Behind the Veil Page 24

  “Then since you will be going on to Jerusalem, I would ask that you return the relic,” Tancred told him, reaching into his tunic and pulling out a small cloth bundle. Wrapped inside the aged material was the ancient lance head that old Odo Redwan, the family priest at the Redwan castle had so long ago entrusted to Tancred to return to its place at the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Odo had believed it belonged to the Roman soldier who pierced Christ’s side at His crucifixion. Neither Tancred nor Bishop Nicholas believed it to be the very same one, but he had promised Odo he would return the relic.

  Tancred handed the object to Nicholas. “I entrust this to your safekeeping now. May God protect you and return you to us in Palermo. And remember, I will need you to train and discipline Jamal!”

  “And Christ continue with you, my son. Do not fear for me. I will live through this crusade, and you will one day greet me in Palermo and introduce me to your children. Besides, as you say, there is Jamal. I have not forgotten him.”

  ***

  After darkness fell, Tancred stood on the castle steps with Helena in his arms in the silent the desert night! How warm were the breezes coming down from the rocky hills! How delicate the pale golden moon in the ebony sky! Tomorrow they would leave for St. Symeon to catch a boat to Cyprus, and from there, a ship to the Norman kingdom of Sicily.

  “I have every reason to express my gratefulness to God. I now possess what I have wanted since the first time I saw you. Like a vision, you had vanished. And now you are here, and you are mine.”

  “I am yours,” she whispered. “I will always be yours.”

  The Redwan castle, Helena thought with excitement. Sicily…Palermo…what will life be like with Tancred?

  One thing was certain, it would be exciting and, no matter what, they would never separate again.

  ***

  Jamil approached from the courtyard sporting a fancy hat with a feather that Nicholas had given him. He stopped when he saw Tancred and Helena locked in each other’s arms. The smile on his handsome young face showed his own satisfaction. Life in the West was going to be good, he told himself. He sensed this in his heart. He could feel it in the warm westerly wind that had risen like a blessing from the Creator—softly touching his face. He remembered his sister, Aziza, with sadness and yet hope. He looked up at the silvery stars and knew that as a Christian with faith in the Savior, Jesus, she had a new home too, with God, where she was rejoicing. He silently retraced his steps to locate Nicholas.

  God is good, he thought, as he left his new adoptive parents in their happiness, and ran, smiling, to find Nicholas.

  End of Behind the Veil — Book3, Royal Pavilions trilogy

  (Book 1, Swords and Scimitars)

  (Book 2, Golden Palaces)

  GLOSSARIES:

  FICTIONAL CHARACTERS

  Tancred Redwan, Norman warrior, Student-physician, scholar, and seeker of Truth.

  Helena of the Nobility, the beautiful Byzantine Heroine.

  Adrianna, Helena’s mother.

  Nicholas, the maverick warrior-bishop, god-father of Tancred, and Helena's blood uncle.

  Philip the Noble, Minister of War in Constantinople and Tancred’s rival for the heart of Helena of the Nobility.

  Mosul, the Moor, and assassin; cousin to Tancred, and arch-enemy.

  Lady Irene, the aunt and enemy of Helena, the mother of Philip.

  Bardas, the Greek eunuch slave belonging to Helena.

  Basil, Bishop in Constantinople, enemy of Nicholas.

  Hakeem, the Moor from Palermo, and Tancred's faithful friend.

  al-Kareem, the Moorish grandfather of Tancred.

  Count Dreux Redwan, deceased father of Tancred.

  Count Rolf Redwan, uncle and adoptive father of Tancred.

  Derek Redwan, half-brother of Tancred.

  Leif Redwan and Norris Redwan, Tancred’s Norman cousins.

  Walter of Sicily, uncle of Tancred, and his accuser in Derick’s death.

  Prince Kalid, son of the Emir of Antioch.

  Ma’sud Khan, Kalid’s uncle.

  Rufus, Captain of Lady Irene's personal bodyguard.

  Jamil, the Armenian slave boy serving Helena in Antioch.

  Aziza, Jamil’s older sister and loyal maid to Helena and Tancred.

  Adele, wife of Leif Redwan..

  Odo, the old Norman priest, gave Tancred a relic spear-head while dying.

  Captain Rainald, Genoese ship captain, ally of crusaders.

  Hadrian, Baron’s chief captain, helped Tancred escape the baron.

  The Baron, the carnal slave owner, bought Tancred for a galley slave.

  HISTORICAL CHARACTERS

  Alexius Comnenus, Emperor of Byzantium, 1081-1118 A.D.

  Pope Urban II, who called for the First Crusade.

  Peter the Hermit, leader of the peasant-crusaders.

  Bohemond I, Norman prince of Taranto.

  Count Raymond, Count of Toulouse.

  Roger I, the Great Count of Norman Sicily.

  Godfrey of Bouillon, Duke of Lower Lorraine.

  Hugh, Count of Vermandois, brother of King Philip of France.

  Robert, Duke of Normandy, son of William the Conqueror.

  Adehemar, Bishop of Le Puy, and official Papal Legate on the Crusade..

  The Red Lion of the Desert, Islamic commander.

  Kerbogha, commander of Seljuk warriors.

  Yaghi-Sian, Turkish commander at Antioch.

  Firouz, Christian Armenian in Antioch who delivered the city to the Norman crusaders under Bohemond.

  WORDS AND TERMS

  RELIGIOUS:

  Abbot, the head of a monastery.

  Abbey, a group of buildings comprising a monastery.

  Patriarch, head of the Eastern Church at Constantinople.

  CASTLE:

  Keep, the stronghold of the castle, used as a watchtower and arsenal. The thick walls were laced with arrow loops. Usually there was a well beneath. The storage and eating rooms were above, and sleeping quarters were on the top level.

  Arrow loops, slit-like openings that permitted the firing of arrows with full protection.

  Bailey, or courtyard, surrounded by soldiers’ quarters, stalls for horses, and food storage rooms.

  Donjon, a dungeon-like tower.

  WEAPONS AND ARMOR:

  Conical helmet, was worn over a hood. The shape of the crown, and the smooth metal, protected from cutting or thrusting weapons.

  Halberd, a cross between a battle-axe and a spear.

  Mace, a favorite weapon of warrior-priests, was sanctified and carried in ceremonial processions. It was made of wood or metal, with multi-spiked head, the handle could be slung on a loop on the right wrist.

  Morning Star, a type of mace. A round ball studded with spikes, and attached to a handle by a chain.

  Great Horse, of the Western knights. A destrier. A specially bred warhorse that could

  endure heavy weight, and the clash of battle. It responded to leg commands so the knight could fight with both hands.

  Scimitar, a curved single-edged sword of Eastern origin.

  Heraldic, a family insignia worn on the helmet.

  Gonfanon, a banner that hangs directly from the shaft of a lance, just below the lance head.

  Seigneur, the trusted commander of a castle, a term of respect.

  CHIVALRY:

  Historic Sword Blessing: Hearken we beseech Thee, O Lord, to our prayers, and deign to bless with the right hand of Thy Majesty this sword with which Thy servant desires to be girded, that it may be a defense of churches, widows, orphans and all Thy servants against the scourge of pagans, that it may be the terror and dread of all evildoers, and that it may be just in both attack and defense.

  Song Of Roland, the epic poem about Charlemagne's Christian victory over the Moslem Moors of Spain, It was an early model of knightly chivalry.

  His right hand gauntlet to God he offers it.

  Saint Gabriel from his hand has taken it.

  Durendal,
a name for the sword of Roland in the epic poem. It was representative of knightly swords pledged to the service of God. “Durendal” (like King Arthur and the Holy Grail) will prevail in the hands of the Christian warriors.

  End