VII. Edge of Glory
Several seabirds pattered across the shoreline on the southern limit of Constantinople. The golden sun shone overhead, and Halim busied himself by ordering around several dockhands. Boomer chuffed beside me, though he was too invested in annihilating the carrot hanging from his mouth. With an idle hand, I rubbed his side, chestnut fur tickling the spaces between my fingers. A small boat sat anchored before me, sails furled and sailors awaiting command. This was to be the final water journey of this grand expedition. A way across the Dardanelles.
I owed much of the recent organisation to Halim. He used almost every contact he had in Constantinople to buy us passage. I knew it was impossible to pay him back, but he always insisted it was not a requirement. He was more than happy to contribute to the cause. As always, he turned the conversation around whenever I questioned him as to why, given he followed a different set of doctrines laid out by his religious beliefs. The most I ever got out of Halim was relating to his assistance being part of his promise.
Hann, of course, was far more suspicious. I will admit, he grew to admire Halim and his devotion to his beliefs, but Hann was a man of God. Hann would always be wary of those who did not follow his religion. Much of the negotiations of the past week came under Hann’s watch. I knew he was a better talker than I. Indeed, I was ready to make a major decision even before we boarded the boat. I smiled as Hann approached, the sun radiating off his exposed shoulders. Sweat glistened across his body, covered in a thick layer of hair and rippling with muscle.
“I know the Lord did not bless you with such a physique, Father,” I said.
“True, He did not, but it would not suffice for one who adheres to His tenets with such faith to neglect what He bestows. We are all a reflection of His glory, Milord. To neglect the very form He gives us is an affront to His benevolence. Do not forget, Milord, I bear the weight of His words and serve as the conduit between our world and the heavens. You, however, are the glue which holds us as one. Without your ferocity and determination, I doubt few men would have come this far,” Hann said.
“One man does not make success. All I carry is the knowledge of my forebears and my creed as a Knight in service to the King. Your words bind us together, Father. And, as much of a hard arse he can be, Noll has given everything to ensure we are all ready. All I hope is it will be enough, considering our end goal,” I said.
Hann grunted as he placed a full barrel on the deck of the ship. The wood creaked and groaned under the strain. With a hairy forearm, Hann wiped the sweat from his brow and gave a small nod of his head. He looked to me, before he let out a long, sharp whistle. From across the dock and the ship, my small contingent of dedicated soldiers moved to fill a hemisphere in front of me. Noll stood at the back and gave me a nod of approval.
“Gentlemen,” Hann started. “Today our lives do change forever. I look back to how far this man has led us, and the perils he helped us navigate. We lost good men along the way, and I know many of you harbour doubt. I can say, with utter confidence, no man on this Crusade could embody the voice or will of the Lord better than our liege. Now, as we stand on the precipice of change, we look to the unknown. One man has the strength to guide us, and with him leading us, we are sure to find victory.”
Hann stood with the others and turned to face me. I looked each man in his eyes. The rugged and wearied face of Noll stood steadfast. Elric, youthful and exuberant, looked up to me with wonder and amazement. Wyot, who suffered a cut under his eye from what I could assume to be a night gone wrong, found pride in being where he was. Herry and Nicol, close friends, stood shoulder to shoulder with a fierce and rugged determination. I caught a glimpse of my own tired and aged visage in a mirror propped up on the dock. I did not recognise the man who stared back at me. A white beard, knotted and riddled with dirt, dangled halfway down my neck. My eyes sat sunken, and I realised for the first time, I lost a significant amount of weight. A small consequence of the journey.
“Every man here will carry my eternal gratitude. It is through your faithfulness and determination to this cause which allows me to carry on as your leader. All of you carry a story in your hearts. Your minds are full of wonder. I look at every man here, and I see equals. I pride myself on honesty, and my original plan was to bring all of you no further than this city.
“When we lost Randel, I resolved to ensure no one else would share in his fate. I owe being here today to Addy’s actions during the storm we encountered. I miss them. They were brothers to me, as is every man here. All my life, I have held pride in my family. Held pride in my honour. My integrity. I would not be here if not for the selfless actions of others. Now, it is my time to be selfless. I go to the Holy Land to fulfill one goal. To go out as a Crusader. I intend to never return to my warm hearth. My wife will never hold me again, except in the afterlife. My children lost their father when the King came into my home.
“Duty is a cruel mistress. I go the Holy Land for one last chance to feel alive. To feel the ecstasy of battle rush through my veins once more. I desire, nay, I yearn for the thrill of the kill. To stand against oppression and know I was there, this is the promise I made to my sire forty years ago. Now, I ask but one question of each of you. And I will do this the right way. Noll, come and kneel.”
Noll was quick to step forward. Water gathered in his eyes, though his face remained stoic. He dropped to both knees with an exhale. I unsheathed my sword. The sunlight glistened off it and the metal sang with a dull tone. I took a deep breath and Hann stepped next to myself and Noll.
“The Lord is watching, Milord,” said Hann.
“You are a man of true stock, Noll. Strong and steadfast in your determination. You carry yourself with strength and virtue, and these are mighty traits for any man. As God is my witness, and in front of all these men today, I ask this one thing of you. Will you carry yourself with the virtue, integrity, and honour of a knight?” I said in a firm voice.
“This much I do promise, and I would swear it upon the Good Book. My sword will always be yours to command, Milord,” Noll said.
At Hann’s direction, I tapped the flat of my sword on both Noll’s shoulders. A wave of pride flooded through my body. My eyes welled up with tears as I lowered my sword, the tip tapping on the cobble of the dock.
“Arise, Sir Noll,” I said.
With an elated sigh and a grunt as he stood, Noll raised his gaze to meet mine A newfound sense of pride seemed to fill his body and a decade of age fell from his wearied and worn visage. Hann placed a hand on mine and Noll’s shoulders and flitted his eyes between us.
“The Lord smiles upon this moment. One well deserved, and one the Lord hopes shall not go to waste,” Hann said.
“There is no chance of such a thing occurring. Milord has given a great gift and I shan’t forget this kindness,” Noll said.
“A kindness which knows no bounds. Elric. Step forward, young man,” I said.
Noll looked back with pride in his eyes. He stepped next to Hann and motioned for the youngest member of our Crusade to step forward. It was obvious Elric did not expect such an honour. He was slow to move forward. His entire body shook, and he struggled to hold any emotions back. Wordless, Elric knelt before me. I no longer saw the baby-faced boy who left England. I now saw a man, with an unkempt beard littered with blond and ginger strands. His hair was a tangled mess, but he reminded me of another young man his age. Myself.
“You are young, Elric. When we left England, you were no more than a boy. Untrained and unaware of the world. I have watched with vested interest how you have come into your own. I know now you are a man of noble qualities and of rare stock. Growth is vital in our lives and none have come so far as you. I ask this of you: Do you promise, from this moment henceforth, to carry yourself with the integrity, with the honour, and with the virtue of a knight of the realm?” I asked.
“A greater honour there is not in this world, Milord. I vow, for as long as I live, to serve with distinction and pride. I give you my word, Milord. This is something I can never repay,” Elric said, his voice at a whisper.
Noll bowed his head as I raised my sword. The sun peeked out from behind a cloud at the apex of my lift and shone a beam across Elric’s face. Wonderment and awe filled the air as the flat of my sword touched Elric’s shoulders. A weight lifted from my shoulders as I started to speak.
“As each man here bears witness, and through the power invested in me by the Lord, I name you Sir Elric. Arise as a man greater than before,” I said.
This was a familiar sight as I made my way through each man left in my party. For each, I gave them the last gift I could – knighthood. This was something I spent many long nights discussing with Hann, and though the offer was there, he remained humble enough to decline. His reasoning was such his deeds were not so great as to warrant merit. I disagreed, but it was easier to acquiesce to the piety and will of Father Hann.
Familiar footsteps echoed off the dock as the last man, Wyot, hoisted himself to his feet, standing with a height unbecoming his lowborn status. I turned my head to see a smiling Halim, wearing a long, flowing robe. I did not understand how he could wear such clothes in the heat, but he showed no ill effects to the already sweltering heat. A smile lay across Halim’s face, and he held his hands at a moderate angle to his body.
“Such a momentous occasion deserves rich reward, my friend. It is well and good to bestow a knighthood by name, but such virtuous men require more. Take these as a token, a gift from the Lord,” Halim said and stepped aside to reveal full sets of armour for each man with me.
“We cannot accept such a lavish gift. I wish not to take advantage of your incredible generosity and hospitality further,” I said.
“Nonsense, my old friend. I spent many long years earning favours from all manner of artisan and guild master in this city, and there was no better time to consolidate my debts. A hundred men worked night and day for this past week to create this armour for your men. And swords. A knight is no knight without a well-crafted sword. Also, my friend, you did not think I would sit idle whilst you rode off in search of your final glory, did you?” Halim said.
“I could not ask you to walk away from your family. You owe nothing to me or to God,” I replied.
Halim stepped forward and placed his hands on my shoulders. His vibrant cloth tunic flapped in the gentle breeze. Droplets of salty water collected in his greying beard. He looked straight into my eyes and stood tall.
“I owe you my life, my friend. You saved me forty years ago. Allah came to me in a dream and told me this was to be my destiny. I shall stand at your side, to repay my final debt,” Halim said. “Let us bring glory to our names, my friend. Let the world remember who we were. Brothers in arms. Men of kindred spirit. Soldiers of the greatest entity on this Earth. Religion shall not separate us nor shall it give us reason to hate for we are one. We are Holy Warriors. We are Crusaders.”
It was a bold move to journey through the heart of Anatolia. With Halim travelling with us, we had little trouble until Iconium. This was the heart of the Sultanate, and this was by a large margin the most dangerous part of our journey. Our armour, heavy and glistening under the sun, made us a prime target for the much lighter and faster Seljuk horsemen. Halim warned me to expect the worst as we neared Iconium. He knew better than to enter the city with Crusaders from the west. Word had spread fast of Barbarossa’s attempt to conquer Constantinople.
Yet, as Hann predicted, trust builds confidence. Many knights were better than a single, old knight far beyond his glory days. I gave a purpose to my newfound peers, and they carried a vicious determination to prove themselves worthy. A few sparse trees drifted by as we trotted along on our steeds. I saw the faintest glimpse of movement in the hills. I was not the only one.
“I doubt they will attack us,” Halim said as he guided his camel next to Boomer.
“What makes you say they will stay away?” I spoke.
“On the contrary. They will come close. Very dangerous riders. Once they come close enough, they will know their arrows cannot pierce our armour. They prefer to ride light. Make ambushing and flanking easier. Cloth versus sword, it is a no contest. Knights and riders of the west strike fear. Use this great gift, and no one will stop us,” Halim said.
“If all things were so easy, we would be many more men than we are now,” I said.
“This much is true, but think hard, my friend. Would you rather walk through these lands with a hundred men and their retainers, or a company numbering no more than a score? I will be the first to admit, there is strength in numbers, but there is also power in remaining small. We are faster as a unit, and every man here carries pride in his heart. Nothing is stronger than loyalty, and in this corner of the world, loyalty is a disease to most, my friend,” Halim said.
I continued to watch the hills, despite Halim’s reassurances. Age was not kind to most of my faculties, but I was able to keep my wits about me. I refused to allow a repeat of Randel’s death. It was the event which caused much anguish. I know Elric prayed each night for any word of his fallen brother in arms. I often found Hann wandering the edge of camp in only his under shorts, a distant look in his eyes. Our detour through Rome enlightened me as to the veracity of his relationship with Randel.
Despite being an absent father, as determined by his faith in the Lord, Hann kept close tabs on Randel. As a boy, he and his mother never wanted for food or shelter, owing to a mysterious benefactor bequeathing almost all Hann’s earnings to them on a regular basis. I told Hann how I wish I knew this was happening, and I would have taken in both Randel and his mother into my household, where I could ensure their safety and education. Hann said to me how he did consider such a radical act, but his piety and his determination to right the wrong, as he called it, meant he willed himself to do things the right way.
“What was life like for you as a boy, milord?” I heard Elric say.
Sighing, I lowered my head and stroked the side of Boomer’s neck. “Rough. To grow up on the streets of Paris where nothing is certain except poverty and death. I have an oath to listen to the call of the King, but I despise our system of governance. I grew up watching the rich of France laugh as they swapped coin after kicking dirt into my mother’s face. They tore the clothes off my father’s back and refused to give him his rightful pay. He told me he did not wish to see me become a poor cobbler like himself.
“My father used his last coin to buy me a toy sword. He said to me, ‘Son, never let others tread on you. I cannot give you much, but this is something I can do for you. With heart and determination, you can rise above this.’ I took his words to heart. I spent many hours learning how to swing the sword and pretending to be a knight. Even now, being a knight in France is considered the highest tier of society. You can get away with anything so long as you carry the title of ‘Sir.’
“I followed my father into work, for a time. My size prohibited me from being effective with small jobs, and the mason next door was aging and frail. He never had any sons of his own. My father was happy to let me work with him, and it brought us a little extra money. I was twelve when masked men torched the street I lived on. Very few of us escaped. My parents perished in flames, as did the mason. I lost everything but the clothes on my back and my toy sword, as worn as it was.
“I collided with one of the masked men as I fled. He turned to me, and I will never forget the scar across his nose as he sneered at me. The red cross of the Templars was embroidered on his tunic. He saw the toy sword in my hand and snatched it away. He broke into splinters in front of my eyes and tossed it into the dirt, laughing.”
I clenched my jaw as the face of this templar filled my vision. My knuckles turned white as I gripped Boomer’s reins. My eye twitched in anger. Elric lowered his head, and I heard him let out an anxious breath. He wanted to say more, but there was palpable fear consuming him. The rush of hooves sprinting past us broke my focus. Noll spurred his horse forward with urgency, coming to rest at the top of a crest on the road.
“Dead merchants, milord,” Noll yelled back.
Halim lurched forward along with me. We came up next to Noll and looked to the road ahead. A large, overturned wagon blocked the cobblestone road. Noll and Halim said some words to each other, but I was too distracted to hear them. My eyes went right to the hills and the brush around the road. My instincts kicked in the second I realised something was not right. Noll and Halim went to ride forward.
“SWORDS!” I yelled.
My cry came a second before an arrow slammed into my left shoulder. The impact winded me, and the tip of the arrow bit into me. A wave of agony and pain engulfed my body. Noll was quick to take over at the head of the column. The rest of my men surged forward with a roar, swords gleaming in the light.
“No man dies today! To victory!” Noll shouted.
I groaned as I reseated myself and drew my sword. I wrapped Boomer’s reins around my left wrist and with a snarl, Boomer reared up and we charged forward. Two and a half score of Seljuk foot soldiers emerged from the brush. Some fired arrows, though their accuracy was poor. Others swung scimitars above their heads, yelling in Turkish. Elric was the first to take a life in the skirmish. His horse, sleek and fast, overtook Noll and Elric swung his sword with fury and malice. He slashed the throats of two men at once. Blood spurted forth from their fatal wounds.
“The Lord blesses us with a fine day for a fight! Carry your weapons well, brothers, for these heretics stand in our way! Fear no pain and fear no injury. Our faith in the Lord will shield us from harm. Bring glory and honour to your name! Prove yourselves as the strongest and Holiest of His soldiers. No man may stand before us!” Hann cried out.
Hann proved right. The skirmish lasted no more than a few minutes. Being on horseback offered a distinct advantage to me and my men. The Seljuk raiders scattered once they realised their arrows did little to stop us and their swords bounced off our plate armour, leaving our flesh unharmed. I hunted down the archer who stuck me in the shoulder and took his hands with prejudice. The fighting ended, and we gathered to celebrate, however I fell out of Boomer’s saddle. I collapsed onto the road and passed out.
I came to in a small, makeshift tent. A fire crackled next to me and a tight bandage secured my shoulder in position. Halim and Hann were seated nearby, brows creased in worry and anguish. I groaned and did my best to sit up. Pain shot once more through my shoulder, and I clutched it with my opposite hand.
“Move slow, my friend. You took quite the fall. Drink some water. I have no doubt you are parched. It is the temperature here. Too hot for a man such as you,” Halim said.
“I remember falling,” I said.
“Yes. Your Father Hann has stayed at your side praying since you fell. We believed you dead. It is approaching evening as we speak. The sun shall cross the horizon within the hour. I shall go inform the others. Please, my friend, drink up,” Halim said, and passed a ewer of water to me.
Halim ducked out of the tent and Hann continued to sit. His hands tented around his nose, and he sat with his elbows on his knees. Droplets of blood clung to his forehead and dirt ringed his face where his helmet sat. Hann turned his bloodshot eyes to me and only when he saw me take a deep drink from the ewer did he sit back.
“Quite a scare, Milord. We are fortunate Halim knows some medicine. I do not know what we would do without you. Our entire quest came about because of you. The men will do anything to see the conclusion,” Hann paused. “Fuck the bullshit. I would do anything to see the end. I pledged my life to you at the start of this journey. I never told you, for it was a pact between myself and the Lord. And here He is, threatening to take you from me. It almost feels like punishment.”
I drunk deep from the ewer. Even though the water was warm, it provided the right level of relief as it flowed down my pulsing throat. A pair of trickles tickled the skin either side of my mouth, leaving a river of moisture through the tangled hairs of my beard. I placed the ewer down once sated and rubbed my shoulder. I stared at Hann, who was now trying to avoid eye contact.
“Punishment is a powerful word, Father. There is no power on this earth capable of stopping me from reaching the end of this quest. I know everything ends in death, but it was I who invited him along on this quest. It was I who promised a soul at the end of it all. Why would the Lord punish you for something beyond your control?” I asked.
“Because I was the one who made a mistake,” Hann replied.
“You have made no mistake.”
“Such words are too kind and betray the truth. I believed for so long it was possible for man to change his very nature. I convinced myself the light at the end of the tunnel came from the Lord Himself. I devoted a life to His service, but all I received from it was pain and suffering. I guess we both carry burdens of our past with us, Milord. I no longer pray for my salvation. I will continue serving His will, but to spread his word? Such is a foreign concept to me now. Halim told me what those Seljuks who attacked us were saying.”
“Do not judge yourself based on the words of others,” I said, trying to comfort Hann.
“Those men wished for our death in the name of their God. They cried out with devotion I have not seen in many long years. And do you know what my God did? Do you know the words he spoke to me?” Hann asked and I shook my head.
“For the first time in my life, I heard nothing. But then I saw you fighting, even wounded. And I found a new belief in this life. The Lord has released me from his service, and now I sit here before you, with purpose. I pledge my life and my service to you, Milord. Until the end of my days,” Hann said, bowing his head.
“Let this be my one command to you,” I said, and Hann looked back to me. “Hold on to your faith in the Lord. Bring Him to the walls of Jerusalem. Show our enemies true fear.”
Worry abounded amongst the group as I walked out of the tent, my left arm strapped up so I could not move it. I kept my head held up high, basking in the glow of the sun. Hann stood close, his hands clasped and head bowed in prayer. Everyone stood and turned to look to me. I took a deep breath.
“A small setback such as this will not divert me from my goal. Know this: any man who stands against us or attempts to halt our progress is now determined to be an enemy of the Lord. Your swords are an extension of His will. We know what to expect. Will it be easy to make it to the Holy Land? No, it will not. Prepare to march. We have ground to make up,” I said.
Halim was quick to move next to me as I powered along toward Boomer. I was determined to set off within the hour. Pain wracked my shoulder, but I put it to the back of my mind. Boomer chuffed. Halim stopped me from picking up a satchel laden with supplies.
“You must rest, my friend. Your wound cannot heal if you do not. Is this venture worth so much to you as to risk everything for pride?” Halim asked.
“This is not about pride, Halim. You know I made a promise all those years ago,” I said.
“So, you still carry it, do you?” Halim asked.
I motioned toward my satchel and Halim nodded. Inside was an urn containing the ashes of the woman I first married. We met on my way back home from the Holy Land, and it was how I met Halim. In fact, it was through this marriage how we came to be brothers. It was the hardest day of my life when I had to send a letter halfway across the world to Halim when she passed away after the birth of my first son.
“It’s the right thing to do. It’s what she wanted,” I said.
“How is the young lad? I am glad he is not here,” Halim said.
“Makes two of us. He’s become an amazing man, like his uncle. He wished with all his heart to come with, but he would not understand. He is young and he deserves to have a fruitful life. I miss her, Halim. I remarried twice, but she was the one,” I said with a crack in my voice.
Halim placed his hand on my shoulder. The gesture brought a small degree of comfort to my heart. We both carried memories with us, and together we would do our best to bring honour and closure to this long chapter of ours lives. Halim hoisted my satchel up and hooked it onto Boomer’s saddle. Boomer gave a whinny of approval to Halim’s soft hand running through his knotted mane. We were both distracted enough Noll was able to move in behind us. He announced himself only when he began to speak.
“I can find no greater proof of love in this world than honouring the dead, Milord. Family is what ties us together, and in this quest, we have all become family. I bore no sons, but my daughters did. I saw the happy faces on the young babes before we embarked on this quest. It made me proud of what I have accomplished. And on this journey, I found something I never thought I would have. I treat them all as my sons, though I have a special bond with Elric,” Noll said.
We all looked to where Elric stood by his horse, a smile on his face as the animal nibbled a fresh apple out of his hand. A shiny trail of spittle oozed between Elric’s fingers, making a slimy mess at his feet. My mind went back to the first moment I met Elric. His hair was shorter, face clean shaven, and he was more rotund in stature. I sparred with him a handful of times throughout our journey. I knew from our first session he had talent, but he was untrained. When we last fought in Constantinople, the duel was back and forth. Noll thanked me afterward for holding back and giving everyone confidence.
“He’s come a long way. You are a gifted teacher, Noll. I cannot express my gratitude for your wisdom and guidance on this Crusade. All men should aspire to be like you. You’ve set an example, one which I hope will endure for years to come,” I said.
“Of the four Lords I’ve served in my career, you are the one who I respect above all else, Milord. If all men valued their subordinates and trusted them, there would be a thousand men who could replace me in a heartbeat. I admit, my teaching is gruff and oftentimes uncouth, but I value effectiveness. I am sure you feel the same, Milord. There’s little else I can teach this rabble. They’re as ready as they ever will be. I would die for any one of them, no questions asked. Would you do the same, Milord?”
Noll sought reaffirmation of my character when he asked this question. I valued Noll for his loyalty to people who paid respect and carried themselves with integrity. And I was not a man who would dare compromise his principles. I directed my gaze and met Noll pupil to pupil. Despite him standing much shorter than I, we were equals. It was in moments such as this when the honour of each man is put to the test. Will the honesty and integral character of this man ring true? Will he show truth, or will he fall as so many before him? I knew what I needed to say, and I was careful and deliberate with the words I chose.
“Each man I see here has, through merit and boldness, earned from me trust and reverence. There is one final lesson I can impart on everyone. Come, gather around!” I said and paused as each man moved into a hemisphere facing me. “Death stares at us from a distance. His visage has followed us all this way and he enacts the will of the Lord. In these past months, I have come to love each of you as my family. I trust every man here would through himself with willingness into the fray and upon the swords of the enemy to ensure glory. I can say I would do the same. No man here is greater than any other, and I will fight and die alongside anyone here. Death follows us and waits with bated breath. He will not wait for much longer. Let us give Death his fill and may God etch our names in history.
“Let this be my last teaching. To be a knight, to be a nobleman, it is not a gift bestowed by one man unto another. I invoked this title upon each of you to confirm to the world what God already made clear. A knight is a man who fights with righteousness and vigilance. You men have no further points to prove to this world. When we face our enemy next, God grants you leave to give no quarter, for we are the tip of His spear. I intend to raise my sword in battle one last time. Ad honorem et gloriam!”
“Ad honorem et gloriam!” every man echoed in unison.
With a renewed vigour, horses found themselves saddled and loaded up. Noll nodded, a sly smile on his lips. Once everyone was out of earshot and the surrounding noise rose above a soft din, he spoke to me in a soft voice.
“Before we left England, I made a promise between myself and God. I said unto Him ‘if the Crusader I follow speaks truth and remains honour bound, duty bound, and true to his word, then I swear I will be his shield come the final battle.’ And you have remained all these things and proven to be much more. Milord, if you would have me, I promise to fight at your side, and give my life in service of yours. I will sacrifice myself for the glory of God.”
“You are a man of humble origins, Noll. I consider it a high honour for you to fight by my side, but I do not wish for you to value your life above mine. When the time comes, I know we will go out in a blaze of glory as befits men of our prowess. I could not hope for a better man to serve as my second,” I said.
Noll nodded, and I saw a small smile cross his lips. He hummed a jaunty tune as he walked away. He tied his horse up on the outskirts of the makeshift camp. This was by design as it allowed Noll to stop and talk with everyone on the way, except for one. Noll and Hann shared a mutual stare of knowing. I furrowed my brow as, for the first time, I noticed several similarities between the two. They stood at a similar height. Their faces held a similar structure and even the way their short growths of stubble grew was almost identical. I did not wish to say anything in case I was wrong, but from the perspective I had, it seemed as if the pair were, if not brothers, at least close relations.
Boomer nuzzled against my neck. Halim, mounted on his camel, trotted into position in front of me. His scimitar dangled at his side, a relic of our first time on Crusade. In the hands of a skilled swordsman, such a scimitar was a dangerous weapon, capable of besting even a European knight in the finest plate armour. My own sword sat strapped halfway up my side, the tip of the blade coming to rest a short distance from the ground.
“I trust you can still use your blade well, my friend,” Halim said with a chuckle.
“Age has not slowed me as it has you, Halim. Would you care for a demonstration? I know how fast and precise you are. Perhaps you would like a chance to shake off any rust you still have,” I said.
“You know as well as I, my friend, age is no more than a number. What comes of importance in the eyes of our respective incarnation of God is we adhere to the tenets which make up wisdom. Even a man so mighty as you cannot forsake the seven pillars,” Halim said.
This aspect of our conversation drew Hann’s attention. I saw him spread his arms and tilt his head back, looking up to the sky with a satiated sigh. Halim drummed his fingers on his scimitar, his eyes scanning my stance. I gave a firm nod and, with a measured step backward, the steel of my sword sang into life. Halim dismounted his camel as he drew his scimitar, all in a single fluid motion. I raised my sword in front of my face, and Halim reciprocated.
“Friends and Knights serving His glory, we come at last to the greatest of His teachings. Before us are two of His holiest warriors, bounded by seven tenets! ‘Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.” The first of these pillars comes in the form of Purity!” Hann said.
As the word ‘purity’ left Hann’s throat, Halim and I stepped toward each other in unison. Our swords clashed with such ferocity a series of sparks fell to the ground. My strength was greater, and Halim staggered backward. Halim let out a soft chuckle.
“You strike with the fury of God, my friend,” Halim said, and we started to circle each other.
“Peacefulness is the second of the pillars of wisdom. He who leads a life free of conflict finds paradise at the end of his run on this good earth. A knight who remains pure fights in the name of peace! We have traversed the known world together, and in all this time, every man here has come to prove himself before the Lord. The men we follow, and the men we respect show us naught but gentleness! This is His third pillar of wisdom!” Hann cried out.
Halim feinted my next strike, and the butt of his scimitar bounced off my armoured thigh. We turned to face each other, and he smiled. He held his clasped fist up first, then raised his pointer finger. The last tournament I fought in was many years prior, and this was the signal I was to defend first. Halim adopted a more aggressive stance, and I focused on each nimble motion he was making.
“The Lord asks us to remain reasonable and helpful. These are His fourth and fifth pillars, and they go hand in hand! To show reason is to help all those who cannot help themselves. I have known many a knight who came to me claiming to serve God all end up failing this simple test. He will ask but one question at the gate of Heaven. ‘Have you dedicated your life to helping those who couldst not help hisself?’” Hann said.
With expert motions, Halim and I danced a furious whirlwind of death. As tournament rules dictate, Halim could make no more than ten attacks against my defence. His footwork far exceeded my own steps, though my greater reach caused Halim great difficulty. He found it hard to step close enough to make an adequate strike. Before long, he made his last swing. We parted and gave a curt bow to the other. Our breaths came hot and heavy. Halim held up four fingers.
“Perhaps the greatest pillar of wisdom is the one He places the highest scrutiny upon – Humility! The death of many a king and many a ruler has come through an overabundance of narcissism. I speak to you of course of Narcissus of Thespiae. A man regarded as so beautiful all would fall in love with him. His ultimate downfall was himself, for he carried in his heart no humility nor humbleness!” Hann continued.
Halim and I clashed three times in succession, and he seemed taken aback by the speed with which I swung my sword. My fourth strike knocked Halim off balance, and in the space of two seconds, I landed six blows on Halim’s body. I made sure to strike only his armour and used the flat of my blade. He dropped down to one knee when my last blow made contact.
“And His final pillar is sincerity. Be yourself, and you guarantee yourself an easy life. These two men before you, they embody these seven pillars. Even when engaging in a brutal and fast paced battle, they respect the other,” Hann said.
I held my hand out to Halim the moment he fell to his knee. We gave a firm nod as I helped him to his feet. We stood apart for a second, before we embraced each other. Our eyes locked once more.
“You still have it, my friend,” Halim said.
“You always brought out the best in me,” I replied.
We turned our heads to our gathered brothers-in-arms. Hann clasped his hands in from of him, and he shrunk once more into his vestments, appearing small and unassuming. He lowered his head and closed his eyes.
“And thus concludes the lesson,” Hann said.
The Eastern reaches of the Mediterranean remained to our right as we made the passage through the southern regions of Turkey. Each night we opted to make as grandiose a camp as we could. Elric and Noll were competent hunters, even so far from home, and we never wanted for food. We encountered no resistance between our battle outside Iconium and when the city of Antioch appeared on the horizon.
“I doubt we will find allies here, Milord,” Noll said as we followed the road around a small hillock.
Noll was correct. The countryside still showed signs of damage from where the armies of Salah ad-Din’s forces ravaged the state of Antioch. Farmers and haggard civilians shied away as me and my men passed by on the road to the city of Antioch. I hoped I would find enough supplies to replenish our stores so we might make it to Jerusalem by mid-year.
“It’s worse than I imagined. These people didn’t deserve such suffering. War came to them, when all they wished for was peace,” I said.
“How long will we remain, Milord?” Noll asked.
“Long enough to replenish what little supplies we can. We leave at daybreak tomorrow,” I said.
I tried my best to avoid sounding despondent at the new reality of the situation we were facing. I made my way to the stables on the southern edge of Antioch, with the promise to meet up in the central market a few hours later. A skinny and skittish young lad worked alongside an older, fatter man whose body was covered in scars and lesions. I recognised the affliction as the result of spending a lifetime working in the sun. The older man grunted and grumbled under his breath as I approached, and he waddled out in front of Boomer, holding his hands on his hips.
“Fancy you buggers showing up all late to the party,” the fat man said.
“We’ve all had our troubles. It’s a long way from England, good sir. I don’t suppose you could house Boomer here for a night?” I asked.
“Look around you. Look at the nightmare surrounding these lands. Where was the great nation of England when those dirty, disgusting dogs attacked our city? They slaughtered men and women and children. I watched livestock and crops burn in the distance and I could do nothing but stand back and watch. I ain’t putting up with no would-be saviour coming in from a distant country to hog all the glory. You can bugger right off back to where you came from,” the fat man said.
The words of this man riled me up to the point I dismounted Boomer in such a hurry, a sharp pain jolted through my left leg when I hit the ground. The snivelling and sneering face of the fat man morphed into one of horror and fear when I stepped forward and loomed over him. The top of his bald head came halfway up my chest, despite him being taller than the average man.
“I would be careful with the words you say next. No man in this good world should speak ill of any other. Since man first stepped foot on this ground, he has sought nothing but warfare. Conflict is the nature of man, but even men we disagree with have merit. As God is my witness, I dare not repeat the words you used, but I will not tolerate disparaging remarks. You say you stood by and did nothing but watch. Do you believe these are the actions of a man worthy of Heaven?
“I am a defender of Faith, good sir. Faith is a term unreserved in judgement, and I uphold the virtues of God. I come not to be a saviour or a hero, and this is stated within my private communion with God. For many months and thousands of miles I have travelled for a singular purpose, and if you will not board me, I shall move on. I will have my men pray for your soul,” I said.
I stepped back toward Boomer, running my hand along his side. I could feel the fat man behind me give a triumphant smile as if he won a significant battle. I placed one foot in the stirrup and I felt Boomer brace himself. Before I could hoist myself up, I heard the scrambling of feet and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the young lad rush toward me.
“Milord?” he said.
“Speak your mind,” I said.
“You are heading further south, Milord?” he asked.
I nodded. “To Jerusalem.”
“Please, sir, I ask for you to take me with you. All I can offer is myself to your service. I’ll do anything. I’ll bear your standard, carry your sword. Please, let me come with you.”
“Get back here, boy! Get those dreams out of your head. You belong to me and you always will. You’ll sleep with the pigs tonight,” the fat man said.
“Please, sir. I can’t stay here,” the young man whispered.
I saw the fat man go a deep mixture of red and purple behind the young man. A thousand ideas ran through my head, and, even though I knew it was the last stage of my quest, I was not one to turn away someone who shows willingness and courage. So, I let out a soft smile and planted both my feet back on the ground. I turned to face the young man.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Artur, Milord,” he said.
“A noble name. Well, Artur, I believe God directed me here for a reason, and I am nothing if not adherent to His wishes. I find myself in need of a new squire. Can you saddle a horse?” I said.
“I can saddle, feed, lead, whatever is required, Milord,” Artur said.
“As a knight under God, I hereby name you as my squire, Artur,” I said.
The fat man turned blue and purple now and started sputtering around. Flecks of spittle flew from his mouth as he let out incensed and crazed noises. He waddled toward me, huffing and puffing.
“You best be paying me for the boy if you are taking him. I own him!” the fat man said.
“I took an oath upon become a knight, good sir. ‘In time of war, a man may, without compensation, take on a willing squire should they show promise enough.’ The Most Holy Father himself called a Crusade, and thus God looks upon our situation at present as a Holy War. Are you or are you not a man of faith and devotion? If you are, I advise you to not stand in my way, and if you are not, perhaps I should request you to have an audience with your liege Lord and God’s chosen Bishop in Antioch. The decision is yours, good sir,” I said.
As I expected, the fat man, with his face a fury of red and purple and veins bulging at their seams, turned to the side and lowered his head. I heard a deep growl reverberate through his throat, but no real words formed with his breathing. I handed Boomer’s reins to Artur and beckoned for him to follow. I felt angry eyes following us as we made our way down the road, and I knew I had taken the one asset the fat man desired above all others.
I led Artur and Boomer into Antioch and we navigated the winding pathways. The scents and sounds of the market were what I focused on. Boomer chuffed with happiness, having made a new friend. Every time I looked behind me, I could see Artur running his fingers through various parts of Boomer’s fur.
It took a few long and winding roads before the pavilions and colours of the market came into view. A fraction of the size of Constantinople, the Antioch market brought in vendors and buyers from across the region. Except, the damage caused by the Ayyubid assault lingered in the air. People were sterner and more closed off. Hawkers cried with reserved tones and conversations took place at little more than a whisper. As such, it was easy to reconvene with my companions. Hann was the first to notice me. He gave a nod and a smirk when he saw Artur beside Boomer.
“The Lord blesses us once again, Milord. I presume you have taken this one under your wing? Perhaps to salvage him from some untoward fate?” Hann asked.
Hann’s words caused the others to conglomerate once more. Many of them carried a collection of handmade trinkets and curios. I knew these were not items purchased, but given to us to bring into the Holy Land. Prayers for the souls of the fallen. I beckoned Artur forward and, although trepidatious, he moved in front of me, keeping his head low.
“A man in servitude to a horrific stablemaster. I took him as my squire. The first squire in my service since being sired. He is Artur, and he is one of us. Elric,” I paused to let Elric step forward. “Make sure he eats his fill. No doubt he is starving.”
“Yes, Milord. It’s an honour,” Elric said.
Elric smiled as he stepped forward. He placed a gentle hand on Artur’s back, and my new squire soon found himself absorbed in the group who now wandered further into the market. Halim and Hann stood close by, keeping their heads low. Noll rolled his eyes and shook his head, before the four of us turned to each other.
“I must say how little I condone taking on a squire at this stage of our journey, Milord. Here he could have many more years of life, but now you’ve condemned him to death,” Noll said.
“Death, yes, but a death in service to God. There is nothing greater,” Hann said.
“I respect the decisions you make, Milord, but it is not right, not in my mind,” Noll responded.
I admired Noll’s scepticism. He always spoke his mind. I also knew his issue lay in the idea of sacrificing another young man to a cause we all knew was not going to find success. I sighed and kicked a small rock at my feet.
“Father Hann speaks truth. We are all heading to our deaths, yes. Still, knowing this, you all continue to follow through with this journey. Bravery is a mighty aspect, Sir Noll. Artur showed me bravery and such deserves a rich reward. His fate is one I take upon my mantle,” I said.
“My friend, please, you must stop taking such high responsibility. The Lord trusts in every man who follows you. This tale is no longer the redemption of one old, lone Crusader, but a gathering of honourable and respectable Crusaders. We all bear the burdens of each other, and it is with this bond the Lord will judge us all and find each man worthy,” Halim said.
Halim and Hann each placed a hand on my shoulders. Noll sighed, but he said nothing further. The waning sunlight radiated against my back, and I said the first thing which came to mind.
“The day of reckoning lies before us. A judgement awaits us in death, and this coming night is one we shall revel in. The Lord absolves us of any sins which may occur this night and it is with His blessing we come at last to the grandest tale ever told by man. We will be at peace. Consider what you wish to redeem in your life, my brothers in arms, and the Lord will make it so. Go now and rest, for we are on the precipice of glory. Tomorrow starts the first day of the rest of our lives,” I said.
“Amen,” Hann and Halim said in unison.
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