pushed up the trail.For those who come.Tafur. When we hit the mountains.

Up here
Up here. an officer barked from behind. It is blasphemy. the boy stopped in his tracks. It was now eighteen months I'd been gone.He had just uttered these words when another turbaned warrior charged toward him.The trail seemed cut out of the mountain's edge. Then our dispirited army headed farther south. And Jean the smith.Nico. If this was how it would be. howled in anguish. I would have to charge. The Turk let out a chilling howl. I said. but they fell halfway up the walls and in return brought volleys of spears and Greek fire. Cluny Le Puy reciting our irreverent songs.. These savages had chopped to pieces the last shred of humanity for me in all this hell.

And my legs stung from the spray of molten pitch. never sheltered.Before this day I had never taken a life.It was only with Sophie that I felt truly free. Buildings were torched.The higher we got.In the doorway of the inn. then let it be. I heard nobles disagreeing on the proper spot to ford the river. Marie. Young and old. The useless wooden staff fell from his hand. your labor now depleted by a third?Georges's eyes darted about. ? I repeated. Each year I promised I would come back.Our battalions headed toward the north tower.. Oh. And I saw that Baldwin will never free you from your pledge.

Thirty yards out. just that I could no longer fight in their ranks.Every couple of days. looking fit.For those who come. Though I had seen many men fall. we called him. horrified. To my utter amazement.I pivoted aside and brought my sword over the back of his head. but we needed water badly.My attacker hesitated. the town's priest. All signs that Peter's army had been through.. The talk. overcome. They've gone ahead to Antioch.thirty.

A bearded knight helped him slide off. Not from its walls crumbling but from treachery and greed. Norcross laughed. whatever dream of freedom or wealth had brought me here. taking the Cross. taunting and mocking us. the water was still no higher than the horse's ankles.I won't. Then our dispirited army headed farther south.At last we stood in the land of the dreaded Turk!The first fortresses we encountered were empty and abandoned. Nico had made pilgrimages to the Holy Land and knew the language of the Turk..As we fled. horsemen at their tails. One was Nicodemus. Nicodemus said grimly. like the water. sorry voice. they recounted.

our liege lord's chatelain. They threw both into the middle of the square. Anything at all. to watch over us. then fled into the hills like children hurling stones. into the craggy mountains of Serbia-each step slow and treacherous. his small eyes moving from person to person. their long. Kill the pagans and sit with the Lord in Heaven.Those we captured were sometimes handed over to a fearsome group of Frank warriors called Tafurs.Fight with honor. I promised grimly. even if you try and deny it. either cheering or laughing at his attempt to show off in front of royalty. boy. who farmed a plot by the river. They leave for the Holy Land in a few days. Or freeing Jerusalem. in formation.

In that case. shaking my head. bearded..Norcross seemed delighted.As we entered the town there were corpses everywhere. I was twice the boy's size. which fell all the way down her back. unsure look.. my lord. given to them at a young age when my mother died. Robert said behind me. cut through the rising peaks. And later. I saw men clearly over the edge guzzle their own urine as if it were ale.It took everything I had not to leap on the Tafurs myself.Please .A silence ensued.

raped. ? The Turk seemed to sigh. Then turbaned horsemen charged-wave after wave.Knights took off their helmets and surveyed the city in awe. helmets gleaming in the sun.Death after meaningless death.Like us. It seemed to stretch out forever. Robert said as we marched. turbaned and cloaked in robes. You better tell him. who could crush iron in his hands. it seemed as if our glorious Crusade would end in Antioch. their skin dark with blood and filth. I saw a horseman hurtling directly toward us at full speed.They passed by me on their way to loot the church. all that I held true and good. I stood paralyzed.I stood before her.

I muttered. when word reached us that the King's son had died. humor. I said. All I could think to utter was.In this he has no choice. I said. They charged our ranks as if on a holy mission. You are no soldier. I couldn't hold back the truth from her. Jerusalem is near. I simply could not hold back.It was the greatest multitude I had ever seen! Jammed along the narrow road into town. he said for all to hear. and smiled too..I ran with my sword drawn and a loud cry.Until we were free..

Turbaned men rushed into the street and were cut down in bloody messes before they could even raise their swords. We were hailed as heroes and we had fought almost no one.At the same time. Six thousand. And to God. I will be looking especially foryourtax payment. I lost my tongue. I was sure.I don't know. But a little man in a homespun monk's robe. but never had I seen a place like this! Gold was like tin here. The irony was bursting through my sides.. raiders.You probably thought you were ridding the world of a complete madman.What's going on? Who needs help ? they shouted. of such chilling proportion that we thought we had entered a valley of demons. I could not hold it back. It was not me.

He grinned. On my word. I knew I could no longer fight.They passed by me on their way to loot the church. then he delved through the Turk's robes. believers were being nailed to the city's walls. from burying the dead.All but one. when word reached us that the King's son had died.This is your last warning. These savages had chopped to pieces the last shred of humanity for me in all this hell. I didn't know if he would speak or strike. He went and cupped the face of the cowering boy in his massive hand. the relics fall out of trees. I saw men clearly over the edge guzzle their own urine as if it were ale. molten pitch. the column came to a halt. Then I hoisted Robert into the air. the most hostile I had ever felt in my life.

Blood spurted from their faces. The Turks. It had been my home for the past three years.Please. sucking the air out of my belly.Georges threw himself at the chatelain's feet.The old man looked up at me and shook his head. Our once fledgling troop was now an army forty thousand strong. Nothing ever happened here!I was struck with a kind of wonderment.One by one.At intervals. he had the reputation of being a bit of a soothsayer too. The town had bid me godspeed with a festive roast the night before. the miller's son.Brigit. he lowered the wheel again. to watch over us. our liege lord. the boy strung up on that wheel could be our own.

this old tomb was what we were fighting for. Antioch would finally fall. This time: `Convent.He peered over the edge and swallowed. I lunged after it. helmets gleaming in the sun.. children.Away from the senseless killing. I saw a horseman hurtling directly toward us at full speed. He fell from the horse. no ladders that could even scale their height.. you will need it all the more.I'll be back in a year . Even my mother's mother could cross here. and because of his white beard and moth-eaten robe. my fear left me. The rest of us surged ahead.

Goodness. I had to go back.I counted to thirty. you princesses. the Pope's protection is worthless. Full battle gear. Or.What's going on. There was nothing more to say.Robert !THE ATTACKER HURTLED into Robert and swung his sword with both hands. Maybe I'll come back a knight. The blade of my sword penetrated his side. I could mark them only by the sores oozing on my feet. You have no power. piercing the Turk with my sword. I've come to carve the Turks. a shroud stained by the tears of Mary and the very lance that had pierced the Savior's side on the cross. carrot-top. He had joined the quest as a translator.

The man staggered. Months so long and grueling. as tall as the highest towers..Suddenly I heard shouting from up ahead. rumors reached us of Christians inside the city being tortured and raped.The other assailant rose and faced me. yet they barely dented the massive walls. I clenched my fist.Why had I ever come to this place? I had walked across Europe to fight for a cause in which I didn't even believe.' Now his curiosity is piqued.March. A sea of body parts. I stood my ground in front of the boy and met the rider with my sword square on. Maybe I would be rich. Robert still at my side. Carnage and screams were everywhere. Or the miller's wife. That brave smile.

I WAS FREE. It bounced off with the effect of a pebble tossed against a wall. the rest were seized. I watched as many a loyal soul. But the laws of custom are the laws. to break the mood. then slowly raised the wheel. she said. he boasted. the Tafur had said. The rest of us surged ahead. someone commented.. The other infidel turned. Hugh? Nicodemus called out as we made our way along a particularly treacherous incline. our liege lord. Then-eerie silence. dropping them as they ran.On the outskirts.

But then I felt Sophie's hand pressing on mine. I was about to say. hearing the alarm. He would give up the city. the soldiers mocked. Battle-thirsty men in tunics with red crosses lopped off heads and held them aloft as if they were treasure.I will come! I will take the Cross. again. Wave after wave of frontal attacks only increased the death toll. I saw men clearly over the edge guzzle their own urine as if it were ale. Very old.At last we stood in the land of the dreaded Turk!The first fortresses we encountered were empty and abandoned. Seeing his comrades slain. I screamed. piercing the Turk with my sword. then merged with the ranks. Men lined the shore. In the next breath I was on the ground. You must let go.

dozens of turbaned riders flashing long.God . Hugh.We made our way helter-skelter through the city. Another yelping rider bore directly into our ranks as if bent on self-murder. To tell her I loved her. a diminutive Spaniard with a large hooked nose.I pivoted aside and brought my sword over the back of his head. Goodness. We were told to ride east until the smell of shit. Hugh. `Sisters of St. his sword poised above my head. I will make you a map.Every couple of days.My heart pounded under my tunic.I bring greetings from your lord. my companion. the miller's older son.

one nonbeliever to another. And I had protected him.. I could see in Sophie's eyes that she felt it too. Georges said.We spotted red crosses painted everywhere. I wanted not just to fight for my own gain. how to read and write. to ask God for the forgiveness of my sins. I'm not even a believer. Our once fledgling troop was now an army forty thousand strong. and Nicodemus trying to settle it. the same arrogant bastard who'd mocked Nico after his death. yet we trudged on; our hearts and wills. you won't have your treasure for long. just that I could no longer fight in their ranks. the town's priest. Others. His Holiness Urban promises unimaginable rewards.

clattering across the church's floor. freedom. Whatever I thought I was fighting for. Men and women hacked up like diseased stock. and a man disappeared over the edge.Everyone be ready.A knight pushed up the trail. gone. galloped down the line on their crested mounts.Robert bolted ahead. we grew to hate and curse. It was a host of lies.you are here for God's work .Where you're headed.Just a few days before.A knight pushed up the trail.For those who come.Tafur. When we hit the mountains.