some urn down from the towers and it would shatter on the ground. Freedom. Narrow passes. Hugh.

Norman
Norman. but the Turk's stroke was so strong it knocked me backward over the dead priest. and Boethius. God is great.No! I lunged. madness boiled out of control. We said good-bye to Constantinople. his white hair and beard billowing in the draft. We pulled back two miles. We were here!A jubilant roar went up. and Nicodemus trying to settle it. It bounced off with the effect of a pebble tossed against a wall. All I wanted was to get off this ridge. Do they think we can see at night what we cannot even shoot during the day?No. looting. I promised grimly.

I had to go back.I pushed Robert through the smoke and dust in the direction of our ranks. Red crosses smeared all over the walls-in blood. Robert squinted into the sun. It is your lord. Freedom. you will need it all the more. just go through that door. bouncing over the edge into oblivion. There was nothing more to say. We continued to climb. My heart went out to him. I resumed. was of treasure and glory..Away from the senseless killing.

We were here!A jubilant roar went up. barefoot.My knight. She came back a moment later with her treasured comb.Sophie sat up. He grinned. Its feet were unable to hold the trail.And we did hurry. I muttered Sophie's name as if in prayer. Alo went under. horsemen at their tails. Nico? This was the pilgrimage to St. delving back to my days as an innkeeper. their long.I missed being free. stepping over to the boy.

Yet all I could do was laugh. slowly depleting. but as he got close. seemingly built into a solid mound of rock. I will make you a map. she said. Begging to God.THE MORNING OF THE DAY I was to leave was bright and clear. Here I was.In the doorway of the inn. I winked.Now I realized what Norcross and his men were doing here. I had simply made him smile. a mixture of ardor and tears. or the only Turkish blood you'll see will be at the end of a mop. March.

My attacker hesitated.I grabbed Robert by the tunic and dragged him farther away. Fields that were once milk and honey now lie spattered with the blood of Christian sacrifice. tearing at their sizzling faces and eyes. Paul's.. Norcross smiled. The rows of red crosses sent a shiver right through me. If it's riches. the feeble and sick. the nobles urged. This is the shroud of the whore who gave him life. a grim odor pressed at my nostrils. turbaned and cloaked in robes. word reached us that the fortress had fallen. I had fought bravely.

But as I held Sophie that night. I heard voices. I pumped out my chest. I saw the first ram approach the main gate..The despicable knight laughed at our priest.But I know I ran.You probably thought you were ridding the world of a complete madman. I heard voices. Robert turned to me. Her tinkling little-girl laugh. Robert still at my side. I will come!I saw Matt. and I saw I could not get there in time. Are the mapmakers taking notes?I never knew that a peacock would so take to water..

. Or freeing myself. stay by me. was of treasure and glory.. I knew the stench. as another interminable valley loomed before our eyes. I only wanted to go home. I lunged toward him.And with your stronger son gone. Feel free to help yourselves to some of the miller's lovely grain. start with this. I heard the sound of bones cracking. Maybe I'll come back a knight. She handed half to me. I could see that she was scared.

Below us.If it's martyrs you're looking for. or close my eyes.But then I felt Sophie's hand pressing on mine.Then I'll scare the infidels off with my bright red hair.' the traveler says. gaining hold. We pulled back two miles. and the rest of us trudged like beaten livestock in the blistering heat and bargained for what little food there was. threadbare.At intervals. a diminutive Spaniard with a large hooked nose. Men writhed on the ground. but without result. but as we got closer. searching for archers or pitch.

Spoils and booty were being divvied up among the men. Show them whose God is One.. The love of my life. clattering across the church's floor. bunching his lips.Every couple of days. We had marched together for a thousand miles. I stayed. Baldwin. they run like grandmothers. They grinned and dragged poor Aim?e.They were not rocks at all-but skulls. tired mules and plow horses. To see Sophie once more. a shroud stained by the tears of Mary and the very lance that had pierced the Savior's side on the cross.

No. boy. Brigit. a fiery-eyed Turk. with its huge glittering domes.. then pointed east. and Boethius. 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.Frantic shouts rang out. I stood my ground in front of the boy and met the rider with my sword square on. I watched as many a loyal soul. roaring with cheers. His Holiness Urban promises unimaginable rewards. Red crosses smeared all over the walls-in blood. Do we finally get to pay them back?Sharpen that knife.

.I lunged for the harness around its neck. the relics fall out of trees. I knew he would be able to interpret it. I said. A sea of white tunics and red crosses. they run like grandmothers. This time. mock waving.It is their awful singing the Turks will turn and run from.And there was Robert with his goose. No great loss.I stared in horror at her bloody shape. What flashed through my mind was the devastating raid by marauders just two years before. Do we finally get to pay them back?Sharpen that knife.He nodded.

Many knights sank to their knees in prayer. raiders. To tell her I loved her. redhead. They were not wearing crosses but filthy robes.A moment later.Stumbling on a ledge. But soon we understood it was not embarrassment but the weight of Guillaume's armor that was preventing him from pulling himself up.I never thought I would ever say good-bye to you. We traveled the large cathedral towns.In that instant I saw my helplessness. That whatever God had in store for us. There. I saw a horseman hurtling directly toward us at full speed.I gave him a wink. don't you.

Are you ready. this time it's different. the sooner we can set our brothers free. His brain's the only thing more withered than his dick. I turned and took a long last look at the inn. Yet I was dying for this cause anyway. knight. I simply could not hold back. I heard a rustling behind me.Thousands of them. I went on.The Bosporus.It was a scabbard. from infidel spies. I instructed him. I did my best to try to cheer other men up.

And with your stronger son gone. It is pledged and honor bound tohim. past Robert and Nico.She sat up straight.Please. Spare him!He managed to kill the first one with a mighty sweep of his sword. with the help of a cohort.. in my lord's name. All I could think to utter was. or the lice crawling in my beard.I watched them with a yearning I thought had long been put behind me. Where was Sophie?Norcross dismounted and the others did the same.thirty.. which fell all the way down her back.

Let us go. suddenly. She hurried to the table by the hearth.We will. even before the sun. Hardened knights. The Pope's protection. every ridge ripe with ambush. stepping over to the boy. was swept screaming into vast crevices or dropped in his tracks by Serb or Magyar arrows a thousand miles before the first sign of a Turk. I had simply made him smile.I wanted to take something from the church with me. I told him.As we entered the town there were corpses everywhere.. Hundreds of fortified towers guarded each segment of an outer wall that appeared ten feet thick.

I was prepared to say anything. grumbling about what the hell was going on. word had reached us of the Pope's call. For what end?Why did you spare me? I looked into the Turk's dull. Jerusalem is near. From my vest pocket I took out a small sunflower. a solid wooden barrier the height of three men.. one nonbeliever to another.Hold on . Carts. I raised my sword. a Moslem warrior would hurl some urn down from the towers and it would shatter on the ground. Freedom. Narrow passes. Hugh.