Stewart Binns - Anarchy

‘You will not! That would be an insult to the Prince. I am his guest.’

‘And yet, thirty minutes ago you were ready to roast him alive. So what has changed?’

‘He is charming. He explained that he was certain our ship had been lost and that his marriage to Hodierna was vital to Antioch’s future prosperity. More importantly, he has agreed to all the terms of the agreement with the Doge. We have an exclusive trade arrangement for five years.’

‘So is he going to marry you both? I think that’s called bigamy in the eyes of the Church.’

‘Of course not! We leave for Antioch in the morning.’

‘Meanwhile you are still my responsibility. I would feel better posting a guard to protect you tonight.’

‘No, I am surrounded by the Prince’s bodyguards and his army. I am perfectly safe.’

I could do nothing other than bow and leave. I was anxious: I did not like the Prince, but I assumed that it was mainly jealousy. Even so, there was something fabricated about his manners. Chivalry required that he should welcome a fellow knight – even a relatively lowly one – but he had ignored me. Although, since Livia had failed to introduce me, perhaps he had taken his lead from her discourtesy. I forced myself to accept that I was being too protective – and, indeed, too covetous of Livia’s attentions – and returned to Eadmer to ask him about the men.

‘So what do you make of Roger’s army, my friend?’

‘There are some seasoned knights by the look of them. I’m not too sure about the infantry – they look like a lazy ill-disciplined bunch. Only about half of them are Christians. That lot over there are Turcopoles, according to that officious bugger who came to greet us – Anatolian mercenaries. Muslims, he said. It seems strange to me to pay Muslims to fight Muslims. I wouldn’t trust any of them in a fight.’

I looked over at them. Eadmer was right: they seemed impressive enough in their red tunics and conical helmets, but they had an aura of indifference about them.

‘How many men do you think the Prince has?’

‘I count seven hundred knights and three thousand infantry, half of which are Turcopoles and half made up of a Christian rabble that looks like the dregs of Europe.’

‘I thought Guy of Amiens said the Muslim army is ten thousand strong?’

‘I know, but he said the Muslims flee as soon as the battle gets fierce and that seven hundred battle-hardened Christian knights would have them on the run within an hour.’

‘Do they anticipate joining battle soon?’

‘He wasn’t sure. He didn’t seem to know where the enemy was camped either.’

‘None of this inspires me with any confidence. Livia says she has done a deal with Prince Roger and that we will leave in the morning, but I’m going to keep an eye on her. They’re eating and drinking without a care in the world, and I don’t see anyone planning for a battle. Get the men camped near the perimeter, where we came in, then have a look round. I’m going to check on the ladies.’

All I could hear outside the Prince’s tent was laughter and animated conversation. All seemed well. However, when I met Eadmer again he was looking anxious.

‘This camp is in a steep valley. The far end, over there, is the top of it. There is only one way in – the way we came.’

‘The Prince is either very confident that the Muslims are miles away, or he’s a fool.’

‘The men will be ready at dawn.’

‘Good! I’ll go and speak to Livia.’

It took Livia several minutes to emerge from the tent when I asked to see her. She was furious with me for disturbing her.

‘Well?’

‘We should leave at dawn. Eadmer and I are very concerned about the safety of this camp. And it appears that the Prince’s army is outnumbered at least three to one.’

Livia smirked. I could see that she had been drinking and was merry.

‘Don’t fuss. These are men whose fathers conquered this land and now they hold it against an enemy that is both a savage and a coward. We will leave when I see fit. But I can tell you it will not be before the sun has warmed the ground.’

I had no choice but to obey my mistress’s orders, and I left her without another word. It was a long night; I found it difficult to sleep and checked on Livia several times. At first there were the same sounds of revelry and then, at a very late hour, all was quiet. With the Prince’s tent in darkness, I returned to my tent and must finally have fallen asleep.

I woke with a jolt. I could hear a cacophony of sounds: men were shouting orders, armour was clanging and there were horns in the distance that I had not heard before. I knew immediately they were Muslims battle horns.

I shouted at Eadmer to get the men mounted and meet me at Prince Roger’s tent. I ran to check on the ladies. When I arrived at the Prince’s tent, he and his senior commanders were already in their saddles and starting to ride out. They looked a lot more animated than they had been last night, but also very bedraggled from what must have been a long night of revelry. When I pulled open Livia’s tent, Constance screamed; she was barely dressed and close to hysterical. Livia was not there.

‘Where is Livia?’

Her reply was incoherent. I shook her and repeated the question.

‘It was late… I left her with the Prince. They were enjoying themselves… I was too tired.’

I shouted at her, furious at her carelessness.

‘Get dressed! Quickly! ’

I rushed to the Prince’s tent and barged the two sentries aside. The remnants of the night before were all over the floor and several stewards were collecting the debris of discarded food, plates, goblets and cutlery. I pushed past them and threw back the curtain of the Prince’s sleeping quarters. At first, all I could see was a heap of rugs and pillows, but then I heard sobbing from beneath the pile.

‘Livia!’

A small head, covered in matted hair, peered out from underneath the rugs, but then pulled itself back out of sight. The sobs became more pitiful. I sat down beside her, but she still buried her face in the pillows and curled herself into a ball.

‘Livia, the battle has begun, and the camp is under attack. We must go!’

‘Leave me to the Muslims… that is all I am good for.’

I grabbed the many layers that covered her and wrestled them from her. She was naked, and I could see welts on her arms and thighs. Her face was swollen, as were her lips, and her left eye was bloodshot and bruised. She collapsed into my arms in convulsions of anguish. A battle had begun outside and I was desperate to get her away, but I knew that she needed time.

After a few moments, she started to speak.

‘He hurt me so much, Hal. I had too much to drink and stayed too long. Suddenly, everyone had gone. He was drunk… and he started to take his clothes off. I said no, but he hit me. He hit me so hard. He did horrible things to me… I couldn’t escape. Why did I send you away? You would have protected me.’

‘Livia, the only important thing now is to get you away from here.’

‘No, please leave me. I am as good as dead already.’

Her pitiful words galvanized me. Nothing was more important than Livia. My only duty was to her; anything else could go to Hell.

‘My love, we can still have a life together. You will always be safe with me. You were right, I was a fool to put my duty before you in the mountains. It will never happen again.’

I looked around for her clothes, but couldn’t see them. Then Eadmer and Constance appeared and I issued my orders as calmly as I could.

‘Constance, get Livia dressed. Eadmer, we’re leaving, get the men ready. I want this tent surrounded until we’re ready to leave. Everyone is an enemy, including the Prince’s men. We’re on our own.’