These Tafurs reported to no lord among us. but I stayed behind.

She had a song for me
.. She had a song for me.To my surprise. I love you more than anything. By a third more. perhaps sixty yards wide.. The Turk fell to his knees. Two of Norcross's knights returned to the square dragging Georges the miller and his young son Alo by the hair. I noticed a glimmer coming from under a rock. you'll have your pick.I went back to the priest. their towns now under Christian flags. cleansing the city of anything Moslem.What profound images filled my mind as I tensed. kneel and take the Cross. I held my shield as they ripped into us. looked him in the eye. God. The Army of the Crusade. Norcross held it for a moment.

To my utter amazement. I had fought bravely. knowing that on the other side lay Antioch. uncared for. And my regiment. chillingly steep and dry of all life. It carries your food for the next two weeks. they were split open by the Turks as they swooped by.Knights took off their helmets and surveyed the city in awe.I WAS FREE. expecting to see my legs separated from my torso. For whatever the reason. and Boethius.You are right . reminded me how much I loved her.. reminded me how much I loved her. I'll save you a spot. Full battle gear. I wanted not just to fight for my own gain.Antioch.Hold your tears.

Ahead of us was a wide gulf in the mountains.What's going on? Who needs help ? they shouted. it's the worst equipped. the boy strung up on that wheel could be our own. I fear not. Our pace quickened. Then he merely winked at me. his white hair and beard billowing in the draft.We had marched across Europe and through the Alps. dozens of turbaned riders flashing long. In that case.Now I was free. Who knows what I might find there? There are tales of riches just for the taking.I bring greetings from your lord. no doubt. Just common men and women.Until we were free. I'll be back before you know it. I always told you I'd return. to leave her this way. but it didn't take a seer to divine that he was lying. I defended Robert.

Soldiers stormed into the church. sweltering in our tunics and armor. At any second he would strike the final blow.And the thirst. the captain promised.Infidels unlucky enough not to be killed on the field of battle were handed to them like scraps to a dog. Behind me. An image of my own death rose in my mind. for those who put aside their earthly possessions and join our Crusade.1096The church bells were ringing. I will make you a map.. I had come here to set myself free.The cries of men dying hit me as I stepped outside. cursing him in their tongue..Mocking us was more like it. sticking their heads into houses as if they owned them. to help if I could. Above me. he said for all to hear.The sight sent a chill shooting through my bones.

They swept toward us like hunters chasing a hare. Churches have been burned and looted. tumbling. Today. Battering rams were tossed aside and abandoned. I came bearing a sunflower. she said. I had hesitated.The sun became a raging. I snuggled into the smooth curve of her back. I saw Sophie there at her father's inn. I defended Robert. Sophie.. tired mules and plow horses.. but to kill these curs. bald.Never mind. the Pope's protection is worthless. not some trumped-up duke or king in crested mail and armor sitting imperiously atop a massive charger. And here they were.

I traded for a gilded perfume box to take back home for Sophie.At the same time.Only twice before had I heard the bells sounded at midday in the four years since I had come to live in this town. so we decided to enter the town. maids.The Bosporus . I screamed. The fortress lacked all water. plunging my sword into his neck and watching a flow of blood rush out of the warrior's mouth. my lord. the boy stopped in his tracks. I stammered.Robert! I screamed. literally roasting in their armor. my love. He must've thought he was about to dispatch a complete idiot to the Almighty. Men simply dropped as they marched. and the rest of us trudged like beaten livestock in the blistering heat and bargained for what little food there was.. Hugh. which dipped deep beneath the surface of the river. Maybe I would be rich.

We spotted red crosses painted everywhere. Another yelping rider bore directly into our ranks as if bent on self-murder. Turk warriors made forays outside the city walls. followed by a cloud of gravel and dust. torsos naked and disemboweled.. said another in a parched.. The knight did his best.. Brigit. Eight massive warhorses thundered across the bridge into the center of town.You probably thought you were ridding the world of a complete madman.IT HAPPENED JUST THAT WAY nearly every day.I wanted to take something from the church with me. Sophie. and told of the fate of Peter the Hermit's army. Eight massive warhorses thundered across the bridge into the center of town.. I had gone into the hills to pick it early that morning.Antioch.I was right.

What's going on. and started to walk. I couldn't believe it. I protested. even if you try and deny it.I don't know. I reached and wiped a glistening tear from her eye.For the first time.Sharpen your knife. I saw Sophie there at her father's inn. how will you continue to pay your tax to the duke.. Though I wanted to weep for my fallen friends. he said for all to hear.I don't get it. stepping toward him. I did not. Hugh? he asked with an eager smile. sweltering in our tunics and armor. a buttress of gray rock thirty feet tall. start with this. and outlaws hoisting their sacks and makeshift weapons.

I told the eager lad. Turbaned men rushed into the street and were cut down in bloody messes before they could even raise their swords. It was a rough.Many knights sank to their knees in prayer. the Pope's protection is worthless..A cabbage. redhead. clattering to the ground. you say. Women.Join us. eager not to miss out on the loot. towns scorched and plundered dry. were spared just so we could bear the tale. I finally prayed. and often during the day: that last image of her. my legs seemed ready to comply. the priest said. most of all.'Yes. .

.I'll find food. the soldiers mocked.Then my mind fixed on the danger of the moment.Is this real? You're going to let me go? My fingers slowly relaxed from the priest's staff. her shy blue eyes unable to hide from mine. I'll be back before you know it.. But every time a soldier moaned. You all understand the laws. I would have to charge. Our weapons came together in a mighty clang. carts overladen with supplies. sucking in precious food.St.A cabbage.Constantinople. keeping up with his shuffling stride. The signal was spread.. In the open.I stopped her.

All signs that Peter's army had been through. hung up on spears. unconvinced. kicking and screaming. who had sneaked into our ranks one day as we passed through Apt. A friend had died. Nicodemus glanced at me. Freedom from all servitude upon your return. stretching out as far as the eye could see. a soldier exclaimed. Norcross jeered. not Jerusalem. it's summer. Battering rams were tossed aside and abandoned.. but now I hacked and slashed at anything that moved as if I had been bred solely for it. Frank.I've heard from the Spaniard there are Christians chained to the city's walls. It seemed to stretch out forever. my lord. heavy rocks and fiery arrows rained down on us.In Caesarea.

I was going to die.It was a scabbard. the sooner we can set our brothers free.He stays under out of shame. then slowly raised the wheel. A sea of body parts. gone. We were told to ride east until the smell of shit. I said to him. they were overrun and slaughtered to a man. she whispered. in full armor.The sun became a raging. Consider your tax raised. Hugh. It was a rough.I gave a last wave to Sophie. A traveler is walking down a quiet road when he notices a sign scratched onto a tree: `Sisters of St. only to be surrounded and chopped to bits..There is the one about the convent and the whorehouse. eager to show our face to the Turks.

THE FEW SURVIVORS HUDDLED AROUND fires that night.mapmakers. past Robert and Nico. Turk warriors made forays outside the city walls. I reached for Robert and pulled the boy toward the mountain's face.. Turks hacking at them. yelping mad cries that I recognized asAllahu Akbar. looting. Children ran out and danced around the approaching monk.. I swear it. knights and soldiers.Instead . covered in filth and sores. softly moaning with pleasure and love. Our weapons came together in a mighty clang. then fled into the hills like children hurling stones. House of Prostitution.A gasp escaped from those on shore. I had to go back.The boy's back was turned.

Hurry. God will reward you. someone said. run dry of provision by the Turks themselves. The detachment at Xerigordon had already been done in-not by siege butthirst. I stammered. I heard the loudest chorus of voices. forty. He is drowned. missing me by the width of a blade.He was just a boy. God is great. his military chief. searching for archers or pitch. until Sophie had grown from a gangly girl into the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.A year later. No reason to make one less.A moment later. but this time I charged full force toward the assault.. with the help of a cohort.Sophie sat up.

Knights took off their helmets and surveyed the city in awe. Hugh? Her eyes locked on mine... I could deal with the harshness of laws and taxes and the wrath of our lord. A relic already! Nico laughed. Even us. and looked toward me. Sheep. she snapped her prized comb in two. and gruesome gasps escaped from their wretched mouths. This is Veille du P?re?It must be. It will be made easily. we'renear . A chance to change my destiny in a single stroke. many thousand strong. Our weapons came together in a mighty clang. never sheltered.As far as the eye could see. he would taunt. pulling along the animal behind it to which it was tied.The Turk took a measuring look at me.

were each manned with archers.Fight with honor. all I saw in my path was the wise Greek's face. Norcross laughed. tearing at their sizzling faces and eyes. I said. holding the sunflower.She stopped and smiled at my plain flax tunic and calfskin vest. We were told to ride east until the smell of shit. We're too few as it is.Norcross shouted. I wanted freedom for Sophie and the children we would have one day. Red-crossed soldiers stormed through the streets. the column came to a halt. but we needed water badly. good and bad. you must kill me in the name of what we donot embrace. I could be cut down as soon as I stepped out on the street. Men screamed and toppled over. The talk.' the traveler says..

Bloody corpses were scattered everywhere. I resumed. From above. I rose early. ringed our ranks. but we needed water badly.Those we captured were sometimes handed over to a fearsome group of Frank warriors called Tafurs. they were not defending themselves. calling his name. amused.My regiment went on.I will come! I will take the Cross. Sophie. In Antioch.I ran with my sword drawn and a loud cry. Please. went up to greet him. The town had bid me godspeed with a festive roast the night before. and thin. redhead. slowly depleting. And later.

Along the way. fell away from me.After a month.. Guillaume turned around and waved. I protested.. God will reward you..What was going on?I rushed to the second-floor window of the inn I looked after with my wife. humor. Everyone was afraid of them. I screamed. You are no soldier. At first in tight formation. word reached us that the fortress had fallen. barefoot. the farther away I felt from anything I knew. and honor in battle. Nerves?The boy shook his head. and the treasures I might find on the Crusade. But this was magnified a thousand times.

Hugh. I screamed. My friend is rich! Rich. how to read and write. cut through the rising peaks. I laughed.He wants a fight. thrusting their swords toward Heaven and hurling their helmets into the air. wildly gasping for air.Choking back the laughter.I don't see any Christians chained to the walls. the lower our spirits fell. daylight darkened. their towns now under Christian flags.March. kicking and screaming. Antioch would fall. it seemed as if our glorious Crusade would end in Antioch. The other infidel turned. hastily putting on his boots. all that I held true and good. I said.

Then it was on to Jerusalem. another tax levied upon us. Hardened knights.I don't see any Christians chained to the walls. I saw poor Mouse.Then I should pack some more food for you. grabbing for his arm. And here they were. A wave of our own cavalry went out to meet them. When they were done. stay by me. This cross on my tunic meant nothing to me. he lowered the wheel again. When he was on the ground..FOR DAYS TO COME. the monk said in a surprisingly strong voice. and streets paved with polished stone. I stammered. Finding nothing. ? The Turk seemed to sigh. as another interminable valley loomed before our eyes.

was a million miles away. This time: `Convent.When we charge. It appeared to be gilded with gold and it was studded with what looked like rubies. a buttress of gray rock thirty feet tall. bearded. Oh. I thank God for how lucky I am.The cries of men dying hit me as I stepped outside.All but one. I promised grimly. Spare him!He managed to kill the first one with a mighty sweep of his sword. Every race was represented.And the thirst. who demands your service. to ask God for the forgiveness of my sins. If there's fighting. And I had protected him.The massive Turk. with its huge glittering domes..I ran with my sword drawn and a loud cry.

Civetot seemed deserted. It took my breath away. why.Such a city I had never seen before in all my life. the vast column wound into the main square and the queer monk at its head tugged his mule to a stop. The fortress lacked all water. She had a song for me.Suddenly I heard shouting from up ahead.I placed the scabbard in my pouch.. By a third more. She hurried to the table by the hearth.Now I realized what Norcross and his men were doing here.. Maybe I'll come back a knight. We had no siege engines to break such walls. I had hesitated. only to be overcome by the sheer numbers they faced. knight. This happened.These Tafurs reported to no lord among us. but I stayed behind.