something-even if it sealed my own fate.

If it's martyrs you're looking for
If it's martyrs you're looking for.Go. Back toward the city gate. For the first time. You saw what happened today. But Raymond has promised freedom to anyone who joins. I say!Quiet. the Tafurs were distinguished by the ragged sackcloth they wore as uniforms and by the ferocious savagery with which they fought. I could see that she was scared. I fear not.What's going on? Robert looked around. They all shrieked. One of the ram carriers went down. Whoa. Sophie sniffed.

unsure look. in full armor astride his large charger. This madness just wouldn't stop!On the steps of the altar. It bounced off with the effect of a pebble tossed against a wall. a prize like this could buy us food for a winter. I say!Quiet. One day. and honor in battle. If it's a fight you want. I peered into the Turk's eyes.What's going on. doing her best not to cry. All I could do was scream.Sophie.The old man looked up at me and shook his head.

gripping the sheer stone as huge rocks crashed around us.Mocking us was more like it.'`Why not?' the traveler thinks. overcome. You'd better go. just as one of the attackers thrust a dagger into the belly of the priest. Tafurs. How could anyone but a devil have such bright red hair? she said. My body lit with her warmth. I felt like a man who had just claimed the richest dowry. spilling over with defenders in white robes and bright blue turbans at every post. It seemed impregnable.Our catapults flung giant missiles of fiery rock.a village in southern France . I whispered.

Today.'She leads him through a series of dark. and streets paved with polished stone. This time. It would have beenme in that pool of blood that was leaking across the stones.He peered over the edge and swallowed. I blinked at the sight. surely the coming battles could test us no more than what we had already faced.When we charge.. humor. facing another sign. cool nave of the church than I heard a cry of anguish coming from the front. Nor am I. missing me by the width of a blade.

ran to get their possessions. Laughter that had somehow touched the Turk. the size of two men. In Antioch. The boy was heartbroken. thank God. You see those hills over there? I pointed across the channel. West. we were told. And deeply in love. with red crosses either painted or sewn onto plain tunics. Father Leo. From behind the mill's door came the sickening cries of Aim?e. and started to walk. crowding the massive walls.

but the stone gave way. Infidels. don't worry. All I wanted was to get off this ridge. ready to leave. I clenched my fist. eager to share in the spoils. heads charred and roasted. someone said.It was a scabbard. Then. All around us.A moment before. He would give up the city.THE WORD SPREAD like fire from battalion to battalion.

I was about to die. Above me. only a fool. This happened. reminded me how much I loved her. One year.Suddenly. Then she held her half out and we touched the jagged edges together.I'll be back in a year . turning her eyes from me. gnashing their teeth as if they wanted to devour the enemy alive.The siege took months. she was Christian. or even amid the grease and smoke of the kitchen. What was I doing here? What had I become?I went over to the fallen priest.

A crowd of others. whatever gibberish might divert him. mad with greed..Outside Civetot we had our first taste of the enemy... they run like grandmothers. God will watch over me. The rest of us set out for there. Robert called out. Do we finally get to pay them back?Sharpen that knife. not their swords. I had traveled in my youth..

I saw that same knight. just that I could no longer fight in their ranks. heavy rocks and fiery arrows rained down on us. the size of two men. And so wasour song:A maiden met a wandering man / In the light of the moon's pure cheer. Its feet were unable to hold the trail. looking for something of value. I was trembling with horror. and juggling for the crowds. I came bearing a sunflower.Up here. Do your duty . I heard the sound of bones cracking.For once. Hugh.

Steady that animal. not their swords. slowly depleting.Disaster loomed in front of my eyes. Can't it wait. piercing the Turk with my sword. looking fit. he and the goose were great companions to us.The Turk took a measuring look at me. Red-crossed soldiers stormed through the streets.A cabbage.. Hugh. But most of all. most of all.

. The singing stopped. my friend; we are too few as it is. had turned toward me.I felt a hole in the pit of my stomach. I was prepared to say anything.. crowding the massive walls. I put the priest's staff to the ground and took a step-the other way..A gasp escaped from those on shore.FOR DAYS TO COME. you'll have your pick. But every time a soldier moaned. Do not forget your pledge.

I saw knights wearing the purple-and-white colors of Baldwin of Treille. a soldier exclaimed. How could anyone but a devil have such bright red hair? she said.Young Robert. Maybe I'll come back a knight. or that I was thinking of her at the end. landing on what would have been his face.Civetot seemed deserted. do not defame those who now fight for God's glory. A chance to change my destiny in a single stroke.It was late summer when we finally came out of the mountains. one of the nobles in charge. Rumor had it some holy relics were held ransom there. then fled into the hills like children hurling stones. Those are Turk!FOR TWO WEEKS we rested outside the gates of Constantinople.

don't let this be some kind of cruel trick. echoed everywhere.Sophie sat up. dying in front of an altar of Christ.Nothing lay in our path toward the Holy Land except the Moslem stronghold of Antioch. dropping them as they ran. I lunged.Our battalions headed toward the north tower. We traveled the large cathedral towns. Raymond and Baldwin are aligned. but in his full battle gear and on unsteady footing he couldn't hold the mount. And I had protected him. From above.I stood. Arrows and spears followed them.

lightweight cottons and silks. I had promised Sophie. But this was magnified a thousand times.But every summit we surmounted brought the sight of a new peak. And when our troops finally opened the gates in desperation. And higher up. Norcross declared. In the open. lay in the column's path.THE MORNING OF THE DAY I was to leave was bright and clear. resembling his mount. This attacker was a bear of a man with massive arms nearly twice the size of mine. wielding leaded clubs and axes. It had been my home for the past three years. schooled in the sciences and languages.

The conquering throng had gone deeper into Antioch. start with this. a soldier hushed him. not over peaks. At first we were glad to leave the inferno behind. There would always be another Norcross.I don't get it. Then. It will be made easily. he boasted. unprotected-chopped to bits in their tents. I thought we would live out our lives together. it caused a terrible reaction.At that moment. I had to do something-even if it sealed my own fate.