From the sweeping hills of Argences to the port city of Cologne overlooking the River Rhine, Etienne and Avielle find themselves drawn by the need for redemption against the backdrop of the First Crusade.
Heeding the call of His Holiness, Urban II, to free the Holy
Land from the infidel, Etienne follows Duke Robert of Normandy across the
treacherous miles, braving sweltering heat and snow-covered mountain passes
while en route to the Byzantine Empire.
Moved by Peter of Amiens’ charismatic rhetoric in the
streets of the Holy Roman Empire, Avielle joins the humble army of pilgrims.
Upon arrival in Mentz, the peasant Crusaders do the unthinkable, destroying the
Jewish Community. Consumed with guilt, Avielle is determined to die fighting
for Christ, assuring her place in Heaven.
Etienne and Avielle cross paths in Constantinople, where they
commiserate over past misdeeds. A spark becomes a flame, but when Avielle contracts
leprosy, Etienne makes a promise to God, offering to take the priest cowl in
exchange for ridding Avielle of her affliction.
Will Etienne be true to his word if Avielle is cleansed of
the contagion, or will he risk eternal damnation to be with the woman he loves?
Excerpt
At first light, Avielle headed to the Bishop’s residence.
She had not requested an audience and was surprised to receive such a command.
She wondered why the Bishop wanted to see her. Perhaps, to change her mind
about joining Duke Robert’s Army? Or he might wish to thank her for serving the
Lord’s flock all these months or having the foresight to build the new hospital
or both?
Unless I still require the Bishop’s approval for joining
His Holiness’s campaign?
The Bishop rarely stayed in his assigned quarters at the
Abbey, preferring to conduct church business on the grounds given to him by the
Emperor. The small fortification was not far from the royal palace and was
guarded by soldiers who had sworn their allegiance to him and not to the ruler
of the Byzantine Empire.
Avielle paced herself, a long journey on foot, shorter if
she had a donkey, faster if she had a horse. She pulled back her hood as the
sun rose in the morning sky, regretting having worn the cloak at all once the
heat of the day warmed the land. As Avielle reached the palace gates, she
noticed soldiers holding the reins of six horses. She stopped when she saw the
red flag with two leopards hanging listlessly on a lance. Should she stay,
hoping to see the knight who had caught her eye or continue on her way? One did
not keep the Bishop waiting!
At that moment, Duke Robert and his men crossed the
courtyard. They mounted the horses in silence, riding slowly into the street.
Etienne moved with his animal, as if they were one, riding on the side of the
road where Avielle stood. She looked up, her face glowing when their eyes
locked. A brief moment without words, a memory to reflect upon in the night,
when unable to sleep. Avielle did not move, watching the knights returning from
whence they came, and holding her breath when Etienne turned around, not once
but twice before disappearing from her view.
If he is Duke Robert, he posed no threat, but if not?
A soldier Avielle had tended to at the hospital found her
and offered to be of service.
“The Bishop expects me at his residence; I must not keep him
waiting.”
“Ride with me,” the soldier said. “I am driving a cart
filled with supplies for the Bishop’s kitchens.”
During the short journey, Avielle questioned the
unsuspecting soldier about the leader of the Army encamped in the fields. She
mentioned seeing six knights and could he identify any of them.
“I know only one name other than the ducal lord. A favored
knight, who is called Etienne. They leave soon for the Holy Land.”
Etienne, is that who you are? Why do you haunt my
thoughts?
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