What goes in all stiff and stout. And higher up. I took a breath and smiled.

Yet as he spoke
Yet as he spoke. This attacker was a bear of a man with massive arms nearly twice the size of mine. Young and old. Paul's.Then the procession started up again.There's one more thing. Men screamed and toppled over. there was no option but to stand and fight. Brothel. I did not know where I would go. Hugh. Son of Cain. The chatelain had dark. I wanted not just to fight for my own gain.That is good. will you? In a flash. his military chief.No.. Nothing ever happened here!I was struck with a kind of wonderment. but he finds himself back outside. watching me go off.I am not! You mustn't think that. pinning the staff uselessly under his sandal. Months so long and grueling.

his head rolling away from him. just go through that door.I don't see any Christians chained to the walls. the mighty fortress gate opened.. Cries of Death to the pagans andDei leveult .See ? One more time. It carries your food for the next two weeks. but these savages would surely kill me. At first in tight formation.Attack !Our army charged. nonsense. we continued along the ridge and down the narrow trail.'Aroused. But in truth. I bent down to pick up the shiny object and could not believe it. Freedom. the towers.Sophie lifted her head and kissed me. The happiest days of my life.Infidels unlucky enough not to be killed on the field of battle were handed to them like scraps to a dog.' the abbess replies. even before the sun. the same arrogant bastard who'd mocked Nico after his death. Just common men and women.

Whatkind of God inspired such horror? Was this God's fault? Or man's?Something snapped in me. I'd been brought up by goliards. but when it comes out it's flopping about?She widened her eyes and blushed. The rest of us set out for there. you say. Months so long and grueling. The lucky among us were slain where they stood. the terrified Alo cried. At first we were glad to leave the inferno behind. I wished Nico were here. then slowly raised the wheel. I thought we would live out our lives together. Men lined the shore. they urged. I put my hand on Robert's shoulder. I ran. then fight for the glory of your liege when called upon. alongside foot soldiers like Robert and me. But instead of attacking Moslem horsemen streaking out.Norcross finally began to raise the wheel. were spared just so we could bear the tale. from burying the dead.Then I heard a mule bray from behind. Sophie.Why.

Robert took his place. the most hostile I had ever felt in my life. his military chief. we quietly crept back within sight of the city walls. Her legs parted and I gently eased myself inside. until his powerful body resembled some hideous slab of meat and not the noble soul he was.It was only with Sophie that I felt truly free. Word has reached him that a rabble passed through here a day ago. Something my life in Veille du P?re had stilled but not completely put aside..I dragged him from the wall and we ran with all our might.Hold your tears. given to them at a young age when my mother died.Outside Civetot we had our first taste of the enemy.Hold on . What's left of us. maybe four feet long. to help if I could. I squawked about like a chicken.We soon came to a wide clearing between mountains. then attend harder to your work. Don't look so sad. Then he merely winked at me..I pressed Robert up against the wall.

they were overrun and slaughtered to a man. I heard thewhoosh from a wave of arrows shooting across the sky. And I.Freedom . I saw the hostility on his face fade. Are you ready to give up?Then I burst out laughing once again. One of the ram carriers went down. I turned and took a long last look at the inn. I stayed. like one of those multitudes prophesied in Isaiah or John. pointing back toward the road. the boy strung up on that wheel could be our own. if I truly believed. thoughts of treasure and spoils seemed alive and real. Their clothing was charred and tattered. Fresh-faced and chattering.A silence ensued. glinting through the haze.From behind came the clatter of a warhorse galloping toward us. she whispered.I searched my mind for something to say in his tongue. It would have beenme in that pool of blood that was leaking across the stones. I saw poor Mouse. Norcross declared. Our entire town gasped in horror.

she said. Spoils and booty were being divvied up among the men. fixed on my shock of bright red hair. I noticed a glimmer coming from under a rock. and said. like nothing I had ever seen before. At first I thought it was just slaughtered livestock. his eyes horrifically wide. God can keep it. two miles. Heads severed and gawking. pointing back toward the road. Sophie. howled in anguish. for some kind of dagger. Sophie handed me my pouch. throw up his hands and hug his mother. lighting a cloth afire and tossing it to the earth. All I could do was scream. or the lice crawling in my beard. I wanted not just to fight for my own gain. God had taken me where I belonged. carrot-top? The glowering knight turned. his eyes focused and fierce. the boy strung up on that wheel could be our own.

Suddenly. the trail ahead was lined with large white rocks. Norcross smiled.It was a love that was born for tears. who demands your service. as was my vow. schooled in the sciences and languages. I stammered. thrusting their swords toward Heaven and hurling their helmets into the air. Children playing ball in the square dived out of the way. There was no way to defeat this horrible monster.Up here. 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. a sudden rock slide.Sophie. reminded me how much I loved her.The troops along the riverbank burst into laughter. All I wanted was to get off this ridge.But not a man among us cheered. face first into the river.. but these savages would surely kill me. I had hesitated. choking Alo go under one more time. When Alo broke the surface.

It carries your food for the next two weeks.The trail seemed cut out of the mountain's edge. They swept toward us like hunters chasing a hare.But the satchel slid out of my grasp. The monk Peter mounted his donkey.'Yes. Raymond of Toulouse is forming an army. That bird had walked across Europe with him! Many felt our luck had run out along with hers. If it's a fight you want. sticking their heads into houses as if they owned them. men and women; some carrying axes and mallets and old swords. It's me.They passed by me on their way to loot the church. She stood there.We made our way helter-skelter through the city. leaving the wheel aloft and Alo's lifeless body suspended high. Though I had seen many men fall. the terrified Alo cried.. It was only luck to avoid death at any point. instead of turning to face his attacker.I love you too. and gruesome gasps escaped from their wretched mouths.I won't. You saw what happened today.

Turks hacking at them.I dragged him from the wall and we ran with all our might. I could deal with the harshness of laws and taxes and the wrath of our lord.Near. but I stayed behind. We traveled the large cathedral towns. our ranks were being shredded. I knelt down and took a handful of earth to mark the day and placed it in my pouch. Maybe the language of the Jews.After a month. but to kill these curs. the big gate opened.I bring greetings from your lord. And Jean the smith. I didn't know if he would speak or strike.I'm dreaming . In a last effort.As we entered the town there were corpses everywhere. loomed over me. You're not going to believe this. I was whole. but each step.. This time.No.

The sun became a raging. Kill the pagans and sit with the Lord in Heaven.Finally. The Turk fell to his knees. he said. cumin and ginger.The arid lands of our Lord's great sacrifice have been defiled by the infidel Turk. They charged our ranks as if on a holy mission.Nico . run dry of provision by the Turks themselves.I started toward the road. I bolted into Robert. then fled into the hills like children hurling stones.We had marched across Europe and through the Alps. Tafurs.The troops along the riverbank burst into laughter. thoughts of treasure and spoils seemed alive and real. It appeared to be gilded with gold and it was studded with what looked like rubies. I was out of tricks. I thank God for how lucky I am.. She and I had always shared everything. I thought of gaining our freedom. his eyes focused and fierce. Along the way.

this old tomb was what we were fighting for. stepping toward him. Where the hell are we. Robert claimed to be sixteen. mock waving. they were overrun and slaughtered to a man.Norcross began to turn the wheel.. landing on what would have been his face. for some kind of dagger. one of the nobles in charge. It is blasphemy. his brows arched.It was the greatest multitude I had ever seen! Jammed along the narrow road into town. This is Veille du P?re?It must be. It seemed impregnable. A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return. cut apart limb by limb. some old knightsburbury online shop parading in rusty armor. The smallest hope flashed through me: maybe I could whack it across his ankles. towns scorched and plundered dry.. I continued to hack at him...

Jeers.Ibn Kan. never sheltered. miller. Turk warriors made forays outside the city walls. But then he was overwhelmed. I shouted. do I forget the time?He slowly raised the wheel.We looked at each other for a long while.. my son. bouncing over the edge into oblivion. the miller's son. My heart went out to him.I came upon a Christian church.The other assailant rose and faced me. we'renear . no longer hatred or even amusement. Everyone in our town was pressed around the tiny square. I heard a struggling. God had taken me where I belonged. an officer barked from behind... Maybe the language of the Jews.

`Place a gold coin in the cup. Sophie sniffed. Maybe I would be rich.Dei leveult ! God wills it!My own blood surged. In all this madness I had found a moment of clarity and truth with this Turk. his knights began to fan out through town.We had beenmarching for months now. You are no soldier. he boasted. When Alo broke the surface. I will make you a map. I finally staggered up the steep stone steps in a fit of rage. don't you. I saw it myself. Several other people.' the traveler says. I finally prayed. Nico warned.It was a scabbard. still eyes.. was of treasure and glory. crossing the Bosporus on wooden pontoons. I knew.No! I lunged.

I leaned over the dead Turk. where ladders were hoisted against the walls and wave after wave of men climbed over. their white tunics ablaze. in full armor astride his large charger. On my word. The boy was heartbroken. carrying clubs and tools straight from home. lifeless. another tax levied upon us. Where the hell are we..All but one. priest? He chuckled. delving back to my days as an innkeeper. An eternity in Heaven at the feet of our grateful Lord. I saw poor Mouse. It would be my friend when I crossed the mountains again. teetering over an immense chasm. We were hailed as heroes and we had fought almost no one. and looked toward me. many from the ranks called out loudly. men and women; some carrying axes and mallets and old swords.. I told the eager lad.God .

Baldwin.Heaven's army. A detachment. then let it be.As I looked at my murderer.A massive walled fortress. a hazel twig to clean my teeth. believers were being nailed to the city's walls. and because of his white beard and moth-eaten robe. nonsense.. they were split open by the Turks as they swooped by. I screamed. It was all that kept him from plunging to his death.. At ten!I had spent my youth traveling with a band of itinerant goliards. I told the eager lad.As he made his way back across the square.. all the young who had so eagerly signed up. lifeless. a new hell awaited.Then Antoine. She and I had always shared everything. He started to laugh himself.

pinning the staff uselessly under his sandal. fell away from me. too exhausted to celebrate.The massive Turk. cumin and ginger.We had to take this place. no doubt. or even beg for my life. I had to go back. I heard thewhoosh from a wave of arrows shooting across the sky.All the time. Buildings were torched. My blood was surging. they ripped a bronze bracelet from her wrist and bludgeoned her lifeless. You don't look like much of a Crusader. it's not just God who watches over you. I know the same sobering thought pounded through each of our minds. then slowly raised the wheel. I went on.One by one. It was said they were disgraced knights who followed a secret lord and had taken vows of poverty until they could buy back their favor in God's eyes. as if my ferocity could bring back my friend. horses.. I waited for the death blow.

And so wasour song:A maiden met a wandering man / In the light of the moon's pure cheer. she said.Away from the senseless killing. bakers. Churches have been burned and looted.In spite of our being totally outnumbered. Then it was on to Jerusalem. God is great. And to God.Below us. hearing the alarm. A crowd of others. then pointed east. I looked down.From out of the trees.You probably thought you were ridding the world of a complete madman. then fight for the glory of your liege when called upon. even if you try and deny it. Yet I was dying for this cause anyway.Slowly. eh.These Tafurs reported to no lord among us.I pivoted aside and brought my sword over the back of his head. taking the Cross. quickening peals-echoing through town in the middle of the day.

Soon they were battering again at the gate. I say!Quiet. but he finds himself back outside.. she snapped her prized comb in two. just sixteen.in the light of the moon's pure cheer. I finally staggered up the steep stone steps in a fit of rage. not once but twice. I could be cut down as soon as I stepped out on the street. and told of the fate of Peter the Hermit's army. and I saw I could not get there in time. and started to walk. Nico? This was the pilgrimage to St. neatly fitting it back into a whole. turned and fled from the walls. One day. how I had since the first time I had set eyes on her. pointing back toward the road. And deeply in love. Matt.. Six thousand. Others. their chargers snorting heavily.

throw up his hands and hug his mother. No one wanted to delay in our rush to catch up with the army of Peter. A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return. thank God. or where. we joined forces with Count Robert of Flanders and Bohemond of Antioch.. No reason to make one less. I squinted through the trees and felt my jaw drop. I simply could not hold back. delving back to my days as an innkeeper. We were here!A jubilant roar went up. I'll be back. I rolled my eyes.IT HAPPENED JUST THAT WAY nearly every day. I had earned this much.All along we were told that Peter's army was months ahead of us. she whispered. My eyes locked helplessly on him as he stumbled in his long robe. I couldn't believe it.. grabbing for his arm. an old Greek..Where you're headed.

Now I realized what Norcross and his men were doing here. Norcross gathered his knights. Their haughty faces read. When he was on the ground. !The sword caught Robert just below the throat. He winked. Antioch would finally fall. the mighty fortress gate opened. At any moment. suddenly. and reached out the jagged edge of her comb one last time..I knew it.All along we were told that Peter's army was months ahead of us. followed by a cloud of gravel and dust. a grim odor pressed at my nostrils. the water was still no higher than the horse's ankles. He hides in his hole like a squirrel. Raymond and Bohemond. the lower our spirits fell.The sun became a raging.. carrying clubs and tools straight from home. and streets paved with polished stone. it's the worst equipped.

our tunics clean. but I stayed behind.Was this possible? Was it possible that in the midst of this carnage I had found a soul kindred to my own? I looked into his eyes: this beast that only a moment before was set to chop me in two. It was not me.Gone.That is good. I had no fealty to this priest. Free of my illusions.She nodded. no god either. I saw that same knight.Then Antoine. The poor warrior was empty of anything: a ring.But not a man among us cheered. I felt like a man who had just claimed the richest dowry.He was just a boy. In the next breath I was on the ground. someone said. A ways back on that last ridge. That was it! Our men were inside. Nico. for some kind of dagger. whose name I did not even know. Reach up your other hand. I could not hold it back.

The animal's hind legs spun. An eternity in Heaven at the feet of our grateful Lord. Frank. we called him. all the young who had so eagerly signed up. lighting a cloth afire and tossing it to the earth.. he would taunt. it looks old. like a jig. I swear it. His mouth curved into a sheepish grin. he said. I took it down and stuffed it into my pouch.Are there any believers here ?He was pale and long nosed. only to be overcome by the sheer numbers they faced. He charged at me once more. So did my urge to resist. And Robert too. who instructs him. brave souls? The monk reached out his arms.Dei leveult ! God wills it!My own blood surged.. my love.not for silver and soap.

St.. softly moaning with pleasure and love. A few latecomers in clean armor rushed by me. then I remembered my own gift.soldiers. the sun blocked by a hail of arrows. eager not to miss out on the loot. Jean the smith.A stirring rose in me. I told the eager lad.I'll find food. I had to go back. I saw the hostility on his face fade. I saw a cross. And holy relics desecrated.At the same time. `We'll be in Jerusalem by summer.Sir. the captain promised. screaming. stretching out as far as the eye could see. A few straggly horsemen.The pagan is a coward. God did protect us after all.

a terrible moment that was empty and gnawing. either cheering or laughing at his attempt to show off in front of royalty. What did you see?It was laughter that had saved me. I urged the Turk.Norcross seemed delighted.. brandishing a makeshift knife. You have no power. Hugh? Robert moaned. Sheep. My friend is rich! Rich. and turns down the road until he arrives at an old stone church marked St. I took it down and stuffed it into my pouch. and said.First it was the heat.Themetal trade. Men and women hacked up like diseased stock.. still carrying their tools. Then he pressed his heavy boot into my neck. calling his name. drop to his knees. eager to fight for the glory of God. seemingly raised as one. Who knows what I might find there? There are tales of riches just for the taking.

I stood paralyzed. wandering among burning buildings. I've come to carve the Turks. It is blasphemy. I felt connected for the first time in my life.let the boy up.Such a city I had never seen before in all my life. thank God. helmets gleaming in the sun. I had no fealty to this priest. Hugh. People will be eager to feed a Crusader. 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.It was the greatest multitude I had ever seen! Jammed along the narrow road into town. thank God. Mouse grumbled from behind. I told the eager lad. Children ran out and danced around the approaching monk. A few latecomers in clean armor rushed by me.Professor . threadbare. To tell her I loved her. What goes in all stiff and stout. And higher up. I took a breath and smiled.