Chapter LXXXV
"Of all the stupid decisions," Guy exclaimed loudly when he came out of his tent and heard Charles' words, "this is the most stupid I have ever encountered. If we go on, we are doomed."
He put down his cup and stood for a moment lost in thought. "I'm off to see the king. We can't do this." He strode off through the camp and was quickly lost to sight behind the crowds of men arming themselves and getting ready to depart.
"What do we do?" I asked Hilmi.
"Get dressed, I guess," Hilmi shrugged. "The king won't see him - or if he does, he won't listen. Once his mind is made up he will never admit that he could be wrong."
"But his mind was made up last night and yet he's changed it." I protested.
"The difference is that this time he has made it up in favour of honour," Hilmi pointed out. "Last night he decided to do the wise thing, but in his heart he regretted it. This morning he decides in favour of honour and, even though it means his death, he will stick to it."
"And what about my death?" I grumbled.
Hamed laughed. "That, my dear Fuad, I do assure you troubles him far less than his own."
I pulled my mail shirt over my head and Babrak came over to fasten the back opening for me. I turned and did the same for him and then picked up my belt, untangled the sword and dagger and slid them round into position, then did it up around my waist, leaving it loose enough that it did not interfere with my breathing.
"Where's your sling?" Hamed asked.
"Here." I reached down into my box and lifted the sling out, together with my bag of lead shot.
"Let's hope that we have more use for these," Hamed gestured with his bow and arrows "than for these." He pointed to the sword that hung by his side.
I nodded. "Yes. We are sworn to es-Sid Guy's service and have eaten his salt, but it is still hard to think that we will be fighting against fellow Muslims today."
"Hush!"
Babrak pointed with his chin towards Guy, who was almost upon us, threading his way through the confusion of men and animals that surrounded us.
"Well, Sid?" Babrak asked.
Guy looked defeated. "I couldn't get near him. He was too busy giving orders for today's march and saying his prayers. He'll need them!"
He looked at us sharply. "Good. You're wearing your Muslim mail. Have you got your Muslim helmets and surcoats?"
"Yes, Sid," we chorused.
"Wear them."
"But Sid," Hilmi protested, "Will we not be in danger from the Nasranis?"
Guy shook his head. "You might be if you were among them, but I have a different plan for you. My other squires and I, being Christians, are bound by honour to a place in the army. You are free from this bond. I want you to follow at a distance, to watch all that goes on and then, if we are defeated - as I believe we will be - the fate of our kingdom will depend on you. Babrak, go towards your homeland by way of Acre and Tyre and any other cities or castles you find, warning them all of what has happened. Fuad, you are at home in the desert: follow the River Jordan towards Belvoir, warn the knights there and then continue down the river, warning everyone you meet. Hilmi, you go by the shortest way to Jerusalem and take the news there. Hamed, go by way of the coast to Caesarea, Athlit, Joppa and Ascalon."
"And where shall we meet again, Sid?" Babrak asked.
"If God so wills, we shall meet again in Jerusalem, but for the time being I think you should each remain with your own people. That is why I have given you each your assignments: Hilmi, you can stay with your parents in Jerusalem. Fuad, go back to your tribe. I will know where to find you if I have need of you. Babrak, you can stay with your friends in Damascus and Hamed, I give you leave to return to Egypt if you will. If I live, I will send to Babylon for you."
We each came forward and embraced our lord and turned to leave. I was last, and as I turned away Guy called after me.
"Fuad."
"Sid?"
"Fuad, I have no surety that I will survive this battle. If - if you hear nothing, look after Trudy. You have been as a son to me and I know that you find favour in her eyes, so I give her to you as a sacred trust."
I couldn't help it. I burst out weeping.
"Sid," I finally managed to say, "May God grant that you outlive me, but if God wills otherwise, I will certainly guard es-Sitt with my life. Where shall I take her, though? She could find refuge in the tents of my tribe, but that is a hard life, not fitting for the daughter of a Frank."
Sid Guy fumbled in his wallet and then held out his hand to me. "Take this, Fuad. My steward will recognise it. If the battle goes badly for us, gather together as much of my wealth as you can and take Trudy away from here. Take her to her grandmother in Orleans if you can, but in any case, take her away from Outremer."
I held out my hand and he placed in my palm a small stone object. When I looked at it I saw that it was his seal. My heart felt sick, for a man only parts with his seal when he expects to die.
"Take it, Fuad," Guy said when he saw me hesitate. "God grant that you can restore it to me when we arrive victorious in Tiberias - but I do not look for that to happen."
"Sidi, I will guard this well and I pray to Allah that I may give it to you this very day, this very evening."
We embraced again and I hastened to leave lest I should shame myself by further tears. Hamed, Babrak and Hilmi were already packed when I reached them. I quickly gathered my things together and put them in my saddlebags, then the four of us mounted our horses and rode out of the camp. In the confusion of preparation for the march no one challenged us, despite our clothing, and soon we were out in the open plain beyond the army.
"Now what?" Hamed asked, drawing rein and turning to look back at the camp.
"We wait," Babrak said. "Our task is to follow the army at a distance and report on what we see."
"And to rejoin them if they arrive safely at Tiberias," Hilmi added.
I said nothing, for it was clear to me from Guy's words that he, at least, did not expect to reach Tiberias and had little hope of even living until the end of the day.
The sun was already hot in the sky when the army finally moved off and I had to admire the order in which they marched. As always, the Hospitallers were at the front and the Templars at the rear. The long lines of mounted men rode on either side of the baggage wagons with the armoured footmen outside them.
"There are fewer men of the Temple," Hilmi commented as we shook our reins and prepared to follow them.
"As a follower of Islam, I rejoice," Babrak said. "As a servant of Sid Guy, it is a disaster and will bring disaster."
"If the Franks are destroyed, it will be the fault solely of Gerard de Ridefort," Hamed muttered. "He has destroyed the men of the Temple and now he seeks to destroy the entire army of the Franks."
"I wonder if he is in the pay of the Sultan, may God protect him," Hilmi wondered aloud.
"Impossible," Babrak said, but his voice betrayed his doubt.
We four rode together at some distance from the army and for some time it appeared that the Franks would simply march into Tiberias unopposed, for the hills were empty and only a kite circled overhead. Just before noon, however, we spied a solitary horseman sitting watching the army and as we approached we could see beyond him several more men sitting still and silent.
"Salaam aleikum, brothers. Have you followed them far?" the man called to us as we neared him.
"Since this morning," Babrak replied.
"Not long now," the man laughed. "The sultan is waiting just over there."
He pointed ahead with his chin to where the head of the army was ascending a rise in the ground, then kicked his horse with his heels and rode to join us. As he came near his eyes narrowed and he pulled his horse aside.
"Are you with the Sultan?" he asked.
"We are of Islam, brother," Babrak said.
"In whose service?" he demanded.
"I am Hajji Fuad ibn Hassan," I called. "I am known to the Emir Hassan ibn-Hamza of Homs."
Thus reassured he came to ride beside us and we five followed the army. As we came up to them, the other scouts also joined us and soon we were a party of a dozen or so, riding slowly behind the Franks. The advance guard, a thin dark line in the distance, was almost at the top of the rise and suddenly we heard a faint sound of shouting.
"It has begun!" one of the Sultan's scouts exclaimed.
"God grant us success," the others chorused but Hilmi, Hamed, Babrak and I exchanged glances and said nothing.
