Disclaimer: the same as chapter 1
Author's notes:
I am very sorry for the recent lack of updates, but RL (namely the office, studies and term papers) got in the way! I hope you'll enjoy this new chapter.
I'd like to thank Redone and E Nigma for their kind reviews. It was much appreciated! ;-)
Chapter 13
(Tiberias' POW)
If anyone had told me I'd be traveling in the desert in the company of Salah al-Dìn, I would have said they were crazy!
At times I think I actually went crazy since I, Raymond of Tripoli, Lord of Tiberias, am currently riding my horse across the desert, accompanied by five of my knights in the scorching heat, and in the company of my king's best enemy!
But the hypothesis of a mental illness isn't important right now: my lord King has sent me on a retrieving mission. To pick up Balian of Ibelin, who is currently staying in Salah al-Dìn's encampment after saving the life of a Saracen princess.
Two days ago, Salah al-Dìn entered Jerusalem under a flag of peace, to ask King Baldwin IV for an audience. That created quite a commotion within the palace's walls! In spite of the hypocrite protestations from the most belligerent courtiers, namely Guy de Lusignan and his cohorts, the king granted Salah al-Dìn his wish, even if he was pretty surprised as well. Then, the king of Syria told my lord liege about a horrific event, the attack of his sister's caravan by Renaud de Châtillon and the rescue of Princess Yasmina by Godfrey's son.
I am an old soldier and I have seen my share of terrible deeds in battlefields. I became governor of Jerusalem just to be thrown into the tangled web of politics, conspiracies, executions and injustices to the point I've thought many times to grab my family and flee to Cyprus while it was still time. I fought all my life in the Holy Land and in the process I've lost my innocence, my illusions and my faith. I thought I had lost my capacity for amazement, too, but I've been proven wrong since Balian has arrived in Jerusalem!
The sun is beating on us mercilessly. I take a quick drink of water, as years of fighting have taught me how dangerous it is to drink too greedily in the desert, and then I ask how much road we still have ahead of us. Through an interpreter, I learn we will arrive to our destination in a very short time.
I will never forget the first time I've laid eyes on Balian. Apart from his striking resemblance to Godfrey (which has startled me, I must confess), he has definitively knighthood in his blood by his conscience, good heart and intelligence. A far better soldier than all of those so-called nobles interested only in rapines and bloodshed! He has proved his value time and time again, by taking care of his Ibelin lands and by his fighting at the Kerak fortress. Hell, Balian even gave King Baldwin IV and me a lesson in honesty when he refused to marry Princess Sybilla at the expense of Guy de Lusignan!
At first, I was furious by his decision. Why he wouldn't marry a woman he loves, and protects Jerusalem at the same time from enemies within and outside our walls? But I thought about it, and he was right: as tempting as this proposition was, it was morally unacceptable. Besides, marrying Princess Sybilla to Balian would have provoked a civil war within our city, since Guy de Lusignan would grab his sword on the spot rather than divorce his wife. Not to mention that he'd never agree to swear an oath of allegiance to his rival, who would have been crowned Prince consort of Jerusalem instead of him! De Lusignan, like his late friend Renaud de Châtillon, has many allies and the financial means to conspire. As powerful as I am, I wouldn't have been able to keep Balian safe from assassins' daggers.
It was an impossible plan from the beginning, a dangerous illusion, and now I am glad Balian has refused it. When Princess Yasmina told us the amazing tale of her rescue, both the king and I were flabbergasted. The best roses definitively grow on dunghills! Once again, Balian has proven by his altruism that he's a far better man than the rest of us, just like his father. That's why I asked King Baldwin IV permission to leave in order to collect this… pure diamond back to Jerusalem where he belongs, and it was accorded at once. I must see Balian with my own eyes to reassure myself he's alive and safe!
I feel eyes watching me, and sure enough it's Brother Michael staring at me with his laughing eyes. That Hospitaler monk can be unnerving! Sometimes, I think he has the ability to read other people's minds.
--------------------------------------------------
We have reached Salah al-Dìn's camp! His men – so many of them! – greet their king and Princess Yasmina with much enthusiasm, but it is not long before their eyes widen in stupor. Well, it must not be often that a Christian lord, who happens to be the Governor of Jerusalem as well, comes to visit their camp.
I have talked about this with Salah al-Dìn himself, just before we left Jerusalem, and we both agreed my visit at his encampment should be short. The King of Syria was a bit sorry about this, he wanted to give me a proper welcome but, given the war-like situation, it would have been impossible. Yet, he insisted we should stay overnight and that I'd have dinner with him under his tent, along with Balian as a thank-you gift. I do not fear about my security, mind you: Salah al-Dìn is an honorable man. And the knights of my escort are trusted, reasonable men: not the kind of undisciplined fools who'd create a ruckus within an enemy's camp just for the fun of it!
Salah al-Dìn, still seated on his magnificent black horse, gives a short speech to his men in Arabic, gesturing towards my men and myself. By the corner of my eye, I can see Princess Yasmina has dismounted. She is lead quietly and discreetly to a tent, followed by a flock of women clad head to toes in long robes and veils; by no doubts, these are her ladies-in-waiting.
Salah al-Dìn dismounts, and then walks calmly towards his huge tent. A young man clad in luxurious robes and with sparkling, intelligent blue eyes is standing nearby, ready to greet his master. After they have exchanged 'Salam Aleikum', Salah al-Dìn whispers a word to the young man's ear, who bows respectfully just before the Syrian king retires in the company of his suite, and then addresses to me:
"Lord Tiberias, greetings. It is an honor to meet the Governor of Jerusalem in person. I am Imad al-Dìn and I have the privilege to be Lord Salah al-Dìn's secretary. His majesty has asked me to lead you to the baron of Ibelin, our guest. If you will please follow me?"
"It would be my pleasure, Lord Imad. But what about my men?" I answer, gesturing to my escort and Brother Michael.
"Do not burden your mind with worries, my lord. Our Master, Salah al-Dìn, has ordered your men to receive food and appropriate treatment. Their horses will be tended to, as well. And no one would even try to disobey a direct order from our Master."
I give short instructions to my men, who dismount quietly and efficiently before being led to their accommodations. They are probably as curious about Salah al-Dìn's men as the Saracens are about us. As usual, Brother Michael seems to be perfectly at ease with this awkward situation, but right now I don't care since my mind is set on retrieving King Baldwin's favorite knight.
My attention is drawn towards a young man coming out from a nearby tent, unsure on his feet. He's clad in a Saracen's embroidered white tunic and he's leaning on a walking stick. His dark, long hair hides his features but then he raises his head and I can hardly believe my own eyes!
"Balian!" I call out in surprise.
Disheveled, thinner, pale… and beautiful as ever, God is my witness. Balian is the spitting image of Godfrey coming back from a hard-won battle.
I throw rank and protocol to the winds and embrace Balian in a bone-crushing hug, like I would do to my long-lost son. The young man stiffens in surprise, but a heartbeat later I can feel his arms encircling me and tightening as well. I hear a few quiet chuckles among the crowd of Saracens around us but I don't care how does it looks like! We separate after a while and I cannot help but try to get a better look at him: I'm just so relieved to see him on his feet!
"Balian, ought you to be up and about so soon? What did the doctors say?"
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Tiberias. The doctors here are very skilled, they have managed to close the wound and there is no trace of infection. I just feel kind of sore, actually, thus preventing me from walking too quickly. But by what kind of prodigy are you here?"
"No prodigy here, dear lad. Lord Salah al-Dìn came to Jerusalem to ask the king for justice. He told us all about the attack on Princess Yasmina by that red-bearded worm De Châtillon, and how you have managed to save her from a terrible fate. De Châtillon won't give us any trouble now… or ever. King Baldwin's justice was swift."
A glimpse of emotion appears in Balian's dark gaze, revealing once again his great heart. Being executed on the gallows is a lousy way to die, even for unrepentant, monstrous murderers. I've got to admit De Châtillon's beheading gave me a sense of satisfaction: Guy de Lusignan has lost his best ally so his permanent conspiracies against King Baldwin have been compromised at last. And for all his defiance, De Châtillon died cursing and yelling till the very end, squealing like a pig facing the butcher, giving us a very poor show of the 'noble' status he bragged about for years. Well, that wasn't surprising, was it?
"His Highness, King Baldwin IV sent me here to bring you back to Jerusalem. He is most impatient to see you again since your heroic deed brought us a renewal of the peace treaty signed with Salah al-Dìn. De Lusignan and his Templar friends are muzzled by now, giving us some more time to think about the king's succession."
Lord Imad's soft voice suddenly rises:
"My lords, would you please do me the honor to enter my tent?"
I turn toward the Saracen knight – in my eagerness to see Balian, I've completely forgotten about him! Balian smiles at me, and says:
"Lord Imad has been kind enough to be my host and my caretaker when I was brought here. He took an active part in my recovery."
"Then I am indebted to you, my lord, for saving the life of my nephew." I answer
Lord Imad's eyes widen in surprise and I can hear a small gasp escaping from Balian's mouth. But I will never take my words back: Godfrey was my brother-in-arms; his son is the nephew of my heart.
I am an old soldier with a straightforward personality and a life filled with conflicts of many kinds, and if my time in the Holy Land has ever taught me something, it's to recognize a man's worth in a blink of an eye. This Lord Imad is an intelligent man, and I do sense there is a history between him and Balian.
The Saracen knight smiles and gestures towards his tent's entrance. Balian leads the way in and I follow through, one of my hands resting on his shoulder.