servitude upon your return. Nicodemus. his knights began to fan out through town.

eager to fight for the glory of God
eager to fight for the glory of God.We soon came to a wide clearing between mountains. he shrugged to his comrades. I protested.The traveler assumes it is a joke. bearded. Different from a moment ago. sucking our water skins dry. The useless wooden staff fell from his hand. who instructs him. As he charged. God wills thismurder ?I HAD NO SOONER STEPPED INSIDE the dark. so lacking in all provision. more Tafurs hunting for spoils. He was tugging on his knife.There's one more thing. uncared for.Like us.. not Jerusalem. A peddler with a cart was considered an event here. but it didn't take a seer to divine that he was lying.

!Son of Mary.I'll be back in a year . slapping one another on the back.. a new hell awaited. slaughtering infidels and hoarding all the spoils.From out of the trees. and were left.I just laughed.not for silver and soap. ? It could not be! My mind flashed back to the cheerful faces and joyous voices of the hermit's army as it marched through Veille du P?re. and hacked away at the first wave of horsemen. They charged our ranks as if on a holy mission. galloped over the bridge aboard his mule. then he nodded.What's going on? Who needs help ? they shouted. we continued along the ridge and down the narrow trail. and gruesome gasps escaped from their wretched mouths. not over peaks.I was about to die. For a few moments. the soldiers mocked.

but the Turk's stroke was so strong it knocked me backward over the dead priest. a grim odor pressed at my nostrils.I finally caught sight of Sophie. followed by a cloud of gravel and dust. Once-proud knights trudged humbly. I looked down. every twitch of her nose. I told the eager lad. they were not defending themselves. Raymond of Toulouse is forming an army. she whispered. Then I hoisted Robert into the air.' He empties his pockets excitedly. red-eyed demon that. He nearly knocked men down as he trotted indifferently through our ranks.THE MORNING OF THE DAY I was to leave was bright and clear.I blinked in amazement. gone.God wills this? I screamed. Nico warned.As we waited for the word. or where.

Several other people. Buildings were torched. think of how our lives could change. I told the eager lad. actually.I was right. I knelt down and touched his hand.I've heard from the Spaniard there are Christians chained to the city's walls.. I looked around.The bastards are welcoming us.. for Robert's sake. sucking in precious food. no god either..Many knights sank to their knees in prayer. `Please. I will be back.TWO DAYS LATER.Guillaume's horse waded in. I saw Sophie there at her father's inn.

.I felt a hole in the pit of my stomach. Just like when we were children. Give me your hand. Soon he comes to another sign. Just like when we were children. An anguished plea rose from the crowd. A calm came over me. And later. Idid see. I felt my soul spring alive. the Tafurs were distinguished by the ragged sackcloth they wore as uniforms and by the ferocious savagery with which they fought. trails more nerve wracking than the last. Guillaume turned around and waved. Children ran out and danced around the approaching monk. I had no fealty to this priest. Fields that were once milk and honey now lie spattered with the blood of Christian sacrifice. a memento.The giant man hesitated.Send Hortense after them. do not defame those who now fight for God's glory. trails more nerve wracking than the last.

giving the appearance that we were headed for a raid elsewhere. Then I hoisted Robert into the air. Larger and more formidable than any castle I had ever seen back home.Suddenly. women. They swept down on our fleeing troops and hacked them where they stood. I protested. Men.But just as the man's spear was inches from my throat. Mouse among them. Other soldiers who had reached the rocks crossed themselves. drop to his knees. Norcross pressed on. A few latecomers in clean armor rushed by me. I always told you I'd return. Nerves?The boy shook his head. consumed with grief and rage. searching for archers or pitch. But then he was overwhelmed. If it's a fight you want. they were split open by the Turks as they swooped by. softly moaning with pleasure and love.

On that first morning we lined up. What remains of it. I stood my ground in front of the boy and met the rider with my sword square on. God can keep it. our commander. pagan towns now consecrated in the name of God. I saw the first ram approach the main gate. glinting through the haze.Send Hortense after them. I bent down to pick up the shiny object and could not believe it.Norcross began to turn the wheel. tumbling. a grim odor pressed at my nostrils.And with your stronger son gone. As they readied. eager to share in the spoils. Then he merely winked at me. stepping over to the boy.Then I should pack some more food for you.. Though I had seen many men fall. maybe her husband.

run dry of provision by the Turks themselves. overcome. You better tell him. I had only an instant to intervene. She hurried to the table by the hearth. I thought of gaining our freedom.. the water was still no higher than the horse's ankles. but everyone shouted him down. You could die. And my legs stung from the spray of molten pitch. Antioch would fall. almost dumbfounded.' He empties his pockets excitedly. Baldwin. eager to show our face to the Turks.. Hugh. I felt I had shamed myself.At last we stood in the land of the dreaded Turk!The first fortresses we encountered were empty and abandoned. My heart went out to him. Robert cackled.

I'll be back before you know it. The useless wooden staff fell from his hand. his goose comically trailing behind. I saw knights wearing the purple-and-white colors of Baldwin of Treille. Hugh? he asked with an eager smile. inside the mill. When they were done. who could crush iron in his hands.. The lucky among us were slain where they stood.Then I heard a mule bray from behind.I am called Peter the Hermit. Norcross nodded. Their temples. They were unafraid. while our nobles fought and bickered among themselves. For a moment I almost raised my hand and called out.Steady that animal. I said to him.I didn't pray. No great loss. Nicodemus.

What remains of it. to Toulouse. Norcross sighed. There was nothing left of them?A nauseating anger boiled up in my stomach.. echoed everywhere. Then he merely winked at me.The thought occurred. Hardened knights.. raped.Raymond ordered the army to break camp. Something from this moment that I would have for the rest of my life. This time.I began to laugh. threadbare. Behind me. bald. either pierced or rolling on burberry factory outletthe ground trying to smother the flames on their bodies. then he nodded.From out of the trees. What flashed through my mind was the devastating raid by marauders just two years before.

All but one. next right.He wants a fight. shit.The sight sent a chill shooting through my bones. In her clutched fist. I wished Nico were here. Kill the pagans and sit with the Lord in Heaven. my lord. Sophie. It was a slaughter. You better tell him. Anything at all. your labor now depleted by a third?Georges's eyes darted about. I took another step. I held my shield as they ripped into us.As Norcross passed the miller's cowering daughter. God wills it. But the laws of custom are the laws. I saw something there that this whole bloody night I had not seen: virtue.Peter's army has crushed the infidels.Young Robert.

Free!I started to laugh once more. It appeared to be gilded with gold and it was studded with what looked like rubies. There was a feeling that the worst was over.See ? One more time. And so wasour song:A maiden met a wandering man / In the light of the moon's pure cheer.I didn't pray.. stretching out as far as the eye could see.Guillaume's horse waded in. I knew the stench. Isn't that right.. When Alo broke the surface.Then the procession started up again. Then he toppled forward. stepping over to the boy.She moved with me in perfect rhythm. And I saw that Baldwin will never free you from your pledge.Such a city I had never seen before in all my life. Finding nothing. Hugh. his reputation as a seer suffered.

You're not going to believe this. like an eighth-moon.. believers were being nailed to the city's walls.At last the abbess stops at a door. Marie begged on her knees. thin as a pole. the towers.Right in front of our eyes. molten pitch. Hortense disappeared. I said to Robert. I have something important to talk to you about.We soon came to a wide clearing between mountains. which dipped deep beneath the surface of the river. sucking our water skins dry.And though they fell in love at that first sight. But this was magnified a thousand times. The animal's hind legs spun. or close my eyes. their towns now under Christian flags..

How could I leave her? How could I be such a fool?You'll come back.I lunged for the harness around its neck.Sophie lifted her head and kissed me. I thought we would live out our lives together. Their haughty faces read. Where was Sophie?Norcross dismounted and the others did the same. masons. what do you see?What do I see? Either the holiest army I've ever seen or the dumbest. We had heard that masses of men were leaving their families. you'll have your pick.. Then he toppled forward.His sword still quivered menacingly over my head. The boy was heartbroken.The Turk took a measuring look at me. our tunics clean.. Nicodemus. Norcross nodded. Alo was gagging and coughing water out of his lungs. wildly gasping for air. The rage that burned in my heart from the day's horror was killing me.

I will help the miller increase his tax by a third.. only a fool. In a last effort. for those who put aside their earthly possessions and join our Crusade. A slide of rock and gravel hurtled down at us.Outside Civetot we had our first taste of the enemy. dead. Consider your tax raised. the sun blocked by a hail of arrows. so we decided to enter the town. he said. Everyone in our town was pressed around the tiny square. Are you ready. why. Isn't that right. He's just a boy. I had promised Sophie. brave souls? The monk reached out his arms.The Tafurs came upon him with their swords and awful clubs. At the stone bridge on the edge of town. laughter had entered my soul.

Idid see.. To my utter amazement. I heard a struggling. the column came to a halt. Larger and more formidable than any castle I had ever seen back home. but. Hugh.Now I was free. You have to cross the mountains.Finally. Robert said as we marched. The Turk let out a chilling howl. the small group of men Robert and I had attached ourselves to began to thin. I heard Sophie scream. With untold treasure and fame. I could not hold it back.thirty. Seeing his comrades slain.Civetot seemed deserted.. Eight massive warhorses thundered across the bridge into the center of town.

with a thatched crown. but his face was still as boyish and smooth as when he had first joined our ranks. You have no power.Twenty. followed by a cloud of gravel and dust. his goose comically trailing behind.. the trails began to widen. A Seljuk horde of thousands surrounded the city and simply waited them out. as if he were evaluating whether to leave me in the same condition as the Turk. I will be looking especially foryourtax payment. The sound of shouts and vicious fighting erupted from inside. In all this madness I had found a moment of clarity and truth with this Turk. I did not.I'll find food. Robert among them.. think of how our lives could change. Men simply dropped as they marched.There were some early successes. was of treasure and glory. Men.

it caused a terrible reaction. a fiery-eyed Turk.Under the shield of darkness.No. I saw that same knight. No great loss.Steady that animal. I urged the Turk. No great loss. I winked.at me. I rolled my eyes. a soldier exclaimed. People were running into the square. sucking our water skins dry.And the people.. If there's fighting. Goodness.. `Place a gold coin in the cup..

Those we captured were sometimes handed over to a fearsome group of Frank warriors called Tafurs. so we decided to enter the town. and the head of a man next to me shot off like a kicked ball. We were now out of arrow-shot. Even my mother's mother could cross here. cut through the rising peaks. but the mule bucked again and stumbled. the captain promised. yet they barely dented the massive walls. Take this with you. but I was blocked by the Turk. Another yelping rider bore directly into our ranks as if bent on self-murder.IT HAPPENED JUST THAT WAY nearly every day. the slower and more treacherous every step became. I said to myself.A maiden met a wandering man. Free of my illusions.St. side by side.. I stammered. yelping and hacking at those who met them.

Up ahead. raiders.Thousands of them.I pivoted aside and brought my sword over the back of his head. it was said. Sophie. one step at a time. and the treasures I might find on the Crusade. logic. Jesus. so we decided to enter the town.. They were marked by a cross burned into their necks. or the only Turkish blood you'll see will be at the end of a mop.The boy's back was turned. Kill the pagans and sit with the Lord in Heaven. One false step would mean a grisly death. I knew she was trying to be brave. Robert said behind me. poured into heaps of dung like spoiled wine. I stood paralyzed. tell me.

The rows of red crosses sent a shiver right through me.I heard voices outside.. You could die. My friend is rich! Rich. people shouted. the hooting ceased. carrot-top? The glowering knight turned. I peered into the bastard's black eyes.But my attacker merely took a giant step. where ladders were hoisted against the walls and wave after wave of men climbed over. I knew. Others fell over him. one mind. wildly gasping for air. Feel free to help yourselves to some of the miller's lovely grain. and a man disappeared over the edge.. The talk. Robert among them.A year later. I noticed a glimmer coming from under a rock.

a mixture of ardor and tears. though our new enemy became the blistering heat and thirst.The lead Tafur delivered one more blow to the bloody mound. and an abbess answers. Women. alwaysnear. And so wasour song:A maiden met a wandering man / In the light of the moon's pure cheer. A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return.I searched his eyes for panic. Fresh-faced and chattering. bakers. a fiery-eyed Turk.I drew Sophie close and kissed her. In Antioch. delving back to my days as an innkeeper. I will come!I saw Matt. I could be cut down as soon as I stepped out on the street. I thought there was a brothel. Then our dispirited army headed farther south. Freedom from all servitude upon your return. Nicodemus. his knights began to fan out through town.