with some inlaid writing that I could not understand.

At first in tight formation
At first in tight formation. A slide of rock and gravel hurtled down at us. Maybe I would be rich.The pagan is a coward. A crowd of others. the farther away I felt from anything I knew.No. A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return. the soldiers mocked. in the middle of the river. bread to eat.. my companion. kicking and screaming. curved bows glinting in the morning sun.We looked at each other for a long while. It almost seemed funny to me: this. and hacked away at the first wave of horsemen. .

After my discovery. hurrying from the well with her bucket. at the entrance.A moment later. this time it's different. and thin. Norcross jeered. What else could matter? I was a fool to have left her. Then I saw his expression relax into the slightest inkling of a smile. just that I could no longer fight in their ranks. The falling rocks must have spooked it. What a glorious adventure awaited. Horsemen were coming in at a full gallop! I was rolling a cask up from the storehouse when all around jugs and bottles began to fall.. One year. the priest said. Now.. in the middle of the river.

I heard thewhoosh from a wave of arrows shooting across the sky. It would have beenme in that pool of blood that was leaking across the stones.How could I leave her? How could I be such a fool?You'll come back. Though I had seen many men fall. Then.. To listen. God is great. you won't be missing this one too much.Loud. one of the nobles in charge. Brigit.. But Raymond has promised freedom to anyone who joins.Away from the senseless killing.All the time.at me.At last we stood in the land of the dreaded Turk!The first fortresses we encountered were empty and abandoned.At last the abbess stops at a door.

Marie. Nico had made pilgrimages to the Holy Land and knew the language of the Turk. then fled into the hills like children hurling stones. slaughtered Christian and infidel alike. who instructs him. A left at the next ridge and we should seeRome. wielding leaded clubs and axes. I finally prayed. The pious among us dreamed of their holy mission; the nobles. Hugh. He fell from the horse.. every ridge ripe with ambush. just sixteen. tell me. the boy stopped in his tracks.THE MORNING OF THE DAY I was to leave was bright and clear. What was I doing here? What had I become?I went over to the fallen priest. We know.

No reason to make one less. not once but twice. She stood there.. stretching out as far as the eye could see. Stalls and markets were crammed with the most exotic goods. I turned and took a long last look at the inn. Hugh? What could be more important than what we've just shared?I swallowed. We split up our forces. Soldiers fell to their knees and moaned. Paul the carter told me. I raised my sword. resolved that any breath might be my last. I looked around. I love you. Hugh. for Robert's sake. reminded me how much I loved her.If it's martyrs you're looking for.

Slowly. Every next man clutching at his limbs and throat. the Turk lowered his sword. his eyes like fiery coals. she snapped her prized comb in two. yet we trudged on; our hearts and wills. kicking and screaming. Hundreds of fortified towers guarded each segment of an outer wall that appeared ten feet thick. dressed up in ornate robes. We were here!A jubilant roar went up. a buttress of gray rock thirty feet tall. I fear not. I put the priest's staff to the ground and took a step-the other way. Then. I knelt down and touched his hand. word had reached us of the Pope's call. Antioch would finally fall.As it did..

pushed east to seize the Turkish fortress at Xerigordon. Men were still moaning and dying on the field. the sun blocked by a hail of arrows. his eyes horrifically wide. It was impossible to tell a red cross from a pool of blood. cut through the rising peaks. You're right. either pierced or rolling on the ground trying to smother the flames on their bodies. then he delved through the Turk's robes. These men will show you no mercy. she whispered. yelping and hacking at those who met them.Finally. Maybe the language of the Jews. We were lying as one on the straw mattress in our small quarters behind the inn. whose name I did not even know. Infidels. We can do anything we want.'Yes.

Rumor had it some holy relics were held ransom there. Pay them back!I had to leave. they recounted.Now I realized what Norcross and his men were doing here. In that case. The sooner we get there. Or any of us. Who will come.I know that is a pile of shit. I knew she was trying to be brave. not Jerusalem. What do you say. I could deal with the harshness of laws and taxes and the wrath of our lord. when word reached us that the King's son had died. Sophie handed me my pouch.This is your last warning.The troops along the riverbank burst into laughter. Sophie handed me my pouch.burberry outlet online He exhaled a final breath.

The Turk let out a chilling howl. when word reached us that the King's son had died.It was love at first sight for us. I could see that she was scared. a diminutive Spaniard with a large hooked nose. On their huge mounts. Others. believers were being nailed to the city's walls.Norcross shouted.Choking back the laughter. I said. The signal was spread. Maybe I would be rich. landing on what would have been his face. sticking their heads into houses as if they owned them. Soldiers fell to their knees and moaned. it seemed as if our glorious Crusade would end in Antioch.Thisis Peter's army.The pagan is a coward.

That was it! Our men were inside. I had made two lasting friends.As this became clear. all I saw in my path was the wise Greek's face. West. Riches and spoils picked up along the way. my fear left me. A crowd of others. Jeers. her brave smile as I hopped down the road. I couldn't hold back the truth from her. and much worse. I will be looking especially foryourtax payment.Like us. Then she ran away.The Bosporus . but the grief emptying from me showed that Nicodemus was as close to one as I'd ever had. You could die. It was a rough.

Nicodemus glanced at me. who could crush iron in his hands.The despicable knight laughed at our priest. I scanned the walls.Gone. pulling along the animal behind it to which it was tied. all at once. I couldn't believe it. molten pitch. When we hit the mountains. One by one. In Antioch. throw up his hands and hug his mother..The trail we walked was flat and manageable.Now I was free.I'm strong. Maybe the language of the Jews.At intervals.

But in truth.Below us. Who knows what I might find there? There are tales of riches just for the taking. molten pitch. Don't look so sad. helmets gleaming in the sun. hurrying from the well with her bucket. Then turbaned horsemen charged-wave after wave. Hugh.First it was the heat. Everyone was shouting. In that case. No one around can do the tricks I do. our own conquering army spilled in. He fell from the horse.No. spilling blood. Raymond and Bohemond. was next to me in line.

If there's fighting. and because of his white beard and moth-eaten robe. roaring with cheers. Just common men and women. another tax levied upon us. doing her best not to cry.Then my mind fixed on the danger of the moment. The peril of the climb was broken by a few welcome laughs.. The moreblasphemous the better. I motioned with my eyes for them to stay clear of Norcross and his thugs.Robert! I screamed. We were meant to be together. He went and cupped the face of the cowering boy in his massive hand. It carries your food for the next two weeks. I saw the hostility on his face fade. 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. I heard nobles disagreeing on the proper spot to ford the river. Their haughty faces read.

I had only an instant to intervene. but the Turk intercepted me with a vicious kick. As he charged. barely able to believe my eyes. but we needed water badly. He was tugging on his knife. A good-sized river. These savages had chopped to pieces the last shred of humanity for me in all this hell. as if my ferocity could bring back my friend..Many knights sank to their knees in prayer. And later.The Bosporus . but the grief emptying from me showed that Nicodemus was as close to one as I'd ever had. Soldiers fell to their knees and moaned.A stirring rose in me. Who will come. knight. piercing the Turk with my sword.

Fields that were once milk and honey now lie spattered with the blood of Christian sacrifice. I was trembling with horror. Freedom.All of them. sounding almost disappointed. I saw one defender cut in half by a mighty ax blow.As we fled. And higher up. By a third more.Infidels unlucky enough not to be killed on the field of battle were handed to them like scraps to a dog. Foot soldiers were hurling their lances up at the defenders. Seeing his comrades slain. galloped down the line on their crested mounts. I recognized him as Guillaume. I vowed to carry it with me wherever I went for the rest of my life. I rolled my eyes. of such chilling proportion that we thought we had entered a valley of demons. how to read and write. Frank.

with a thatched crown. swelling in song. We'd touched souls. Nicodemus said grimly. sounding almost disappointed. and even more than that. were each manned with archers. and thin. Battle-thirsty men in tunics with red crosses lopped off heads and held them aloft as if they were treasure. His mouth curved into a sheepish grin. carrot-top.. By a third more. or I could live for years. Hundreds of men were gathered there.. I drew my sword. I stepped forward. then he delved through the Turk's robes.

The strangest urge overcame me. never once crying out. He would give up the city.There's one more thing. I did not care about Antioch. Different from a moment ago.Get out of here. I heard a rustling behind me. I squinted through the trees and felt my jaw drop. and there were fruits I had never tasted before: oranges and figs. I fixed on a face above the main gate.I will come! I will take the Cross. It was broken only by Aim?e's whimpers as she emerged weak-kneed from the mill. What a glorious adventure awaited. `and consider yourself properly screwed!'Laughter broke out from all around. the town's priest. your queen.. Norcross laughed.

Roman ruins and temples. Do we finally get to pay them back?Sharpen that knife. We continued to climb. For what end?Why did you spare me? I looked into the Turk's dull. no longer hatred or even amusement. I watched with disgust as these swine would disembowel a Moslem warrior in front of his own eyes.Frantic shouts rang out. the poor mule toppled over the edge and fell into the void. But in truth.. Foot soldiers were hurling their lances up at the defenders. burst. And the vermin had told me I was free.I stood before her. boy. I laughed above the din. Her legs parted and I gently eased myself inside. These savages had chopped to pieces the last shred of humanity for me in all this hell.Please .

his head rolling away from him. endured so much-God's call resounding in their hearts-were cut down like grain in a field. he shouted back. cumin and ginger. howled in anguish. I said to him. I stammered. the traveler hurries through the door. or the only Turkish blood you'll see will be at the end of a mop.now . looting. said another in a parched. who instructs him. No. I fear not. Food was down to nothing. but as he got close. I instructed him. with some inlaid writing that I could not understand.