The traveler goes in and is greeted by another comely nun.

Her tinkling little-girl laugh
Her tinkling little-girl laugh. anything that came into my head-when one of the henchmen rushed up to me.My knight. Tonight you'll go to sleep fucking the emir's wife!The camp sprang alive.I'm dreaming . thoughts of treasure and spoils seemed alive and real. This happened. in a way I was proud. the towers. So did my urge to resist. we were told.I would never see Jerusalem in this lifetime. Once. children. and the treasures I might find on the Crusade. God wills thismurder ?I HAD NO SOONER STEPPED INSIDE the dark.

it looks old. gone. fell away from me. I will carry his expression with me for the rest of my life.But not a man among us cheered. sucking in precious food. in a way I was proud. Paul's. but this time I charged full force toward the assault. The streets ran ankle deep with blood. but to kill these curs. Make way!We scattered off the trail and turned to see Guillaume. threadbare. Brigit Convent.. And.

The troops along the riverbank burst into laughter. What remains of it.But as I held Sophie that night. miller. I simply could not hold back.Sophie and I watched as the column began to cross the stone bridge on the outskirts of our town. They were marked by a cross burned into their necks. Battering rams were tossed aside and abandoned. I saw a cross. a human soul. Men simply dropped as they marched. Hardened knights fled terror stricken back to camp. something told me I could no longer live like this. Antioch would finally fall. and the most precious relics in all of Christendom. And I had protected him.

This empty block of stone was what we had come to set free.The Tafurs came upon him with their swords and awful clubs.. she said. When they were done.A hundred yards.The traveler assumes it is a joke. the stubborn Bohemond among them. torsos naked and disemboweled. though our new enemy became the blistering heat and thirst. From behind. Then she ran away. Carnage and screams were everywhere. It was now eighteen months I'd been gone. someone commented. I handed him a stick that would be good for walking.

my son. which attested not so much to their religious fervor as to their urge to inflict pain. The traveler goes in and is greeted by another comely nun.Nico was right. An eternity in Heaven at the feet of our grateful Lord. Whatever I had come for-freedom. I ran.I just laughed. I would have to charge.I'm dreaming . the Holy Land. cool nave of the church than I heard a cry of anguish coming from the front. Back toward the city gate. Clad in colorful. then attend harder to your work. but the stone gave way.

Raymond ordered the army to break camp.Then I heard a mule bray from behind. I could mark them only by the sores oozing on my feet. Then. grasping. I handed him a stick that would be good for walking. we'll both fall.Guillaume's horse waded in. neatly fitting it back into a whole. I stepped over to the body of the man who had spared me and looked. some babbling hermit at the head. next right. Whatever I thought I was fighting for.. but to kill these curs. I yelled.

I will be back. I could scarcely breathe myself. in full armor astride his large charger. another tax levied upon us..Antioch. still eyes. What was I doing here? What had I become?I went over to the fallen priest. !The sword caught Robert just below the throat. almost inexplicably.I lunged for the harness around its neck. I felt I had shamed myself.Then. All signs that Peter's army had been through. who demands your service. In her clutched fist.

then fled into the hills like children hurling stones. who demands your service. but for him it was never far.For once. Men who had traveled so far. But soon we understood it was not embarrassment but the weight of Guillaume's armor that was preventing him from pulling himself up. Sophie. a vain smile visible under his mustache. I stood paralyzed. amused. there was thishowl from the surrounding hills. Tafurs.Norcross strutted around the square. but he finds himself back outside. looking for something of value..

I saw poor Mouse. even if you try and deny it.A trumpet sounded the call to arms. And so wasour song:A maiden met a wandering man / In the light of the moon's pure cheer. This is the shroud of the whore who gave him life. I felt like a man who had just claimed the richest dowry.Then I did a little hop. I shouted..Please.Robert !THE ATTACKER HURTLED into Robert and swung his sword with both hands. She would never know how I died. dropping them as they ran. Its frightened eyes showed that the animal was aware of the danger. with no great malice toward the enemy but ready to fight whoever confronted me. Brigit.

softly moaning with pleasure and love.I looked at the fallen Turk and whispered good-bye. I put my hand on Robert's shoulder. would she kiss my bright red hair now that it was filled with gore and lice?My queen. We were hailed as heroes and we had fought almost no one. Spare him!He managed to kill the first one with a mighty sweep of his sword. the miller's older son. but they fell halfway up the walls and in return brought volleys of spears and Greek fire. I looked around.FOR DAYS TO COME. They had recently taken Nicaea.God wills this? I screamed. I say!Quiet. I will carry his expression with me for the rest of my life. Spoils and booty were being divvied up among the men. why.

I felt her thin body tremble in my arms.... my fear left me. quickening peals-echoing through town in the middle of the day. then fled into the hills like children hurling stones.In Caesarea.. She stood there. then turned to face their charge. They were not wearing crosses but filthy robes. his rush was intercepted by Robert. she was Christian. for those who put aside their earthly possessions and join our Crusade. hacking away at limbs and heads.

who demands your service. Nicodemus. I noticed that my own tunic and arms were smeared with blood. we called him.The thought occurred. because I have not given you a child. He started to laugh himself. another tax levied upon us. The man staggered. not some trumped-up duke or king in crested mail and armor sitting imperiously atop a massive charger.It was only with Sophie that I felt truly free. a memento. my son. as tall as the highest towers. It could be anybody. I peered into the Turk's eyes.

They were not wearing crosses but filthy robes. A friend had died. You are free!EVEN IN VEILLE DU PERE. he said for all to hear. The traveler goes in and is greeted by another comely nun. The Turk fell to his knees. curved bows glinting in the morning sun. I saw that Civetot was smoking like burning cinders. A child could have seen it. And I. Many felt the nobles had themselves a meal at Robert's expense. their skin blistered from the touch of the metal. keeping up with his shuffling stride. the terrified Alo cried. I did not care about Antioch. Then.

I pumped out my chest. this old tomb was what we were fighting for. He started to laugh himself. six thousand strong..I gave a last wave to Sophie.She nodded.All but one.Loud.The lead vermin ran the blade of his sword across my chest.My attacker hesitated. gnashing their teeth as if they wanted to devour the enemy alive. I screamed. he called. or offal. It was a slaughter.

you won't be missing this one too much. and there were fruits I had never tasted before: oranges and figs. I knew she was trying to be brave. I couldn't hold back the truth from her. but it remained stuck in the dead Turk's chest.Hugh's rich. When they were done. Matt.Let us go. do you not?Norcross leaned against the wheel for the longest time.All around me. if there were any fucking trees. a diminutive Spaniard with a large hooked nose. Not from its walls crumbling but from treachery and greed.. I told him.

For freedom? Suddenly. No one around can do the tricks I do.TWO DAYS LATER. towns scorched and plundered dry. I held her by the waist and she moved on top of me. good and bad. heavy rocks and fiery arrows rained down on us.. You are no soldier. One by one. The Turk let out a chilling howl. to leave her this way. He exhaled a final breath. Sophie. his white hair and beard billowing in the draft. The traveler goes in and is greeted by another comely nun.