FIFTY-TWO

‘It was a massacre.’ Heilsburg finished his beaker of wine and held it out for Hartelius to refill. ‘The Saracens rode in from the sea, thinking they had outwitted us. But the margrave, for all his sins, is nothing if not a tactician. He had caused deep bonfires to be built in every part of the camp. With sundried kindle wood laid near them, soaked in tar. And then he ordered the bonfires covered. In this way, in a matter of seconds, the fires could be uncovered and any part of the camp could be lit up as in a festival.’

‘What happened?’

‘The Saracens came howling and yodelling in from the sea, all banners unfurled, as is their wont. It was a fine sight. They broached the edges of the camp in darkness and thought to ride on through and out the other side, like a scimitar slicing through silk. But the bonfires caught them out. Then it was only a matter of numbers. They were surrounded and slaughtered by von Drachenhertz’s mercenaries. Even the idlers and malingerers dipped their swords in Saracen blood that night. It was disgusting to see. These men were not our enemy. It was the margrave who challenged them and barred their legal way. Many of us felt the shame of it. But there was little we could do but watch the massacre from a distance.’

‘And the Amir?’

‘Their leader, you mean?’

‘Yes.’

‘He is a prisoner. Men such as he are worth a fortune in ransom. And the margrave clearly hopes the Amir’s presence will lure you out of hiding and give you into his hands.’ Heilsburg grinned. ‘And he was right yet again. I am almost beginning to believe in the man myself.’

‘And you. You believe all you hear about me?’

‘Me?’ Heilsburg shrugged. ‘I am a Knight Templar first and foremost. I do what I am told.’

‘What if I told you that King Philip of Swabia stole the Copper Scroll from our Grand Master? That he sent it, as part of his sister’s wedding portion, for the margrave to use as he saw fit? And that I stole the scroll back, had it translated, and it is now on its way, with von Szellen, to the true king’s court in Sicily.’

‘If you were any other man I would call you a liar.’

‘But you know I am not.’

‘I have never known you to lie. No.’ Heilsburg bent forwards from the hip, his trunk and one arm canted sideways, his other hand holding his wine. ‘This is true, what you say? The scroll is translated at last?’

‘By a Sufi, yes. One of the enemy. Who trusted me enough to give it back to me.’

‘Why did he trust you?’

‘Because he knew I would come here and try to save his pupil, the Amir.’

Heilsburg shook his head. He did not even laugh. ‘This is impossible. Even for you, Spear-Saver. I have just come from guarding the man. There are twenty other knights guarding him at any one time. And a thousand knights guarding those knights. And a thousand further knights guarding those. No one man can get through. It would take an army.’

‘Still. I must try it.’

‘Then you will be caught. And I shall be forced to watch your execution, which will be most objectionable to me, and which will probably cause me to miss my breakfast. Or to throw it up, given what methods the margrave will doubtless use on you.’

‘I have walked through this camp already unchallenged.’

‘That would end the closer to the Amir’s prison tent you came.’

‘And there is no other way?’

‘Bar giving yourself up in exchange for the Amir? None.’

‘Giving myself up?’

Heilsburg rocked his head back and forth. ‘If you knew how the margrave longs for your head, you would not seem so astonished, my friend. He would free the Amir, as you call him, in two shakes of a rat’s tail if you were to offer yourself in his stead. Don’t you think he knows what a hornet’s nest he has stirred up with his massacre of Saracens during a time of peace? Even the margrave is not immune to this one. If he can save face by freeing the Amir – under certain conditions, that is – he will do so. The margrave may be a monster. But he is not mad. But what am I saying? Why would a man deliver himself up to another man who has promised to castrate him, torture him, hang, draw and quarter him, and then leave the residue to the fire ants?’

‘Will you act as my intermediary?’

‘You are not serious?’

‘If you agree, I will leave the camp again, and wait for a pre-arranged signal from you that all covenants are in place.’

‘Hartelius, this is mad.’

‘I owe the Amir my life, Heilsburg. He is a captive and his men are dead because they tried to guard me and the princess. The princess is waiting at a pre-arranged place for the Amir to come and offer her his protection. If my sacrifice can ensure his freedom, then the princess will also be safe, and my child with her.’

‘Your child?’

‘Yes. The princess and I are married.’

‘Holy Mother of God. You cannot be serious.’

‘I am deadly serious.’

Heilsburg looked long and hard at his friend. Then he shook his head. ‘This is too great a sacrifice you are making. Think of it, man. Think of what von Drachenhertz will do to you.’

‘I am thinking of it. All the time I am thinking of it. But I don’t know what else to do. I can hardly charge the Amir’s tent and free him that way.’

‘Then ride to the place he comes from. Tell his people what has happened.’

‘They would spit my head onto a pole and roast it over a griddle.’

Heilsburg sniffed. ‘You may have a point there. They would certainly not be well disposed towards you.’

‘So you see? I have nowhere else to turn. You can say that an arrow was fired into the Templar camp carrying a parchment with my conditions on it. That you picked up the arrow. Together we can write something out that will make sense to von Drachenhertz. From what you say, he is so consumed with hatred of me that he will agree to almost anything to have me in his hands.’

‘There is that.’ Heilsburg looked up at his friend. His features were thrown into deep contrast by the oil lamp separating him from Hartelius. ‘But you know, if I were you, I would leave the camp as you say. Then I would ride. As far and as hard as my horse could take me. And I would not stop till I reached the ends of the earth.’

‘But I am not you, Heilsburg. Unfortunately, I am me.’