She left the nunnery for the nearby hospital. She detoured through the marketplace and smelled the meats and sweets displayed in the food stalls and inspected some bolts of silk for fashioning an attractive shawl. She purchased a small parcel of whole cloves at one of her favorite spice stalls and placed them into her lunch parcel. She started the short walk down the alley leading to the hospital. The hospital was run by Benedictine monks, who didn’t always approve of Desiree as a female and as a Muslim, but needed her assistance when dealing with an ill or injured female who traveled with the Crusaders.
She heard moaning coming from a doorway and stopped to look for the source. A young Jewish girl was lying on her side, moaning in pain. Desiree stooped over her and asked, “What’s wrong little sister?”
“My baby is killing me,” she cried.
Desiree felt the girl’s belly and noted a contraction. “We must get you to the hospital, now.”
“I have no money and have been cast out of my home.”
“The only thing I want you to think about right now is getting to the hospital. Can you walk with my assistance?”
“I can try, but the pains are excruciating.”
Desiree assisted the girl in getting to her feet. “We only have to walk a short distance. Please try. I’ll steady you.”
They struggled down the dark stone and brick alley. The girl halted every few minutes to deal with a contraction. When they arrived, Desiree took the girl inside and brushed past the monks in the entryway. One monk started to say, “But she’s a--”
Before he could finish Desiree had the girl in a room with a bed made with clean sheets and a blanket. She went to the kitchen, gathered a large pot, and filled it from the kettle of water that was always boiling on the open pit fire. She reached into a kitchen cabinet and took out a bottle of the Benedictine monks’ wine.
She rushed back to her patient, gave the girl two swallows of wine, and said, “Relax. You and your baby are safe now.” Desiree poured some of the hot water over her hands, took a clean cloth from the cabinet beside the bed, soaked it in hot water, and washed the girl, who by now was having contractions every two minutes. Desiree waited until she could see the top of the baby’s head and said, “Now, push.”
The girl contracted her abdomen muscles in a strenuous push and screamed in agony as the baby’s head emerged. Desiree caught the baby as the girl pushed him the rest of the way out. She washed the baby’s face, held him upside-down, and spanked him on the bottom.
The baby cried a healthy lung-expanding cry. Desiree smiled, wiped him off with warm damp cloths, and handed him to his mother, who cradled him against her breast.
“Ahem,” Desiree heard behind her in the doorway. It was Father Jameson, the abbot. “Who said you could bring that woman in here?” he asked.
“God did, Father, and He is quite pleased with the result.”
“I see,” Father Jameson replied. “Would you like to have Sister Janes assist you with anything else?” Father Jameson’s usually stern expression turned into an almost smile.
“Yes, if that would please you, Father. I have other patients to care for besides this one today. So, yes, thank you.” Desiree smiled back at the abbot.
Serena arose from her bed at first light. She sensed her day would be unusual, but couldn’t put her finger on what the unusual might be. The ringing in her ears was the most noticeable in the quiet morning hours and seemed to be getting louder with each passing day. The daily hammering of steel ingots may be doing permanent damage to her hearing and may be the cause of the constant ringing, but she was afraid to tell her father because he might forbid her to work on the forge.
She dressed and walked to the blacksmith shop. There was a slight breeze and the air was crisp and clear. The sun shone bright making steam rise from the damp cobblestoned street. Her father, Modecai, always had breakfast ready for her when she arrived. This morning he had prepared eggs stirred in sweet peppers, onions, and mushrooms. He also had fresh bread and honey, and goat’s milk to drink. Serena knew Mordecai had hoped for a son and was doubly grieved when his wife delivered a daughter and died in childbirth. Over the past nineteen years he had treated her as the daughter he loved and the son he would never have.
“Serena, when you’re finished gorging yourself on my excellent breakfast, we have two German style swords to pick up from the hilt fabricator today. The German knights are due to arrive from Antioch, and I promised them they could pick their new swords up today. When you return, please fill the fire pit with more hardwood and prepare the large billet of steel for your friend Ian’s scimitar. I’d like to get started on it today if you don’t mind.”
“Father, may I take the lead on Jacques’ sword, with your supervision, of course. It’s a standard Crusader sword, nothing fancy.”
“You may, and I know you can, so yes, my daughter. This is a proud day for me. We’ll work side by side. Promise me you’ll find a swordsmith to be your husband, so I can turn my shop over to him, and you can raise grandchildren.”
“I promise, Father, as long as my future husband is not a man whose back is covered with hair and whose breath stinks like a dog’s with rotten teeth.” Serena threw a morsel of bread at her father.
“Off with you to the hilter’s. By the time you return the fire should be hot enough to start forging the steel.”
“Yes, Papa.” Serena ran out the door to the hilter’s shop down the alley. She thought, ‘I’ve ground, filed, and polished hundreds of swords over the years, and today will be the first time my father will let me take the lead on making a sword. I’ll forge it, temper it, file it, and polish it, and have the hilt attached. It will be my own creation from start to finish. Jacques will be so impressed by the sword’s quality he might be less smitten with Desiree and pay more attention to me.
Serena returned with the two swords and found her father in discussion with the two German knights. She didn’t like them. They acted like conquerors rather than as protectors of the city’s populace, especially the Jews and the Muslims. Although many of the French Crusaders were also offensive and cruel, some were following Ian’s and Jacques’ tolerant examples and Godfrey’s guidance to provide a more protective stance for the city and all of its inhabitants.
“Here’s my daughter. I’m sure you will be pleased with the swords.”
Serena walked between her father and the two knights and handed the swords to the two men. She had paid little attention to the quality of the hilts, as her mind was on Jacques and not sword making.
The larger knight’s ear looked like it had been recently injured, and there were blood stains on his tunic.
“The hilt isn’t tight enough on the blade. The blade might slip from the hilt in a battle,” the larger knight said as he twisted the hilt.
Mordecai said, “Let me examine that sword.” Mordecai took the sword and pulled at the hilt, trying to loosen it from the blade. “There is a slight wiggle. My daughter will take it back to the hilter and have it tightened.” He gave Serena a sharp look. “It’s not a major problem and should take less than an hour.”
“We don’t have an hour. We must be on our way. We paid half of your price already. We’ll take our leave with the defective swords.”
“No, no, I’ll have the hilt adjusted. I need full payment for the swords.”
“The swords are inferior and we won’t pay a halfpenny more,” the large knight insisted. The shorter knight nodded like a puppet in agreement with his companion.
Serena realized the knights’ intentions were to cheat her father. She held out her hand and said, “Give the swords to me. I’ll return with them shortly.”
“We’re leaving.” The two knights walked out of the blacksmith shop and didn’t look back.
Serena stared at her father. Feeling helpless, she followed the men at a distance. They turned down the alley leading to the Palace. The smaller knight said in German, “These will be fine weapons for killing the King of Jerusalem. He’s gone soft
on the Jews and the Muslims.”
Shocked that she understood their German speech, and even more shocked at their evil intentions, Serena considered what she should do when she heard Ian’s voice calling her. She turned and said, “Ian, I’m so glad to see you. I’m following two German knights who have cheated my father out of payment for two swords and intend to use the swords to kill Godfrey.”
Ian ran to Serena’s side. “Where are they now?”
“They entered the doorway ahead on the right.”
Ian led the way to the door and knocked. The larger of the two knights opened the door. Ian punched him in the face knocking him backwards into the room. Ian rushed in, sword at the ready, and Serena followed. Once inside, Ian saw an unkempt room with clothes and blankets strewn about on the packed dirt floor. The larger knight rushed at Ian with sword in hand, while the smaller knight rushed at Serena, and reached out to grab her. Ian recognized the larger knight as the one he’d encountered earlier and immediately engaged him in a sword fight.
Blades clashed in a fury of swings. Ian managed to back the large knight into a corner and punched him in the gut, knocking the wind out of him. The large knight fell to the floor, and Ian hit him over the head with the flat of his blade knocking his adversary unconscious.
Turning to determine how Serena was faring, he saw that the smaller knight had her on her back on the floor and was trying to choke her, while she had her hands on his throat and was trying to choke him. Both of their faces were turning red. Ian hit the smaller knight on the top of the head with the hilt of his sword and knocked him unconscious.
Serena pushed the man off her abdomen and stood. “Thanks, I almost had him choked out.”
“Sure you did,” Ian replied, then laughed. “You’re quite the tigress.”
“I’ve had to learn to defend myself. I can take care of myself,” she replied with a fierceness Ian had never seen in a female before.
“I have no doubt,” Ian replied. He looked for something to bind the hands of the two German knights. Finding a length of rope on a pile of dirty clothes, he cut it into two pieces and tied the Germans’ hands behind their backs and looped the ropes around each of their necks so that if they struggled to release their hands from the bindings they would strangle themselves. “We’ll take these two to see Godfrey so they won’t be able to do any more harm.”
Serena searched the unkempt foul-smelling room for some evidence of their plot and found a letter from Heinrich the Fifth, acting King of Germany under his father, Heinrich the Fourth, which read,
‘. . . Godfrey of Bouillon the Defender of the Holy Sepulchre has not cleansed the Holy City of Jews and Muslims and should be killed. Bring back the Holy Lance to us and we will consider staging our own Crusade for Germany and the Holy Roman Church and set the situation aright.’
Serena was horrified to read such a letter and shocked to be able to read German, since she only knew a few words of German. She handed the letter to Ian.
Ian scanned the letter and said, “I can’t read German.”
Serena replied, “Neither could I until this hour.”
Ian assisted the two knights to their feet and said to Serena, “Tell them it’s time to go and if they give me any trouble I’ll rend them in twain from head to toe. Also, ask their names.”
Serena spoke to them, but they kept silent and didn’t budge.
Ian poked the large knight hard in the back, digging his sword into the mail links.
“Konrad,” the larger knight answered.
Ian threatened to poke the smaller knight.
“Otto.”
Serena held Otto’s sword at his back and carried Konrad’s while Ian held his own sword at Konrad’s back and urged them out of the room and down the alley to Godfrey’s palace.
James, one of Ian’s two guards on duty at the palace door, asked, “What’s the problem with these two, Ian?”
“James, I need an audience with Godfrey. These two knights plotted his death and were going to steal the Holy Lance for King Heinrich of Germany.”
James turned to the second guard and said, “Mark, stay here and guard the entrance while I assist Ian and this girl with the prisoners.” James turned to Serena and said, “Let me handle this prisoner.”
Ian said, “James, the girl was instrumental in capturing these two, and I’d like for her to accompany us. Serena, let him guard the prisoner. It will go better when we’re in the hall. I’ll carry both of the German’s swords while we’re in the palace.”
Serena grudgingly backed off and followed Ian, James, and the prisoners into the atrium where they passed by another set of guards after Ian explained the situation. Serena had never been inside the palace and was awed at the simplicity and power of the cavernous rooms, decorated with wall hangings of knights on horseback slaying the enemy and flowery decorations in vivid colors. The stone floors had Persian-style carpets lining the walkways from room to room. An oversize table with chairs dominated one side of the atrium.
At the entrance to Godfrey’s court, Ian informed another of his guards that he was taking the prisoners to see Godfrey and were led into the royal presence.
Godfrey was seated on a plush covered straight back chair and stood when he saw Ian entering with his prisoners. He asked, “Ian, what is this strange entourage?”
“This young woman, Serena, and I have captured these two German knights who intended on murdering you and stealing the Holy Lance for Heinrich the Fifth.”
Godfrey stepped down from the throne platform and stood in front of the prisoners. “What shall I do with you? Shall I have you beheaded and send your heads back to your king?” He asked Ian, “Do you have irrefutable proof of their intentions?”
“Yes, my lord, a letter from Heinrich the Fifth.” Ian handed the letter to Godfrey.
Godfrey scanned the letter once, then again. “My ability to read German is limited, but I understand the gist of this letter, and recognize the seal. I must have one of my assistants translate it properly to confirm what I already suspect. Thank you, Ian, and you, Serena, for your loyal service to me. It won’t go unrewarded. James, take these two to the dungeon and lock them up until I’ve formulated a plan for their punishment.”
Godfrey stared at Serena for a moment, and asked, “Are you the daughter of the swordsmith, Mordecai?”
“I am, sire.”
“Your father’s swords are becoming the most prized in Jerusalem. You must be proud.”
“I am, sire.”
“I’m in need of a new sword and shield of the highest quality befitting my office. I intend to visit your shop soon.”
“My father will be honored, sire.” Serena bowed in obeisance.
“Ian, when I’m ready I’ll call on you for your testimony pertaining to the events leading up to these scoundrels’ arrest. For now, Ian and Serena, you’re dismissed with my gratitude and blessings.”
“Yes, sire,” Ian replied, bowed, and led Serena out of the royal court.
Once they were in front of the Palace, Ian handed Serena the two German swords.
Serena said, “Thank you, Ian. My father will be anxious to know what happened.”
“You are welcome, my lady,” Ian replied with a slight bow.
“I’ll see you this evening when you and Jacques escort Desiree and me to the Garden,” Serena said. She turned and headed toward her father’s blacksmith shop carrying the two German knights’ swords. Before she turned into another alley she looked back and saw Ian still watching her.
He called out, “’Till then.”
Twenty-Three
Ian, Jacques, Serena and Desiree headed for the wooden bench under what might have been the oldest olive tree in the garden. Jacques sat on the bench between the two girls.
Ian stood and studied the great ancient trees. What had they witnessed? If only they could talk. He sat apart from them on a large stone, one of five arranged in a circle, faced his three friends, and considered the events of the day. He loo
ked at his friends and thought, a Jewish girl and a Muslim girl, friends, and the two of them friends with me and Jacques, two Christian Knights. Our world is so different from our other friends, other knights and nobles.
Jacques interrupted Ian’s contemplations, “A widow’s mite for your thoughts.”
Before Ian could form a proper response, Achmed strode into the garden like a phantom with a purpose.
Achmed approached them and they all stood. He greeted them with handshakes for the two young men and hugs for the two young women. Achmed held Desiree’s hands after her hug and addressed all four of them, “My children, I am so pleased that you’re all here. My heart goes out to you.”
The four bowed almost in unison to this strange old man who held them in awe of who or what he might be.
“Let us be comfortable. Please gather around me and sit on these stones.” Achmed motioned toward the set of five stones arranged in a circle where Ian had been sitting. “We have much to tell each other.” Achmed set a small sack on the ground by his feet. “First, I wish to admonish you that what I’ve told you so far and am about to tell you is sacred and special. If you decide not to accept your call or calls to serve, you must never tell anyone else about last evening, the events of this day, or of this evening.”
Each agreed with Achmed’s request.
The sun had set and a full moon was rising, casting a blue-white glow on the ground. The aroma of olives hung in the air. Desiree handed Ian five candles and a flint. Ian lit each candle and handed them in turn to the other four. The candle flames provided a mystical glow to their faces.
Once the candles were handed out Achmed continued, “I asked you to take a day to consider my offer, and now I’ll tell each of you about the day you’ve had.”
Impatient, Jacques asked, “Did you follow us around all day today?”
Achmed smiled the smile of a sage who appeared to be little surprised by anything. “No, Jacques, I’ve been here in the garden all day in contemplation of the Lord’s suffering in this very place. Now I will tell you about the gifts that are associated with the mission, as long as you’re true and faithful. There is the gift of compassion, which each of you felt to some degree today.
The Honorable Knight Page 17