” he remarked indicating towards Paul’s hand upon his sword.
“Then please would someone be kind enough to explain what this is all about,” Paul asked and sat down slowly.
“Brother Teric here has brought us news that there will, in all likelihood, be some trouble between us and our Muslim friends…very soon. On top of that, Gerard, whom I understand you have a somewhat strained relationship with already, is a little furious with you,” Balian began to explain.
“Really. No surprise there then,” Paul replied.
“Paul…he is a dangerous man. Trust me for I know him well. Apparently he took some parchments from you…but not the ones he was after. He has ordered that we search your possessions to recover what he claims he had been ordered to recover by the Grand Master himself,” Balian explained.
“That was his own fault for stealing what was not his without even asking. His men stole my parchments…as well as killed Firgany, as you saw for yourself,” Paul answered.
“Hmm, perhaps, but we have been asked to carry out these orders. So I am afraid we will have to search your possessions until we recover the ones he was actually after. But hear me out before you reply…he also mentions that Alisha, your wife, is of the Muslim faith…and that special dispensation was somehow sought and granted for her to marry you. That special agreement is something we all in this room know he will not honour and he will find some way around it to do her harm. Believe me on this fact, Paul,” Balian said directly to him. “But not only that, there will be those who would demand she is hanged or stoned until dead…if she refuses to renounce Christ for it is a crime punishable by death for any Muslim woman to marry a Christian.”
“But she has not converted to Christianity, she still holds her own faith,” Paul shot back, alarmed.
“’Tis irrelevant. She would still face terrible punishment for then, in the eyes of Islam, she would have committed a sin regardless for they would not recognise your marriage, and so she would be seen as a woman who has sinned,” Balian explained.
“But what of the special order that was given to allow us to marry?” Paul asked, almost frantic with worry.
“In all honesty, back in La Rochelle or in Alexandria, that may suffice, but in Outremer ’tis not worth anything. Fanatics from both faiths seem to lose all reasoning and compassion…like an illness of the mind and soul. At best Alisha would be lucky to get away with being flogged as your marriage would not be recognised,” Balian explained solemnly.
Paul’s mind raced. He shook his head, fearful. Turn back now for La Rochelle. Go somewhere else all together. Why had his father or Firgany not told him this before? he wondered, confused. He thought back upon the conversations he had had with his father and Sister Lucy and why he should not get involved with Alisha. The very real realisation began to hit him that he himself had been responsible for putting her very life at risk. Only now did he think upon how Firgany must have felt upon hearing that his daughter was with child, outside of wedlock and by a Christian man. His stomach turned and he felt ill. He had to gulp down hard as he was almost sick. What a man of unique character Firgany must have truly been, he thought.
“’Tis perhaps tragic that Islamic law does in fact punish any apostate from Islam including with death in accordance with the commands of the Muslim prophet Muhammad, but there are, as I have said, just as many Christians who would do the same. You will have to be especially aware and on your guard at all times, my friend, if you wish to see that beautiful wife of yours remain alive,” Balian stated bluntly.
Suddenly the doors into the hall opened as two Templars entered carrying several scroll containers and several leather folders. Paul immediately recognised them as belonging to him and Tenno and he stood up fast.
“You have already seized my possessions!” he said loudly as the Templars approached the table and dropped them hard upon it.
Brother Teric shook his head disapprovingly.
“Paul, this was not supposed to happen without your agreement,” Balian stated, looking at the Templars, annoyed, as Guy smiled.
“’Twas I who told them to do so, before he had chance to hide them,” Guy said smugly.
“Then you insult all of us here for we act with honour and courtesy towards each other, as one knight to another,” Balian said, clearly angered.
“He is no knight,” Guy shot back.
“He is more knight than you will ever be…and you have no authority to command any Templars,” Balian rebuked and stood up fast, shaking his head as the two Templars backed away from the table.
“If Gerard so wishes these, let him have them. But I warn you now…do not try and keep those that belong to Tenno,” Paul interrupted.
“I do not think he will be in any position to argue with us,” Guy stated, smirking, just as four more Templars escorted Tenno into the hall looking puzzled.
“Oh dear…here we go!” Brother Teric sighed and placed his hand across his face and looked at Guy with barely disguised disdain.
“Tenno…stay calm whatever they do or say. They simply wish to take our maps and other parchments,” Paul explained as the men all stopped in the middle of the room. “We are all on the same side here and it is a misunderstanding…trust me.”
Balian looked at Paul puzzled by his comments to Tenno. Tenno stepped forwards. As he did, the four Templars closed in nearer to him and all part removed their swords, intimidatingly. Tenno looked at each of them in turn.
“I see there has indeed been a misunderstanding, for they clearly do not understand it is wrong to take another man’s possessions without his consent,” Tenno remarked, clipped, as he continued to eye the Templars.
“Tenno. ’Tis not worth a fight,” Paul commented as the Hospitaller marshal watched them all. Guy started to smile even more.
“I agree…for it would be an unfair fight…for these men!” Tenno quipped.
Brother Teric could not help but smile at Tenno’s comment. Balian stepped forwards.
“I do not agree with this. Paul…let this go. I urge you. I and my knights will guarantee you and Alisha safe passage as far as Kerak. That is almost all the way to Alexandria, if you just let them take the items Gerard is so determined to have…please, Paul,” Balian asked almost pleadingly.
“He may agree, but I do not agree. My possessions are mine and I will take them with me. And I can guarantee to protect Alisha, you do not need these men,” Tenno stated, drew a deep breath and stood up tall.
“Gentlemen, gentlemen, stand down,” Theodoric suddenly said aloud as he pushed open the door and entered closely followed by Taqi, out of breath.
“Theo…late to show as usual,” Tenno remarked looking acr
oss his shoulder at him as he approached the table.
“Gentlemen, Taqi only just told me what is afoot here…there is no need for any confrontation,” Theodoric exclaimed catching his breath.
“There will be no confrontation here so long as they return my items. ’Tis simple really, no?” Tenno remarked and looked at Guy hard.
All in the hall stood in silence for several minutes just eyeing each other waiting for someone to say something. Taqi’s eyes were wide as he tried to work out what exactly was happening.
“Enough of this…,” Tenno suddenly said as he began to move forwards to the table. Guy pointed at him frantically as Brother Teric looked to the vaulted ceiling in despair. The four Templars drew their swords and pointed them at Tenno. He froze for a moment and looked at them each in turn, their eyes fixed firmly upon him. As sweat rivulets formed down their faces, their swords raised pointing at him just inches from his body, Tenno stared hard at the man directly in front of him. “Did I not tell you this was an unfair fight?” Tenno stated.
The Templar looked at him for a moment, confused. Before he could reply, Tenno raised his hands, clasped them together around the knight’s sword blade, ran his hands down towards the hand guard whilst pushing it upwards so the sword pointed at the ceiling. As he did this, he stepped into the Templar, thrusting his pelvis into his side hard knocking him backwards and up whilst at the same time grabbing the Templar’s right arm, tucked himself against him, lifted him up and threw him directly over his head and into the two Templars stood behind him knocking them all backwards. Tenno kept moving around after letting go of the Templar as the fourth Templar raised his sword. As he brought the sword downwards, Tenno ducked lower, thrust his head and shoulders against the Templar’s stomach, wrapped his arms around his waist, then stood up, lifted the fully armoured Templar up in the air upon his shoulders, turning quickly and then throwing him down upon the other three Templars just struggling to get back up. All crashed to the stone floor again as Tenno rapidly withdrew his main sword, stepped forwards and stood over the four Templars on the floor, his blade just inches away from them as he darted it from one face to the other. “As I said, an unfair fight for you four…now I suggest you do not make me angry,” Tenno remarked as he frowned at them.
Theodoric looked at him, secretly impressed, as Balian approached the men.
“Please. This is not how it should be,” Balian commented and opened his arms in a submissive manner towards Tenno. Tenno shot him a quick look, but one of the Templars moved so Tenno instantly pointed his sword again at his face just inches from his eyes. The Templar lay flatter on the floor and looked up at Balian for some kind of guidance.
“Please…Tenno…take what is yours. We were wrong to take them. Please, put away your sword,” Balian asked politely.
“Tenno. Please,” Paul asked as he stepped closer.
Tenno stood up straight from his threatening pose over the four Templars, re-sheathed his sword and stepped away from them.
“And your possessions, Paul…do you not want them back also?” he asked as he approached the table, giving Guy a look of disgust before looking through the items upon the table.
The four Templars helped each other up as Brother Matthew entered the room looking confused.
“What goes on here?” he demanded.
“Was but a minor misunderstanding,” Tenno replied with his back to Brother Matthew.
“’Tis all sorted,” Balian said and looked at Paul for confirmation.
“’Tis indeed. If Gerard is so keen to have some old parchments and badly drawn maps, let him have them,” Paul answered.
“Paul! You cannot,” Taqi said loudly and ran over to the table and started to pull what looked like Paul’s items towards him.
“Taqi…trust me, ’tis not a problem and certainly not worth falling out with these people. They were only following orders,” Paul remarked as he approached Taqi and Tenno. Tenno shot him a look, frowned but then nodded in acknowledgement.
“Oh how many times have I heard that in my life…just following orders!” Theodoric said and raised his arms.
Tenno collected up his three scroll tube containers and two leather bound folders and faced them all as he slowly began to walk across the hall.
“I have left one folder of my parchments as a gift to that Gerard. ’Tis but a discourse, as you say, on your chivalric codes of conduct and the way of the warrior from my lands. Perhaps if he can read, he may learn something,” he stated bluntly and stepped over one of the Templars still on the floor holding his leg in pain. “If you need that setting to heal properly, come see me,” he said to him. The Templar recoiled in surprise.
Theodoric shook his head and smiled at Tenno’s gesture. Taqi looked at Paul, puzzled, and shook his head as if to ask what had just happened.
“I shall explain later…just keep an eye on Tenno…please, if you would,” Paul said as he realised that everyone else in the hall was now looking at him directly.
“Of course…,” Taqi answered and immediately followed Tenno out.
“Young Paul…you show a quick appraisal and understanding of situations. That is a rare insightful gift,” Balian remarked.
“No…I just do not see the need for aggression or needless violence… over some parchments and a few maps,” Paul answered as Theodoric shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
“Theodoric does not share your views, I suspect…and believe me, men kill for far less. You had better realise and understand that fact very fast, especially where we are all heading,” Balian commented.
“Paul…this is not how my orders were to be carried out,” Brother Matthew interjected as he stepped closer. All in the hall looked directly at Guy. He raised his arms and just laughed. “You only take orders from me whilst on this journey…not him…do you all understand?” he bellowed to his men as they struggled to lift the Templar with the injured leg. They looked at him, bemused. “Do you understand?” he shouted louder.
“Was not their fault,” Paul said and looked again at Guy. Guy just shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, ’tis a night to be looking upon stars as the sky is so clear. So I shall bid you all a good evening, gentlemen and fellow knights…and you, Paul,” Guy said, his tone laced with sarcasm as he walked past them and towards the main hall doors.
“We shall see to the Templar’s leg,” the Hospitaller marshal said as he stood behind Paul and Balian. “I think they have all just learnt a little lesson from your friend Tenno.”
“Yes…do not touch his stuff,” Theodoric joked.
“I shall arrange for some food and drink to be brought up. If you are in agreement, of course, for there is much I would still wish to discuss with you, mainly about how best we can safeguard your family, for as you have already learnt, there are those of a weaker mindset and religious fervour who would see harm to you all as a God given order,” Balian explained.
Paul looked at Theodoric, concerned.
“Do not let Ali know of this.”
“You cannot hide this from her. She must know. You know yourself how she feels about secrets and things being hidden from her…you have to tell her,” Theodoric explained as Brother Teric placed has hand upon Paul’s shoulders.
“Paul…whenever I am near you, know that I shall always cover and watch your back,” Brother Teric said quietly and patted him then turned to leave. He beckoned Brother Matthew to follow him.
Paul gave him a quick wave to thank him for his comment as his own mind raced remembering the discussion he previously had with Alisha when she made him swear he would never hide things from her. She was tired with the constant lack of sleep, feeding Arri and the journey itself so surely this one time he could keep the threat away from her, he pondered.
“Please, stay and eat with me and talk,” Balian asked politely.
“I shall check on Alisha and Arri first. Then I would be pleased to join you…and later, you can tell me about that tattoo,” Paul replied and nodded
at Theodoric.
“Only if I have drunk enough mead,” he replied and smiled.
Port of La Rochelle, France, Melissae Inn, spring 1191
“My, that Tenno sounds like a real force of nature,” the farrier remarked as he shook his head.
“My mind is beginning to recall certain stories we heard of…but never really believed,” the Templar commented as he scratched his head thinking hard.
“Yes, brother. I vaguely recall hearing stories about a black oriental knight. Unbeatable… but I had assumed it meant black, as in black skinned…perhaps it was this Tenno after all,” the Hospitaller added.
“He was called several things,” the old man explained.
“Ha…was called…so he dies then!” Simon said a little too excitedly.
“Simon, I can say is called many things if you prefer?” the old man said softly.
“You make too many instant assumptions,” the Templar stated, looking at Simon.
“Simon, please try and not think too hard upon every single word I say, for chances are that by the end of this tale, you will find out that things turn out totally different from what you assume,” the old man explained.
“Hey…I am still trying to work out what the girls were all talking about when Paul entered the caravan that time…you know, something about feeling like a tree log was being inserted,” Sarah said and shrugged her shoulders.
The old man laughed briefly and shook his head.
“Sarah…it may embarrass you to know that they were actually talking about their first sexual experiences…,” he said and could not stop the broad smile upon his face seeing Sarah instantly blush as several around the table laughed out loud.
“Well…I thought as much,” she commented and folded her arms as Ayleth began to blush too. “I just needed to know.”
“So…this tattoo of Theodoric’s. Why was Paul so interested in it?” Gabirol asked.