by Griff Hosker
Alf showed he had his wits about him. He saw whence the stone had come and kicked his horse on. Garth and Ralph had their bows ready too. I lowered my spear and kicked Remus towards the stand of olive trees to my left. Their twisting, tangled and ancient branches hid the bandits well but I spied a flash of white and I rode towards it. I aimed Remus between the thin and straggly branches. We battered our way through. I pulled back my arm and speared the bandit in his back as he turned to flee. Wheeling right I saw the line of ten or so bandits. Arrows began to blossom from them as my four archers wreaked revenge.
Alf was clinging to his saddle but he managed to spear one of them before he lost his balance and fell to the ground. He had enough sense to hang on to his long reins. Two of the bandits saw their chance and they turned to finish off the youth. An arrow hit one in the shoulder and he turned to stumble away. The second whipped out a wickedly curved knife. He raised it to stab Alf when Tom’ spear struck his chest. The blow was powerful and, aided by his galloping horse, the bandit was raised from his feet. He was dead. Tom reined in and lowered his spear. The bandit’s body slipped to the ground, his blood staining the dried ground red.
The bandits had fled and I yelled, “Hold! Tom see to Alf.” I did not need to tell my archers what to do. They recovered their arrows. Every head they recovered meant it would be longer before we needed a blacksmith. Robert checked the bandits to see that they were not feigning death.
I reined in next to Alf. “That was bravely done but Tom must teach you better skills. A horseman who cannot stay in his saddle will not last long on the battlefield.”
“Aye lord.”
Some of the camels and horses needed attention as the stones had wounded some of them. One of the camel drivers had lost an eye. David and the rest of his men seemed philosophical about it. “He can still work and had you not been with us then the bandits would have killed more of us and taken some of our camels and our goods. We regard this as an occupational hazard.”
The rest of the journey was uneventful. I began to see the problems which lay in this land. There were few roads. The land through which these Roman Roads passed was rarely flat and afforded cover to an enemy who might wish to ambush. David told me that this was the greenest and most densely populated part of his land.
“Then why is it not better protected? I would have expected a castle.” Belvoir, just south of the Sea of Galilee, had been enormous and imposing and Baysan had been imposing but, apart from Nablus we had not seen a defence for thirty miles. We had been within thirty miles of Jerusalem when we were attacked.
David pointed east. “There is a line of castles there but they defend against incursions. The King of Jerusalem and his knights fear the Turk more than bandits. We should be safe now, lord. We will go directly to my home. It is outside the city. When you have rested, I will take you to the city.”
The next morning was our last on the road and we left the cobbled Roman Road to take a well-worn and more ancient caravan track to David’s home. I saw Jerusalem in the distance. The heat haze made it difficult to pick out features but the wall which ran around it showed that it was imposing. It was a citadel. Just before noon, when we would normally have stopped, David pointed ahead. “There is my home. We are close enough now to ride in the heat. My home is cool.”
I saw that he had a walled farm on a hill. It was not a castle. There were no towers but I saw that he had a wall and a solid gate. More than that I saw sunlight reflect upon the spears and helmets of the men guarding it. “You have armed guards?”
“Eight of them.”
I turned and looked at the caravan. He only had four guards and the rest were camel and donkey drivers. “Then why do they not guard your caravan?”
He gave me a sad smile, “This represents money. I can replace it. The men I leave at home guard something more valuable than gold, my family.”
He was right of course. As we neared his home I saw that the walls were mud walls. David pointed out salient features. “This has been here since the time of King David, my namesake. The mud walls follow a natural line of rocks. God has seen fit to give us a foundation on which to build. It means we cannot be undermined. We have a well which never runs dry. This is safe a place as a Jew can find in this land.”
My warrior’s eye took it in. “Why do you not have a ditch?”
“It is solid rock beneath. If the King of Jerusalem decided that he wanted me gone then a ditch would not stop Franks with their war machines. If Imad al-Din Ibn Qasim al- Dawla Zangi came south then he would take it as easily as a man brushes a fly from his cloak. This deters bandits and knights who think they can abuse my family.” His voice was bitter.
Something in his voice told me that this was not a casual comment, “That has happened?”
He nodded. I saw him looking at my face to determine if he should speak. He sighed, “Two year since. In those days, I trusted to the King of Jerusalem to control his knights. The King was ill and the Queen had yet to exercise her power. I was away and an Angevin knight, Guillaume de Waller, came and attacked my home. I had just two old retainers in those days and they died. My sons were with me, else they might have died with the other men. My daughters and my wife were…” he shook his head. “I will not speak of it save to say that Rebekah, my eldest, she was just fourteen summers old, was left with child. God was kind and it died. My daughter’s heart was first broken and then, when she recovered, hardened. She lives in Caesarea with my sister. When I am away two of my sons guard our home. This will not happen again. If this Angevin comes again he will die. It may cost us our lives but we will not suffer at his hands again.”
“That does not sound like the act of knight. We are taught to respect women.”
“Sadly, my lord, many of the knights who come here regard us as little better than animals and to be used as such. That is why you have been something of a revelation to me.”
We passed through the gates and the mud walls. I was amazed by the beauty of the home which the merchant had built. It was made of faced stone and painted white. Olive and lemon trees gave shade and shelter from the sun. There was a cool pool of water which was fed from the spring. I could see why this had been chosen; it was blessed with both a well and a spring. Slaves and servants hurried from within to see to our needs.
David pointed to the eastern side of the house. “There are ample stables over there. Your horses need the shade more than the camels. Isaac, show these Franks the stables.”
A wizened dwarf of a man knuckled his head and said, “Yes master.”
I saw two strapping men emerge and embrace Saul. David beamed, “These are my other two sons, David and Benjamin.” They both bowed although their faces showed a scowl. “This is Sir William of Stockton and he and his men were my protectors. They are to be treated as friends. They are not the de Wallers.”
Their expressions changed.
“I do not blame you for your attitude towards Franks but, perhaps my men and I may change your opinion.”
We were taken inside to a hall where it was cool. An older woman and one who looked to be little older than Alf bowed. “This is my wife, Ruth, and my youngest daughter, Mary. The girl look terrified when she saw my helmet in my hand and my surcoat.
Saul said, “Mary, these are friends. They are not the ones who hurt you.”
I looked at David, “But she is little more than a child!”
He nodded, sadly, “I know.”
I knelt before her, “I apologise for what those who were supposed to be knights did to you. I can assure you that we will protect you and your mother with our lives. We are true warriors and not animals.”
She smiled, “Thank you, lord.”
Ruth said, “I will have a room made ready for you. There will be water for you.” Her eyes went to my mail. “You will not need steel while you are in our home, lord.”
A slave awaited me in my room and he helped me, in the absence of Tom to disrobe. The water was perfumed and the slave was a
skilled man. He was Greek and he helped to wash and shave me. He oiled my hair and combed my beard. Without water on the road I had allowed it to grow. I donned a tunic. I felt civilised for the first time since leaving Normandy.
“Your men said they would be happy in the guard’s quarters. There is water there and they will be cared for.”
“Good but I shall go and speak with them, if I may.”
David shook his head, “For a lord you seem to have an inordinate amount of thought for those who serve you.”
“As I said on the road, they are oathsworn. They are more like brothers than followers.” I shrugged. “I am like my father and I cannot change.”
“It was not a criticism, lord.”
He was right and my men were happy. They had got to know some of the men on the road and there was a bond. It was often thus. Men who had fought together liked to talk of their shared experiences.
The food was not what I expected but I had never eaten Jewish food. There was fish; a kind I had never seen and there was chicken but it was neither cooked nor flavoured in a familiar way. Finally, we had a lamb. I discovered that it was a celebration for a successful journey. It emerged, during the meal, that we had managed to help the merchant to bring more goods safely home than he normally did.
After the meal, we sat outside where a fire, fed with aromatic wood, kept the insects away and we drank cooled wine. “Your payment, lord. Do you still wish me to decide on the amount?”
“I have seen nothing to change my mind. You are a fair man.”
He took out a purse of coins. “Then I give you a choice. This purse or a tenth of the profits from the trades tomorrow.”
I saw his sons as they smiled at the offer. They knew the best choice to make. I knew he was testing me. “The tenth of the profits will be adequate.”
“You are a wise man for they will far exceed the purse. And I will give you introductions to those in Jerusalem who can be trusted. I have, however, no influence at the palace. I am a Jew.”
“That will suffice and if you need me or my men again then we are at your service.”
“I may well do that. My daughter, Rebekah needs to be escorted from Caesarea. It will not be for a month or two and I will pay you handsomely.”
“You do not go to Tripoli again?”
“My ships will spend the winter in the north. We have kin in Amalfi and Pisa as well as Venice. They will have our ships repaired and then begin to gather the trade goods. We make the journey twice a year.”
It was a pleasant evening chatting with a hard-working family. It made me miss Stockton. I had been seduced by the life at the court of Geoffrey of Anjou. I had become one of his courtiers. Hunting, wenching and drinking; they were what had seemed important. I had turned my back on my father and England. It was only now, many thousands of miles from home, that I could see it clearly. Had I gone back to Stockton then my wife and family would still be alive. The disease would not have struck there. I could be fighting alongside my father. I knew he had the Earl of Gloucester but I had served with the Earl and he was not as resolute or as honourable as my father.
“Could I ask a favour of you?”
“Of course.”
“I have no doubt that stabling will be expensive in Jerusalem and our war horses are a temptation. Could I leave our better horses here? I know they would be protected.”
“Of course.” He laughed, “For a moment I thought you were going to ask a real favour rather than a courtesy.”
We also left our winter clothes, spare weapons and arrows. We would not need them. We escorted the caravan to the city of Jerusalem. If Constantinople was old then this was ancient. You could see layers of the city as we entered St. Stephen’s gate. The walls through which we passed were new. They had been built by Fulk and his predecessors. Then we passed the Roman walls and finally, as we passed David’s Tower and the citadel, we saw the Jewish walls built before Solomon. It was awe inspiring. Like Constantinople it was a maelstrom of humanity. All colours and creeds jostled and bumped shoulders. However, the only ones who were mounted on horses and wearing mail were the Franks.
We had been allowed through the gate firstly, because we were Franks and secondly, because we were with David. While we rode, within the walls, he walked and he and his men bowed their heads when they spied knights, sergeants or men at arms. I saw the three main holy orders: Templars, Hospitallers and Teutons. This was their city and it showed in the way they walked. He was heading to the main market or, as they termed it here, the bazaar. He had asked me to stay with him until he had sold his goods and I did not mind. It would allow us to see the people of the city and the centre itself. He was our guide.
His arrival had been anticipated and I smiled at what was, patently, a bidding war for his goods. I did not understand the words but I knew that they were bidding. He had told me that he had, at one time, sold his goods himself. However, that did not result in such great profits. There were robbers in the city not to mention those who lived on their wits and stole what they could find. This system allowed him to sleep easily at night and make much coin. I saw the piles of gold mounting up. Benjamin had come into the city with Saul and the two of them had swords at the ready. It was not needed for the sight of seven mailed men and four tough looking archers was more than enough to deter any would-be thieves.
By noon, when the market quietened down, we had sold all of our goods. David sent his men and their animals back to his home. He, his sons and four of his guards remained. He divided the money and gave me a chest with my tenth. It was a fortune. “This is too much. We did little enough.”
He smiled, “You would break your word? You said a tenth would suffice.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I am happy. My sons are happy and when you give money to your men, as I know you will then they shall be happy. My sons will take the money to our home and I will stay here with you. Jacob shall be my bodyguard. I will take you and introduce you to people. It will save you being robbed.” He shrugged, “My people must live and it is the foreigners who now have all the money.”
Rather than riding through the crowded streets we walked. “You will want somewhere to stay. This will not be cheap but, until you have found a lord to sponsor you it will have to do.”
He took us down a circuitous route through back streets and alleys. There was a double door. He knocked and a hatch opened so that he could be seen. When he was recognised the double doors opened and I was amazed. It was a huge courtyard and there were stables. From the outside it had looked like a tenement. The owner came out. He too was of the tribe of Judah, David Ben Samuel’s tribe. “This is my friend.”
“A Frank?” There was surprise on his face and in his voice.
I smiled, “An Englishman but I can understand how you were confused.”
“He needs rooms for the eleven of them and stables for their horses.”
“I can accommodate them.”
“At a fair price, Jacob.”
The owner looked at David and he smiled. He nodded, “At a fair price. We shall starve but it will be fair.” He waved over one of his slaves. He rattled something off and then said, “The boy will look after your horses for you. He is good with animals.”
David Ben Samuel said, “I will take them around the city. We will return before dark.”
“That would be wise. At night time the rats come from their holes. The unwary can fall victim to their knives.”
He took us to all the people who might be useful, including a banker. It was not a concept with which I was familiar but the Jews had a system to move money around. I was assured by David that, if I deposited my money with his friend Simon he could arrange for me to be paid in York or indeed, anywhere in Europe. There was a fee but it seemed reasonable. I did not wish to carry the chest of money around with me, it was a temptation and so, after giving my men some coins for their purses, I kept enough for what I thought I would need. Two thirds of the coins remained with Sim
on.
As we left I asked, “How does it work? I am not questioning the honesty of your friend but I cannot see how it works.”
“When you leave Palestine then Simon will give you a piece of paper which has the amount you are owed. He will give you a list of our brothers in England, or Normandy. You present yourself and the paper to any one of them and you will receive your coins.”
“Does that mean Simon will have to send that money to England then?”
“No for the system works both ways. There will be men who travel here and do not wish to carry money with them. This is a safer system.”
This was a whole new world to me. He next took us to a man who would make cloaks for us, a bootmaker, a blacksmith and an armourer. Finally, he took us to somewhere we could buy food and wine. He looked up at the sky. “It is time we were getting home. It is not far but sunset comes soon and tomorrow is the Sabbath. Your horses will be safe at my home and if you find no sponsor and wish to have cheaper accommodation then my home is open to you. And I will need for you to fetch my daughter in four months if that arrangement is still agreeable.”
“It is.” I shook his hand, as was their way, and said, “Thank you, David Ben Samuel. We have helped each other and become, I hope, friends, may your god go with you.”
He smiled sadly, “It is the same God but a different belief.”
He turned and left. After ordering new dark blue hooded cloaks to be made we went to eat and then retired to our new accommodation We had heard the streets of Jerusalem could be dangerous for those who did not know its ways. When we reached our lodgings, we discovered that there was a roof garden. We had a jug of wine and we sat looking at the stars, discussing the day and planning our next move.
“Tomorrow I will go with Tom and Robert to see if we can visit with the King of Jerusalem. We need employment while we are here. I want the rest of you to find out how to get to Golgotha. We have come a long way. It will do our souls and our quest good to pray where our Lord died.”