The Knights of Dark Renown by The Knights of Dark Renown (retail) (epub)

Author:The Knights of Dark Renown (retail) (epub) [Renown, The Knights of Dark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788632096
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2018-09-28T00:00:00+00:00

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Inside the walls, the natural leaders had assumed command. Women and civilians had been herded into the nearest cellars and passageways. The south garrison remained under the control of Aegelric’s cousin, Captain Azo. Joscelin of Courtenay put himself in charge of the north garrison, while Balian organized the defence of the eastern fortifications. The west wall had not yet come under attack, but when Arnold and Gerard returned through the postern they sent men pouring up the narrow stairways to the western ramparts. Amalric retired to have his leg wound dressed. Reynald joined Joscelin in one of the north towers.

The buildings had taken a terrible battering. The roof of the Great Hall was holed in five places. Two of the windows in the main chapel had sustained a direct hit. Many of the pews were crushed to kindling. The altar rail was bent, the solid silver crucifix scarred by fragments. Half the buildings around the inner and outer baileys had been damaged, and huge stones littered both yards. No count had been taken of the dead and wounded, but thirty or forty bodies lay on the steps and ramparts, most of them victims of the whirling missiles. Bales of burning straw had also been sent over, and small fires raged among the demolished wooden out-houses. The leaders detailed men to draw water from the central reservoir and dampen all the inflammable structures.

Isabella, Maria, Stephanie and Agnes were all safe in the round tower. Humphrey stood with Balian on the curtain wall. Both men were armed with swords and Norman shields, though neither had found time to don a helmet or hauberk.

Humphrey asked, ‘Is it Saladin?’

‘It’s his work, I’d say, and he’s probably down there directing it. That raiding party we heard of—’

‘It must have been a scouting party.’

‘Yes. We jumped too quickly to conclusions. We should have sent the women on with the escort, and stayed to investigate.’

‘But we were not to suspect,’ Humphrey retorted. ‘We have had no trouble from him since Tubanie.’

‘Nevertheless, that’s exactly what we should have done, sus— For your life!’ They threw themselves flat as a wad of flaming tar flew between them, scraping the inner lip of the wall. The tar stuck for an instant, then fell into the bailey. Men ran out to hurl sand on it. Balian grabbed a crossbow, wound it and fired a bolt into the darkness.

‘This is not good,’ he snapped. ‘All the light is on us. Humphrey, collect some men and set them to extinguishing the torches. The enemy can see us clearly, while we remain blind. Get to it, kinsman.’

Humphrey crawled away, pleased that Balian had called him kin.

In another part of the castle, Fostus and Ernoul helped prepare one of Kerak’s own mangonels. In this way, most of what was catapulted into the castle could be retrieved and thrown back. Little damage could be inflicted until the Crusaders learned where the enemy machines were placed, but it cheered the garrison to see that a reply was being drafted for the Saracens.

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