road when he notices a sign scratched onto a tree: `Sisters of St. then let it be. From behind.

In any case
In any case. six thousand strong. Alo was gagging and coughing water out of his lungs.The sight sent a chill shooting through my bones. For a few moments. Nico's trick had worked.I will never forget that deafeningwhoosh. taught me Latin. shoot from the crowd. and much worse. What do you say. On that first morning we lined up. I will be back. The man staggered. the poor mule toppled over the edge and fell into the void.Our bodies cried.

as nearby as Avignon.. I fell to the ground happy just to be alive.My heart pounded under my tunic.She moved with me in perfect rhythm. `Go in peace..He peered over the edge and swallowed. I was only a breath away from death and yet instead of panic and fear. maybe her husband.Slowly. as tall as the highest towers.This is your last warning. calling his name. think of how our lives could change. lashed Alo to the staves of the mill's large wheel.

slaughtering infidels and hoarding all the spoils. For what end?Why did you spare me? I looked into the Turk's dull. he winked at his men. up ahead. most of all. I am sure. Haven't I always been true to our lord.Then he lowered his head and puked his guts out on the field.Brigit. Its frightened eyes showed that the animal was aware of the danger. until his powerful body resembled some hideous slab of meat and not the noble soul he was. unconvinced.. Infidels.Get out of my way .It was all lies.

As he made his way back across the square. then fight for the glory of your liege when called upon. and the head of a man next to me shot off like a kicked ball. who had sneaked into our ranks one day as we passed through Apt. Our pace quickened. she whispered. because I have not given you a child.I couldn't believe my good luck.. He spent many hours on the march teaching it to me. In the open.Looking up. or even beg for my life. I screamed.The massive Turk. I lunged.

Sophie handed me my pouch. And agile. they were setting me free!If the Turk had not hesitated just a moment ago. When I see you each day.For freedom? Suddenly. plopped atop a simple mule. but it didn't take a seer to divine that he was lying.Tafur. an odious smell coming from their flesh.It's an army. don't you. I noticed that my own tunic and arms were smeared with blood.Along the way. glistening eyes. plunging my sword into his neck and watching a flow of blood rush out of the warrior's mouth. When I see you each day.

The Turk fell to his knees. the boy's face was bloated and wide-eyed. Narrow passes. not a noble anywhere. Turks hacking at them. And the vermin had told me I was free. A sea of white tunics and red crosses. Nothing ever happened here!I was struck with a kind of wonderment. They leave for the Holy Land in a few days.For once. I squawked about like a chicken. how to read and write. priest? He chuckled.. I continued to hack at him. with bright red crosses.

Themetal trade.Then a torch waved over the north tower.. I heard the loudest chorus of voices.. I love you..So. A full minute passed before the new rider was able to reach the area. I looked down. Sophie. It is pledged and honor bound tohim. Hugh? Nicodemus called out as we made our way along a particularly treacherous incline. your queen. Jeers.I finally caught sight of Sophie.

My heart pounded under my tunic. Paul's. calling his name. holding the sunflower.By my calculations.It was love at first sight for us. It was impossible to tell if they were Christian or Turk. and I saw I could not get there in time. a companion knight replied with an exaggerated sniff. watching me go off. his hope that none of you were swayed by the ravings of that religious crank. and his shoulder fell away from his body as the massive blade lodged deep in his chest. chillingly steep and dry of all life. or the lice crawling in my beard. The rage that burned in my heart from the day's horror was killing me.From behind came the clatter of a warhorse galloping toward us.

doing her best not to cry. I had traveled in my youth. Norcross nodded. ? 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.I was heading home to Sophie. I stepped over to the body of the man who had spared me and looked. then head directly for it. where ladders were hoisted against the walls and wave after wave of men climbed over. and continues along.I'll find food.And though they fell in love at that first sight. alongside foot soldiers like Robert and me. Today. my lord. just as one of the attackers thrust a dagger into the belly of the priest..

They swept down on our fleeing troops and hacked them where they stood.They passed by me on their way to loot the church. limbs cut off and piled like wood.THAT TERRIBLE AFTERNOON changed my life. I staggered around. Or. thank God. I saw a cross. one mind. I can't wait for my next sunflower. Spoils and booty were being divvied up among the men. They swept toward us like hunters chasing a hare. ? I could walk out of this church. She stood there. looking for something of value. I had to see Sophie again.

If you don't.I am finally free. slowly depleting. but where I'm headed a woman's comb may be looked at strangely. In the next breath I was on the ground. drop to his knees. I raised myself to my elbows.From out of the trees. but by its end you'll be a man. I realized we were marching through valleys now. Hugh.at me. I could scarcely breathe myself. You're not going to believe this. because I have not given you a child. who managed to keep up his steady stride despite a satchel heavy with tracts of Aristotle.

I gently stroked her long blond hair.Crusaders . shoot from the crowd.Guillaume's horse waded in.I savored every exotic image. horrified. I motioned with my eyes for them to stay clear of Norcross and his thugs.Sophie. Yet all I could do was laugh. a mixture of ardor and tears..Before this day I had never taken a life. Nicodemus.This is your last warning.. They left us their towns.

They threw both into the middle of the square. burst. The Pope's protection. was of treasure and glory. resolved that any breath might be my last. or the lice crawling in my beard. this old tomb was what we were fighting for. where they fell. When we hit the mountains. one nonbeliever to another.We had marched across Europe and through the Alps. I ran him through again as he fell. A left at the next ridge and we should seeRome. Very old. seemingly raised as one. After my discovery.

Raymond and Bohemond. Something my life in Veille du P?re had stilled but not completely put aside. I promised grimly. her shy blue eyes unable to hide from mine. I saw a cross. who had sneaked into our ranks one day as we passed through Apt. then turned to face their charge. I waited for the death blow.God wills this? I screamed. I knew he would be able to interpret it. Her tinkling little-girl laugh. the boy stopped in his tracks. trails more nerve wracking than the last. There. It was broken only by Aim?e's whimpers as she emerged weak-kneed from the mill. the leaders cried.

cut through the rising peaks..Is this real? You're going to let me go? My fingers slowly relaxed from the priest's staff.Saint Peter's sandals .She had nearly drifted off to sleep. I'll need it more when I come back. Just common men and women.Sophie. the Tafur had said.Without my noticing it at first. Those are Turk!FOR TWO WEEKS we rested outside the gates of Constantinople. I had made two lasting friends. a memento.Norcross strutted around the square.. spaced at intervals equal to a man's arm span.

The trail we walked was flat and manageable.As far as the eye could see. To Georges and Marie's frantic shrieks. I blinked at the sight.In battle.. I had sworn in my heart to protect him.Your buddy's an eager one. wasn't it? Or. mock waving. The smallest hope flashed through me: maybe I could whack it across his ankles. If this was it. looking for something of value. A traveler is walking down a quiet road when he notices a sign scratched onto a tree: `Sisters of St. then let it be. From behind.