A/N Had the first 3 installments pretty well wrapped up so the next one should be published soon. I have no interest in writing about the events on Cyprus, we will be skipping merrily past that onto the story I do want to tell. Bear with me this is my first multi-chaptered story, hopefully the story and my writing will improve.
Maria's eyes flickered, opening and closing for a few seconds, offering brief glimpses of canvas walls then of a man leaning over her.
"I'm glad to see you're awake. I was beginning to worry."
She tried to raise her head to acknowledge the owner of that very familiar voice but a wave of nausea convinced her to lie still. "Stephen, where am I?"
"Shh Maria, give yourself a moment to come around."
Her response to this was another failed attempt at sitting up.
He placed a hand on her shoulder, gently urging her to stay still, "Don't be difficult Maria. Lie still while I get you some water." The young knight walked to a small table and busied himself pouring a bowl of water. Maria took the opportunity to slowly raise herself into a sitting position before he returned water in hand. She took a few sips, her throat immediately grateful for the liquid. Still holding the bowl he sat on the small bed beside her, its wooden frame creaking loudly under the added burden.
"Thank God you're alive, we were sure he had killed you."
"Apparently I wasn't his target, he let me go."
She emitted a heart wrenching sigh and lowered her head.
Watching her he found himself wishing the perfect words to comfort her would simply pop into his head but according to his mother he had about as much charm and sensitivity as a "Wet boot." Her hair, usually meticulous was now hanging straggled and dirty shielding her face, he reached out and gently brushed a handful behind her ear. He saw a single teardrop slide down her cheek and knowing he had to do something he nudged his hip against hers to get her attention, once he had it he patted his chest. An invitation she accepted without hesitation, he lifted his arm to clear a path for head and placed it around her shoulders.
He knew her as well as anyone, and he knew she wouldn't be crying for long. He stroked her hair, rocked her gently and he held her, neither of them saying a word. The small spasms of her chest against his told him she was still crying but he was glad he could do this much for her. Gradually her body stilled and her silent sobbing came to an end.
A million thoughts racing through her brain; she couldn't focus on one single thing. She felt as though she was at war with her own body and mind, fighting against the desire to scream, vomit, sleep, eat, run and die all at the same time. She hated the fact that here she was a grown woman crying like a baby and needing to be cradled. She used this thought to spur a little fight back into her spirit.
"Why you conniving sod!" Raising her head from his chest she narrowed her eyes at him.
When he offered only a questioning look in return she continued. "You tricked me into behaving like a maudlin girl."
Uttering a small, surprised laugh he asked "Pray tell, what manner of trickery you found in my actions?"
"Tenderness, Stephen, tenderness. You know full well I am unaccustomed to the gentler side of mans nature."
"Ah, then you have my apologies good lady. Fear not, there will be no repeat of such reprehensible behavior."
"And this silly feminine episode…?"
"Shall never be spoken of again." Bowing with exaggerated flamboyance, "Don't worry Maria your secret is safe with me."
Half smiling now she asked, "What secret is that?"
"That underneath your tough exterior beats the heart of an equally tough young woman. Maria you have suffered much, there is no shame in shedding a few tears."
She dead panned, "What tears?"
Stephen chuckled softly and much to her own surprise she joined in. How strange life could be. One minute you can only think of death and the next you are laughing at a silly conversation.
Although her insides still felt like someone had filled her body with tar her head felt a little clearer, she felt a little stronger. She looked at Stephen, all mirth now gone from his face and asked,
"How could this have happened Stephen?"
He began to relate the facts to her of how the assassin had arrived two days previous and approached them boldly making an accusation of treason against Robert. He told her of King Richard's decision, for them to fight to the death and how that had led to a scramble among the Knights to be the one to take the assassins life.
"A wild swing from Guy La Mont sliced my chest open, still I should be grateful any higher and it would have been my throat. I must have passed out and when I came to all but 3 of us were dead and the assassin was gone. The Lion heart took the assassin's claims very seriously Maria; he left Arsuf a few hours later, even refusing to allow his priests to give Robert the last rites."
Maria gasped with genuine horror but Stephen raised his hand to stop her speaking. "Don't worry; Richard relented. Not even he is arrogant enough to believe Phillip of France would tolerate such an obscenity against Robert, Lord of Anjou."
"Let me see if I understand you. The assassin appeared blabbering about plots against the king and Richard believed him!" she was on her feet now, doing what she did best, thinking and planning, far more productive than weeping. "We must restore Robert's good name, we should gather the knights and go to Richard he wouldn't be able to ignore such a show of strength."
Stephen was shaking his head at her, "Armand Bouchart is temporarily Grand master but his permanent appointment is a formality it will be confirmed soon, the knights all follow him now. It seems he wants no reminders of Robert, he has scattered his closest allies to the four corners of the Holy Land. I have been ordered to Acre on a pointless errand for Conrad."
Armand Bouchart's succession to Robert's post was just another kick in the teeth in a long line of kicks for Maria. The man detested her, was in fact offended by her very existence.
"He has designated Limassol the main Templar base, drawing most of the knights there to protect the archive."
"So when matters here are settled I should make my way to Limassol" Maria suggested sounding a good deal more confident than she felt.
"You know as well as I do there is no way Bouchart is going to allow you to serve under him, not even among the conscripts."
"Then tell me Stephen, what exactly should I do?"
"Travel with me to Acre, I will secure you passage to England. You can live on my estate in Kent. Who knows what will happen here Maria… I could be home myself in a year or so."
She knew her friend was offering her a way out, pride intact and all but she would never allow herself to simply roll over and die. She was sure she could impress Bouchart all she needed was an opportunity to do it "I've come too far to simply tuck tail and run. I will go with you to Acre but I'll be sailing for Cyprus. "
"Where are my ships, soldier? I was told there would be another fleet of 8"
The soldier in question turned his attention from the water to the annoying woman now demanding his attention. "I'm sorry, Maria but this is the best we could do."
"It's barely big enough to hold our cargo! How do you propose to get the rest of us to Cyprus?"
He shifted his feet uncomfortably not yet accustomed to the idea of addressing De Sable's former number two in this manner, he looked to his fellow soldier for help and saw that he would have none so he continued , "Begging your pardon but it might be better if you stayed in Acre..."
Marie eyed him suspiciously, "What is that ... a threat?"
"It's fair warning, Armand Bouchart is Grand master now, and he doesn't hold you in high regard."
"Why you insolent ... Never mind the ship is yours. I'll find my own way to Limassol."
"Yes m'lady." Bowing as he left.
Maria's gaze drifted out over the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, watching the departing fleet sail off into the horizon, carrying her dreams with them. She could clearly see the red cross of the Templar Knights emblazoned across the sails of the cog ships and if she squinted she could see the soldiers and crew all scurrying about the decks. Those soldiers deemed worthy to travel to Limassol that was.
"Damn. I was a single heartbeat from knighthood. Now I'm little more than a mercenary."
She needed to find Stephen; he could get her onboard something bound for Cyprus.
Altair had been watching the proceedings with interest, hidden from view but able to see everything of importance. He exited his hiding spot, quietly approaching the woman now standing alone on the balcony, alone except of course for the assassin now sneaking up behind her. He was sure he hadn't made a sound but she turned suddenly towards him, and he found himself once again face to face with the woman who had so impressed him in Jerusalem.
Her initial shock at his appearance lasted only seconds, quickly recovering her composure she snapped, "Well, what a surprise the man who spared my neck but stole my life." Drawing her sword as she spoke she rushed to engage him.
The assassin drew his own blade and readied himself for her attack. She was every bit as fast as he remembered. She had barely reached him before her first blow swung in from the right, forcing him to step back in order to deflect it. Her attacks were relentless, he knew this was to his advantage, she was small and using a long sword, she wouldn't be able to maintain this frantic pace for long. All he had to do was keep dodging her attacks and this would be over soon.
Maria realised the same thing he did, mentally cursing herself for being so foolish. She had allowed her anger to get the better of her and had gone at him in frenzy and now she was almost spent. Breathless and fully aware she wouldn't be able to swing her increasingly heavy sword much longer she tried to think of a way out. Drawing on her last reserve of energy she launched what would be her final attack. Swinging her huge sword from the hip she let it arc almost completely then suddenly altered the direction of the blow, shifting her body and bring the sword down upon what she prayed would be his neck.
His reflexes were thankfully sharper than his eyes, his left arm shot up and took the full force of the blow on his vambrace, sending shock waves of pain up his arm. That was too close for comfort; he needed to end this. He straightened his body up and for the first time in this brawl he went on the attack. Directing a flurry of blows towards her body, each one forcing her further onto the back foot, she stumbled and almost regained her stance, but with the lightening speed he had shown in their previous battle he was upon her, knocking her down.
His blade once more at her throat; her life once more at his mercy, Maria knew this time the outcome would be different. He hadn't come looking for Robert, she was clearly his target. The rise and fall of his chest was steady and even; the bastard had barely broke a sweat taking her down. She tried to look him in the eye but his hood covered them from her view, all she could see was the tip of his nose and his scarred mouth.
"Returned to finish me off?" making no attempt to mask her contempt for him.
"Not just yet. I want information, why are the Templars sailing for Cyprus?"
"It's been a long dirty war, assassin. Everyone deserves a holiday."
"The more you tell me the longer you live. So I'll ask again, why the retreat to Cyprus?"
"What retreat? King Richard has brokered a truce with Saladin, and your order is leaderless is it not? Once we recover the apple of Eden you'll be the one running."
"I'll save my breath. The apple of Eden is well hidden." Rising to his feet as he spoke, he knew continuing to question her would be futile, at least he had learned how ill informed they were about his own order.
"Consider your options carefully. The Templars would pay you a great price for that relic."
He smirked, "They already have, haven't they?"
He hoisted her off the ground, and after another brief struggle he managed to make her stand still long enough to bind her hands in front of her body. Grabbing her shoulders he forced her towards the stairs. It was then Maria saw the bodies of the two soldiers she had been on the balcony with moments before, their throats cut, and standing behind them she saw the perpetrators, Maria was handed over to them.
Had they taken the entire fort? Surely that wouldn't be possible; she would have heard that level of commotion. As they continued down towards the dock Maria figured out what had happened. She passed the bodies of at least 10 soldiers; it looked like most of them hadn't stood a chance, killed from behind by the dirty sneaking dogs that now held her captive.
Led outside into the brilliant sunshine, screwing her eyes up against its glare she saw in the distance the fleet bound for Cyprus. Her nemesis began walking towards her; Maria looked from him to his men now tossing the bodies of her comrades into their watery graves. Her instinct for survival told her to be quiet, to wait and see what he wanted with her but Maria was an impetuous woman and her tongue often got the better of her reason.
"It's not enough you backstab them, not giving them a fighting chance, you now treat their bodies like common waste. You have no concept of chivalry. You and your kind are vermin and the Templars will eradicate you."
"We must move now, get you out of sight until we sail." He tried to put a hand on the small of her back but she pulled away, kicking out at him.
Her foot never connected, increasing her frustration at his utter disregard of her words. So strong was her desire to offend him, to hurt him, she almost missed what he said, "Don't touch me, you diseased swine! What do you want with me anyway, since you were obviously skulking around listening you must know I have no value as a hostage." Then his words sunk in, "Wait, you said until we sail? Sail where? How dare you assume I would travel with a lowlife such as you?"
"I assume nothing, we will be sailing for Cyprus, and you, as my prisoner, have no choice. Considering I'm taking you where you wanted to go I expect your manners to improve."
Maria snorted, "If you want gratitude and light hearted conversation you are going to be very disappointed."
Since he was walking behind her she never saw the faintest trace of a smile on his mouth, "As you wish Maria but know this, I will gag you."