Thou preparest a table for me:incthe presence of mine enermies.
— Book of Psalms 23:5
The Crusadeeawokchslore dawn, reaching forhisboorsbefore hiseyes were
even open. A briefsurgeof panic swepe aver himas he found them missing frown
their usual place — standing on end beste his fect (x pesiiion chosen for
convenience as well as to provide: an additional level of challenge for invading
pests). As the blur ef sleep faded from his eyes, however, his boots came inte
view, sitting atop the rest of his clocking oa an oversized, dewomative cushion
lying several feec away. ‘The simple sight a his own belongings, hls boors in
particular, allowed hita to regain hissense of peace. Irserurned a feeling of both
place and purpose to the Crusader, As st had always done.
Over the long nights since his estrangement [rom home, the Crusader
had come to rely on his boots almost as trusted friends. Loneliness and
haidship had made them seem allies in this unforcunate ancl Hlexsdy eam
paigm;allies that had been there for him when nothing and no one else could
say the same. Many limes had he takea lis rest without removing chem lest:
a surprise attack vatch Lim off guard, unprepared to stand ans! lsliy
judgment his office eequired. Their presence was n comfort to hilThe Crusader stood Fightin mst the lase dalle
ness of slumber to assence his immediate
surtounilings, He immediately discerned he was in
a bedchamber of some sort, the dim light in the
toom provided by a handful of wax tapers, The
walls of the room were little more than an arcay of
draped linens, sparsely elecorated (likely tor fear of
inward collapse) and held fase by a lengthy rim of
thick hemp. A glance back co his bed showed that
he had been lying arop quilted mactress, ac finer
chan the simple stiaw to whieh he hac grown
accustomed over the years, Ile bustiedly each!
for his clothes and dressed, his unfamiliar sur-
coundings leavinghim feeling expecially vulnerable.
As the Crusader gazed about the unlamiliar
coom, he was astounded by che number and size wf
cushions araund him. They were noc merely on the
bedding, but spread all around like decomtive fine
ery. Where a piece of furniture might otherwise
have been, he found cushions in its place. The
larger cushions doubled as chairs, tables and even
as.aplace of prayer in one instance — a lon Mat
cushion placed at an odd angle on the floor at one
comer of the ronm, Masi assuredly pouncing south,
he surmised. Towards Mecea.
He remembered where he was.
‘The Crusader had taken up with aregimencout
of Paleemo, departing for Palestine in September
when Emperor Frederick II first commissioned the
call for Ciusade. Alihough illness delayed the offt
cial actack until June of the following year, these
early forces wenc on ahead just the same. He was
inspired at first, stwcled tw the icles of holy reclama
sion and proud cobe parcuy the first wave. Bur then
came the excommunication of the Emperor; then
word of yet another delay, during which Frederick
had the gall :0 threaten Rome: herself. While hiz
armies did indeed join them in the Holy Land
eventually, the Crusader's regiment operated with
full independence for almost eleven monchs and
hhad fallen out of all but the most cursory cerstnct
with the Emperor's command,
Some weeks ayo, the Emperor had ordered.
Count Stephen of Gotron and the other Halian
Longobards his troopsi¢om Southern ltaly of which
the Crusader was nominally a part) to attend him
in Cyprus. There Frederick hud seized all the Cyp-
riot fortresses and revenues for his personal use, as
wor his “royal right." Among the miligary, this was
seen as the final insult from an arrogene and impi-
our soul. Mony mainland knights refused their
‘call, Most hoped that the Lord of Beirut
would lead the Cypriots in revole against Frederick,
taking the infant King of Cyprus under eheie own
protection and demanding the Emperor abunlon
his claim co the Christian kingdoms. The com-
mandiny officer ol the Crasader’s regiment, a pious
vyereran named Alessandro, was one such unyield-
ing knight, On the evening after receiving woad of
the Emperors command, he gathered the men.
together and addressed them.
“rove knights, your emperor has chosen 10
waye war not against the blaspheming Saracen, but
against his own harem unl their right good mes.
He has claimed the tightful domain of the Lord of
Cypmstor hisown, where yourbrothers {Lospitaller
and Templar face confinement, exile or worse at
his hands, And still he demands our attendance
“Lsay to you now: Any man who feels bound by
duty to heed this call chould embark at suntise for
Cyprus, there te atiend the Emperor in bis bid for
authority over all the Crusader kingdams. Let no
nian punish any other for doing bis duty. If, how-
‘ever any nmin feels hound by duty to God instead,
Tet him remain here and fight the cause for which
he wassa rightfully conscripted. Al men whedo
now shall know they stand with me.”
Thenext morning, theCrusaderwas nacamong
those whodeparted Palestine for Cyprus. Althewgh
conilicted, he felt sure chat his place was in the
Holy Land doing his pare for che glory of
Christendom, noc the Emperor. Here he remained,
dug in alongside a regiment of “traitors” in a war of
skirmishes with the Moslems in
Qultrejourdain, Alessandro's leadership was stron-
chance
ger thanever, but withoutieiaforcenentsit seemed
lik 2 losing hatrle —an isopression that solidified
into reality
While moving through the are southal Sidon,
the regiment happened upon a small Moslem en-
campment. Ruther than try to move around it,
Alessandro osdered a bold attack. The Saracen,
however, proved mote than ready for their attack:
ers, The battle eniled almost as soon as it had
Fogun. Overwhelmed by the enemy, the leet thing
the Crusader remembered was the sight af bis
compatriots bloodied banner and the whitting
shush of wood through wind...
The Crusader suddenly broke from his ceverie
and opened his eyes, quickly scanning the wall
hangings. He was suddenly struck hy rhe fact that
no light shone through; neither moon, nor sun, norstars, nor even high above where the folsls would
leave some gaps. For the first time, he realized that
the walls were thicker than they first appeared, He
‘wondered justhow long he had heen asleep. Was il
even the same clay?
As best the Crusader could discern, the sun
wasn't on the rise yet. Ie was passible that it could
helarerche same eveninygofthial unfortunarebattle,
huritsecaed unlikely. Those bloody events seemed
somewhat distant now, however, and be felt x
though he had enjoyed a long, undisturbed resc.
How, hen, did he eome eo this place?
Hereached instinctively for bischest, hut founel
no bending blade or procruling arrowe shalt — nor
even any wound, judging by how hearty he felt.
Some sort of sofe wrapping pressed against che sin
of his left breast; it was little more than a linen
bondage wrupped lovely around his chest with a
hit of padding. There would be no danger of che
‘wound reopening
Underthe eircumsances, the Crusader feltthank:
ful Thingscouldhave been farworse. Thoughhe now
found himself a prisoner of war, be had clearly boen
teeacec wit respect chu far."The knight's geae fell to
the pile of clorhing that lay beneath his boots, His
baxele-wworn armor (whac remained of it, at any tate)
Ihyon the loornest rohiselathes, hut hai hissword
ani shield were eogpicucusly absent, They were the
swo symbols of his office, borh Ghioned with the
symbol his office represented — the cross of his
Savior, Jesus Christ. The Fret that it made perfect
sense forthese items to be removed by his captors did
not mitigate the sting of their absence. OF more
concem, however, was theabsence ofhis bag froauthe
rest a his belongings.
Pulse racing, the Crusader reached forthesmall
sro dangling from his meek snl stepped Uo the
renter af the room, As he knelt to pray, he closed
his eyes and whispered, "Oh, Heavenly Father....”
In that brief pause, however, he became aware af
mother presence in the ruin. A deep, rich voice
surprised him, speaking in the Crusader’s own lan-
guage with scarcely on accent,
“L apologize for the intrusion.” said the man
tundiog at the entrance w the tent. "Or, eather,
for nor announcing it properly, | merely wished ra
give you time co finish your prayers.” The man was
shviously a Saracen, olive-skinned with rounded
features. His body was draped in simple, well
crafted robes thar were the color of sancl, anal hung
all the way down w his ankles, Ou his crown be
bore the headdress common toall Moslems, and bis
fect were bare as he stood at the edge of the
chamber. He appeared unarmed, bul the Crusader
swas sure that some thin blade hid beneath those
tawny folds of cloth, ready at a moment's need
The Crusader stared at the Saracen for along
moment, his uncertainty giving way to suspicion
“Of what concern is it to you that I finish an.
‘infidel’ prayer co an ‘infidel’ god... und inside a
Moslem temple, ns fess?”
“Prayer fends away indecency and evil. So says
the Qur'an, Surah twenty-nine.” The Saracen re-
mained where he was, sanding just inside the tent
flap with the basest hint of a smile on his face. “It
is pronounced Muslim, not Moslem. And this..."
he switled a hand through the air, indicating the
tent and its trappings, "...is hardly a temple, my
friend." The Saracen laughed as confusion flick
ered actos: the Crusader’s fae, «1 yenuine laugh
thar brought the fullness of his lips to bear in the
half-light, As the last of his mireh fled, he straight-
ened and bowed to the Crusader, arms splayed to.
either side ae if im supplication. "Your pardon,
said." With a sovt rustle of robes and draperies, the
Saracen turned co leave.
“Whar have you done with my things! the
Crusader ished. He had meant vo sound forceful
but his voice betrayed him, sounding weak anil
raspy in his eas. He haped it soundaal less helpless
to his captor.
The Saracen paused, one hand hovering
above one flap of the tent, He spoke without
turning around. "You had to hedisarmed. Surely
yin understand.”
“Ido. But there was something else... besides
my weapons,” He paused. The admission of his
missing items walled him, but there was nothing
else to be done, “A leather sacchel.”
The Saracen stowly turned his head tooneside,
glancing back aver his shoulder, “Ob, yes. The
Iiowk.” A wisp of dread coiled around the Crusader's
heart, tightening with each breath, "Nor wo worry,
ny friend. Your book: is safe.” He smiled and halt
turaud toward de Ceusader. "If you would be 80
kind, Ishenld like to have yon as my guest — here,
in the adjoining chamber.” ‘The Saracen whipped
‘open the tent flap, Beyond i, the Crusader could
see bright Lights and flashes of rick color. “Only
after you have finished your evening vespers, of
course.” As the Saracca finished speaking, he
siepped into the next room. The tent flap fell
closed behind him, leaving che Crusaderin silence,