After A Few Words

Daniel, like all of us, has a good right to harbor resentment towards Philip of France. In the field, Philip has disappeared. Only the contingent of his vassal, the Duke of Burgundy, is still with us since he hastily withdrew to France, leaving the rest of us to battle the Saracens for the Holy Land. Sir Gaeton remarked, "Richard of England has never had the best of relations with Philip Augustus.

"No, and for good reason." "But when he talked badly of the Duke of Burgundy, he allowed his rage at Philip to cloud his judgment." "Richard Plantagenet is fully aware that the Duke is not a coward." Like I mentioned, he talked quickly." Sir Gaeton said, "And you stepped in." "I had to do it," Sir Robert said, with obstinacy. "Could we, at this critical juncture, have allowed a dispute to arise between the two best knights and war leaders in Christendom?" We have paid a high price for Philip of France's desert. Could we also allow Burgundy to desert?

The Gascon acquiesced, "You did what must be done in honor, but you have not won Richard's heart by doing so." Sir Robert experienced a hard jaw clench. My ruler is aware of my loyalty. Sir Gaeton remained silent, but there was a gleam in his eyes that indicated he thought Richard of England might even question Sir Robert de Bouain's devotion.

* * *

Sir Robert continued to ride in silence while being aware of the horse's motion underneath him. A loud noise suddenly came from behind. The sound of Saracen battle cries and the clang of steel on steel, mixed with the noises of horses in pain and rage, came like a wash of the tide from the sea. Sir Robert made his mount turn to see. Saladin's Egyptian army contingent's black warriors were advancing from behind!

They engaged in combat with the Hospitallers, crashing in like a downpour of massive stones at a range too close for bows to be used. There was only the sound of the sword cutting through the armor, like a thousand hammers pounding against a thousand anvils. "Stay put! Hold them off! ""Stand firm." King Richard's voice shone out like a trumpet over the fighting's background roar. Sir Robert saw his mount luring him towards the fray, but he clung to the reins and kept the enormous charger under control.

This was not the time to defy Richard's demands since the King had commanded everyone to "Stand fast!" The Hospitallers were bearing the brunt of the attack as the Saracen forces charged from behind. They fought like lunatics, but they were gradually driven back. Now that the column had stopped moving, the Master of the Hospitallers rode to the rear, next to the King's banner, which scarcely moved in the still desert air. Sir Robert could hear the Duke of Burgundy's voice.

"Stand quickly." The duke continued riding up the column toward the knights of Poitou and the Knights Templars, his voice faltering as he stated, "The King urges you all to stand firm." The King was being addressed by the Master of the Hospitallers, who had a low, frantic voice: "We are losing our horses one by one! My lord, we are under attack from the enemy and are at risk of eternal disgrace. Richard remarked, "Good Master."

"You must put up with their assault."One person can not be in all places at once. The Master of the Hospitallers gave a brief nod before reentering the battle. The King gestured toward the eastern highlands while turning to face Sir Baldwin de Carreo, who was seated next to him on a horse. They're going to attack us from there, so we can't afford to build up a backward charge. To do so would put one in the Saracen's hands right away. "Richard is correct," "remarked a voice quite familiar to Sir Robert. "