touched the jagged edges together.Then I knelt beside Robert.

March
March. there was thishowl from the surrounding hills. Hurry. Turbaned men rushed into the street and were cut down in bloody messes before they could even raise their swords. It may be cold. I thank God for how lucky I am. when a raiding party from our lord's rival in Digne swept through town during the wars. I turned to Robert with a sigh of relief.. I grabbed my shield and ran after the boy. inside the mill.not for silver and soap. spitting words I recognized. On my word. At any second he would strike the final blow. he hoisted the nine-year-old lad up like a sack of hay. It carries your food for the next two weeks. and blackened with grime and enemy blood? Would she still laugh at my jokes and tease me for my innocence after what I had seen and known? If I brought her a sunflower. I will work that much harder.Antioch.. Soon they were battering again at the gate.I gave a last wave to Sophie.

He wants a fight.The three years we'd been married had been the happiest I had known. I could mark them only by the sores oozing on my feet. I saw one defender cut in half by a mighty ax blow.No. and juggling for the crowds. a bit reluctantly. I would return both sweet smellingand free!Then the knights and nobles rallied us. this one bare chested and monstrous. I continued to hack at him.Constantinople. the impact shaking my entire body. you must kill me in the name of what we donot embrace. I was out of tricks. Hugh. but in his full battle gear and on unsteady footing he couldn't hold the mount...If it's martyrs you're looking for.He peered over the edge and swallowed. not even for a moment.But as I held Sophie that night. sounding almost disappointed.

It was never known what became of her.The despicable knight laughed at our priest. I'll need it more when I come back. and looked toward me.Whatkind of God inspired such horror? Was this God's fault? Or man's?Something snapped in me.The Bosporus. The holiest treasures of our faith. a few stragglers appeared. mock waving. I wanted to say.. `Very well. But then he was overwhelmed. slapping one another on the back. the Tafur had said. simply bowed their heads and wept. men and women; some carrying axes and mallets and old swords.They passed by me on their way to loot the church. It seems he wasn't cut out for the miller's life after all. men and women; some carrying axes and mallets and old swords. Churches have been burned and looted. Then.They were not rocks at all-but skulls.

in my lord's name. In it was a change of clothes. It would be my friend when I crossed the mountains again.But I know I ran. I lunged after it. their skin blistered from the touch of the metal.. A child could have seen it.. in full armor.In Caesarea.Thousands of them..Stumbling on a ledge.let the boy up. People will be eager to feed a Crusader. I always did.I don't get it. but as we got closer. Young and old. right? taunted Mouse. many thousand strong. then he delved through the Turk's robes.

Gone. pummeling him with kicks. Two of Norcross's knights returned to the square dragging Georges the miller and his young son Alo by the hair.Then he lowered his head and puked his guts out on the field. He hides in his hole like a squirrel. A peddler with a cart was considered an event here. Yet I was dying for this cause anyway. Barefoot. They were marked by a cross burned into their necks. were being held for ransom.Everyone be ready.I pivoted aside and brought my sword over the back of his head.' it reads. It's me.St. An eternity in Heaven at the feet of our grateful Lord.As we entered the town there were corpses everywhere. Just common men and women. Men. I tried to pivot around Robert. Father? Is this what you expect from the Pope's protection? He lowered the wheel again and the small boy disappeared.The longer Antioch survived. he hoisted the nine-year-old lad up like a sack of hay.

The holiest treasures of our faith. every ridge ripe with ambush. how I had since the first time I had set eyes on her. barely able to believe my eyes. our tunics clean.Sir.It was a scabbard.Crusaders . Here. To see Sophie once more.Sophie lifted her head and kissed me. Laughter that had somehow touched the Turk. He was tugging on his knife. Larger and more formidable than any castle I had ever seen back home.I bring greetings from your lord.Disaster loomed in front of my eyes.. the leaders cried.Knights took off their helmets and surveyed the city in awe. Amid all this fighting. the loss of my friend weighed greatly upon me. landing on what would have been his face. Hugh? Her eyes locked on mine.

rumors reached us of Christians inside the city being tortured and raped.. Who bathed and smelled of perfume.Get out of my way . Norcross held it for a moment. my son.I'm strong.I've heard from the Spaniard there are Christians chained to the city's walls. They pushed aside women and children. I blinked at the sight.Then I'll scare the infidels off with my bright red hair. taught me Latin. We continued to climb. he and the goose were great companions to us. had formed behind me. I will come!I saw Matt. I looked down. I knew. Cries of Death to the pagans andDei leveult .It was a scabbard. All I could do was scream. I have something important to talk to you about. It looked like bronze.

Nico's trick had worked. In any case. `Good enough.I will come! I will take the Cross.Are there any believers here ?He was pale and long nosed.Looking up.What has happened here? a soldier muttered. I tried to joke.No. miller. looting. But instead of attacking Moslem horsemen streaking out.They passed by me on their way to loot the church.a village in southern France . Nico. with no great malice toward the enemy but ready to fight whoever confronted me. And deeply in love. He's just a boy. I took it down and stuffed it into my pouch. Do they think we can see at night what we cannot even shoot during the day?No. weapons and packs were laid down. nonsense. It will be made easily.

. To tell her I loved her. Get ready..I dragged him from the wall and we ran with all our might. Robert cackled. Turks hacking at them. A child could have seen it. If you don't. Maybe the language of the Jews. One by one..'Aroused. blood drenching the parched earth.Your buddy's an eager one. Hugh. I know the same sobering thought pounded through each of our minds. It carries your food for the next two weeks. an odious smell coming from their flesh.. some old knights parading in rusty armor.I swear.Brigit.

St.Without my noticing it at first. It seemed impregnable.I ran with my sword drawn and a loud cry. Soon he comes to another sign. I knew any moment could be my last. a bit reluctantly. Though I had seen many men fall. instead of turning to face his attacker. I heard a rustling behind me. Then I saw his expression relax into the slightest inkling of a smile. The monk Peter mounted his donkey..The siege took months. bearing the knight in full chain mail. She was pounced on by two marauding Tafurs who tore the clothes from her body and took turns mounting her in the street. This madness just wouldn't stop!On the steps of the altar. You are at risk. maybe four feet long. Each year I promised I would come back. We traveled the large cathedral towns. This madness just wouldn't stop!On the steps of the altar.I drew Sophie close and kissed her.

. They had recently taken Nicaea. Except me. Men who had traveled so far.I just laughed.Sharpen your knife.Away from the senseless killing. but as he got close. Other soldiers who had reached the rocks crossed themselves. just as one of the attackers thrust a dagger into the belly of the priest. I felt sure I would soon die too. It was impossible to tell a red cross from a pool of blood.. No one wanted to delay in our rush to catch up with the army of Peter. Kill the pagans and sit with the Lord in Heaven. glinting through the haze. the captain promised. Or. He went and cupped the face of the cowering boy in his massive hand. I had gone into the hills to pick it early that morning.. I watched as many a loyal soul. I said.

The detachment at Xerigordon had already been done in-not by siege butthirst. At the total ridiculousness of it all. again. On the fate of your soul. I knew the stench. `We'll be in Jerusalem by summer. my love.Steady that animal.A gasp escaped from those on shore. They were unafraid. two black-robed Turks hovered over a priest. and hacked away at the first wave of horsemen. Sophie handed me my pouch. His protection for your families who dutifully remain behind.Go.At what I was dying for. working around the inn.. It seemed impregnable.The troops along the riverbank burst into laughter. and hacked away at the first wave of horsemen. and from within..

The boy was heartbroken.Such a city I had never seen before in all my life. to help if I could. cursing him in their tongue. Norcross gathered his knights.mapmakers. bouncing over the edge into oblivion. Yet I was dying for this cause anyway. It took my breath away.A year later.I don't know. plopped atop a simple mule.I began to laugh.What's going on. it's the worst equipped.Everyone in town stood and stared. rumors reached us of Christians inside the city being tortured and raped.These Tafurs reported to no lord among us. lashed Alo to the staves of the mill's large wheel. Blood and gore soaked the ground everywhere. confused. But he did not. and the mood in the ranks brightened with anticipation of what lay ahead.

shoot from the crowd.To my surprise. The ranks of farmers.Sophie. alongside foot soldiers like Robert and me. If one of our illustrious leaders hears you. eager not to miss out on the loot. Hurry.I stared in horror at her bloody shape. my son?'`I saw your signs along the road. Raymond and Bohemond. we were told. At any moment.I savored every exotic image. glistening eyes. one of the nobles in charge.Knights took off their helmets and surveyed the city in awe.I pressed Robert up against the wall.In that instant I saw my helplessness. What else could matter? I was a fool to have left her. Norcross jeered. Nico? This was the pilgrimage to St. but as we climbed.

For those who come. had formed behind me. No. gnashing their teeth as if they wanted to devour the enemy alive. bunching his lips. you say. who instructs him. She handed half to me. you will think this was Paradise.Slowly. with bright red crosses.A silence ensued. taught me Latin. but by its end you'll be a man.Infidels unlucky enough not to be killed on the field of battle were handed to them like scraps to a dog. Laughter that had somehow touched the Turk.Then the procession started up again. wasn't it? Or. slowly depleting. Two of Norcross's knights returned to the square dragging Georges the miller and his young son Alo by the hair.Robert !THE ATTACKER HURTLED into Robert and swung his sword with both hands. the trail ahead was lined with large white rocks. Are you ready.

have been fed to dogs; cherished vials filled with drops of the Savior's own blood..'She leads him through a series of dark. I swiped a sunflower and went up to her. God had taken me where I belonged. amused. but never had I seen a place like this! Gold was like tin here. For whatever the reason.. A mere stumble. Show them whose God is One. Mayhem was still rampant in the streets. given to them at a young age when my mother died. It was a host of lies. softly moaning with pleasure and love. What goes in all stiff and stout. thudding and clanging into shields and armor all around. suddenly. sainted sites destroyed. The Turks. Food was down to nothing. and told of the fate of Peter the Hermit's army. sorry voice.

I watched with disgust as these swine would disembowel a Moslem warrior in front of his own eyes. Rumor had it some holy relics were held ransom there. I'm not even a believer. Riches and spoils picked up along the way.And the people. some old knights parading in rusty armor. and the mood in the ranks brightened with anticipation of what lay ahead. Marie begged on her knees.Go. horrified. laughter had entered my soul. I stripped it from my chest. pinning the staff uselessly under his sandal. we passed through Veille du P?re.Arrows and stones and burning pitch rained down on us from all directions. I saw the hostility on his face fade. looking fit. the feeble and sick. we fitted the comb's halves together and made a whole.. dragging their armor. Jerusalem is near. I had earned this much.

Or the miller's wife. Jerusalem!TELL US A STORY.Then I'll scare the infidels off with my bright red hair. She was pounced on by two marauding Tafurs who tore the clothes from her body and took turns mounting her in the street.Many knights sank to their knees in prayer. like nothing I had ever seen before. At any second he would strike the final blow.He nodded..Away from the senseless killing. the Spaniard Mouse remarked. spilling over with defenders in white robes and bright blue turbans at every post. Then our dispirited army headed farther south.In that instant I saw my helplessness.I bring greetings from your lord. and told of the fate of Peter the Hermit's army.a village in southern France .That is good. a few stragglers appeared. The conquering throng had gone deeper into Antioch. I wanted to say. I stepped over to the body of the man who had spared me and looked. shoot from the crowd.

seeing the old man slipping off the edge.I was right. I saw that Civetot was smoking like burning cinders. Here. I had sworn in my heart to protect him. People I had known for years shouted.. seemingly built into a solid mound of rock.. Hardened knights fled terror stricken back to camp. The blade of my sword penetrated his side. The peril of the climb was broken by a few welcome laughs. Something my life in Veille du P?re had stilled but not completely put aside.But every summit we surmounted brought the sight of a new peak. my son. Hortense disappeared. Her tinkling little-girl laugh.' He empties his pockets excitedly.The despicable knight laughed at our priest. It would be my friend when I crossed the mountains again. I didn't know if he would speak or strike. But it seemed strong. A peddler with a cart was considered an event here.

I knew it. It is pledged and honor bound tohim. six thousand strong. A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return. This is Veille du P?re?It must be. sounding almost disappointed. Soon they were battering again at the gate. That brave smile. forty. It took my breath away. At the total ridiculousness of it all. daylight darkened. trying to catch hold on the trail. start with this. We were at a run. you lazy louts. no doubt.let the boy up. But in truth. she was Christian. I stayed.. I saw that same knight.

Do your duty . hung up on spears. brave souls? The monk reached out his arms. Maybe the language of the Jews. To see Sophie once more. He blinked at me. and often during the day: that last image of her.. brave souls? The monk reached out his arms. I bade farewell to my sweet Sophie.. but his face was still as boyish and smooth as when he had first joined our ranks. Red crosses smeared all over the walls-in blood.I saw the outline of a smile from her. galloped down the line on their crested mounts. We can do anything we want. If you don't. they ripped a bronze bracelet from her wrist and bludgeoned her lifeless. in a way I was proud. like nothing I had ever seen before.I WAS FREE. literally roasting in their armor. Then he toppled onto his wife.

Then all at once a chilling roar rose up from behind the city walls.It was a slaughter. gnashing their teeth as if they wanted to devour the enemy alive. in full armor astride his large charger. my lord. a vassal of Bohemond.You're leaving. a bit reluctantly. Hugh? What could be more important than what we've just shared?I swallowed. Men bowed their heads and crossed themselves. their chargers useless.And the thirst. I had earned this much. On their huge mounts. And my regiment. The singing stopped. Nico had made pilgrimages to the Holy Land and knew the language of the Turk. `Go in peace. Each town we got to was scorched and empty. Now he was gone and I was here. who farmed a plot by the river. Marie begged on her knees. Men writhed on the ground.

Let us go. We were heading down.You probably thought you were ridding the world of a complete madman. With untold treasure and fame.I stared in horror at her bloody shape. Baldwin. had to be dragged single file up the steep way. To my utter amazement. They left us their towns. Do not compare the Pope's holy protection to yours. He would give up the city. This is Veille du P?re?It must be.' the abbess replies. almost inexplicably. They were unafraid. Robert said as we marched.. your queen. A Seljuk horde of thousands surrounded the city and simply waited them out. When he was on the ground. We had no siege engines to break such walls. Then she held her half out and we touched the jagged edges together.Then I knelt beside Robert.