by Griff Hosker
“Barbaric.”
“They are a barbaric people and they are fanatical. I do not envy you your task.”
“We do not choose our tasks, lord. We will make the best of it.”
I left most of my men at the fort and went, after dark, with Robert, Garth and John of Chester. We rode east first and then headed west. When we were half a mile from the fires of the men building the towers, we dismounted and we handed our horses to John. We wore no helmets and we carried no shields. We were not here to fight. We were here to see how to hurt them. Our dark cloaks hid us and we moved confidently through the huts and wrecked farms. Geoffrey of Azdud had told me that they had burned many farms. They would rebuild but so far, they had not. The burned-out buildings allowed us to get within three hundred paces of the walls. They had braziers for the days might be hot but the nights were cold. The wood smoke blew towards us. That was good for it meant our smell would not reach them. I saw that they had no sentries out. They were not expecting an attack. The builders were sat around fires cooking fish which I assumed they had caught. There was a great deal of noise from the camp. They were gambling and they were drinking. Both of those activities would cover our approach. The slaves who were Christian and laboured during the day would be inside Ascalon’s walls. Any who were outside were Egyptian.
Having established that there were no guards we could look at their work and how we could disrupt it. The scaffolding was an obvious target. It took time to build but we needed to damage the work on the towers too. I saw that they had more timber to build more scaffolding. We would use that. As much as I hated to do it I knew that by killing the builders we would slow down the work. We had two tasks we could complete. I looked around us and saw that the half-burned huts would make good cover for our horses. We could cover five hundred paces quickly especially if we were unencumbered by mail. My plan was almost complete. Then I saw the quick lime pit. I could feel the heat from it. They needed that for the mortar. If the aim of the raid was to slow down the building then we needed to sabotage the quicklime. I saw the answer by the side of the fire. Wine!
I tapped my companions on the shoulders and we headed back to the horses. We had done this before and none of us spoke until we saw Azdud looming up. Garth said, “We could eliminate the sentries lord.”
“We might do that another time. Let us keep it a secret that we have such fine archers. This is my plan. If you think of a way to improve it then tell me.”
“Aye, lord.”
“I want one group to slay the Egyptian workers. While they do so a second group pulls down the scaffolding and using the coals from their braziers they set fire to it. We throw their wine in the lime pits. It will render the quick lime ineffective. Then we flee.”
“That sounds remarkably simple, Sir William.”
“It is Robert but the purpose is to slow down the work. When next we come, we will have to be more imaginative. They will put guards and ditches around the work as a result of our attack. The King wants us to sap their will to fight. We may not attack for a year, perhaps even two. We cannot allow them to build fifty towers!”
Geoffrey of Azdud had told his sentries to watch for us and were admitted through the main gate. Everyone was in bed save for the sentries. Robert and Garth retired but I went to the tower to look at the port we were to attack. My mind was active and I suddenly realised that we could use the sea to attack them. What I needed was a small ship. If we made it a fireship and we managed to sail it close to the walls then the fire would weaken the walls. The problem would be escaping. With the idea in my head I went to bed.
The next day the three of us told our men what we would need. “We do not need our bows, lord?”
“No William. We save that surprise for the next time. What we do need to do is to drive the workers inside the castle. I want them to think it is a major attack. That way they will look to their defences and not consider sallying. We need to light three fires in three towers. Once the towers are completed and the mortar and stones are set they will be impossible to destroy without great loss of life. I want us to weaken them so that they have to rebuild.”
My men were all clever and they quickly sorted themselves into the teams we needed. All of us would attack the workers. That way they would think it was a major attack. Then we would work quickly. We made sure that we had all that we needed. My archers felt almost naked leaving without bows and without arrows but they had no need of them. This would be sword work.
We left at the same time and this time we walked our horses for the last two hundred paces. All of our mounts had been trained not to make unnecessary noise and that enabled us to reach the deserted huts without being seen. Stephen and Edward were charged with watching the horses. The rest of us drew our swords and daggers and headed towards the camps. We were in three groups. A knight led each one. The idea was to get as close as we could. When we were seen, we would charge but do so silently. That was always more terrifying. I wanted them to be afraid and exaggerate our numbers.
I had Harold Longsword, Alf and John of Chester with me. The workers were busy with what looked like a woman. The screams were loud and high pitched but that did not mean a woman. The noise distracted them and also meant that no one nearby was taking any notice of this camp. There were thirty men. If they stopped to count us they would realise we were outnumbered. I waved the other three to the sides so that we approached over a thirty-pace front. Garth nodded. He knew what he had to do.
The first Egyptian died silently without realising what was happening. Holding his head with my right hand I drew the dagger across his throat and then lowered his body to the ground. The next men were crowded around, waiting to take their turn with their victim. I slid my sword through the back of one man as I stabbed his neighbour with my dagger. John of Chester and Harold Longsword killed their men without pause but I saw Alf hesitate. Luckily for him his target turned forcing Alf to slash him across the neck with his sword. He had made his first kill. That is always the hardest. As the Egyptians turned Alf had to slash and strike to move them back. It worked and with twelve of their number dead, they fled.
I saw that the victim was a white girl. She was a Christian. I had to change my plans. “Alf, take the girl back to the horses. Care for her.
“Aye Sir William!”
“John of Chester, coals.”
He took the pot the men had been using for cooking and he poured the liquid into the quick lime. He tore the headdress from a dead worker and lined the bottom with it. I took the shovel the men had used and dug a spade full of glowing coals to drop them into the pot. John tied a piece of rope around the neck and picked it up.
I led the other two men to race towards the scaffolding. Harold Longsword had his axe. I glanced to my left and right. Robert and Tom had done as we had but now the Egyptians knew that there was trouble. I saw the survivors of our attack banging on the gate to demand entry. While Harold hacked at one side of the scaffolding John and I tied a piece of rope to the other. Together we pulled and heaved. Men on the walls pointed to us and threw things in the dark. We were shadows and the missiles missed but they only had to be lucky once. There was a crack and then a creak as Harold hacked through one of the supports. Suddenly the whole scaffolding gave way. We had to move quickly. The three of us picked up the biggest timbers and placed them at the base of the newly built tower. Harold and I put a couple more there as John emptied the coals on to the wood. It was dry wood. The summer heat had made it so. Flames flared up.
“Right, back to the horses.”
As we ran I saw that the gates had been opened but the press of workers trying to get in impeded the warriors trying to get out. Garth was already back with the horses. “I poured the wine into the lime, lord. It was piss poor wine!” He chuckled. “Best use for it was to spoil the quick lime if you ask me.”
I saw that Alf had the sobbing girl seated behind him. Her hands gripped my squire’s waist. Robert and Tom led their men towards us. I saw that Hen
ri was being supported by William and Ralph. Robert said, “A piece of scaffolding struck him. It is nothing.” He looked at the girl behind Alf but refrained from speaking.
“Then let us ride. I think they are coming for us.”
This time we did not ride the long route. We galloped directly north. There were worker’s camps there too and we tore through them. The sound of our hooves brought men and women from their tents to see what it was. The result was that the horsemen who pursued us found their way blocked. Our horses had no mail to carry. They flew. Remus had never galloped as quickly. “Tom, where are they?”
“They will not catch us, Sir William.”
We did not slow down. The sentry on the wall saw us and we were admitted. Geoffrey was summoned from his bed. As soon as he saw the girl he recognised her, “It is Isolde!” He put his arm around the girl. “We thought you were dead.”
She buried her head in his shoulders, “I wish I were. My mother and sisters are with my father now.”
Geoffrey was grim, “You shall stay with me as my ward and we will have vengeance. Raymond, take her to my wife.” He turned to me as the girl was led gently away. “Come let us see your work.” As we went up the stairs he explained that Isolde had been one of a brother knight’s family. The Egyptians had taken their home.
We ascended the tower. It was dark but the three fires still burned at Ascalon. The dried wood and the coals had combined to burn despite the Egyptians attempts to extinguish them. The towers were on the opposite side to the sea water. “Well done, Sir William.”
“We cannot repeat it but it will put their work back. They will place sentries around the perimeter.”
“And my brother knights can join me to harass them. Our orders were to kill as many of the enemy as we could. You have done us a favour, Sir William. You have brought them out to us!”
“Then you could do me another. We will return in seven days’ time. I will need a boat. It needs not to be a good one but it must float.”
“I will do so, Sir William. What do you need it for?”
“I would make a fire ship. If we let the current take it then it will burn the towers by the sea.”
When it was daylight I could see that the three towers had blackened marks on them and a sharp-eyed sentry told us that he could see that some of the stones had fallen. Perhaps we had damaged them more than we had expected. We rested during the heat of the day. It was growing closer to Midsummer Day and here in the Holy Land that did not mean garlands of flowers and celebrations on the village green. Here it meant you baked even more. We left for home when it was dark and it was cool.
Sometimes fate throws a bone to you when you least expect it. We were just a mile from home when Garth, who was leading held up his hand. We stopped and I nudged Remus next to him. We did not speak. He sniffed and pointed to a gully to our right. The wind was in the right direction and it blew the smell of the fire towards us. I saw a faint glow. There were men there. Using signs, I had the men dismount. I pointed to the horses and Alf, Edward and Stephen nodded. They grasped the reins. Drawing my sword, I stepped towards the higher piece of ground which hid the dell from us. I dropped to all fours as I neared the top.
We closed with the hidden camp. There should have been no one this close to our home. A friendly caravan knew they would have a welcome. I heard the sound of camels. They were unmistakeable. I peered over and saw an encampment. That was not unusual. Many caravans camped for the night in such places when they travelled through remote areas but this was not a caravan. They were sergeants and they were led by a knight. I recognized Roderigo of Santiago. He lay asleep next to the fire. These were de Waller’s men. As my eyes counted the men I saw a huddle of bodies. There had been a fight of some kind and men had been slain. Even as I planned our move I knew what had happened. Santiago and his men had ambushed a caravan. We were close to the Jaffa to Jerusalem road here. The merchant would have thought he was safe for he was close to my manor. Perhaps he was heading for it to seek shelter for the night. Theobald’s plan had cost civilians their lives.
I waved Robert to the right and Tom to the left. Their men went with them. I had Garth with John and Harold. I rose and we moved through the scrub towards the camp. They must have had a sentry close to Robert for there was a shout of warning and then a cry as he was slain.
Roderigo of Santiago was on his feet in an instant with a sword in his hand, “To arms!” A groggy sergeant stood before me and I brought my sword across his middle. I felt the blade grate off bones as it tore into him. Harold Longsword ran directly towards the fire. Garth and John both stayed close to me to protect my sides. We had no shields. Two sergeants sprang up and ran at us with swords and shields. Blocking the sergeant’s sword with my own I pulled the edge of his shield towards me and then flicked my sword over the top to rip across his neck.
I heard a clash of steel as Harold Longsword and Roderigo of Santiago brought their swords together. My new man at arms was over matched. I pushed the dead sergeant to the side and raced towards the fire. All around me was the sound of battle. We had caught them unawares and the initial attack had slain enough of them to give us superiority of numbers. I saw that Harold had great strength. His blows were forcing the knight back but the knight had experience and cunning on his side. He feinted one way and when Harold’s sword blocked fresh air the knight spun completely around to bring his sword through the spine of my warrior. It was a quick death.
Roderigo saw my approach and he grabbed Harold’s sword. He held both weapons before him. He grinned at me in the dark, “At last a warrior who is worthy to fight me. You have annoyed de Waller you know? Why will you not die?”
“Because I have yet to kill de Waller.”
“That will not be. You die this night. I can use my left hand as well as my right. You will die and any other who tries to fight me.”
I put my left hand behind my back and pulled out the assassin dagger. It had been cleaned since the attack but Santiago was not to know that. I smiled when I saw the grin leave his face. “Recognise it? Your master wasted money did he not?”
It was not much but it was enough to dent his confidence. He hurled himself at me with whirling swords. I swept my sword in an arc to meet the two swords. There was a cascade of sparks as the blades met but the force of his attack meant I had to step back. Instead of stepping directly back I turned a little to the side and slashed my dagger at his exposed side. He was too far away for it to connect but he was so terrified of what he thought was a poisoned blade that he stepped back too so that there was a gap between us.
I was aware that there was silence around us. The rest of his men were dead. My men were standing in a circle. Garth growled, “Finish him lord! His vipers are no more!”
It was my turn to smile. “It ends here Santiago. You could surrender and I will take you to Jerusalem. Who knows, the king may let you live.”
He shook his head, “We all die, Sir William. It is the manner of our death which is the difference. Besides when I kill you I will take your men one by one.” He laughed, “I have been offered a prize. My lord will give me your whore when you are dead! She must be something to behold that you risked being ostracized and my master is so desperate to have her that he will take your home to do so!”
A chill spread through my body. Rebekah and my people were in danger. I would end this. I did not warn him. I lunged with my dagger and as he jumped out of the way I tucked my head down and did a forward roll. He had no idea what I intended and his blades sliced the air above my head as I rose beneath his flashing swords to plunge my sword up into his middle. As I stood I pushed and the sword’s tip emerged through his shoulder. We were face to face, “Well done Sir William. A trick I would have been proud of.” I pulled out my sword and, as he fell to the ground he said, “There was no poison was there?” As I shook my head, he closed his eyes and died.
I turned, Robert, have your men collect the weapons and animals. Who was the merchant?”
&nb
sp; “Phillip of Jaffa lord.”
“Bring their bodies with you. I am worried about Aqua Bella! De Waller has plans for it!”
We ran back to our horses. “Edward and Stephen, stay here and help Sir Robert. The rest, we ride like the wind.”
I rode at the front expecting to see de Waller and his men. Later I realised how foolish that was. But Roderigo’s words had shaken me. De Waller would only attack when he had all of his men. The sentries on my walls were surprised to see me but the gates were opened as soon as I hove into view.
Brother Peter came to greet me. “Is there trouble, Sir William?”
I nodded. “A caravan was ambushed less than a couple of miles from here.”
He shook his head, “I knew I should have ordered your men to investigate. Just after the sun had set we heard the clash of arms but it ended quickly and I thought no more about it. I am sorry.”
“You could have done nothing. It was a knight and sergeants. We only defeated them because we caught them napping. Henry Longsword is dead.”
My wife had appeared during my last words, “We have lost a warrior?”
I nodded, “And there is more. De Waller is hunting us.” I would not lie to my wife. I hoped she was strong enough to cope with the news.
She smiled, “I am safe here, husband.” She turned to Brother Peter, “Am I wrong to wish him dead?”
“Some men deserve to live and die. This de Waller deserves to die, lady and I believe that Sir William is the man who will end his worthless life and send him to hell.”
Dawn was already breaking and the house was coming to life. The smell of baking bread filled the air and that, combined with the sun rising to the east gave us hope. My men returned with the camels and their goods along with the bodies of the merchant and his people.