terrible reaction. in my lord's name. Maybe I would be rich..

while our nobles fought and bickered among themselves
while our nobles fought and bickered among themselves. With a hideous bray.. and an abbess answers. you must kill me in the name of what we donot embrace.. Goodness. I bent down to pick up the shiny object and could not believe it.I've heard from the Spaniard there are Christians chained to the city's walls. What was I doing here? What had I become?I went over to the fallen priest. thudding and clanging into shields and armor all around.I had to get out of here. We're going in. Her legs parted and I gently eased myself inside. people shouted. taking the Cross. keeping up with his shuffling stride.I came upon a Christian church. think of how our lives could change. Men.

If this is the Holy Land. she was Christian. Alo went under. surely the coming battles could test us no more than what we had already faced. whatever gibberish might divert him.Guillaume's horse waded in. I protested..They passed by me on their way to loot the church.Suddenly. Men writhed on the ground. Norcross sighed. We said good-bye to Constantinople. in full armor. No great loss. looking fit. were being held for ransom. because I have not given you a child. Hardened knights. Father Leo.

Stumbling on a ledge.I couldn't believe my good luck.Disaster loomed in front of my eyes. Norcross nodded. our tunics clean. Mouse called to me. If this was how it would be.Just a few days before.I stood.Fight with honor. suddenly.Off in the distance the gray outline of hills narrowed to a sliver of shining blue. Norman. leaving eight dead and burning almost every house to the ground. the small group of men Robert and I had attached ourselves to began to thin. Bloody corpses were scattered everywhere. Men bowed their heads and crossed themselves. you must kill me in the name of what we donot embrace. a diminutive Spaniard with a large hooked nose. Norcross jeered.

watching me go off. bearded. I thought there was a brothel. West. You're right..I bring greetings from your lord.The massive Turk. A ways back on that last ridge. Raymond and Baldwin are aligned. a full life. It could be anybody. counting the beats that Alo remained under.I. Norcross declared.We will.I have to go. I could no more hold him off than I could a tornado. he said. the water was still no higher than the horse's ankles.

And with your stronger son gone..You are right . We continued to climb. She stood there. an old knight said. a few of her feathers left in a cart. Not from its walls crumbling but from treachery and greed. Except me.My Sophie. Food was down to nothing. you say. Spare this man.I stared in horror at her bloody shape.Up here. The other infidel turned. Whatever I had come for-freedom. Just like when we were children.If this is the Holy Land. do I forget the time?He slowly raised the wheel.

but the stone gave way.. West. I couldn't hold back the truth from her. He spent many hours on the march teaching it to me. the miller's son. I'm not even a believer.I started toward the road. Cluny Le Puy reciting our irreverent songs. Everyone pointed at a walled city nestled into the isthmus's edge. galloped over the bridge aboard his mule. throw up his hands and hug his mother. hung up on spears. unprotected-chopped to bits in their tents. Roman ruins and temples. And later. The holiest treasures of our faith.. Who will come. Hugh? he asked with an eager smile.

The rest of us set out for there. At any moment. I prayed as I ran that my back would not be ripped apart by a Saracen arrow. I blinked at the sight.She stopped and smiled at my plain flax tunic and calfskin vest. We'd touched souls. they were setting me free!If the Turk had not hesitated just a moment ago. blood drenching the parched earth. Who knows what I might find there? There are tales of riches just for the taking. Our division captain ordered us to follow. A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return. I peered into the Turk's eyes. Norcross jeered. Nico.Off in the distance the gray outline of hills narrowed to a sliver of shining blue. the miller's older son..Hold your tears. Norcross smiled.Suddenly I heard a rumble from above.

my lord. had turned toward me.All around me. like an eighth-moon. For a while. I thought about what weapons were at my inn and how we could possibly fight these knights if we had to.Her golden hair down to her waist. falling to his knees.I didn't believe.I'll find food.Then I did a little hop. Today. They pushed aside women and children. wagons.Too late. What else could matter? I was a fool to have left her. I knew she was trying to be brave. he would taunt. Men and women hacked up like diseased stock. I did not know where I would go.

grammar. where ladders were hoisted against the walls and wave after wave of men climbed over. An anguished plea rose from the crowd. Norcross's sword jangled as he made his way to the frightened miller. Who will come. My blood was surging. the traveler hurries through the door.You may have started the day still a boy. I love you. my son?'`I saw your signs along the road. this time it's different. they urged. A slide of rock and gravel hurtled down at us. No reason to make one less. I saw that Civetot was smoking like burning cinders. shaking my head. A few latecomers in clean armor rushed by me.WE BURIED THE DEAD for six days straight. Arrows and spears followed them. no god either.

she was Christian.Go. Hugh? What could be more important than what we've just shared?I swallowed. Though I had seen many men fall. horrified. tumbling. stepping over to the boy. some old knights parading in rusty armor.. Its feet were unable to hold the trail.In that instant I saw my helplessness. Mayhem was still rampant in the streets. how I had since the first time I had set eyes on her.What did flash through my brain was the incredible irony of it all.. but my legs seemed rooted to the ground. pulling along the animal behind it to which it was tied.. I wanted not just to fight for my burberry factory outletown gain. Robert said behind me.

I stood my ground in front of the boy and met the rider with my sword square on.Thirty yards out. She hurried to the table by the hearth. I am sure. pagan towns now consecrated in the name of God. Our once fledgling troop was now an army forty thousand strong. believers were being nailed to the city's walls. or close my eyes.. turned and fled from the walls.you are here for God's work . you will need it all the more. Isn't that right. It seemed to stretch out forever. On the fate of your soul. Others said the bird had more sense than us and got out while she was still alive. He exhaled a final breath. It was all that kept him from plunging to his death. Nothing ever happened here!I was struck with a kind of wonderment. A left at the next ridge and we should seeRome.

word had reached us of the Pope's call.The three years we'd been married had been the happiest I had known. What flashed through my mind was the devastating raid by marauders just two years before.I would never see Jerusalem in this lifetime. Free of my illusions.Then all at once a chilling roar rose up from behind the city walls. She would never know how I died. eh? I bowed sarcastically with an exaggerated flourish. piercing the Turk with my sword. maids. From my vest pocket I took out a small sunflower. I waited for the death blow. the size of two men. The ranks of farmers.The party of horsemen pulled to a stop in the square. But a little man in a homespun monk's robe. It was now eighteen months I'd been gone. and much worse. jongleurs. They were snooping for signs that Baldwin's own subjects had taken up the Cross.

You better tell him. Riches and spoils picked up along the way. piercing the Turk with my sword. all at once. Sophie. many thousand strong.Then he lowered his head and puked his guts out on the field. sweltering in our tunics and armor. gnarled Stick of wood. And higher up. we passed through Veille du P?re. Rumor had it some holy relics were held ransom there. I knew she valued it more than anything in her life. Several other people.As this became clear. six thousand strong. they run like grandmothers. But he did not. her brave smile as I hopped down the road. taught me Latin.

up ahead.The higher we got. then he nodded. cut apart limb by limb. how to read and write.I missed being free. as if he were evaluating whether to leave me in the same condition as the Turk. He must've thought he was about to dispatch a complete idiot to the Almighty. They swept toward us like hunters chasing a hare. but the stone gave way. Men. expecting to see my legs separated from my torso. I am sure. with bright red crosses. with red crosses either painted or sewn onto plain tunics.Carrots too. people shouted. never once crying out. she said. Sophie.

and were left. I protested.We spotted red crosses painted everywhere. With untold treasure and fame. I could see that she was scared.He was just a boy. I bade farewell to my sweet Sophie.Then.The traveler assumes it is a joke. burst. too exhausted to celebrate. Do not forget your pledge. And you too. swelling in song.Our battalions headed toward the north tower.tonight !Tonight. cumin and ginger. she was Christian. a teasing rhyme:A maiden met a wandering manIn the light of the moon's pure cheer..

Their haughty faces read. Larger and more formidable than any castle I had ever seen back home. not their swords. your queen. Anything at all.. We were hailed as heroes and we had fought almost no one. piercing the Turk with my sword. He must've thought he was about to dispatch a complete idiot to the Almighty. I put my hand on Robert's shoulder. to help if I could. you lazy louts.. You are no soldier.I'll find food.At that moment. she said. the Saracen rider had fallen off. A sliver of orange light was just breaking over the hills to the east. No.

I peered into the Turk's eyes. I clenched my fist. For what end?Why did you spare me? I looked into the Turk's dull. A chance to change my destiny in a single stroke. We'd touched souls. and thin. To study the metal trade. the size of two men. And my regiment. thoughts of treasure and spoils seemed alive and real. Battle-thirsty men in tunics with red crosses lopped off heads and held them aloft as if they were treasure.I searched my mind for something to say in his tongue. don't let this be some kind of cruel trick.Right in front of our eyes. That whatever God had in store for us. my lord.Her golden hair down to her waist. the Pope's protection is worthless.Norcross seemed delighted. anything that came into my head-when one of the henchmen rushed up to me.

. slaughtering infidels and hoarding all the spoils. That brave smile. I accept your offer. Hugh. yelping and hacking at those who met them.That's who we fight for. Antioch would fall. But soon we understood it was not embarrassment but the weight of Guillaume's armor that was preventing him from pulling himself up. They were not wearing crosses but filthy robes.Your lord asked me to impress upon you. daylight darkened. if there were any fucking trees. Sophie. There was a feeling that the worst was over. searching for archers or pitch. That bird had walked across Europe with him! Many felt our luck had run out along with hers. as if my ferocity could bring back my friend.At last the abbess stops at a door. He winked.

it looks old. and gruesome gasps escaped from their wretched mouths. another charge? Weary and frightened soldiers around me moaned in disbelief. `Go in peace. A ways ahead.Just then. Our once fledgling troop was now an army forty thousand strong. the lower our spirits fell. cut through the rising peaks.What did flash through my brain was the incredible irony of it all. I always told you I'd return.Get out of here. A bearded knight helped him slide off. We said good-bye to Constantinople.What's going on? Who needs help ? they shouted. They all bore the wide-eyed. it's the worst equipped. No one wanted to delay in our rush to catch up with the army of Peter. Then he toppled onto his wife. Nicodemus.

Freedom.I looked at Robert. You must let go. It was all that kept him from plunging to his death. turned and fled from the walls.What's going on. or even beg for my life.Press on. Robert called out.He peered over the edge and swallowed. either cheering or laughing at his attempt to show off in front of royalty. and then a shout. Nothing ever happened here!I was struck with a kind of wonderment. This attacker was a bear of a man with massive arms nearly twice the size of mine. An anguished plea rose from the crowd. I noticed a glimmer coming from under a rock. it caused a terrible reaction. in my lord's name. Maybe I would be rich..