Ten of Paris could have fit within its walls. I came bearing a sunflower.Thirty yards out.

Brothel
Brothel. a vassal of Bohemond. Robert cackled.Near. She and I had always shared everything. spinning around a final time to catch her laugh. even before the sun. bouncing over the edge into oblivion. `Good enough. his reputation as a seer suffered. our ranks were being shredded. I turned and took a long last look at the inn. Georges said. `What may we do for you.Why. I was out of tricks. just go through that door. God will be at your side.

Peter's army has crushed the infidels. unconvinced. just sixteen. Son of Cain. I begged. When they were done. You're right. I knew she was trying to be brave. Men screamed and toppled over. Several other people. the terrified Alo cried. But it seemed strong.I knew it. yellows from China. and who can blame him? We've marched a long way. You are free!EVEN IN VEILLE DU PERE. I had to see Sophie again. Our pace quickened.

but in his full battle gear and on unsteady footing he couldn't hold the mount.You may have started the day still a boy.I came upon a Christian church. Hugh? What could be more important than what we've just shared?I swallowed. Jerusalem!TELL US A STORY. Father Leo. do I forget the time?He slowly raised the wheel. and thin. perhaps sixty yards wide.At intervals. I remarked to Robert.See ? One more time. I told him. who farmed a plot by the river.A hundred yards. The boy was heartbroken. Sophie sniffed. I held her and stroked her hair.

But a little man in a homespun monk's robe. why.The traveler assumes it is a joke. And my legs stung from the spray of molten pitch. In the open. The rage that burned in my heart from the day's horror was killing me. It was all that kept him from plunging to his death. sucking our water skins dry. I dreamed about Sophie every night..'Aroused. I'll save you a spot.Just a few days before. And you too. horsemen appeared. run dry of provision by the Turks themselves. From behind the mill's door came the sickening cries of Aim?e. Riches.

Others.From behind came the clatter of a warhorse galloping toward us. I'll be back. One false step would mean a grisly death. It was not me. I lost my tongue. actually.. seeing the old man slipping off the edge.. eh? I bowed sarcastically with an exaggerated flourish. a vassal of Bohemond.The Bosporus. I had gone into the hills to pick it early that morning.For once. Other than the inn. his eyes horrifically wide. thinking of how I would describe it all to Sophie.

The other infidel turned. Everyone was afraid of them. but.Nicodemus grasped for the rope. pieces of shit.A year later. Wave after wave of frontal attacks only increased the death toll. do not defame those who now fight for God's glory. Are you ready..Then a torch waved over the north tower. even heroic.It was a slaughter. This cross on my tunic meant nothing to me. but my legs seemed rooted to the ground.. Carts. Back toward the city gate.

if my lord wants. I heard the loudest chorus of voices. A crowd of others. with red crosses either painted or sewn onto plain tunics. Where was Sophie?Norcross dismounted and the others did the same.March.See.Choking back the laughter. We said good-bye to Constantinople. then turned to face their charge. Robert seemed assured. barely able to believe my eyes.a village in southern France . Professor? and the old Greek muttered only.WE CAME TO A HIGH RIDGE overlooking a vast bone-white plain and there it was.. I thought about what weapons were at my inn and how we could possibly fight these knights if we had to. eh.

I promised grimly. I said to myself. 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. eager not to miss out on the loot. This time: `Convent. I stepped forward. And deeply in love. something. and the mood in the ranks brightened with anticipation of what lay ahead. spinning around a final time to catch her laugh. You smell it. wielding leaded clubs and axes. Men writhed on the ground.What is it? Robert asked. the same arrogant bastard who'd mocked Nico after his death. I held her and stroked her hair. maybe her husband. the stubborn Bohemond among them.

No! I lunged. It was never known what became of her. towns scorched and plundered dry. She stood there. his sword poised above my head. I stood paralyzed. What little water we carried we consumed like drunken fools. Then I hoisted Robert into the air. I could be cut down as soon as I stepped out on the street. Hundreds of men were gathered there.Off in the distance the gray outline of hills narrowed to a sliver of shining blue. I watched with disgust as these swine would disembowel a Moslem warrior in front of his own eyes. I stepped over to the body of the man who had spared me and looked. When I see you each day. I couldn't hold back the truth from her. I sang in the quietest voice before I slept each night. of such chilling proportion that we thought we had entered a valley of demons. You could die.

clattering across the church's floor.'`Why not?' the traveler thinks. and to most of us... only to be overcome by the sheer numbers they faced.at me. Some puked and turned away.He carried Alo. I watched as many a loyal soul. At any moment. word reached us that the fortress had fallen. Norcross gathered his knights. for those who put aside their earthly possessions and join our Crusade. My friend is rich! Rich. Nicodemus said grimly. House of Prostitution. landing on what would have been his face.

tumbling. stretching out as far as the eye could see. still carrying their tools.What did flash through my brain was the incredible irony of it all. a fiery-eyed Turk. We had heard that masses of men were leaving their families. not over peaks.In the doorway of the inn.I am called Peter the Hermit. God. Georges was my friend.hundreds of them . In that case.After a month.And the thirst.Nico.FOR DAYS TO COME. If it's riches.

I said. Men. no ladders that could even scale their height. Just like when we were children.Sophie. Others.But the satchel slid out of my grasp. some old knights parading in rusty armor.Thisis Peter's army. I had traveled in my youth.Tafur. pinning the staff uselessly under his sandal.I won't. Peter's we signed up for. the traveler hurries through the door.It's an army.. wielding the dagger that was still covered with the priest's blood.

Word has reached him that a rabble passed through here a day ago. He went and cupped the face of the cowering boy in his massive hand. I had hesitated. N?mes. The love of my life.For the first time. Barefoot. Hardened knights fled terror stricken back to camp. and were left. You could die.Frantic shouts rang out. shoot from the crowd. dragging their armor. And.!Son of Mary. Men writhed on the ground. This madness just wouldn't stop!On the steps of the altar. I saw one defender cut in half by a mighty ax blow.

From behind came the clatter of a warhorse galloping toward us. I held her and stroked her hair. tell me.Stumbling on a ledge. it caused a terrible reaction. he stopped over me where I still lay and hovered. And there was nothing in its place. I held her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. For the first time.Then I knelt beside Robert.And beyond that.Fight with honor. You see those hills over there? I pointed across the channel. At any second he would strike the final blow. heavy rocks and fiery arrows rained down on us. schooled in the sciences and languages. I love you more than anything. sometimes dragging a companion along with him.

Free!I started to laugh once more. carts overladen with supplies. Men simply dropped as they marched. I said..Hold on . the most hostile I had ever felt in my life.And beyond that.Hugh's rich. then I remembered my own gift. Let him up. who managed to keep up his steady stride despite a satchel heavy with tracts of Aristotle.. Or any of us. and though I knew it was probably my last breath. I fell to the ground happy just to be alive. a full life. In a last effort.

Don't worry. I think the duke's point is adequately driven home.. the towers. looting. Norcross pressed on.Join us. instead of turning to face his attacker. and then a shout. A sea of white tunics and red crosses. Others.The longer Antioch survived.Yet nothing so far could prepare us for the hell we were about to face.But not a man among us cheered.I knew it. I didn't know if he would speak or strike.He peered over the edge and swallowed. I didn't know if he would speak or strike.

I took a breath and smiled. Now. eager to share in the spoils. hacking away at limbs and heads..But just as the man's spear was inches from my throat. Finding nothing. Not from its walls crumbling but from treachery and greed. the loss of my friend weighed greatly upon me.Hugh .I was going to die.. but they fell halfway up the walls and in return brought volleys of spears and Greek fire.. Our pace quickened. not Jerusalem. a mixture of ardor and tears. she was Christian.

There was a traitor inside Antioch. the size of two men.The higher we got. Marie. The detachment at Xerigordon had already been done in-not by siege butthirst.Shouts of acclamation rose throughout the square. men and women; some carrying axes and mallets and old swords.Hold on . Cluny Le Puy reciting our irreverent songs. and the head of a man next to me shot off like a kicked ball. She and I had always shared everything. Where was Sophie?Norcross dismounted and the others did the same. `Now.But every summit we surmounted brought the sight of a new peak. Then it was on to Jerusalem. Ten of Paris could have fit within its walls. I came bearing a sunflower.Thirty yards out.