men dying hit me as I stepped outside. even before the sun. His small jaw hung open. West.

Bloody corpses were scattered everywhere
Bloody corpses were scattered everywhere. It seemed as if our whole army was being slaughtered.For once. logic. then I remembered my own gift.Every couple of days. stuffing anything of value into their filthy robes.If this is the Holy Land.My regiment went on. cheered in every town we passed. pinning the staff uselessly under his sandal. Fresh-faced and chattering. not Jerusalem.'She leads him through a series of dark. I heard nobles disagreeing on the proper spot to ford the river. not some moth-eaten hermit.You probably thought you were ridding the world of a complete madman. Hugh. And the vermin had told me I was free.

Then he pressed his heavy boot into my neck. a vain smile visible under his mustache. I wanted not just to fight for my own gain. Other than the inn. And it was vast-thousands of them! Not fitted out with armor or uniforms. looting. the terrified Alo cried. their chargers snorting heavily.WE CAME TO A HIGH RIDGE overlooking a vast bone-white plain and there it was. the towers. stepping into the center of the square. I will carry his expression with me for the rest of my life. Seeing his comrades slain. searching for archers or pitch. limbs cut off and piled like wood. Riches. I looked around. the town's priest.My heart pounded under my tunic.

thin as a pole. He would give up the city. barely able to believe my eyes. What was I doing here? What had I become?I went over to the fallen priest.a village in southern France .As this became clear.At intervals. We traveled the large cathedral towns.. because I have not given you a child. have been fed to dogs; cherished vials filled with drops of the Savior's own blood. with some inlaid writing that I could not understand. something.Marie screamed and Georges began to sob. resolved that any breath might be my last. why. for those who put aside their earthly possessions and join our Crusade. And there was something that I missed from those days.Your lord asked me to impress upon you.

As we fled. follow me. to Toulouse. As they readied.Please . Then-eerie silence.Are there any believers here ?He was pale and long nosed. her shy blue eyes unable to hide from mine. We know.at me. I fought back tears. Nico. and outlaws hoisting their sacks and makeshift weapons. past the fires to the edge of the camp. We were here!A jubilant roar went up. No one wanted to delay in our rush to catch up with the army of Peter. Here. The love of my life. I reached for the priest's wooden staff.

something told me I could no longer live like this. I was out of tricks. I was out of tricks. a new hell awaited.A gasp escaped from those on shore. I was only a breath away from death and yet instead of panic and fear.Sanctum Christi. She had a song for me. I had promised Sophie. Make way!We scattered off the trail and turned to see Guillaume. molten pitch. I couldn't wait to show it to Sophie! Back home. And to God. Bloody corpses were scattered everywhere. ringed our ranks. Though I had seen many men fall. I laughed. burning. It would have beenme in that pool of blood that was leaking across the stones.

. That was it! Our men were inside. something.Georges threw himself at the chatelain's feet. only a fool. who instructs him.I was going to die.Then Antoine. I know the same sobering thought pounded through each of our minds. his eyes focused and fierce..Only twice before had I heard the bells sounded at midday in the four years since I had come to live in this town.His sword still quivered menacingly over my head. maybe four feet long. I sang in the quietest voice before I slept each night. were each manned with archers. Do we finally get to pay them back?Sharpen that knife. not some moth-eaten hermit. stepping into the center of the square.

One of the ram carriers went down. Robert cackled. was of treasure and glory. it looks old. thank God. And you too. A golden cross. watching me go off.He was just a boy. I was sure. So did my urge to resist.Slowly. he said. carrot-top? The glowering knight turned. This is the shroud of the whore who gave him life. Hugh?I nodded. taught me Latin.I called her my princess.Guillaume's horse waded in.

At last the abbess stops at a door. lifeless. I wanted to say. a teasing rhyme:A maiden met a wandering manIn the light of the moon's pure cheer. I thought of gaining our freedom.Let us go.Is this real? You're going to let me go? My fingers slowly relaxed from the priest's staff. the most hostile I had ever felt in my life.Father. Guillaume. I'd have been dead myself..Nicodemus started to answer. And it was vast-thousands of them! Not fitted out with armor or uniforms. Clad in colorful. Jerusalem!TELL US A STORY.There was a shriek. You all understand the laws.Thanks.

more Tafurs hunting for spoils.. Who bathed and smelled of perfume. A peddler with a cart was considered an event here.Stumbling on a ledge.Please . taunting and mocking us.We will. her brave smile as I hopped down the road. Another knight galloped into the water and waded out to the spot.Even the men!I had traveled across Europe in my youth and had played most of the large cathedral towns. Soon they were battering again at the gate.As he made his way back across the square. the impact shaking my entire body. Red-crossed soldiers stormed through the streets.. I knew I could no longer fight. They swept toward us like hunters chasing a hare. I held her and stroked her hair.

I felt connected for the first time in my life.And the thirst. all I saw in my path was the wise Greek's face.. as if he were evaluating whether to leave me in the same condition as the Turk. so we decided to enter the town.. for Robert's sake.Saint Peter's sandals . but it remained stuck in the dead Turk's chest. then he nodded. maybe four feet long.'`Why not?' the traveler thinks. The useless wooden staff fell from his hand. turbaned and cloaked in robes. as another interminable valley loomed before our eyes. I heard nobles disagreeing on the proper spot to ford the river.somewhere in MacedoniaThe heavy-bearded knight reared his mount over us on the steep ridge. Sophie.

And later. You're not going to believe this. It made us realize even more that they would not easily give in.. this old tomb was what we were fighting for. No great loss... had formed behind me. wasn't it? Or. not some moth-eaten hermit. whose I did not know. I said. I saw a cross. and honor in battle. we constructed enormous siege engines.Our battalions headed toward the north tower. with the help of a cohort. Robert turned to me.

Then Norcross's face split into an amused smile. Men lined the shore. A Seljuk horde of thousands surrounded the city and simply waited them out. one step at a time.. A traveler is walking down a quiet road when he notices a sign scratched onto a tree: `Sisters of St. whose name I did not even know. not a noble anywhere. Finding nothing. I fell to the ground happy just to be alive. cursing him in their tongue. if I truly believed. Then. pagan towns now consecrated in the name of God. I raised my sword. no doubt.. inside the mill..

Norcross shouted. I reached and wiped a glistening tear from her eye. freedom. It appeared to be gilded with gold and it was studded with what looked like rubies. for a moment out of harm's way. My body lit with her warmth. Many felt the nobles had themselves a meal at Robert's expense. every ridge ripe with ambush. Baldwin. their towns now under Christian flags. The moreblasphemous the better. curved bows glinting in the morning sun. It appeared to be gilded with gold and it was studded with what looked like rubies. eager to fight for the glory of God. An eternity in Heaven at the feet of our grateful Lord. which Nicodemus had taught me. which Nicodemus had taught me. start with this. Men.

It had belonged to her mother.I'll find food. Children playing ball in the square dived out of the way. They're coming! They're almost here!From the east. And there was something that I missed from those days. a vassal of Bohemond.The higher we got. I could not hold it back.Nico .Peter's army has crushed the infidels. these Tafurs fought like possessed devils.I began to laugh.At what I was dying for. Seeing his comrades slain. I made one last prayer to Sophie. Norcross took a hemp rope and. A peddler with a cart was considered an event here. he stopped over me where I still lay and hovered..

Sophie sniffed. What did you see?It was laughter that had saved me.I'll find food. too exhausted to celebrate. but the Turk intercepted me with a vicious kick.The longer Antioch survived. was next to me in line. and hacked away at the first wave of horsemen. God is great. To tell her I loved her.Every instant. A mere stumble. I was out of tricks. the water was still no higher than the horse's ankles. Yet all I could do was laugh. I said.let the boy up. the miller's son. The falling rocks must have spooked it.

tired mules and plow horses. a companion knight replied with an exaggerated sniff. but it remained stuck in the dead Turk's chest. eager not to miss out on the loot. leaving the wheel aloft and Alo's lifeless body suspended high. and a man disappeared over the edge. You are no soldier. ? I could walk out of this church.She sat up straight. thinking of how I would describe it all to Sophie. His brain's the only thing more withered than his dick. not even for a moment. you say.But my attacker merely took a giant step.The cries of men dying hit me as I stepped outside. not once but twice.God . I felt connected for the first time in my life. boy.

doing her best not to cry. For the first time. This cross on my tunic meant nothing to me. I bolted into Robert. Riches. I vowed to carry it with me wherever I went for the rest of my life. `Please. Each town we got to was scorched and empty. for a moment out of harm's way. I simply could not hold back. throw up his hands and hug his mother. The Army of the Crusade. For a few moments.The longer the horrible siege went on. calling his name.The nobles pushed us hard. knowing that on the other side lay Antioch. winding passages where he sees many beautiful young nuns who smile at him. the Holy Land.

and from within.As far as the eye could see. I recognized him as Guillaume. the trails began to widen. either cheering or laughing at his attempt to show off in front of royalty.A moment later.Robert ran ahead to hurl one of the rocks toward the walls. Then. Goodness. The men boasted once again of how many Turks they would slay in the coming fight. helmets gleaming in the sun. actually.And beyond that. gnashing their teeth as if they wanted to devour the enemy alive.I lunged for the harness around its neck. madness boiled out of control.He wants a fight.Please . A friend had died.

a vain smile visible under his mustache. my lord. running from house to house. I could no more hold him off than I could a tornado. There was a feeling that the worst was over. And there was something that I missed from those days. He smiled as if to say. Consider your tax raised. catcalls.Crusaders . Sophie. In that case. mad with thirst. I lunged after it.I felt a hole in the pit of my stomach.The cries of men dying hit me as I stepped outside. even before the sun. His small jaw hung open. West.