by Griff Hosker
“Sometimes but often the father chooses the husband. You know she is not yet eighteen and … well you know the rest.”
“I do. I am but five and twenty years old myself. There is not much difference and I love her.”
“Oh, that has been obvious to all of us for some time and she loves you too.”
I smiled, “Then it is settled?”
“Would it were so. I told you once that her heart was hardened. Before…, well before de Waller, she was betrothed to the son of Judah Ben Joshua, Reuben. She said she would never marry any man. She could barely stand to see her brothers and myself. It is why she spent over two years in Caesarea. You have wrought great changes in her lord but I fear it is too soon.”
“You forbid me to ask her?”
“Of course not. You have my blessing. Others may be unhappy that you are a Gentile but I know that your heart is good and you will not hurt my daughter. Get her permission and she shall be yours.”
“Then I have a new quest. I will ask your daughter to marry me.”
“Come, let us go to the courtyard. They will be wondering of what we speak.”
David’s sons and his wife were there along with his other daughter, Mary, and Rebekah’s mother, Ruth. David frowned, “Where is Rebekah? She is not here to greet our guest.”
Mary said, “She was upset and said she was not ready to face the lord of Aqua Bella. She went to the fig tree.”
I looked at David Ben Samuel. “The fig tree?”
“It is close to the south wall. She goes there when she is upset. She sits beneath its shade. It is surrounded by lemon trees. It is a pleasant place to sit. It is special to the whole family. There are birds which visit the tree and she takes comfort.” He paused. “She spent long hours there…”
“Oh.” I sat down.
David Ben Samuel shook his head, “You are not afraid to charge uphill into a horde of bandits and archers yet you baulk at speaking to a young girl. Lord, go. I will entertain your men.”
I saw the confused looks from the others. He was right and I stood and strode through the arch of olive branches. It was like stepping into an oven. Here they had an orchard. I walked between lines of peaches and nectarines. I saw in the distance a pale blue figure sitting beneath the branches of a huge fig tree which had smaller lemon trees flanking it. I forced myself to advance. She could only say no.
She saw my approach and I saw her eyes flickering from side to side as she sought an escape. There was none and, as I closed with her, her shoulders sagged in resignation.
“Rebekah.” I sat next to her. I left her enough space so that she did not feel threatened.
“Did my sister not tell you that I wished to be alone?”
“She did but I am still here. That should tell you something.” She looked up and I saw fear in her eyes. “Firstly, I wish to apologize for the kiss. It was not the act of a knight. I blame the medication but it is still no excuse. It upset you and you ran.”
She shook her head, “No, lord, I wished to kiss you but it is wrong.”
I was confused, “How is it wrong?”
She passed her hand down her dress, “Lord I wear blue. I should wear white for I am unmarried. I am soiled. I am damaged. Did my father not tell you that de Waller took me? I am not a virgin!”
“He did.”
“It does not bother you?”
“It makes me angry but with him and not you.”
“I had a child lord, it died!” She burst into tears and my heart broke with hers. I put my arm around her as she sobbed into my chest. Gradually her sobs subsided. “I am not certain I wished her to live but when they handed her to me I wanted to keep her. The babe opened her eyes and looked at me.” She buried her head again. She said, into my chest, “And then she died. She lived but for a few heartbeats and she was gone. I did not get to tell her how I would love her. She died. …. She died and I wished to join her.”
I lifted her chin with my hand and said, “Lady, I would marry you and keep you safe.”
She shook her head and said passionately, “Were you not listening, lord? I cannot lie with a man. I wanted to kiss you but I could not bear it for de Waller was in my mind. If you marry me then you will never enjoy that which other husbands do. I love you too much to do that to you.”
“You love me?”
“Of course, lord, Is that not obvious?”
“I am a knight. I thought I knew women but, as my father pointed out to me, I do not. I love you and I care not if you keep apart from me. I wish to care for you and be your protector. In time, I would hope that your heart would soften but if not then so be it. The past is past. I wish to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Truly? If I ask you to have a room apart for me you would do so?”
“Of course.”
“And you would not go back to England as you wish to do?”
“If you want to stay here in the Holy Land then I will do so. I told you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I care not where I do that.”
She stood, “Then you truly do love me and I am honoured.”
“Then you say yes?”
She shook her head, “No lord, I say you will have to wait while I wrestle with my own demons. Return at the feast of the Passover and I will give you my decision. It is not long to wait, is it?”
“A heartbeat is too long to wait but I will give you the time. It will give me the chance to heal so that I can hunt down de Waller and end his miserable life.”
She grasped my hand in hers, “That is not for me is it lord?”
“Not entirely, for he is my enemy and if I do not kill him then he will try to kill me again. I will not wait for a knife in the night. Come let us go back to the others.”
“What will you tell them, lord?”
I smiled, “The truth of course. I am a true knight and I do not lie nor do I hide.”
They were all watching us expectantly as we stepped beneath the olive arch. She still held my hand and I saw smiles on the faces of all those I saw. They misunderstood. “I have asked Rebekah to be my wife.” Ruth’s hands went to her face and her eyes filled with tears of joy. “She has turned me down and asked me to wait until the feast of the Passover when she will give me her decision. Until that time, she wishes me to stay apart. I agree to all those terms. She is my Grail and the quest is worth pursuing.” I walked to David Ben Samuel and took his arm. “I will see you when we escort your caravans but I will not visit again here until the Passover.”
“That is four months. It can be a long time.”
“Your daughter is worth waiting for. If it is a lifetime then I shall wait. If she does not agree to be my wife then I shall become a warrior monk. There is no other woman I will wed.”
Chapter 16
Life at Aqua Bella went on with or without my problems. We had the new wine and oil to deliver to Jerusalem and I was keen to speak with both Theobald and the King. I also needed a new helmet. This time Francis and Absalom came with me. The estate was safe and we had more slaves and servants to care for. This year we would have more profits but they needed to be ploughed back into the estate.
As we rode north Robert asked, “Are we to go to war again, lord?”
“I intend to ask the King for permission to hunt de Waller down. So, the answer is yes. I have naught else to occupy my mind until the Passover save the caravans. Why do you ask?”
“We need more men. In a perfect world, they would be archers but I knew we were lucky to get Robin Hawkeye. We have horses enough and we have weapons. We stripped the dead who ambushed us and we took their horses but men are not easily bought.”
“They may be. There will be lords who perished in the retreat. There will be men who were abandoned and found safety. While I speak with the King I want you and our men to seek out any who might be suitable but a word of caution. We want none who might have served de Waller. We want no Lombards. English, Norman or Angevin warriors are all that I will lead. I will kee
p Tom with me. And if you can find a reliable smith I would have a helmet made. I remember that David Ben Samuel introduced us to one, Balion I think.”
This time, when we entered the city, we were recognized. All of the soldiers who had served on the campaign waved and shouted as we rode through the gate. There were many of the levy: merchants, labourers, cooks and camel drivers who remembered my livery and my banner. There had been little good to speak of and we were, perhaps, something about which they were happy to talk. We halted close to the palace. My men took our horses and Tom and I entered the palace. It seemed a lifetime ago when I had come as a penitent and now I was admitted to the chambers of Theobald.
He actually embraced me. “It is good to see you up and about. I confess that Michael of Constantinople thought that you would not see Christmas. He did his best but he feared for your life.”
“I was cared for. I am content.”
“The King will be happy that you are now recovered. You are dear to him and I know that his mother, the Queen, wishes to thank you.”
“She can thank me by telling me where de Waller is. I cannot rest until he is dead.”
“Lord, you seem almost obsessed with him. He is finished!”
“He will be finished when he is dead. I have my own reasons, Lord Theobald. Do not ask but trust me. Where is he?”
“There are rumours. Some say he took ship back to Normandy.”
“But you do not believe that.”
“Of course not. He will try again to gain power but he has run out of allies and, more importantly, funds. I fear he has become a renegade.”
“How so?”
“My spies tell me that he has taken refuge with the Old Man of the Mountains. He is with the assassins. It will cost him all the money that remains to him but he and his people will be safe. From the lair in the mountains they can raid and plunder.”
My heart sank. I had hoped to spend the next months, before Rebekah’s decision, in hunting down and killing him. That was impossible. I was not afraid but I would lose many men tracking him to his lair. I did not want my men to pay for my arrogance with their lives. I would have to wait until he returned. I knew he would do so. He would wait until he thought we had forgotten him and then he would come. He was a survivor and he would make himself richer and stronger.
“And the Crusade?”
“Over. It was not the glorious enterprise which captured Jerusalem. We have lost Edessa. Those castles which still hold out will soon fall and then we will be hemmed in once more. We must strengthen our castles.”
“And that is why you gave the castle of Ramelah to the Templars.”
“You do not approve?”
“Of course not. I know not what the Templars’ strategy is but they seem able to avoid fighting and yet to reap rewards.”
He gave me a knowing look, “You have a Byzantine mind. The king does not agree with you.”
“But you do.”
“Let us just say that Raymond de Puy Provence and I are old friends. I trust his views and they coincide with yours. He was much taken with you.”
“Well who knows. One day I may join his order.”
“And you would be welcomed. Come I will take you to the Queen. The King is still receiving supplicants.”
Queen Melisende looked no different to the last time I had seen here. She had a serene quality which I admired but her eyes were made of steel. “You may leave us Theobald. I think I am safe with this young warrior.”
I nodded to Tom. “Go and wait at the gate.”
When we were alone she reached over to take my hand. “I owe you more that I can ever pay. You saved him from not one but two assassins. And then you saved him from the treachery of de Waller.” She turned and took a chest from a small table. “This is a portion of the treasure we found when we took Ramelah. I have no doubt that de Waller took much more away with him but the King and I wish you to have this. It does not make up for the injury you suffered but it will be a start.”
I did not look inside. That would have been rude. “Thank you, your majesty but I did not come here for rewards.”
“But you will be staying in this land until we have retaken Ascalon?”
“I gave my words and I will keep it.”
She seemed relieved, “My son will be happy. He regards you and your men as something of a lucky charm. He grew in the campaign. The venture might have been a disaster but Baldwin gained much from the experience. Do not be a stranger.” She leaned back and waved to the wine, “Help yourself to the wine and then tell me what you have planned.”
I poured a glass and asked, “Planned?”
“You are not the kind of man to sit idle. You came here today to sell your oil and wine but you also had other reasons.”
“You are astute and you are right. We came here for men. If we are to take Ascalon then I need more men. With due respect, your majesty, some of those I fought alongside were less than reliable. They may have been knights but they did not compare with my sergeants. Your son will not attack Ascalon this year or even next. I have time to build up my retinue so that I can make a bigger difference on the field of battle.”
She nodded and pointed to the chest. “When you need more money then come to me. Others beg for power and money. You ask for neither yet I know that you will use whatever I give you well.”
I left. I now had time to prepare. I had time to win Rebekah. If she turned me down I would continue my quest.
John of Chester was waiting for me at the gate, “Lord, Captain Robert says he has found the smith. I am to take you to him.”
“Good, then carry this.”
I handed him the chest. “What is it lord?”
I smiled, “A gift from the Queen. Open it and have a look.”
He did so. Tom peered over his shoulder. Their eyes widened. “Lord, this is a king’s ransom!”
“Then you had better take good care of it.”
We went first to Simon where we deposited the chest. He asked, “Would you like any of it to use now lord?”
I shook my head, “My overseer is selling our olive oil now. There will be more money coming soon.”
He smiled, “For a knight you know the value of coins, lord and, if I might say so, you are less profligate than others. Many waste money on buying exotic items of which they soon tire or they purchase a large number of slaves all of whom need to be fed.”
As we left I wondered if that might be a way to find de Waller. He had shown he had a rapacious appetite for young women and that would not alter. He would either have to take women or buy them. I would speak with those who knew of such markets. There was a buzz of conversation on the streets. The departure of the Crusading army and the sudden threat of Nur al-Din had everyone talking. John led us to a square which was filled with lively inns. This was the Christian quarter of the city. Jews and Muslims worked there but it was a place where pigs were cooked and ale and wine consumed in great quantities. Robert, Garth and Alf sat at a table waiting for us.
“I bought a pitcher of wine, lord. I thought we could celebrate.”
“Celebrate?”
“Aye lord. We hired another six men, they are with the others being fitted out and Francis said to tell you that the profits have almost doubled. There is a great demand for oil and wine. The campaign drained many men who would have worked on estates producing grapes and olives. We have reaped the benefit.”
“Very well but I still need a helmet.”
“Do not fear, lord. I have found the smith, Balion. He is around the corner. Although from the words I have had with others there is little chance of war soon.” I sipped the wine. It was rough but drinkable. “So many knights and sergeants were lost that the King cannot contemplate launching an attack on Ascalon. Some say it will take a year for the King to be in a position to do so. The losses at Damascus and de Waller’s desertion mean we do not have enough knights here.”
I nodded. I had thoughts on that. “And the men?”
; “We managed to get two archers. Both are English. Their lord fell at Damascus. It took them twelve days to reach Nablus. They are pale shadows of the archers they once were.”
Garth shook his head. “They were ill served by their lord but they have the skills, lord. Even in their poor state I can see that. Thomas and Jack will be useful additions to your retinue but they will need feeding up.”
“Food is not a problem. We have the coin to buy plenty and I thought to buy some sheep and goats. The young boys we rescued, who live at Aqua Bella, could become their shepherds. It is time we produced more goats’ cheese and milk.” I remembered the doctor’s advice. “And the other men?”
Robert drained the last of the wine, “Sound fellows. All were sergeants. They are all Norman or Angevin. Like the archers, they were abandoned after Damascus. Their lords did not die they just fled.”
“Their names?”
“Roger of Hauteville, Pierre of Cherbourg, Christophe of Chinon and Alan Azay. Like the archers, they were the best we could hire. There were others but these four still had their weapons and shields. Many of the others had sold their weapons to buy food.”
“Good. And you gave them coins to seal the bargain?”
“They did not need them but we did as you commanded.”
“They know me not and it will do no harm to give them the dignity of coins in their purses.” I smiled, “And that reminds me. I would suggest you do as Ralph of Bowness did. Buy a pigskin purse. It will deter those who would steal your money.”
The camp at Damascus had been subject to much petty theft. Many sergeants had had their purses lifted in the dark of night. Our vigilance had meant we were not prey to such thefts but here in the busy streets of Jerusalem there were many who made a living taking from those who toiled. Every city had such men.
“Come let us see this Balion. Where will we meet the men?”
“At the bazaar, lord. Francis and Absalom will be there waiting for us.”
Balion was a huge Jew. He had a forge like Alf’s in Stockton but here, the outside heat made it seem even hotter. I did not know how he could work in such conditions. Yet, as we approached sparks flew as he beat out a sword. He saw me and stopped. Lying down his hammer and sword he approached and gave a short bow, “Lord Aqua Bella, you honour my smithy.”