Jaques awoke to blackness, the gentle rocking of the ship served as a reminder as to where he was, and where he was going. He stumbled out of his bunk and stood for awhile letting his balance readjust to the rocking of the boat. Once he felt comfortable to move he picked his way quietly through the room full of sleeping men to a door which lead to the stairway. He ascended the stairs and breathed the fresh sea air as he emerged onto the deck of the ship. The ship was being run by a ghost crew as it was still early morning and most of the crew and passengers were asleep below deck; this left an eerie silence broken occasionally by the lap of the waves on the ships bow.
Jaques weaved his way to the rail on the side of the ship and looked down into the murky depths of the sea. This was the third week at sea for the ship and Jaques longed to see land once more. He heard someone emerge onto the deck behind him and turned to see a large Scotsman with flame red hair and beard. Robert Mchinghan was an opposing figure with a personality to match.
'Couldn't sleep then brother?' he grumbled in his rough Scottish accent.
'No, Sleep evades me brother, My mind only lies on our destination and our task…' Jaques explained.
'Aye, I know what you mean, but if you intend to dwell on it for the rest of the weeks sail to Acre, then you will be in no state to carry out the task at hand' Robert advised slapping Jaques around the top of the head as he said it.
Jaques chuckled at his friend's logic, but had to agree with him. Though he would never tell the Scotsman he was right, he wouldn't shut up about it for weeks, which would make the journey even more tiresome. Instead he decided to change the tack of the conversation.
'Have you ever been to the Holy Land Robert?' he asked.
'No I have not, but I have heard wondrous things about the home of Christ.' replied Robert.
'And what about the Saracen, and the Hashishen?' Jaques pondered.
'Infidels both, but our task will involve both, maybe all this time you have been training with your blades on this forsaken boat will pay off.' Robert chuckled to himself.
'Aye Robert, quite possible' Jaques replied.
With this both lapsed into a comfortable silence, some time later Robert excused himself and left for his bunk. Jaques remained on deck looking at the stars and daydreaming about home.
Jaques de Payn was born into a noble family in London, England. He had joined the Knights Templar as a sergeant at the age of 13. He had always excelled in combat and had won three tourneys to show this. He had performed his chores dutifully; cleaning out the stables, sharpening his master's weapons and oiling the saddles for their horses, until the day eventually came when he was knighted. He had taken the white mantle of the Knights Templar at the age of 18. It was the happiest day of his relatively short life; his Mother and Father had looked on as he had been accepted as one of the Knights of Christ. His Mother had cried, but his Father ever the strong type has just looked on with a proud expression on his face, in the way only Father's can.
He had then served in the New Temple in London for two years before being sent to the Holy Land on his own personal crusade. To find the Hashishen, gain an audience with their master, and have them turn their attention to the Saracen. Jaques had no idea why he had been chosen for this task and was filled with apprehension and nerves whenever his thoughts lingered on it for long. Unfortunately, when you are on a four week voyage across the sea, there is not much else to do but think.
The days on the boat had passed with Jaques vigorously training with any form of weapon he could find, between this, his prayers and the jobs he had volunteered for on the boat; the days flew by. When night fell however with nothing for Jaques to do but sleep he often found himself on the deck of the ship thinking about the Holy Land, his task, and often his home.
Time passed and the sun began to rise above the deep blue of the sea. Jaques took this signal that the new day was coming and rose from his position on the deck and began to head back to his bunk to retrieve his weapons for the days training.