The Honorable Knight

by Patrick John Donahoe

  Ian returned to his seat and observed Rosemarie’s reaction. He hadn’t considered there might be any romantic connection between himself and her when he fabricated the gifts. She appeared to be slightly chagrined that her mother received a comparable gift to her own, but he was glad he had given her the ruby, a more romantic stone, and he had given her mother the emerald, a more matronly stone, and hoped she appreciated the difference.

  Using her impatient voice with Ian, Rosemarie said, “Open your package, Bumpkin, we’re all waiting.”

  Ian opened his package. Inside he found a shield-shaped silver pendant with the O’Donoghue LeFriant crest on one side and the names of the family members on the other, including his, plus the name of the martyr Christopher, the protector of travelers.

  Ian, ever easy to well up, tried to remain stoic and said, “Rosemarie, this is beautiful. I’ll wear it under my tunic against my breast every day.” Noting the addition of St. Christopher, he said, “Thank you for adding St. Christopher, the Christ Carrier, to the pendant. He’s my patron saint.”

  Ian stepped over to where Rosemarie sat and kissed her on the forehead, but she grabbed the front of his tunic, pulled him down, and kissed him on the lips. Embarrassed to be seen kissing Rosemarie in the presence of the family he clumsily backed away and plopped down in the leather covered armchair.

  Luc, either oblivious of, or purposely ignoring, Ian’s and Rosemarie’s kiss, continued, “When our sons return home triumphant,” he took another swallow of his wine, “Ian could return to his beloved Ireland. Or, he could remain with us.” Luc gave Ian a piercing look, as if to say, how could you refuse me.

  “I want to visit my uncle in Ireland upon my return, but I’m uncertain if I would remain in Ireland,” Ian replied, having somewhat regained his composure.

  “We want you to keep your options open, my boy. There are many possibilities here in France. I have a beautiful daughter who will need a husband by the time you return.”

  “Father, you’re so presumptuous!” Rosemarie protested.

  “It’s unfortunate you’ve not found the need for a healer, you might not protest so mightily.” Luc winked at Rosemarie. He turned to Ian and continued, “She would be an attractive bride with a sizable dowry.”

  “Father!” Rosemarie shouted.

  “I didn’t remain with you to take advantage of your family,” Ian protested.

  Luc held up his hands to take control of the conversation again. “I know you would never take any advantage, Ian, which is why I even mention this possibility. Before either of you protest too long and loud, another option could be that I set you up in your own Apothecary. You have a natural talent for healing and are much needed in our community.”

  Ian’s eyebrows raised and his pulse sped up. What an opportunity indeed. “Father, I would consider your kind offer, but I would have to pay you back for all expenses. As a loan, not a gift.” He glanced at Rosemarie, who gave him one of her cat-that-ate-the-canary smiles.

  “Now, now, we can talk about futures and paybacks when the time comes,” Luc said.

  Ian looked at Gabrielle, Jacques, Rosemarie, and Luc, and noted approval in their eyes, especially Rosemarie’s. He considered Luc’s offer. He knew Luc only wanted the best for him and Rosemarie. He had no claim to Frankish land, but becoming the local apothecary and healer would make him a respected member of the community. Rosemarie would make a wonderful wife. The prospects were appealing, even if Luc was trying to manipulate their futures.

  Luc raised his ever present wine glass and said, “A toast to the future unfolding as planned,” and waited until Gabrielle, Jacques, Ian and Rosemarie raised their glasses. He said, “This is a grand day. Yes. A grand day, indeed,” then took a sip of his wine.

  Twelve

  Jacques and Ian traveled to Raymond of St. Gilles’ estate in Toulouse in October 1096. He took a few minutes to knight both Ian and Jacques with his seneschal to record the event, as he had promised Luc. Since he was in the throes of preparing to leave his estate, he dismissed them immediately after.

  They camped out on his lawn with some of the other knights and waited. They were in awe of Raymond because he was the senior nobleman among the leaders of the four armies. He was also the oldest and richest of the Crusaders. Even though Bishop Adhemar of Le Puy, the papal legate, was in charge as the spiritual leader of the Crusade, Raymond, a natural leader of men, would lead the army while taking spiritual guidance from Adhemar.

  The pomp and panache of the occasion impressed Ian. On the morning of departure, hundreds of knights, four abreast, in columns as far back as Ian could see, sat on their horses and waited for Raymond, Count of Toulouse and hero of battles against the Moors of Spain three years prior. The Pope chose Raymond to be the military leader of his Crusader army.

  Ian and Jacques stood next to their horses at the forefront of the phalanx of knights. Ian also held the reins of Raymond’s horse. Ian had fitted Raymond’s horse with shining armor and bunting. Raymond’s banner carrier sat on horseback and held up a white banner with a red cross. Elvira, Raymond’s wife, waited in her carriage to the left of Ian.

  When Raymond strode out of his home and waved to the patient knights, they all cheered, ‘Bravo!’

  Ian felt a pang of envy when he saw Raymond dressed as he imagined the perfect knight, with full body armor, pointed helmet with a visor, gauntlets and armored boots. A hilt fashioned as a lion’s head showed from a leather scabbard on his right side, probably attached to the perfect sword. He wore a short scabbard on the left, probably holding the perfect short blade.

  Raymond shouted out, “Dieu lo vult!” [God wills it!], and the knights went wild. Their horses pranced up and down anxious to be moving on. Raymond strode up to his horse and took the reins from Ian.

  Raymond said, “Ian, Jacques, I have an announcement.” He placed his left gauntleted hand on Jacques’ shoulder and his right gloved hand on Ian’s shoulder. He looked each of them in the eyes, and said in a voice loud enough for the first few ranks of knights to overhear, “Jacques, Ian, you are brave young men who’ve come to me with high recommendations from your father, Luc LeFriant, and I trust you will be valiant. You two will serve as my aides-de-camp. You two are to ride on my right and my standard bearer will ride on my left.”

  In a lower voice, he continued, “You are to guard my wife, Elvira, my infant son, Bertrand, and the good Bishop Adhemar Le Puy, the Pope’s legate. As my Aides, you will assist me in keeping our knights in order. I do not want my Army, that is, Bishop Le Puy’s Army, to become a rabble like the peasants that followed Peter the Hermit, robbing, pillaging, and raping as they go. We will have none of that. We are on a holy quest.”

  “Yes, sir, you can count on us,” Ian and Jacques answered almost in unison.

  Continuing in his confidential voice, he added, “I want you to concentrate on Bishop Adhemar, and Elvira, my wife, and not on me. Although I’m fifty-five years old, I’m fully capable of defending myself. As you protect them, you’re protecting me from having to worry about their welfare. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I also want the two of you to care for my horses as well as your own. I see your big black,” indicating Tonnerre Noir, “and your great bay horse,” indicating Jacques mount, Guerrier Brun, “are the best groomed and cared for horses I’ve seen among the knights. We have thousands of miles to travel. I want you to instruct the other knights, sergeants, and squires in the care of their horses.”

  “Sir, the horses’ excellent conditions are due . . .” Jacques started to tell Raymond that their horses’ healthy conditions should be attributed to Ian’s efforts, but Ian jostled his arm to silence him.

  Undaunted by their particular assignments, Ian and Jacques cared for their own horses and Adhemar’s, Elvira’s, and Raymond’s and assisted with setting up and taking down their camps and other duties as required. They were knights on the Crusade and were willing to do whatever Raymond asked of them. Jacques
grumbled on occasion, but Ian found the daily grind less burdensome than farm life in Ireland. He enjoyed seeing the new lands and having new experiences.

  As they passed through the villages and countryside, they negotiated with the locals for food and supplies for the army. Most of the locals they encountered were afraid of them because of the rough treatment Peter the Hermit’s invading hoard gave them the year before. Once the locals saw that Ian and Jacques were trying to deal with them in an honest and businesslike manner they provided food and supplies without resentment.

  As their journey wore on, Jacques became bolder in addressing Raymond and asked, “Sir, would you consider my plans for catapults and machines of war? I’ve designed some which may be put to good use in our taking of Jerusalem.”

  Raymond was skeptical at first, but finally allowed the excited Jacques to show him his sketches and plans. After examining them, he said, “When the opportunity arises, I’ll authorize the building of one or more of your machines so we can assess the benefit.”

  Jacques found it difficult to control his exuberance, and said, “Thank you, sir, thank you.”

  With Raymond’s and Ian’s encouragement, Jacques was able to bear the daily grind of mundane tasks.

  Raymond led his army to Dyrrhachium then east to Thessalonika, arriving in Constantinople on 21 April 1097 after five months’ march. Alexius 1, Emperor of Constantinople, fearing that this current contingent of Crusaders would capture Muslim territory for their own rather than for the Byzantine Empire, required that each of the four army leaders sign an oath of fealty. Raymond signed a pledge of friendship instead, which declared that he would do no harm to the empire. He was the only leader not to swear an oath of fealty to Byzantine Emperor Alexius, much to the emperor’s chagrin.

  At Nicea, Raymond gave Jacques permission to build a large trebuchet to fling stones at the city walls. Jacques threw himself into the role of designer and engineer with Ian serving as his building foreman. The siege engine was useful, but the battle to take Nicea was won by a secret treaty formed between Alexius, the Emperor of Constantinople, and the Turks, angering Raymond, since Alexius had required the Crusaders to sign fealty pledges to him but showed no allegiance to the Crusaders.

  The next large battle took place in Dorylaeum. It started while Ian and Jacques were protecting Bishop Adhemar and Raymond’s family at the rear of the entourage. When they heard the pandemonium of battle, they moved up the line, and discovered the Turks pushing the Crusaders back into a river. Ian and Jacques led a cadre of knights, circled behind the Turks and attacked them from behind.

  They caught the Turks by surprise and set fire to the Turk’s camp. Led by Ian and Jacques, the knights attacked the Turks so ferociously that the Turks fled the battlefield. Ian and Jacques chased the Turkish foot soldiers and slaughtered many by the sword. Ian felt sick afterwards. Killing men with a trebuchet from a distance was more palatable than hacking them to pieces with a sword from horseback.

  Raymond’s army arrived at Antioch, one of the key cities on the way to Jerusalem, in October 1097.

  The Crusaders attempted a siege, but had too few knights to surround the city. The walls were too solid to knock down with trebuchets and had many towers with watchmen, who directed the defenders to attack points. Many of the Crusaders fled when rumors started that the Turks had another large army headed toward Antioch.

  Jacques persuaded Raymond to allow him to build fortresses at key positions around the city and deploy their small forces from the fortresses in surprise attacks. Jacques designed and oversaw the overall construction of the fortresses and Ian, as his foreman, directed the day to day building.

  Jacques received a letter from Rosemarie addressed to both him and Ian. In deference to Ian, Jacques didn’t open the letter until he and Ian could read it together. Ian read the letter aloud.

  “‘Dear Jacques and Ian [letter number 5; August 5, 1097]

  I pray this letter, the fifth I have sent since your departure, reaches you and finds you both healthy and enjoying your adventure. I have received only one letter from you [Ian] this past year delivered by one Paul Montague. He told me of the horrific ordeals you have endured. He assured me that when he left your company you were both well and engaged in daily duties and occasional combat. I hope you, as Paul has done, have satisfied your need for adventure and are preparing to return home as Paul has done. Father continues to manage the estate, but his advancing age coupled with his love for rosé cause him to falter at times.

  Jacques, Esmeralda was blessed with a male child she named Jason Roland Cuers. If you did not receive my earlier missives, Esmeralda married Peter Cuers two weeks after your departure. I am sure many suspect premarital relations, since the child was born eight months after the wedding, but no one talks of the brevity of her pregnancy, and Peter is a kind and loving husband who dotes on her and their child.

  Jean Fontaine, the second son of Pierre and Justine Fontaine, has asked Father if he could court me and Father agreed. I protested, saying I was too young to court, but Father replied I was only too young to marry. Jean is an agreeable enough young man, except he has the air of the too privileged for my tastes.

  Jean will not inherit his father’s estate, which is smaller than ours is, and is not managed as well. Jonathan Fontaine, Jean’s elder brother, will inherit the estate, so Jean has taken on a position as deputy sheriff for our township and outlying area. Jean hopes to move up in civil service to sheriff, deputy mayor, mayor, etc. to make his fortune.

  Ian, Father still talks of setting up a much-needed apothecary in town and daily brings up memories of you and Jacques into our meals and conversations. Need I say we all miss you both very much?

  If you receive this letter, please respond in kind.

  Your devoted sister,

  Rosemarie

  “Are you going to answer Rosemarie’s letter?” Jacques asked.

  “I’ll draft a reply and read it to you for your comments and additions.”

  “Thank you, Ian. You know it’s too difficult for me to come up with something to say.”

  “I know. By the way, who is this Jean Fontaine fellow?”

  “The son of one of father’s many friends. I barely knew him.”

  Thirteen

  On the first of June 1098, after sunrise prayers for an end to the unproductive nine-month siege of Antioch, Ian patrolled the walls on horseback and spotted a lone tower guard. The guard dropped a rock from the tower. The rock, wrapped in parchment, landed between the wall and Tonnerre Noir. Cautious, for fear of another rock raining down, Ian dismounted with his shield held over his head and picked up the rock. He stepped back away from the tower and unwrapped the parchment from the rock.

  Ian read, ‘I am a prisoner here. I will help you if you will free me,’ written in Frankish.

  Shouting up at the unseen guard in Frankish, Ian asked, “Are you alone in your tower?”

  To Ian’s surprise, the guard leaned out of his vantage point and answered, “Oui.”

  Ian asked in French, “Are you weary of this war?”

  The man again answered, “Yes, I’m merely a merchant visiting Antioch, not a soldier. The head guard drafted me to serve as a lookout when you put Antioch under siege. I have no stomach for fighting. My wife and children live in Constantinople where I learned to speak French.”

  “Could I interest you in stopping this warfare if I offer you a guarantee of safe passage?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll return tomorrow at the same time.”

  “No, return one hour after midnight with your proposal. My watches start at noon and midnight.”

  “I will.” Ian waved goodbye and rode as fast as he could to Raymond’s tent.

  Ian stood outside Raymond’s tent and announced, “Sir Raymond, it is Ian. May I enter?”

  “Enter, Ian.”

  Ian opened the tent flap, saw Raymond studying a map, and said, “Sir, I’m sorry to disturb, but we need to talk.”


  “What did you discover on your patrol?”

  Ian bowed to Raymond and said, “Sir, a tower watchman has indicated he would be willing to assist us breach the wall for safe passage and a reward.”

  Raymond, frowned and asked with doubt in his voice, “Do you have confidence in this traitor?”

  “I think if we offer him enough he’ll aid us. He’s a merchant conscripted to be a lookout, not a soldier. What reward are you willing to offer?”

  “I’ll offer him land and gold, enough to allow him to live like a minor prince. We’ve lost too many of our men from hunger and hardship. Plus, the Turks are rumored to be gathering an army to attack us as we speak.”

  “If you have your scribe write out a contract in both Frankish and Turkish promising him whatever treasure you deem reasonable and safe passage when the city is breached, I’ll negotiate with the man for access to the city. I told him I would return tonight one hour after midnight. His four hour watches start at noon and midnight.”

  “Be back here this afternoon. I’ll have my scribe draw up an agreement affixed with Adhemar’s Papal seal.”

  “Yes, sire. I will enlist Jacques and Jared, a trusted friend, to assist me.”

  “You and your brother Jacques have served me well these past almost two years. Thank you, Ian.”

  Ian bowed his way back out of the tent. Flushed with the excitement of this new assignment, he searched frantically for Jacques and found him discussing the building of another fortress with Jared.

  Ian rushed up to Jacques and said, “Jacques, Jared, come with me. I have much to tell you!”

  Ian explained his plan to Jacques and Jared in the privacy of his tent.

  Jacques said, “I am skeptical of this watchman. Your plan is dangerous at best, and suicidal at worst.”

  “I’ve served as your foreman to build your war machines for the past year without complaint.”