by Griff Hosker
“We keep on. Save your breath.”
It seemed a hopeless quest and then I heard the hiss of arrows ahead and three riders were pitched from their horses. The other three panicked and that was their undoing. Had they kept going they might have escaped. As it was they reined in to see where the danger lay and they died. Garth and his men had secured the horses and were searching the bodies when we reached them.
“They are warriors, lord and not bandits.” He pulled back the headdress to reveal a helmet.
“Well done, Garth. Let us find Robert.”
We retraced our steps to the ambush site. The other horses were gone but the bodies lay there and confirmed that these were Seljuq Turks.
“We will give Robert a little more time to reach us but I would descend before the light has totally gone.”
“Then you had best be quick, lord.”
I looked up and saw what Tom meant. We looked up as we heard hooves and Robert and his men rode up leading three horses. “There were four of them further south.”
“Let us get back to camp although I suspect we will have missed supper.”
It was pitch black when we reached the camp outside Nablus. We were fortunate that the Hospitallers had kept some food for their men and we shared their camp that night. We left for the rendezvous the next day. I rode one of the spare horses. I had taxed Remus and it would not do to injure him. Before we left I reported to Richard of Acre. He commanded the knights who guarded the King. The Queen had told him, before we left, that I was to be afforded total access to the king. The old knight had been wary of me for I was young and I was new.
“We slew some of their scouts last evening. They were watching Belvoir from the east bank.”
“I will tell the King.”
“Will we be keeping this pace all the way to Damascus?”
He nodded, “It is the way we war here.”
“Then it is no wonder that the Turk wins more than we do. He is swift. We move so slowly that there is no surprise.”
“Sir William, I can tell you for I know that you have the Queen’s confidence, that we have an army more than fifty thousand men strong. The Seljuq Turks can move as fast as they like, we will reach Damascus and we will take that city.”
It took another five days to reach Merom Golam where we met up with the rest of the army. We were there first and I was pleased to see that a defended camp was set up. Then we waited for the huge metal snake that was the Army of the Second Crusade to join us. I saw the banners of France and Flanders leading the way. Behind them I spied standards from every part of Europe.
I was with my men. We had our tents as close to the king’s as we were allowed. I was sharpening my sword as the King of France and the Count of Flanders rode passed me to dismount and greet King Baldwin. More dukes, counts and other important nobles descended and entered the tent. Then I saw other banners as they peeled off to find a place to camp. I saw stars on a blue background. It was the men of the Count of Provence. Robert of Nissa had joined the Crusade. Our enemies within our army had now doubled.
Chapter 12
I went inside my tent. “Tom, fetch Alf and Robert.”
It had been some time since we had had our confrontation with Robert of Nissa and his uncle. Perhaps they would have forgotten us. As Alf came in I wondered at the change in him. The scrawny youth had now filled out. He had worked hard to become a warrior who could wield a sword. He was still accurate with a sling but he could also use a bow. He was not as skilled as Garth but his talents meant that he was as valuable to me as any of my men.
“The Count of Provence has joined the army.” I looked at Alf. He nodded. “He may have forgotten us. I hope so for I would not have trouble. He may not even recognise us. We have new surcoats and livery but I suspect he will know my name. I cannot avoid him for I will be as close to the king as will he. Alf, you know your former master better than I.”
He nodded, “We had better walk in pairs. He is not above using treachery and he will not have forgotten us, lord. You bloodied his nose and that of his nephew. The insult may seem minor to us but the Count is a proud and arrogant man. He will seek vengeance.”
“As I thought. Well it looks as though we shall have an interesting time from now on.”
The arrival of the main Crusader army also brought with it increased danger for the king. There were native servants with the army. Hitherto the only servants close to the king were his own and we knew them. Now the kings and lords from Europe had hired servants to keep them shaded from the sun. They had others who led their horses, fetched water and carried food. Now our work would begin.
The king held a meeting with the other leaders which went on long into the night. I used the meeting to walk around the camp to look for possible assassins. Each time I saw a huge brute of a Turk I was relieved. Every youth and wasted old man made me look at them to seek their knife and their eyes. I had no doubt that the assassin had joined the army. This was the perfect place to do so. There were now fifty thousand men. One small killer could pass unnoticed amongst so many. Where do you hide a valuable coin? In the middle of other coins. I could not stay awake all night and so we had a system. Robert, Garth and myself took it in turns to watch with three others. It meant we all lost sleep but it was spread out between us all. None was exhausted.
I had hoped that, with the army all together we would leave for Damascus. The weather was getting hotter by the day and the huge army needed a massive amount of fodder, food and most importantly, water. The Master of the Hospitallers came out of one meeting looking almost angry. He saw me, “Walk with me, Sir William, I would talk with someone who has both sense and honour.”
“It is difficult in there?”
“The trouble is my young friend, that they lost many men when travelling through Anatolia. This is a shadow of the army which left France and Flanders. They met at Acre months ago and there decided to attack Damascus but none can agree who should lead. Each day brings more desertions and more deaths through disease. We should strike quickly!”
“I confess that I am surprised by this slow approach. There is nothing between us and the enemy. I have scouted.”
“I know, Brother Günter was impressed by you and your men. He cannot believe that you have only been in this land for a relatively short time.”
I would have carried on the conversation had not Theobald of Rheims approached me, “Lord, the king would speak with you, alone.”
I entered the tent. King Louis of France and Thierry of Flanders were there. They had scowls upon their faces. I guessed that the king had told them the name of my father. He had been a thorn in both their sides for some time. King Baldwin smiled, “Your father’s reputation, Sir William appears to have coloured the judgement of my fellow rulers. I have assured them that you only have the interest of the Crusade at heart.”
“Of course, my lord, and if I offend any then I would happily take my men back to Aqua Bella so that I could continue to protect pilgrims and travellers.”
King Louis shook his head, “Do not do that. King Baldwin has told us of your success. It is just that we are, quite naturally, wary of the son of the Warlord who has been our Nemesis for so long. We are just grateful that it is the Scots who are now bearing the brunt of his anger.”
I bowed and waited. Count Thierry said nothing.
King Baldwin said, “We need you to scout out Damascus, lord. We are a large army and we need to find somewhere with food and water. We will move towards Damascus but you and your men can travel much faster. We would have you seek a camp site for us.”
I worked out that as we were forty miles from Damascus it would take the army two more days to reach there. If we left now then we could be back not long after they had broken camp.
“Then I had better leave now, your majesty.”
King Louis looked at me askance, “So quickly?”
It was my turn to smile, “Now you know one of my father’s secrets your majesty, strike quickly!”
Even as I was striding out from the tent I shouted, “Robert! We ride!”
As I did so I saw that Robert of Nissa was there with some other knights. He did not recognize me immediately. I had a different surcoat and it had been some time since he had seen me but he had heard my voice. I put the Lombard from my mind. I had more important things to do.
Tom and Alf ran to me. They were already mailed, “Lord?”
“We need supplies for a day and a night. We are to do a long scout. I will take Remus.”
A year ago and this would have seemed a daunting prospect. We had feared the warriors of this land and had been terrified by the land itself. We had fought both and knew how to win. We still respected both but we knew our own abilities. Brother Günter came over as I checked the girths on Remus, “You ride alone today?”
I leaned in, “We go to view Damascus. I would ask a favour of you, Brother Günter.”
“Of course.”
“We keep watch at night on his majesty. Tonight, we will be absent. I would appreciate you watch him.”
“Any particular danger?”
“There are rumours that someone may try to kill him. Assassins. He has his own guards but…”
“But you trust only your own men. I understand and I am flattered that you hold me in such esteem. My sergeant and I will sleep in your camp this night. We spend many hours in prayer and it matters not where we pray.”
Satisfied that I had done all that I could to protect the king we left and headed north east through the mountainous trails which led to Damascus. Mount Hebron loomed to the north and we used our normal formation. Alf and Garth were an unlikely pairing and yet they got on well and seemed to have an understanding which was almost mystic. Dick and my father had a similar understanding. I did not. I wondered how such understanding came about. However, I used it. It meant I could watch the land around me knowing that the van was secure.
The road was empty for the first twenty miles. We saw neither traveller nor much in the way of houses. There were huts which I guessed housed shepherds but there was little else. Once we passed the col which led to the flatlands I saw Damascus far in the distance. It was indistinct for the sun would soon be setting but I saw the sprawl of huts and farms which spread out to the west. We halted while I sought a route which would avoid being spotted.
I waved my arm and we followed a track which led north. The main road went due east. We had not seen warriors upon it but I had no doubt that there would be guards of some sort. I was surprised that we had not seen any scouts. It would be easy to get close to Damascus in the dark. There would be the smell of smoke and the lights from homes to guide us. Getting back west would be more problematic. I turned to John of Chester. “I want you and Henry to mark our route. When we return, you will be leading and I want us to take the reverse of this route.”
“Aye lord.”
We rode in single file. I was third in line and I had my helmet hung over my cantle and my coif and ventail about my shoulders. I wanted to be able to see and hear easily. With our black cloaks, we were almost invisible. Our horses were moving through soft earth and sand. We made no sound. We were so silent that when Garth turned to task us due east we came upon an old man relieving himself. He looked around in surprise and shock. We said nothing and he did not raise the alarm. In the dark, we could just as easily have been Seljuq warriors.
Then the farms stopped and I saw trees. Below our horses’ hooves it was no longer bare soil and sand, it was grass. As we halted our horses greedily grazed. I reached up and discovered that it was an orchard. The trees were fruit trees. I plucked a peach from the tree and bit into it. It was not ripe but it was edible. We rode through the orchard. It was extensive. We were not challenged and we kept riding until we were less than four hundred paces from the walls. I estimated the distance from the height of the walls. The sun had long set behind us but there were torches shining from the walls and I saw guards patrolling. The wall had many towers. It would not be easy to assault. There was also a low wall with smaller towers between the orchard and the walls. That would slow up horsemen who tried to attack. I could not see it clearly but it looked to me as though there was a dry ditch before the walls. I knew that the River Barada flowed close to the city; perhaps that would be obstacle enough. So far the rivers had all seemed fordable to me.
One of the sentries must have had sharper eyes than the others for he gave a sudden shout. We had been seen. The worst thing we could have done would have been to run. I said, “Back slowly. We are still hard to see.”
They turned their horses and did as I had commanded.
“John, take the lead. Garth and Alf, watch the rear. All of you, have weapons at the ready, they may try to follow us.”
I could hear the sound of raised voices. The distance meant that they were muffled but there would be pursuit. I knew that once we were deeper in the orchard we would be hidden from view. As soon as I could no longer see the walls I said, “Now we can go a little faster.” No one was pursuing us.
We could not gallop and that was our undoing. A column of horsemen had been sent to investigate the sighting from the walls. However, they had no idea where we were. They waited on the road and we almost bumped into them. Henry and John led us into the midst of the horsemen. Our approach had been quiet. We heard hooves on the road and then there was silence. John and Henry were not to know that the Seljuq horseman had stopped on the road to listen for us. We had advantages, as we struck them. We were moving and they were stationary. Our weapons were out and theirs were not and we knew who they were. All that their sentries had seen had been riders in the orchard and we could have been anyone.
The first that I knew, at the back, was the clash of steel and Henry’s shout, “Die, you motherless heathen!”
I spurred Remus. He leapt forward. We were in a tightly packed column of twos and my men were laying about them with their swords. A spear rammed into my shield. I brought my sword down to slice it in two. I flicked it backhanded and it tore into the rider’s throat. His hands went to his throat to stem the bleeding.
“Head east!”
It was confused but I could tell the enemy by their smell, their smaller horses and their distinctive helmets. This was not their kind of fight. They liked to use their bows from a distance or chase down fleeing men on foot. We were mailed and heavily armed. We had shields which covered most of our bodies and we were superior warriors.
“Go now!”
Garth, Robert and I turned to face the horsemen. I pulled back on Remus’ reins as I stood in the stirrups. His hooves clattered down and struck a horse in the head. As it fell to earth, I lunged at the next rider and was rewarded by my sword sinking into something soft. A spear struck my shield and a second rapped my hand. I whipped Remus’ head around to face west and, as I did so, I swung my sword in a wide arc. It takes courage to put your head or your body in the way of a Frankish sword and the Turks fell back.
Robert shouted, “Ride, lord, the rest are escaped.”
I slid my shield over my shoulder to drape along my back and I spurred Remus. We galloped down the road. Garth and Robert slowed down so that the three of us were the rear-guard. Something struck my back. I felt no pain and I ignored whatever it was. I risked a glance over my shoulder and saw that they were pursuing us and I saw arrows. They were releasing them blindly. An unlucky arrow could kill just as quickly as a well-aimed one. We rode hard and I kept looking behind. Gradually the pursuit slowed and then stopped. We had hurt them and they were letting us go. After another mile I shouted, “Hold!”
Garth slowed and I felt my shield move. He held a Turkish arrow. “It is lucky you put your shield along your back. That arrow could have done for you.”
Robert nodded, “God was watching over you there, lord.”
Tom shouted, “Lord, we have wounded.”
As I reined in I saw that Alf clutched his leg. He shook his head, “It is a spear thrust I am…” He slumped into Garth’s arms
.
“I will tend to him lord.” As he fell he said. “He has a wound to his head too. There are others wounded, lord.”
I saw that Gaston had been wounded in the leg also but Jean de les Monts had the most serious wound. His left shoulder was badly cut. Through gritted teeth he said, “One of the bastards had an axe, lord.”
It was high on his arm but I saw that we could stem the bleeding. “Clean it with vinegar and apply a tourniquet. We need to stitch or burn it and we can do neither here. We have another twenty odd miles before we get home. Luckily it will soon be downhill. Gregor ride with Jean. Loosen the tourniquet every mile or so.”
As the men were being seen to Robert said, “It could have been worse.”
“It could and we have, at least, discovered a place we can both use to attack and to feed us. The farms and the orchard will give us shade, water, food and grazing. I think we now have a chance.”
As much as we wished to hurry I knew that we had to conserve our horses. The last thing we needed was for us to lose a horse. As we descended towards the Jordan valley I saw the lights from the fires. It looked like a sparkling carpet. This was a huge army and yet, from what I had been told, it was only a shadow of the number who had set forth. I glanced over my shoulder, daw bwa breaking we had made far better time than I might have hoped.
As we approached the sentries I shouted, “William of Aqua Bella returning with a patrol.”
The voice which answered me was heavy with suspicion. “Walk into the light, my lord, so that we can make sure you speak true!”
There were eight men on guard. They were Templars. “What is amiss?”
“Treachery lord. A murderer was abroad in the camp this night.”
My heart sank. Had I obeyed the king only to be the cause of his death? I spurred Remus towards his tent. I saw two bodies draped with cloaks. I dismounted and handed my reins to Tom. Raymond de Puy Provence stepped from the shadows. He put his hand on mine. “It is not the king. It is Brother Günter and his sergeant.” He pointed to a brown form lying close by the tent. “It was an assassin. He tried to get to the king. The sergeant saw him but he was slain. When Brother Günter stopped and killed the assassin he was also killed. It was a poisoned blade. He lived long enough to tell me what you asked of him.” He shook his head, “You should have told him you feared assassins. He would have been prepared.”