by Griff Hosker
“That means they will not be able to fight.”
“And that is why you have my men. With respect Saul, I have seen little evidence that men who guard caravans are warriors like my men. All of my men have been trained since childhood to fight. We will fight better knowing that the servants are safe. I would like you to watch over your sister. If we find danger then your men guard the five women and we will do the rest.”
He nodded, “You are right. I can fight but I have seen you and your men. You fight in a different way. You kill easily.”
“Do not worry, Saul, if your sister is threatened you will fight as hard as we do. That is the difference, we fight as hard all the time.”
Rebekah came out with her aunt. They embraced. I saw tears in Judith’s eyes. Rebekah was encased in cloth. Only her eyes showed. She briefly glanced at me and all I saw were two dark pools then she mounted. I was relieved to see that she did so confidently. Saul had been right. She was a rider.
“Mount.”
Judith came over to me and spoke. Saul translated, “She says that she has heard that you are an honourable man. Today is the chance for you to prove that her opinion of all Franks might be wrong.” He smiled, “She orders you to take care of my sister.”
“Tell her that your sister will be safe. She has my word on that.”
He translated and Judith nodded.
“Garth, Alf, Robin, scout! John, Henry, rear guard.”
My men were well trained. With the servants guarded on their left by Saul’s men, Saul and I flanked Rebekah at the head of the column. We headed north. Rebekah kept her eyes on the rumps of my scout’s horses. They were three hundred paces ahead of us. We really did not need scouts for the first part of the journey. We were travelling through houses and villages. I was heading for Ginaton. It would be a hard ride but it would bring us close to my patrol on the road. I intended to take the caravan trail.
Once we left the houses and headed towards Ramelah I became more alert. My eyes scanned the sides of the road and further ahead. We had been in this land for some time now and I was acclimatised to the land. In Normandy and England, I would have used the sound of birds to warn me of danger. Here there were fewer birds and fewer trees. It was your eyes which were of more use. You looked for movements. You searched for what should not be there. The rocks, gullies and scrubland were perfect country for ambush and that was why I had my two archers and Alf ahead. As they had shown when escorting ralph of Bowness they had the hunter’s instincts. If there was danger they would let me know.
We halted after two hours. We were not riding as hard as we would have had we not been slowed by the four servants but I knew they would be finding it hard. We all took on water. I made sure that Remus had water before I did. Here your horse was your life. I was under no illusions. If I was afoot then I would be dead.
We did not stop for long. It was just enough time for the women to relieve themselves and then we were on the road again. I say road but this Roman Road was not in the best of repair. Most traffic from Caesarea went to Jaffa and Asur. It would not hurt us but it showed that this was slightly less inhabited than the other road. It was, however, shorter. We had seventy miles to cover in two days. Had I just had my men I might have made it in one.
Rebekah and Saul chattered away as we rode along the road. It was understandable. Rebekah had lived away from the family for some time. As close as I could discover it had been more than two years since the attack and that was how long Rebekah had stayed with her aunt. I did not understand one word of their conversation. It helped me to concentrate on the road. Once we had passed Budrus the roads became ever more deserted. We had passed a few travellers heading west but after Budrus we were the only ones on the road; or so it seemed. The land to the south and west of us was fertile but to the north and east it was barren. A few goats and sheep scrabbled for grazing but that was all. The shepherd boys were the only humans we saw. I knew that there would be other eyes upon us.
We were a little way from Ginaton when Rebekah spoke to me, “I am sorry that you have been left alone, lord. My brother and I were catching up. There is much to tell after so long apart.”
She spoke with the slightest of accents. She was well educated. “You need not apologize, lady. I understand.”
“My brother has told me how you helped my father. My aunt did not know. If she had she might have been more hospitable and courteous.”
I laughed, “We are rough soldiers, lady. A night in a stable is a luxury compared with some of the beds we have had.”
“Nonetheless I am grateful.” Her eyes drifted south, “I am not certain that I could pass this close to that beast if I did not have your sword to guard me.”
“It is not the Lord of Ramelah who worries me it is that.” I waved my hand to the hills to the north and east. “There are bandits there. They will see five women. That is the danger. This time it is not my people who are the danger to you; it is your own people and, perhaps, the Turk.”
“The Turks? Nablus and Jerusalem guard the roads!”
“Your father’s caravan was attacked along this road by Seljuq archers on horses. We are just half a day of hard riding from the Emirate of Damascus.”
She turned around. “And that is why you have my father’s men watching my servants.”
“If we are attacked then my priority is you, my lady. Once we are beyond Shilat then I will breathe easier.”
We reached Ginaton without incident. It was a tiny place and there would be no accommodation for us but there was a wall with a gate. It was used by the caravans which plied their trade. We were lucky and it was empty. Henry and John of Chester made a crude barrier at the gateway. They would sleep there. Garth and Alf got a fire going while the rest of my men saw to the horses. I walked the perimeter seeking any weakness. The men who had built it had been camel drivers and they had made it as strong as they could. We would not be surprised. We would not be comfortable but we would be safe.
Saul and his sister ate with their men and servants. We watched while they ate and then we had our food. I had arranged for us to watch in pairs. It was not that I did not trust Saul’s men but mine were warriors. Tom and I took the last watch. Garth shook me awake.
“All quiet?”
“Aye lord but…”
“But?”
“The hairs on my neck prickle. We are watched.”
“We have been watched for the last ten miles, Garth. This is bandit country. Tomorrow we will need to be extra vigilant.”
As we left the village I noticed that there was no one about. We had arrived late and we had not seen anyone but the fact that we saw none as we left made me wary. We were passing by the place the archers had attacked us. There were scrubby bushes and stunted groves of acacia. Mainly there were rocks. The first that we knew of an attack was when one of Saul’s men was hit in the back by an arrow. I drew my sword and wheeled around. They had waited until we had passed them.
“Saul, get the women to safety. Stockton! On me!” My three archers had their bows ready. Alf’s sling shot whirled and the stone flew to hit the archer who had slain the Jew. Riders poured through the scrubby trees. They were not all archers but the ones they had were good. Another of Saul’s men was hit in the arm and two arrows smacked into my shield. There were just four of us able to close with the attackers. They were Seljuq. They were after the women. Too many to count I led my men into the heart of them.
Remus was bigger than their horses and he barged between two of them. I took the blow from one Turk on my shield while sweeping my blade just above the other’s horse’s head. I almost hacked the rider in two. I wheeled Remus around and continued my sweep to slice through to the backbone of the other. A third Turk, on foot this time, rammed his spear towards my side. It tore along the mail and I backhanded blindly. I felt the blade hit something. When I looked, I had ripped open his face.
Henry son of Will might be a loud drunk but he was a mighty warrior. He was fearless and he plunged into the Turks u
sing both his shield and his sword at the same time. John of Chester protected his back and side as Tom did with me. My archers and Alf were now dismounted and their arrows were plucking Turkish horse archers from their saddles. I saw that one of my men’s horses lay dead. As I looked I saw a Seljuq Turk strike Saul and he fell from the saddle.
“Tom, follow me!” I wheeled Remus around and galloped towards Rebekah. The Turk who had wounded Saul was raising his spear to strike his back when Robin Hawkeye lived up to his name and sent an arrow into his head. Three more Seljuq Turks hastened towards Rebekah. She had dismounted and was kneeling by her brother. I did not slow down. I ploughed into the three Turks. Using my knees to guide my horse I slashed with my sword and punched with my shield. I saw a spear coming towards me from the third Turk and then Tom’s sword appeared from his chest.
“Tom, see to Saul. Lady, mount. My squire will tend to your brother.”
“I cannot leave him!”
“Nor will you! Now mount or more men will die and you would not wish that on your conscience, would you?”
“I would not.” She rose and mounted.
We were outnumbered. We had to make a last stand. “Everyone fall back here! We make a last stand!”
Tom had managed to lay Saul over his saddle. His head was bleeding but I had no idea if he was alive or dead. Two of Saul’s guards had survived and they brought the four screaming servants. The pack animals were gone. Alf rode double with Robin and they joined us. When Henry and John rode in, I saw that Henry had had his face laid open by one of the Turk’s wickedly curved blades.
The Turks had also stopped. They were preparing to charge us. Garth and the others had slain their archers but the twenty who remained were ready to fall upon us.
“Rebekah, you and the women get in the middle. Isaac, you and Benjamin, guard the rear. Archers behind us. If they want the women then they will have to kill us to get to them!”
The leader of the Turks raised his sword and they hurtled down the slope towards us. They did not come in an ordered line as we would, they came as individuals. That suited me. I was in the centre and I had a trick ready. The leading rider made straight for me. Suddenly I stood in my stirrups and pulled back on the reins. Remus stood and flailed his hooves. The Turk’s horse balked and, as it turned, Remus’ hoof smashed the rider’s skull. The dying Turk pulled the horse to the ground and the others had to move left and right. Three archers can release arrows quickly and at such close range they did not need much power. Even so, we would soon be surrounded and an unprotected back meant death.
Suddenly I heard the thunder of hooves. I looked to the east and saw Robert of Mont St. Michel leading my patrol to charge the Turks. The enemy did not stay but ran. Garth, William and Robin used the last of their quivers to pluck another five from their saddles as they fled. Leaving the reinforcements to chase them from the field I dismounted and went to look at Saul. He was lucky. The blow had damaged his helmet and knocked it from his head. The blow had rendered him unconscious. He was bleeding but he would live.
I turned to Rebekah. “There is vinegar in my saddle bag and a cloth. Clean his head and bind it.”
She nodded, “Aye lord and thank you.”
“I told your father I would get you home safe and I am a man of my word.”
I went to Henry and saw that John was already binding his wound. Henry gave me a weary smile and then regretted it. “Well I was no flower before the fight but I reckon now I will have a scar to make me even uglier!”
John said, “Sarah is handy with a needle. She can stitch it. Just keep your mouth shut for a while eh? That would be something!”
By the time my men had returned with the baggage and captured horses we had collected the dead guards and laid them across their horses. The last time we had left the Turks where they lay. Now I wanted a message leaving. “Take every Turk’s head and plant them in two lines on the end of their spears. I want them to see the folly of attacking us.”
Saul came to before we left. He looked around in fear as his eyes opened. Rebekah said, soothingly, “Fear not, Sir William and his men saved us. We are safe.”
“My men?”
“David and Joshua are both dead. We have their bodies on their horses. We will take you home now.”
It was a relief to see my banner fluttering above Aqua Bella. We did not all enter but Henry did for he needed to be tended to. We left our horses and baggage there and continued the last few miles to David Ben Samuel’s. We stayed just long enough to see Ruth burst into tears as she embraced her daughter. When David saw his bandaged son, he came over to me and grasped my hands, “Once again, I am in your debt.”
“I know not why. Your son is wounded and you have two dead men. Had I done a better job then I would expect thanks. I am sorry for your loss.”
He shook his head. Rebekah turned. For the first time since meeting her she had removed the silken scarf from around her face and hair. I saw that she was stunningly beautiful. Her long black hair flowed over her shoulders and shone like ebony. Her eyes were deep pools and her face was that of an angel.
“Sir William. I am sorry that I was not as friendly as I might have been. Forgive me. When I am settled again I would like you to visit with us so that I may thank you by cooking a meal for you.”
“You have no need but I will come. Thank you, lady.”
She handed me the scarf. “Until then take this. Perhaps it will bring you good fortune.”
“Thank you.” I wheeled Remus and led my men back through the gates. When we were far enough from the walls to be hidden, I sniffed the scarf. I could smell her perfume upon it. I had seen an angel and my life would never be the same again.
My mail had been damaged by the spear and all of my men had wounds. We had come close to losing all. But for the timely arrival of my patrol the women would be slaves and we would be lying dead in the wasteland. Alf was sad that he had lost his horse and so we gave him the choice of the ones we had captured. The Turks had yielded treasure and we shared that amongst the men. Henry’s face looked red, painful and angry but Judith had done as John had suggested she might. They were neat stitches.
I led the patrol the next day. I took one of the workers from the estate with me. The heads were still there; the eyes pecked out by birds and the skulls filled with flies. They would not last long. I rode to Ginaton. We surprised the villagers who hid behind their doors as we rode through. I halted in the middle and then said to Sayeed who worked on the estate, “Translate my words as I speak.”
“Aye lord.”
“I am the Lord of Aqua Bella. I am the guardian of the road and protector of the poor. I give you fair warning. If any of you offer aid to the bandits or the Turks then I will raze this village to the ground and sell each one of you into slavery. My men will ride this valley. They are your friends unless you choose to side with the enemy. You are either our friend or our enemy. There is no half way. Choose and choose wisely.”
Sayeed translated. He turned after he had spoken. “I lived in a village like this, lord. I can tell you that they fear the bandits and the Turks more than you.”
“Tell me, Sayeed, where do the Turks and the bandits hide?” I spread my hand around. Where are the places that they can live?”
He pointed to the high ground. “Up there are caves and there are springs.”
“They must be close enough to see the trail.”
“They are but they also use boys from the village. They send messages.”
“Thank you, Sayeed. You have given me an idea how to make their lives better and our lives safer.”
When we reached Aqua Bella, I asked Francis if he or Absalom needed anything from Jerusalem. “Aye lord. Our wives need to make purchases. I was going to ask if we could visit.”
“Then tomorrow we will escort you in. I have purchases to make. We will spend the day in Jerusalem.”
“Thank you, lord.”
“Robert, you, Tom and Alf will accompany me tomorrow. I
have money to deposit with Simon. Ask the men if they need anything from the city. We will not be going again for a while.”
King Baldwin had been generous with his gift but, as I rode in with Francis and Robert I realised that he had gained more from the arrangement. Francis had to take in the taxes for the King. Now that the Lord of Ramelah was no longer taking half he had more profits. More goods were reaching Jerusalem and so the taxes on the market meant more money for the king. I saw that he and his mother were astute. For the cost of an estate and a title they had increased their profits.
“And I want to make our life easier.”
“How will you do that, lord?”
“We will destroy the bandit and Turkish bases which lie to the north of us. We take this war to them. If we make the hills untenable then they will move elsewhere.”
Absalom shook his head, “You would willingly go into a nest of vipers?”
“If you know where they are then you can be prepared. Sayeed said that they camp close to water. We find the water and we find their camps.”
“You make it sound easy, lord.”
“It will be anything but easy, Francis, but it can be done. My father found that the best way to deal with the Scots who raided was to attack their bases. They do not raid his valley. I will do the same here.”
I intended to spend the whole day in Jerusalem. Alf and Tom purchased the items my men wanted and Robert and I visited Simon. His eyes lit up when he saw the chest. “You have been successful, lord.”
His clerk began to tally up the amounts.
“And I hope to be more successful in the future.” I lowered my voice. “How do the bandits move their money? Do they have a similar arrangement with you?”
He looked shocked, “No lord. It is against our religion however there are those in the city who deal with them. The city has quarters. Those who worship Islam live in their own quarter. They have men such as I with whom they can deal.”
“Have you a name?”
“I could find out for you but why? What good would it do?”
“Just find the name and the address and leave the rest to me.”