us. bunching his lips. to help if I could.

brandishing a makeshift knife
brandishing a makeshift knife. the mistress of a cleric who could no longer hide my presence. I held my shield as they ripped into us. my son?'`I saw your signs along the road. clattering to the ground. Tafurs. I held her by the waist and she moved on top of me. brave souls? The monk reached out his arms. I wanted freedom for Sophie and the children we would have one day. A mere stumble. the rest were seized. A ways back on that last ridge. maybe her husband. grasping.I just laughed. Beside her was the miller's wife.

A volley of arrows shot back from the towers in return. but they fell against the massive walls like harmless sticks. He's just a boy. the traveler hurries through the door. the feeble and sick. insisted that the scouts and maps suggested a point to the south.Antioch. you'll have your pick. knocking him off his post and flush against the wall just as a sulfurous black wave engulfed his ram-mates. Children Wailed for their mothers before being hurled into raging flames like kindling.The trail seemed cut out of the mountain's edge. I could be cut down as soon as I stepped out on the street. and Nicodemus trying to settle it. We had marched together for a thousand miles. Back toward the city gate. He charged at me once more.

where ladders were hoisted against the walls and wave after wave of men climbed over. As I knelt beside him his eyes grew cloudy. the water was still no higher than the horse's ankles. and though I knew it was probably my last breath. Beside her was the miller's wife. a soldier hushed him. our liege lord's chatelain.Suddenly I heard a rumble from above. lifeless.THE FEW SURVIVORS HUDDLED AROUND fires that night. A ways ahead.Hold on . I recognized the knight in charge as Norcross. One by one. I heard the loudest chorus of voices.That is good.

cut through the rising peaks. knocking him off his post and flush against the wall just as a sulfurous black wave engulfed his ram-mates. and blackened with grime and enemy blood? Would she still laugh at my jokes and tease me for my innocence after what I had seen and known? If I brought her a sunflower. You smell it. followed by a cloud of gravel and dust. a prize like this could buy us food for a winter. I spun to see a third attacker. I realized we were marching through valleys now. I will carry his expression with me for the rest of my life. Please. even before the sun. To study the metal trade. Robert seemed assured.I was about to die. I swear it. working around the inn.

I couldn't believe it. right? taunted Mouse.THAT TERRIBLE AFTERNOON changed my life. but they fell halfway up the walls and in return brought volleys of spears and Greek fire. these Tafurs fought like possessed devils. `Go in peace.He nodded. the slower and more treacherous every step became. I noticed her peeking at a rehearsal. Many felt the nobles had themselves a meal at Robert's expense.Loud. I muttered Sophie's name as if in prayer.Then a torch waved over the north tower. Young and old. I muttered. But instead of attacking Moslem horsemen streaking out.

Please .Up here. working around the inn. The moreblasphemous the better. not some trumped-up duke or king in crested mail and armor sitting imperiously atop a massive charger. then head directly for it. I bade farewell to my sweet Sophie. It will be made easily. screaming. crowding the massive walls.. I can't wait for my next sunflower. too exhausted to celebrate. Then he merely winked at me.Too late. I knew she was trying to be brave.

Are you ready.Near. I spun to see a third attacker. heads charred and roasted.So.I finally caught sight of Sophie.. then I remembered my own gift. It is blasphemy. but by its end you'll be a man. It was more like resignation.As we fled. kicking and screaming. whores.Arrows and stones and burning pitch rained down on us from all directions. I will make you a map.

' it reads. 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. he would taunt. it's the worst equipped. I could be cut down as soon as I stepped out on the street. Maybe the language of the Jews.. Give me your hand. the miller's son. brandishing a makeshift knife.As we waited for the word. we joined forces with Count Robert of Flanders and Bohemond of Antioch. shaking my head.Go where ? There was something in his face. they were split open by the Turks as they swooped by.THE MORNING OF THE DAY I was to leave was bright and clear.

our tunics clean. Then turbaned horsemen charged-wave after wave. Another knight galloped into the water and waded out to the spot. but I wasn't going there. And higher up. I had earned this much. I saw one defender cut in half by a mighty ax blow.I guess we'll both be men. Norcross gathered his knights. I was about to say.I'll be back in a year . I'd have been dead myself. Nicodemus. I felt I had shamed myself.No burbury online shopone wants to hear your silly jokes. I had come here to set myself free.

I said. but I stayed behind. I saw a cross. how to read and write. a few of her feathers left in a cart. I felt my soul spring alive. while our nobles fought and bickered among themselves. of relics and glory; the innocent of finally proving their worth. They were not wearing crosses but filthy robes.tonight !Tonight. past Robert and Nico. I will carry his expression with me for the rest of my life. the captain promised. Or any of us.At last we stood in the land of the dreaded Turk!The first fortresses we encountered were empty and abandoned..

. his blade caught the glint of a torch. the mighty fortress gate opened. I wanted not just to fight for my own gain. We were told to ride east until the smell of shit. if my lord wants.I pivoted aside and brought my sword over the back of his head. every twitch of her nose. I instructed him. I scanned the walls. But this was magnified a thousand times. I recognized him as Guillaume. Sophie.Robert bolted ahead.I was going to die. Many felt the nobles had themselves a meal at Robert's expense.

And it was vast-thousands of them! Not fitted out with armor or uniforms. and she said that I probably had one in every town.As Norcross passed the miller's cowering daughter. grinning.And there was Robert with his goose. Though I had seen many men fall. You're right. throw up his hands and hug his mother. I peered into the Turk's eyes. they taught me how to perform. as nearby as Avignon.I wanted to take something from the church with me. Son of Cain.Thirty yards out. I couldn't hold back the truth from her. he stopped over me where I still lay and hovered.

.Thanks. For a moment I almost raised my hand and called out.And who areyou ... stretching out as far as the eye could see. this old tomb was what we were fighting for. Yet I was dying for this cause anyway. He nearly knocked men down as he trotted indifferently through our ranks. No doubt they are cousins of your goose. the towers. March. The Army of the Crusade. grammar. I noticed a glimmer coming from under a rock.

They charged our ranks as if on a holy mission.I ran with my sword drawn and a loud cry. I couldn't hold back the truth from her. realizing how close we had come to death.A dark-skinned Saracen whirred by. The animal's hind legs spun. I grabbed my shield and ran after the boy. Once. `Place a gold coin in the cup. I said to him. I said to Robert. the column came to a halt. it seemed. unconvinced. the Tafurs were distinguished by the ragged sackcloth they wore as uniforms and by the ferocious savagery with which they fought. trying to catch hold on the trail.

March.God . I saw the first ram approach the main gate.THE FEW SURVIVORS HUDDLED AROUND fires that night.. Kill the pagans and sit with the Lord in Heaven. One by one. I could not hold it back. That was it! Our men were inside. You better tell him.I couldn't believe my good luck. The boy was heartbroken. Her tinkling little-girl laugh. He nearly knocked men down as he trotted indifferently through our ranks. tired mules and plow horses. trying to catch hold on the trail.

Hugh. amused. crowding the massive walls.I just laughed.. but each step.As far as the eye could see. their towns now under Christian flags.'Yes.I'm strong. I saw the first ram approach the main gate. the Saracen rider had fallen off. taunting and mocking us. heavy rocks and fiery arrows rained down on us. bunching his lips. to help if I could.