Chapter Seventeen: The Brethren Depart from Damascus
At the court of Saladin Godwin and Wulf were treated with muchhonour. A house was given them to dwell in, and a company ofservants to minister to their comfort and to guard them. Mountedon their swift horses, Flame and Smoke, they were taken out intothe desert to hunt, and, had they so willed, it would have beeneasy for them to out-distance their retinue and companions andride away to the nearest Christian town. Indeed, no hand wouldhave been lifted to stay them who were free to come or go. Butwhither were they to go without Rosamund?
Saladin they saw often, for it pleased him to tell them tales ofthose days when their father and uncle were in the East, or totalk with them of England and the Franks, and even now and againto reason with Godwin on matters of religion. Moreover, to showhis faith in them, he gave them the rank of officers of his ownbodyguard, and when, wearying of idleness, they asked it of him,allowed them to take their share of duty in the guarding of hispalace and person. This, at a time when peace still reignedbetween Frank and Saracen, the brethren were not ashamed to do,who received no payment for their services.
Peace reigned indeed, but Godwin and Wulf could guess that itwould not reign for long. Damascus and the plain around it wereone great camp, and every day new thousands of wild tribesmenpoured in and took up the quarters that had been prepared forthem. They asked Masouda, who knew everything, what it meant. Sheanswered:
"It means the jihad, the Holy War, which is being preached inevery mosque throughout the East. It means that the greatstruggle between Cross and Crescent is at hand, and then,pilgrims Peter and John, you will have to choose your standard."
"There can be little doubt about that," said Wulf.
"None," replied Masouda, with one of her smiles, "only it maypain you to have to make war upon the princess of Baalbec and heruncle, the Commander of the Faithful."
Then she went, still smiling. For this was the trouble of it:Rosamund, their cousin and their love, had in truth become theprincess of Baalbec--for them. She lived in great state andfreedom, as Saladin had promised that she should live in hisletter to Sir Andrew D'Arcy. No insult or violence were offeredto her faith; no suitor was thrust upon her. But she was in aland where women do not consort with men, especially if they behigh-placed. As a princess of the empire of Saladin, she mustobey its rules, even to veiling herself when she went abroad, andexchanging no private words with men. Godwin and Wulf prayedSaladin that they might be allowed to speak with her from time totime, but he only answered shortly:
"Sir Knights, our customs are our customs. Moreover, the less yousee of the princess of Baalbec the better I think it will be forher, for you, whose blood I do not wish to have upon my hands,and for myself, who await the fulfilment of that dream which theangel brought."
Then the brethren left his presence sore at heart, for althoughthey saw her from time to time at feasts and festivals, Rosamundwas as far apart from them as though she sat in SteepleHall--ay, and further. Also they came to see that of rescuing herfrom Damascus there was no hope at all. She dwelt in her ownpalace, whereof the walls were guarded night and day by a companyof the Sultan's Mameluks, who knew that they were answerable forher with their lives. Within its walls, again, lived trustedeunuchs, under the command of a cunning fellow named Mesrour,and her retinue of women, all of them spies and watchful. Howcould two men hope to snatch her from the heart of such a hostand to spirit her out of Damascus and through its encirclingarmies?
One comfort, however, was left to them. When she reached thecourt Rosamund had prayed of the Sultan that Masouda should notbe separated from her, and this because of the part she hadplayed in his niece's rescue from the power of Sinan, he hadgranted, though doubtfully. Moreover, Masouda, being a person ofno account except for her beauty, and a heretic, was allowed togo where she would and to speak with whom she wished. So, as shewished to speak often with Godwin, they did not lack for tidingsof Rosamund.
From her they learned that in a fashion the princess was happyenough--who would not be that had just escaped fromAl-je-bal?--yet weary of the strange Eastern life, of therestraints upon her, and of her aimless days; vexed also that shemight not mix with the brethren. Day by day she sent them hergreetings, and with them warnings to attempt nothing--not evento see her--since there was no hope that they would succeed. Somuch afraid of them was the Sultan, Rosamund said, that both sheand they were watched day and night, and of any folly their liveswould pay the price. When they heard all this the brethren beganto despair, and their spirits sank so low that they cared notwhat should happen to them.
Then it was that a chance came to them of which the issue was tomake them still more admired by Saladin and to lift Masouda tohonour. One hot morning they were seated in the courtyard oftheir house beside the fountain, staring at the passers-bythrough the bars of the bronze gates and at the sentries whomarched to and fro before them. This house was in one of theprincipal thoroughfares of Damascus, and in front of it flowedcontinually an unending, many-coloured stream of folk.
There were white-robed Arabs of the desert, mounted on theirgrumbling camels; caravans of merchandise from Egypt orelsewhere; asses laden with firewood or the grey, prickly growthof the wild thyme for the bakers' ovens; water-sellers with theirgoatskin bags and chinking brazen cups; vendors of birds orsweetmeats; women going to the bath in closed and curtainedlitters, escorted by the eunuchs of their households; great lordsriding on their Arab horses and preceded by their runners, whothrust the crowd asunder and beat the poor with rods; beggars,halt, maimed, and blind, beseeching alms; lepers, from whom allshrank away, who wailed their woes aloud; stately companies ofsoldiers, some mounted and some afoot; holy men, who gaveblessings and received alms; and so forth, without number andwithout end.
Godwin and Wulf, seated in the shade of the painted house,watched them gloomily. They were weary of this ever-changingsameness, weary of the eternal glare and glitter of thisunfamiliar life, weary of the insistent cries of the mullahs onthe minarets, of the flash of the swords that would soon be redwith the blood of their own people; weary, too, of the hopelesstask to which they were sworn. Rosamund was one of thismultitude; she was the princess of Baalbec, half an Eastern byher blood, and growing more Eastern day by day--or so theythought in their bitterness. As well might two Saracens hope tosnatch the queen of England from her palace at Westminster, asthey to drag the princess of Baalbec out of the power of amonarch more absolute than any king of England.
So they sat silent since they had nothing to say, and stared nowat the passing crowd, and now at the thin stream of water fallingcontinually into the marble basin.
Presently they heard voices at the gate, and, looking up, saw awoman wrapped in a long cloak, talking with the guard, who with alaugh thrust out his arm, as though to place it round her. Then aknife flashed, and the soldier stepped back, still laughing, andopened the wicket. The woman came in. It was Masouda. They roseand bowed to her, but she passed before them into the house.Thither they followed, while the soldier at the gate laughedagain, and at the sound of his mockery Godwin's cheek grew red.Even in the cool, darkened room she noticed it, and said,bitterly enough:
"What does it matter? Such insults are my daily bread whom theybelieve--" and she stopped.
"They had best say nothing of what they believe to me," mutteredGodwin.
"I thank you," Masouda answered, with a sweet, swift smile, and,throwing off her cloak, stood before them unveiled, clad in thewhite robes that befitted her tall and graceful form so well, andwere blazoned on the breast with the cognizance of Baalbec. "Wellfor you," she went on, "that they hold me to be what I am not,since otherwise I should win no entry to this house."
"What of our lady Rosamund?" broke in Wulf awkwardly, for, likeGodwin, he was pained.
Masouda laid her hand upon her breast as though to still itsheaving, then answered:
"The princess of Baalbec, my mistress, is well and as ever,beautiful, though somewhat weary of the pomp in which she findsno joy.
She sent her greetings, but did not say to which of youthey should be delivered, so, pilgrims, you must share them."
Godwin winced, but Wulf asked if there were any hope of seeingher, to which Masouda answered:
"None," adding, in a low voice, "I come upon another business. Doyou brethren wish to do Salah-ed-din a service?"
"I don't know. What is it?" asked Godwin gloomily.
"Only to save his life--for which he may be grateful, or may not,according to his mood."
"Speak on," said Godwin, "and tell us how we two Franks can savethe life of the Sultan of the East."
"Do you still remember Sinan and his fedais? Yes--they are noteasily forgotten, are they? Well, to-night he has plotted tomurder Salah-ed-din, and afterwards to murder you if he can, andto carry away your lady Rosamund if he can, or, failing that, tomurder her also. Oh! the tale is true enough. I have it from oneof them under the Signet--surely that Signet has served uswell--who believes, poor fool, that I am in the plot. Now, youare the officers of the bodyguard who watch in the ante-chamberto-night, are you not? Well, when the guard is changed atmidnight, the eight men who should replace them at the doors ofthe room of Salah-ed-din will not arrive; they will be decoyedaway by a false order. In their stead will come eight murderers,disguised in the robes and arms of Mameluks. They look to deceiveand cut you down, kill Salah-ed-din, and escape by the furtherdoor. Can you hold your own awhile against eight men, think you?"
"We have done so before and will try," answered Wulf. "But howshall we know that they are not Mameluks?"
"Thus--they will wish to pass the door, and you will say, 'Nay,sons of Sinan,' whereon they will spring on you to kill you. Thenbe ready and shout aloud."
"And if they overcome us," asked Godwin, "then the Sultan wouldbe slain?"
"Nay, for you must lock the door of the chamber of Salah-ed-dinand hide away the key. The sound of the fighting will arouse theouter guard ere hurt can come to him. Or," she added, afterthinking awhile, "perhaps it will be best to reveal the plot tothe Sultan at once."
"No, no," answered Wulf; "let us take the chance. I weary ofdoing nothing here. Hassan guards the outer gate. He will comeswiftly at the sound of blows."
"Good," said Masouda; "I will see that he is there and awake. Nowfarewell, and pray that we may meet again. I say nothing of thisstory to the princess Rosamund until it is done with." Thenthrowing her cloak about her shoulders, she turned and went.
"Is that true, think you?" asked Wulf of Godwin.
"We have never found Masouda to be a liar," was his answer."Come; let us see to our armour, for the knives of those fedaiare sharp."
It was near midnight, and the brethren stood in the small, domedante-chamber, from which a door opened into the sleeping rooms ofSaladin. The guard of eight Mameluks had left them, to be met bytheir relief in the courtyard, according to custom, but no reliefhad as yet appeared in the ante-chamber.
"It would seem that Masouda's tale is true," said Godwin, andgoing to the door he locked it, and hid the key beneath acushion.
Then they took their stand in front of the locked door, beforewhich hung curtains, standing in the shadow with the light fromthe hanging silver lamps pouring down in front of them. Here theywaited awhile in silence, till at length they heard the tramp ofmen, and eight Mameluks, clad in yellow above their mail, marchedin and saluted.
"Stand!" said Godwin, and they stood a minute, then began to edgeforward.
"Stand!" said both the brethren again, but still they edgedforward.
"Stand, sons of Sinan!" they said a third time, drawing theirswords.
Then with a hiss of disappointed rage the fedai came at them.
"A D'Arcy! A D'Arcy! Help for the Sultan!" shouted the brethren,and the fray began.
Six of the men attacked them, and while they were engaged withthese the other two slipped round and tried the door, only tofind it fast. Then they also turned upon the brethren, thinkingto take the key from off their bodies. At the first rush two ofthe fedai went down beneath the sweep of the long swords, butafter that the murderers would not come close, and while someengaged them in front, others strove to pass and stab them frombehind. Indeed, a blow from one of their long knives fell uponGodwin's shoulder, but the good mail turned it.
"Give way," he cried to Wulf, "or they will best us."
So suddenly they gave way before them till their backs wereagainst the door, and there they stood, shouting for help andsweeping round them with their swords into reach of which thefedai dare not come. Now from without the chamber rose a cry andtumult, and the sound of heavy blows falling upon the gates thatthe murderers had barred behind them, while upon the further sideof the door, which he could not open, was heard the voice of theSultan demanding to know what passed.
The fedai heard these sounds also, and read in them their doom.Forgetting caution in their despair and rage, they hurledthemselves upon the brethren, for they thought that if they couldget them down they might still break through the door and slaySalah-ed-din before they themselves were slain. But for awhilethe brethren stopped their rush with point and buckler, woundingtwo of them sorely; and when at length they closed in upon them,the gates were burst, and Hassan and the outer guard were athand.
A minute later and, but little hurt, Godwin and Wulf were leaningon their swords, and the fedai, some of them dead or wounded andsome of them captive, lay before them on the marble floor.Moreover, the door had been opened, and through it came theSultan in his nightgear.
"What has chanced?" he asked, looking at them doubtfully.
"Only this, lord," answered Godwin; "these men came to kill youand we held them off till help arrived."
"Kill me! My own guard kill me?"
"They are not your guard; they are fedai, disguised as yourguard, and sent by Al-je-bal, as he promised."
Now Salah-ed-din turned pale, for he who feared nothing else wasall his life afraid of the Assassins and their lord, who thricehad striven to murder him.
"Strip the armour from those men," went on Godwin, "and I thinkthat you will find truth in my words, or, if not, question suchof them as still live."
They obeyed, and there upon the breast of one of them, burnt intohis skin, was the symbol of the blood-red dagger. Now Saladinsaw, and beckoned the brethren aside.
"How knew you of this?" he asked, searching them with hispiercing eyes.
"Masouda, the lady Rosamund's waiting woman, warned us that you,lord, and we, were to be murdered tonight by eight men, so wemade ready."
"Why, then, did you not tell me?"
"Because," answered Wulf, "we were not sure that the news wastrue, and did not wish to bring false tidings and be madefoolish. Because, also, my brother and I thought that we couldhold our own awhile against eight of Sinan's rats disguised assoldiers of Saladin."
"You have done it well, though yours was a mad counsel," answeredthe Sultan. Then he gave his hand first to one and next to theother, and said, simply:
"Sir Knights, Salah-ed-din owes his life to you. Should it evercome about that you owe your lives to Salah-ed-din, he willremember this."
Thus this business ended. On the morrow those of the fedai whoremained alive were questioned, and confessing freely that theyhad been sent to murder Salah-ed-din who had robbed their masterof his bride, the two Franks who had carried her off, and thewoman Masouda who had guided them, they were put to death cruellyenough. Also many others in the city were seized and killed onsuspicion, so that for awhile there was no more fear from theAssassins.
Now from that day forward Saladin held the brethren in greatfriendship, and pressed gifts upon them and offered them honours.But they refused them all, saying that they needed but one thingof him, and he knew what it was--an answer at which his facesank.
One morning he sent for them, and, except for the presence ofprince Hassan, the most favourite of his emirs, and a famousimaum, or priest of his religion, received them alone.
"Listen," he said briefly, addressing Godwin. "I understand
thatmy niece, the princess of Baalbec, is beloved by you. Good.Subscribe the Koran, and I give her to you in marriage, for thusalso she may be led to the true faith, whom I have sworn not toforce thereto, and I gain a great warrior and Paradise a bravesoul. The imaum here will instruct you in the truth."
Thus he spoke, but Godwin only stared at him with eyes set widein wonderment, and answered:
"Sire, I thank you, but I cannot change my faith to win a woman,however dearly I may love her."
"So I thought," said Saladin with a sigh, "though indeed it issad that superstition should thus blind so brave and good a man.Now, Sir Wulf, it is your turn. What say you to my offer? Willyou take the princess and her dominions with my love thrown in asa marriage portion?"
Wulf thought a moment, and as he thought there arose in his minda vision of an autumn afternoon that seemed years and years ago,when they two and Rosamund had stood by the shrine of St. Chad onthe shores of Essex, and jested of this very matter of a changeof faith. Then he answered, with one of his great laughs:
"Ay, sire, but on my own terms, not on yours, for if I took theseI think that my marriage would lack blessings. Nor, indeed, wouldRosamund wish to wed a servant of your Prophet, who if it pleasedhim might take other wives."
Saladin leant his head upon his hand, and looked at them withdisappointed eyes, yet not unkindly.
"The knight Lozelle was a Cross-worshipper," he said, "but youtwo are very different from the knight Lozelle, who accepted theFaith when it was offered to him--"
"To win your trade," said Godwin, bitterly.
"I know not," answered Saladin, "though it is true the man seemsto have been a Christian among the Franks, who here was afollower of the Prophet. At least, he is dead at your hands, andthough he sinned against me and betrayed my niece to Sinan,peace be with his soul. Now I have one more thing to say to you.That Frank, Prince Arnat of Karak, whom you call Reginald deChatillon--accursed be his name!--" and he spat upon the ground,"has once more broken the peace between me and the king ofJerusalem, slaughtering my merchants, and stealing my goods. Iwill suffer this shame no more, and very shortly I unfurl mystandards, which shall not be folded up again until they floatupon the mosque of Omar and from every tower top in Palestine.Your people are doomed. I, Yusuf Salah-ed-din," and he rose ashe said the words, his very beard bristling with wrath, "declarethe Holy War, and will sweep them to the sea. Choose now, youbrethren. Do you fight for me or against me? Or will you give upyour swords and bide here as my prisoners?"
"We are the servants of the Cross," answered Godwin, "and cannotlift steel against it and thereby lose our souls." Then he spokewith Wulf, and added, "As to your second question, whether weshould bide here in chains. It is one that our lady Rosamund mustanswer, for we are sworn to her service. We demand to see theprincess of Baalbec."
"Send for her, Emir," said Saladin to the prince Hassan, whobowed and departed.
A while later Rosamund came, looking beautiful but, as they sawwhen she threw back her veil, very white and weary. She bowed toSaladin, and the brethren, who were not allowed to touch herhand, bowed to her, devouring her face with eager eyes.
"Greeting, my uncle," she said to the Sultan, "and to you, mycousins, greeting also. What is your pleasure with me?"
Saladin motioned to her to be seated and bade Godwin set out thecase, which he did very clearly, ending:
"Is it your wish, Rosamund, that we stay in this court asprisoners, or go forth to fight with the Franks in the great warthat is to be?"
Rosamund looked at them awhile, then answered:
"To whom were you sworn the first? Was it to the service of ourLord, or to the service of a woman? I have said."
"Such words as we expected from you, being what you are,"exclaimed Godwin, while Wulf nodded his head in assent, andadded:
"Sultan, we ask your safe conduct to Jerusalem, and leave thislady in your charge, relying on your plighted word to do noviolence to her faith and to protect her person."
"My safe conduct you have," replied Saladin, "and my friendshipalso. Nor, indeed, should I have thought well of you had youdecided otherwise. Now, henceforth we are enemies in the eyes ofall men, and I shall strive to slay you as you will strive toslay me. But as regards this lady, have no fear. What I havepromised shall be fulfilled. Bid her farewell, whom you will seeno more."
"Who taught your lips to say such words, O Sultan?" asked Godwin."Is it given to you to read the future and the decrees of God?"
"I should have said," answered Saladin, "'Whom you will see nomore if I am able to keep you apart.' Can you complain who, bothof you, have refused to take her as a wife?"
Here Rosamund looked up wondering, and Wulf broke in:
"Tell her the price. Tell her that she was asked to wed either ofus who would bow the knee to Mahomet, and to be the head of hisharem, and I think that she will not blame us."
"Never would I have spoken again to him who answered otherwise,"exclaimed Rosamund, and Saladin frowned at the words. "Oh! myuncle," she went on, "you have been kind to me and raised mehigh, but I do not seek this greatness, nor are your ways myways, who am of a faith that you call accursed. Let me go, Ibeseech you, in care of these my kinsmen."
"And your lovers," said Saladin bitterly. "Niece, it cannot be. Ilove you well, but did I know even that your life must pay theprice of your sojourn here, here you still should stay, since, asmy dream told me, on you hang the lives of thousands, and Ibelieve that dream. What, then, is your life, or the lives ofthese knights, or even my life, that any or all of them shouldturn the scale against those of thousands. Oh! everything that myempire can give is at your feet, but here you stay until thedream be accomplished, and," he added, looking at the brethren,"death shall be the portion of any who would steal you from myhand."
"Until the dream be accomplished?" said Rosamund catching at thewords. "Then, when it is accomplished, shall I be free?"
"Ay," answered the Sultan; "free to come or to go, unless youattempt escape, for then you know your certain doom."
"It is a decree. Take note, my cousins, it is a decree. And you,prince Hassan, remember it also. Oh! I pray with all my soul Ipray, that it was no lying spirit who brought you that dream, myuncle, though how I shall bring peace, who hitherto have broughtnothing except war and bloodshed, I know not. Now go, my cousinsbut, if you will, leave me Masouda, who has no other friends. Go,and take my love and blessing with you, ay, and the blessing ofJesu and His saints which shall protect you in the hour ofbattle, and bring us together again."
So spoke Rosamund and threw her veil before her face that shemight hide her tears.
Then Godwin and Wulf stepped to where she stood by the throne ofSaladin, bent the knee before her, and, taking her hand, kissedit in farewell, nor did the Sultan say them nay. But when she wasgone and the brethren were gone, he turned to the emir Hassan andto the great imaum who had sat silent all this while, and said:
"Now tell me, you who are old and wise, which of those men doesthe lady love? Speak, Hassan, you who know her well."
But Hassan shook his head. "One or the other. Both or neither--Iknow not," he answered. "Her counsel is too close for me."
Then Saladin turned to the imaum--a cunning, silent man.
"When both the infidels are about to die before her face, as Istill hope to see them do, we may learn the answer. But unlessshe wills it, never before," he replied, and the Sultan noted hissaying.
Next morning, having been warned that they would pass there byMasouda, Rosamund, watching through the lattice of one of herpalace windows, saw the brethren go by. They were fully armedand, mounted on their splendid chargers Flame and Smoke, lookedglorious men as, followed by their escort of swarthy, turbanedMameluks, they rode proudly side by side, the sunlight glintingon their mail. Opposite to her house they halted awhile, and,knowing that Rosamund watched, although they could not see her,drew their swords and lifted them in salute. Then sheathing themagain, they rode forward in silence, and soon were lost tosight.
> Little did Rosamund guess how different they would appear whenthey three met again. Indeed, she scarcely dared to hope thatthey would ever meet, for she knew well that even if the war wentin favour of the Christians she would be hurried away to someplace where they would never find her. She knew well also thatfrom Damascus her rescue was impossible, and that althoughSaladin loved them, as he loved all who were honest and brave, hewould receive them no more as friends, for fear lest they shouldrob him of her, whom he hoped in some way unforeseen would enablehim to end his days in peace. Moreover, the struggle betweenCross and Crescent would be fierce and to the death, and she wassure that where was the closest fighting there in the midst of itwould be found Godwin and Wulf. Well might it chance, therefore,that her eyes had looked their last upon them.
Oh! she was great. Gold was hers, with gems more than she couldcount, and few were the weeks that did not bring her added wealthor gifts. She had palaces to dwell in--alone; gardens to wanderin--alone; eunuchs and slaves to rule over--alone. But never afriend had she, save the woman of the Assassins, to whom sheclung because she, Masouda, had saved her from Sinan, and whoclung to her, why, Rosamund could not be sure, for there was aveil between their spirits.
They were gone--they were gone! Even the sound of their horses'hoofs had died away, and she was desolate as a child lost in acity full of folk. Oh! and her heart was filled with fears forthem, and most of all for one of them. If he should not come backinto it, what would her life be?
Rosamund bowed her head and wept; then, hearing a sound behindher, turned to see that Masouda was weeping also.
"Why do you weep?" she asked.
"The maid should copy her mistress," answered Masouda with a hardlaugh; "but, lady, why do you weep? At least you are beloved,and, come what may, nothing can take that from you. You are notof less value than the good horse between the rider's knees, orthe faithful hound that runs at his side."
A thought rose in Rosamund's mind--a new and terrible thought.The eyes of the two women met, and those of Rosamund asked,"Which?" anxiously as once in the moonlight she had asked it withher voice from the gate above the Narrow Way. Between them stooda table inlaid with ivory and pearl, whereon the dust from thestreet had gathered through the open lattice. Masouda leanedover, and with her forefinger wrote a single Arabic letter in thedust upon the table, then passed her hand across it.
Rosamund's breast heaved twice or thrice and was still. Then sheasked:
"Why did not you who are free go with him?"
"Because he prayed me to bide here and watch over the lady whomhe loved. So to the death--I watch."
Slowly Masouda spoke, and the heavy words seemed like blooddropping from a death wound. Then she sank forward into the armsof Rosamund.