Somewhere between Jaffa and Jerusalem,

Kingdom of Jerusalem

March 14th 1172

Hugh rode side by side with his uncle, Wimarc. His actions in the harbor of Jaffa had earned the respect of the knights of his uncle's house. Decking a priest had earned the scorn of clergy. The one fact that had kept Hugh out of trouble was that the Italian priest was living under excommunication from Rome. Had the cleric been in the pope's favor, Hugh might have had a larger problem.

The column of knights stretched out about two-hundred feet down the road. They formed two single file lines, of twenty-five men each, on both extremes of the road. In between the two line road a caravan of French men and women, led by the bishop, Etienne of Marseilles. A rather pious man, who held the Moslems in low regard. Hugh thought.

Hugh, trotted forward a little bit, and rode up beside Raymond. The red-haired warrior clearly had something on his mind. He looked too his right and saw Hugh ride forward and put his own horse in step with his lords ward. "You did well Hugh. You and Theobauld protected the pilgrims well, and you protected your brother in arms too the utmost expectation."

Hugh had a lot on his mind as well. "I may have defended Theo, but I killed a child none the less."

"You acted bravely and on instinct. That 'child' would have killed you without hesitation." Raymond replied.

Hugh sighed. "I may not have murdered her, but I still cut down a child."

"You're a soldier. And will, one day, be a knight and Baron of Emmaus. So sometimes you might be required to do things that are unpleasant too do." Raymond stated.

"You think I'll be a decent knight? A good baron?" Hugh asked.

Wimarc heard the conversation at this point, and rode back while the column moved on. "Hugh. Don't try to be a great man. Just try too be a good one. God will see too the rest. He always does."

The column came too a rest at dusk. And camped by a small ravine just off the road. The pilgrims set up camp slightly apart from the knight's camp. The men of Emmaus had put themselves between the pilgrims and the road. They set up sentries on scheduled watches and set up camp fires.

Hugh walked with his dinner and found Theo sitting around a fire talking with Gamel, Wimarcs seneschal. He walked up too them and asked, "Can I sit?"

Theo looked up from the fire and nodded. "Please do/"

Hugh sat down and chewed on a piece of bread, and downed some mead, from his wineskin. "How are you doing Theo?"

Theo smiled, "Trying to regain a little bit of dignity, after being out maneuvered by a little girl with a knife. What about you? I hope you're not being too hard on yourself. I for one am in your debt."

"I'll get over it." Hugh muttered with a hollow laugh.

Gamel sat on across form the fire, and finally spoke up. "Who is she Hugh?"

"To whom are you referring?" Hugh asked.

"Her." Gamel pointed too Hugh's, arm. Hugh looked down and saw the veil he kept tied around his wrist. "Every time I see you, you're wearing that thing around your wrist. Who was she? She must have been special too you."

Hugh just stared at the veil, then smiled. "If I ever marry Gamel, I pray she will be my wife. That's all I can bring myself too say."

Gamel smiled, and Theobauld laughed, "Keep your secrets then. I'll just bug Conrad until he finally tells me."

Hugh looked up genuinely surprised. "What do you mean Conrad will tell you?"

"I once asked your uncle if he knew anything about that veil and he said he didn't. But Conrad claimed he spied the two of you together. But as your friend he said he won't betray your secret."

Hugh smiled. "I hadn't been aware he knew. I'll have a word with him myself, when I get back too Emmaus."

Hugh felt something nudging him moderately hard in the side. He opened his eyes and saw the other men asleep around him. He realized the nudging was coming from behind him. He rolled over and saw Raymond standing a few feet from him holding the reins too two horses. "What time is it?"

Raymond laughed, "Early. About a half an hour after dawn. Take a ride with me."

"Where too?" Hugh asked.

"Just a few miles up the road, and then back. Scouting mission." Raymond answered.

Raymond and Hugh rode at a slow pace east along the road. Raymond had barely given Hugh time enough to grab some food Even has he was riding he was chewing down some bread and drinking some water. Likewise Raymond was munching on a roll.

Raymond broke the silence,"Hows the lute paying coming?"

"Fine." Hugh replied between swallows. "But why do I get the feeling you didn't wake me up too talk music?"

"Because I didn't wake you up for that." Raymond answered.

"Then mind telling me why I'm up before the Lord wakes up?" Hugh asked getting a little short tempered.

"Your uncle wanted me too make sure you are really okay after what happened in the city. And get a few things clear on how you feel." Raymond replied.

Hugh inquired, "Why isn't he asking me himself?"

"Your uncle is a noble. Which means one thing."

"What?"

"He gets too sleep as late as he wants."

Hugh laughed for a good half-minute before Raymond continued. "So. Are you really okay?"

"It'll be with me for a long time, and I think it should be. But, yeah, I'm okay."

"Good. I asked your uncle for something and he granted it, as long as you agree, of course."

"What?" Hugh looked apprehensive.

Raymond took moment, then continued. "How would you feel about riding with me permanently? Well until the day comes your uncle knights you that is."

"I'd be honored." Hugh answered. "I have only one term."

"Which is?"

"If our mission takes us too Nazareth, tell me before we leave out. Agreed?"

"Yeah sure. That's not much of a demand." Raymond replied. "But what's in Nazareth that interests you?"

Hugh held up his left wrist with the veil tied around it. "Her."

Raymond thought silently, then spoke up. "The only people you ever met from Nazareth, which I know about, was that cloth trader. What was his name...uh...Eznik I think."

"That's correct. Though he's not the one I'm thinking about."

Raymond thought back again, "His daughter!"

Hugh nodded.

"What was her name?" Raymond asked. He started snapping his fingers in front of his face has if that would help him remember somehow.

Hugh saved him the trouble."Lucine. Her name is Lucine"

"Why did you keep it from your uncle? He wouldn't have disapproved, just because she was an Armenian."

"I don't know. I just never did."

"You and her didn't...you know...you know?" Raymond asked, clearly uncomfortable with the topic.

"No. Not that I haven't wished we had. Why do you ask?"

"Because your uncle would've disapproved of that."

"Why?"

"Eznik would've been furious if you had made him a grandfather, and your uncle would have parted ways with a large sum of gold. And that would have made him very angry."

"I see your point." Hugh confessed.

"I have one term of my own, if this going to work." Raymond stated.

"Yes?"

"No matter how much they may deserve it, try too refrain from punching any more priests."

Hugh smiled. "I promise nothing!"

With that, they Raymond roared with laughter as they turned and rode back for the camp.

END CHAPTER THREE