by Griff Hosker
“Amen, lord.”
Chapter 5
I made sure that we were all groomed and presentable. We mounted our horses and rode to the palace. There were, as I would have expected, guards at the gates. We halted and I waited for the inevitable questions.
“What business do you have at the palace?”
I had worked out my answer before he had asked it. “I am a knight of Anjou. My name is William of Stockton. My father is the Earl of Cleveland. I served as a captain of war to Geoffrey Count of Anjou. I would like an audience with his half-brother, King Baldwin.” It was a tenuous introduction and I saw the man at arms frown. However, I had mentioned the name of the Count of Anjou and that could not be ignored. Leaving his three companions to watch us he hurried inside. Surprisingly we were not kept waiting for long. I had expected to be fried by the sun and for us to be left thinking our audience would be refused.
“You may enter. Leave your horses just inside the main gate. There is shade and there is water. I will show you the way.”
We followed the guard. I noticed that he had a flat-topped helmet with a nasal. He did not wear mail but a padded gambeson which was studded with metal plates. It looked light but I was not sure if it would be effective in battle. Perhaps he was just a palace guard. He was there to stop the unwelcome rather than the dangerous. The road climbed through the palace. The whole edifice was higher than the city. Like David’s home the inside of the building was cool. We took off our helmets and carried them. I pushed the coif from my head. Pleasant aromas wafted through the courtyard. It had been cleverly designed so that the breezes passed through lemon and orange trees. As we walked we brushed by rosemary and lavender. There were fountains, the sound of which made you feel cool.
He led us through a court which was filled with the great and the good of Jerusalem. There were Templars and Hospitallers. There were merchants. Our guard said, “If you would leave your men here, lord. The King and Queen Melisende would see you alone.”
Tom and Robert would enjoy waiting. Servants were serving sweetmeats and beakers of drinks. They would relish the luxury. I was led through a curtain into a small chamber. I saw King Baldwin III and his mother, Queen Melisende. She was a stunning woman. Her name was ranked along with Empress Maud. She was a powerful woman. She had been married to two kings of Jerusalem and was now Regent for her son Baldwin. Baldwin was just sixteen years old but, as I learned, he had inherited most of his skills and attributes from his mother. He was no one’s fool. They were each seated on a Roman style couch. There was a stool before the two of them. I bowed and Baldwin gestured to the stool. I sat and immediately felt foolish. I think that was the intent.
An older knight was there. He spoke first, “I am Theobald of Rheims. I served Count Fulk and fought against King Henry.” I thought, for a moment, that I was unwelcome. He smiled, “Your father is an honourable knight. I never fought him but others that did so speak well of him. I look forward to speaking with you.” He left.
Melisende spoke first. She had a deeper voice than I expected and her violet eyes seemed to penetrate through your skin and into your heart. I felt exposed as she spoke and yet her words and her face were both soft and gentle. “Theobald said that we ought to see you. We have heard of your father. Many say he is the greatest knight in Christendom.”
It was phrased so that I would supply an answer. “He would not say so.”
“Would you?”
I smiled, “He is my father and, in my view, the greatest man yet to be born. I expect his majesty feels the same way about his father.”
The look they exchanged showed me that he did not. “You are both modest. You yourself, lord, are not without skills and abilities.”
“It does not do for a knight to boast of his deeds. It is better to let his deeds do the speaking for him.”
“And yours do.” Baldwin spoke. Like his mother, he had a naturally deep voice. For some reason, I expected a piping high pitched one. “We may seem isolated up here on the hill but we hear much of what goes on in the bazaar. We are a small kingdom. You came to the aid of the merchant David Ben Samuel. You fought off Frankish brigands, bandits and Seljuq horse archers. You did all that and lost but one horse. Remarkable.”
He was well informed! “I am served by good men.”
“Ten I believe.”
I looked at the Queen, “Yes your majesty.” They were highly knowledgeable about us.
“This is a dangerous land. Many come here thinking that they can make a fortune and go home rich men. And what would you have of us?”
It was blunt and I was not quite ready for it. I had expected to be kept waiting for days. “I ... er.”
She smiled, “You do not hesitate to charge up a hill and try to run down the most dangerous of enemies and yet you quail before a widow. Strange.”
“I am sorry. I have come to the Holy Land to do penance. I wish to serve. I am here to ask King Baldwin if he has a quest I can be given.”
“And if not?”
“Then I will help the pilgrims and travellers. I will protect them from all enemies.”
“All?” The Queen’s eyes bored into me.
“The bandits, the Turks,” I hesitated, “And those Christians who also prey on the weak.”
I expected censure but they both smiled, “A true knight. You must be like your father. As my mother said this is a dangerous land. There are many Christians who do not act as they should act.”
Queen Melisende leaned forward, “You know that Imad al-Din Ibn Qasim al- Dawla Zangi has died?” I shook my head. “He was stabbed by one of his slaves, a Frank called Yarankash.” She shook her head. It seems Imad al-Din Ibn Qasim al- Dawla Zangi was over fond of his servant. This means that there will be a new leader of the Turks. The fact that a Frank has killed their leader may well inflame them even more. We have lost the city of Edessa. It makes our position more dangerous.”
“I am still uncertain what you wish of me.”
“We wish you to serve us. When war comes, we would have you lead men to defend our borders. “
“You know that one day I will return home?”
Baldwin smiled and looked older than his years for it was a sad smile, “I do. And I understand.” He looked at his mother. “We have more news we should tell you for it may well affect your decision. If you serve us then it would be until our lands are safer than they are now. When the port of Ascalon is in our hands then we would be happy for you to leave.”
“I would do that.”
“Then I should tell you that we have news that Robert, Earl of Gloucester has died. It was natural causes, so they say.” I felt as though I had been slapped. My father’s greatest ally was dead. He was alone and fighting for the Empress without me at his side.
The Queen said, “If you wish to return to your father we would understand. In the short time you have been with us we have seen the love you bear for him and that is something precious.”
I had had time to think. I shook my head, “I came here to do penance. I will stay. I will be your sword.”
Baldwin rang a bell and an official came in with a box. “Thank you, Paul.” He handed it to the king and left. King Baldwin opened it. He took out a chain from which hung a miniature shield. It had one large cross and four smaller ones engraved upon it.
“This is your seal of office. For the time being we would have you protect the pilgrims who use the road from Jaffa to Jerusalem. Next month you will ride to Jaffa and escort an emissary from the Emperor Manuel Komnenos. You will bring him here secretly. You must reach Jaffa by the feast of Theophany and await the arrival of the Byzantine ship.”
I nodded, “Your majesties, I am honoured and touched by your confidences but what if I were a spy? I could be a traitor.”
The Queen shook her head, “You do not understand. We knew you were on your way before you arrived.” She held up a piece of papyrus. “This came from the Emperor. You are named within it. If the Emperor trusts you then who are we to
dispute it?”
“But I never met him.”
There was a pause and Baldwin said, “But your father met and served his father. And you are your father’s son. It is your name which precedes you and we were asked to look for the sign of the Gryphon. The mythical beast is well chosen; the heart of a lion and the speed of an eagle.”
His mother smiled, “And a creature, which they say, lays golden eggs. That bodes well for you. Your manor while you live here is on the road to Jaffa. It is called Aqua Bella. You will be William of Aqua Bella.”
I left in a daze. We were not to be quartered in the palace. We would not be wearing royal livery and no one outside the King and his mother would know of our connection. An estate on the road from Jerusalem was ours. There were servants there already. The lord and his wife had died childless and the King had inherited the estate. It had a tower we could defend and there was a curtain wall. Everything appeared to have been planned before we even arrived. Even as we had been travelling down the Jordan Valley we had been expected. While I had been wondering what we would do, it had been decided. My father had spoken of fighting for an Emperor. I shook my head. Were we all connected by a giant spider’s web. I had with me a letter. It was a legal document to allow me to take over the manor of Aqua Bella. People might wonder why a young Angevin knight had been given such an estate but as I would not be visiting the palace again for a month or two it would soon become yesterday’s news.
Robert and Tom knew me well enough not to disturb my silence. We rode back to the lodgings and I told Jacob that we would be leaving the next day. He accepted it without comment. While we waited for the others to return I gave Tom and Robert a shorter version of what I had been told. I left out the part about the Emperor’s emissary. As far as my men were concerned we would just be keeping the road clear. The others returned in high spirits. They had enjoyed their day in Jerusalem. With money in their purses they could enjoy life.
“Tomorrow we move outside of the city. And then we begin to watch out for pilgrims. The King of Jerusalem has asked us to guard all who use his road.”
We called in at David’s home to pick up our horses. I told him of our new home. He nodded, “That was the home of Odo and his wife Berthilde. We passed it on the way here. Odo was an olive grower. He made fine olive oil. He had good vines too. It is a good home. It is built into the rock of the valley. You will find it cosy.” He smiled. “We are neighbours. It is but six miles from here. When my ships sail from Jaffa I use the port but Jaffa is smaller than Tripoli and…” Shaking his head he said, “It is not for me to say. If the King of Jerusalem has entrusted you with keeping the road clear then it may not be a problem.”
“A problem?”
Sighing he led me into a small room filled with papers. It was his office. He closed the door. “There is a castle at Ramelah. It is the home of Guillaume de Waller. It is a mighty fortress and he taxes those who use the road. It is the crossroads. Not only the road from Jaffa to Jerusalem passes through it but the one from Nablus to Iblehin and Gaza. It is the most powerful castle outside of Jerusalem. The king only holds two domains: Nablus and Jerusalem. That is why the King needs you to watch the route. To avoid passing the castle most traders use an old caravan trail which passes through empty land. The section between Shilat and Ginaton; it is littered with the bones of traders who did not pay the de Wallers. Beware. This may be a poisoned chalice. It was the route we took. Do you not remember the wild track we took?” I nodded.
With that information in my head we rode, laden towards Jaffa on the coast. I confided in Robert as we went. I did not tell him of the emissary but I did speak of the de Wallers.
“You have the king’s seal. Surely that will afford us protection.”
“I think that if the king’s seal would make the road safe he would have done so before now. No, he has chosen me and since I have spoken with David Ben Samuel I have been wracking my brains. I have heard the name Waller before.”
“I have never heard it.”
“It was before your time with me. It was in a story my father told me as a child but I must have been inattentive or the story meant little. Whatever it was I have forgotten.”
Eight miles from Jerusalem’s walls, the manor of Aqua Bella was not on the road. A track led to what was, in effect, a fortified manor house. It was built into the cliff. The hill sides were covered in olive trees. I saw men and women at work as we approached. The curtain wall was not high but the gate looked substantial. There was an armed man at the gate and he looked up nervously as we approached. I saw him shout over his shoulder and a grey bearded man hurried from the second gate which lay before the house.
By the time we reached the gate he stood with the single guard. I dismounted. We no longer rode with either helmet or coif. We had learned that they were for war. I pushed back the hood and took out both the seal and the document.
“I am William of Stockton, now William of Aqua Bella. King Baldwin has given me this manor.”
The old man bowed, “It is good that Aqua Bella will have a lord once more. I am Francis and I oversee the estate.” He smiled, “We make good olive oil.”
I shook my head, “I am not here to grow olives or to grow fat on them. The king has asked me to keep the road safe. We will be spending more time on the road than in this house.”
“It will suit you, lord. Come.”
He led us through the second gate and we found ourselves in a courtyard. My men dismounted and they looked for stables. We could see none. There were four large doors leading off from the courtyard. Francis pointed to the one furthest from us, “That one leads to the accommodation.” He opened the middle of the other three, “Follow me.” We stepped into a cool chamber. A slave hurried to Francis with a burning brand and when he lit the brand in the sconce on the wall he illuminated a huge barrel vaulted chamber which had been hewn into the rock. I now saw where they had acquired the stone for the substantial house. “This is the stables. Slaves will remove the dung each day.” He smiled, his teeth gleaming in the light of the brand. “So many horses will help us make the olive crop be even better.”
“Robert, see to the horses.”
“Aye lord.”
I put my arm around the overseer and led him out in the courtyard. “How many men are there in the house? I need to know for our security.”
“There are four guards. They take it in turn to watch the gate. There is Absalom, he commands those who press the olives. We have two men who are responsible for the storage and delivery of the oil. Then there are twenty slaves: eight men and twelve women.”
“They are contented slaves?”
He knew what I meant. Many overseers abused the slaves making them dangerous.
He smiled, “The lord here was a kind man. We do not use the whip. Many of the slaves have lived here for twenty years. It is the only home they have known. We do not work them over hard and we feed them well. This is a rich manor.”
“You have a family?”
“I have a wife and Absalom is my wife’s brother. He has a wife and two children. Both girls.”
We had reached the door to the house and when he opened it I saw that it was richly furnished. Tapestries hung from the walls. The wood of the furniture was cedar and there were oil lamps. There were no openings on the ground floor to allow in light. An attacker would struggle to take it.
“Do you have trouble from bandits and the like?”
“Occasionally we have a shipment of oil stolen. They do not raid every caravan.” He looked nervously at me and I knew he was keeping something from me. I would find out what in due course. First I had to explore my new home.
“From now on you lose none. We have to patrol this road. When next you go to Jerusalem then the men of William of Aqua Bella will guard you.” I had a sudden thought. “Are there any women here who can sew?”
He nodded, “Aye lord.”
“Then I will get them cloth. I would have two banners made with my device upon the
m. One will fly from the roof. I want all to know that this manor is my home.” I smiled at him. “There may only be eleven of us but, believe me we are warriors all.”
He nodded. I saw him take a deep breath. The secret he had kept from me was now about to be divulged, “Lord, it is not the bandits who cause us the most trouble. My lord Odo had to appeal to the old King to ask him to intervene when the Lord of Ramelah demanded half of our olive oil. Since my lord and his wife died we have had to give half of our oil to him.”
“Guillaume de Waller.”
“Aye lord.”
“That stops now. You deal with the accounts?”
“I do, lord.”
“When time allows, I would go through them with you.” I saw his expression. “Do not fear. I am not here to bleed the manor dry. I will take coin for my men but I would have you make life better for those who live within these walls. I would have a contented manor. We will be on the road and I would wish this to be a safe and secure home for all of us.”
“As you wish.”
That evening we ate together with those who lived in the house. Odo had a large room, almost a hall, in which he could entertain. I did not think that either Francis or Absalom would wish to eat with my men and me every night but I wanted us to get to know each other. Absalom was a little older than me and he had two girls who were on the cusp of womanhood. It was a harmonious meal. There were six bedrooms for us. I had the old lord’s and it was on the upper floor. Robert, Tom and Henri shared the room next to me.
Before we retired my men and I went to the roof. It had a single entrance and there was a small tower just the height of a man. Potted lemon trees and olive trees would give shade during the day. It looked a pleasant place. It would accommodate two men. Garth nodded his approval. “Archers in there would make this a hard place to take.”
“This whole manor is perfect, Garth. Tomorrow we ride to Jaffa. It is thirty miles. We leave before dawn and we will return in the late afternoon. I would see if we can patrol it in one day. We rest for a day and then I will return to Jerusalem. I would hire more sergeants to guard this when we are gone. The four men who are here are watchmen and not guards.”