“You have taken it very well that I have killed your master.” Balian stated with his sword dug into the sand by the other man's head.
“I am in no place to deny my master paradise. And he underestimated you, it was fair.”
“Yes, I suppose that's a good way to see things. What do you expect right now?”
“I...that you'll either finish what Mummad al-Fais started or take me with you someplace.”
“Take me to Jerusalem.” Was the simple reply. In response to which the other man stood up, brushed himself off and bowed his head. As the Saracen walked to the horse his master had rode in on, he was careful to avoid looking Balian in the eyes. The Saracen held out a hand to the gray steed, who licked his palm. “Very well.” The man concluded.
“One thing first.” Balian insisted. “What is your name?”
“My name is Imad.” Was the simple reply.
The pair rode off toward Jerusalem without another word.
Although they had rode at an easy pace, almost neck and neck while on the road to the Holy City, Balian pulled his horse just barely ahead of the other as they approached the city itself. They entered within the walls with no argument. Imad pulled a cloak or a veil over his face almost as soon as they were inside. Several streets into the city they came to a bazaar, a market for spices and root vegetables, as well as pottery or glassware. They stopped at a water trough to splash their faces and water their steeds.
“You asked permission. You knew we could only make this journey if your masters steed accepted you and asked its permission.” Imad looked up, clearly startled. “I AM the Baron of Ibelin. But in France I was a blacksmith, I know horses. You held out your hand to see if his steed would accept you, without trying to buy that acceptance with a carrot or anything. Considerate.”
“...I think I should give them something now.” Balian nodded his affirmation. Imad had pulled a couple broken carrot pieces from his satchel and handed one to each horse.
“I mean no disrespect but are you truly...I know you own the rank but...are you his son?”
“I was not raised with...Godfrey was a stranger to me until a short time ago.” Balian said, speaking very softly, but plainly. “He is dead now. I apparently have a new life to live. I cannot ask you to be a part of it. You should go; be about your business, be with those you care for.”
“Forgive me but are you jesting with me?” Imad whispered.
“No, why would I...I do not understand.”
“Sir, I cannot leave you. By anything I know, we would not have met today except that Allah would wish it so. I will not turn away from the path he has so clearly placed beneath my feet. I do not know what to expect from you, but I am not permitted to leave your side. I will not leave until I have paid my debt.”
“You speak as if I had saved your life.”
“Sir, please...I promise I will explain...if I ever learn to understand myself. I honestly feel I will live a life truly worth living, more worth my time if that's possible...if I go with you. And I will NOT dishonor my family by leaving you here. I feel that I would be running away.
“Imad, I am on my way to the mound at Calvary. I do not think they would welcome you.”
“I can wait outside the mound itself, with the reins of the horses wrapped around my wrists. I believe an unanswered question is a hard thing to live with. No matter what else this means...”
“I'm not going to dissuade you from this, am I?” Imad shook his head. “Very well. Yet I insist on one thing.” Imad raised his eyes to look the man in the face. “My name is Balian, please don't call me anything else.”
“Very well...Balian.” Sunset found Imad outside the walls of Golgotha, praying on his knees. Balian of Ibelin was within its walls. His heart too full of the recent past to think of anything but the uncertain future.
“You asked its permission.” Balian said suddenly. Nassir looked up startled and, if possible, intrigued. “The only way we could make this journey is if your master's steed accepted you and you asked its...approval I guess, without trying to buy his acceptance.”
“Yes. I...must admit you surprise me.”
“I am the baron of Ibelin. But until Godfrey found me, before my father came to France looking for me I was a Blacksmith in Niece. I know the behavior of horses.”
“I, should give them a little something.” Nassir prompted, though he intended it as a question.
With Balian's nodded approval the stranger took a couple of broken carrot pieces from his satchel and handed one to each horse. He patted the steed's neck for a moment and then looked down, sadly. “Forgive the intrusion but are you...like Godfrey?”
“I'm not sure honestly. I only knew him for a short time before he passed on. Why do you ask?”
“Godfrey was one of the few Christian lords we respected for his sense of conscience and principles, as much as for his skills as a warrior or the honor due his rank. Sala-hodeen himself would respect him as..” He looked almost frightened and stopped himself. “I am sorry. I know you must feel overawed as it is.”
“It's quite alright Nassir. I'm going to miss you.”
The shock on the other man's face was considerable. “Where am I going?” He said in a rushed voice.
“I have a new life to live. I don't really know what to expect but I cannot ask you to be a part of it. You should go, be about your business...be with those you care for.”
“Forgive me but are you jesting with me?”
“No why would I, why would anyone say that in a jest?”
“Why would you let me go?” Nassir responded instantly. Slowly he explained, as though unsure the mysterious stranger understood what was going on. “Sir, this is your prize of battle. I was the servant of the man you killed in fair combat. I am your prisoner...your SLAVE should you wish it.”
“Nassir, this...custom of position... is it because of my rank, or simply that I was the victor in a fight your old master started? Please answer me directly, is it that I won or that I'm a man of rank?”
'You truly must be a stranger here' was the look on Nassir's face as he explained his fate was in his hands because of his victory. That it really was entirely in Balian's hands what happened to him, just from their understanding of fate and chance, the turning of fortune's wheel.. Balian had more than earned the right to decide his own fate. But that Nassir's willingness to become his 'prisoner or slave' was an understanding and allowance due to Balian because of his rank. “That said I must ask: What do you intend to do with me?”
“I will ne-ver own another human being. And I refuse to make you pay the price for your master's choices. I was little better than a slave myself before Godfrey...before my father found me my life changed very much overnight. We left for the Holy land together but he did not survive the journey that brought me here. Regardless of how this came to be, I will not have you following after me because of who my father happened to be. This new life was thrust on me; I've done nothing to earn or prove my rank as a knight. I have done nothing to deserve the admiration I see in your eyes right now. Go in peace.”
“I cannot Milord.” Nassir said slowly but firmly. “All is as God wills it. I truly believe that. And if I didn't before I would now. I cannot see how the two of us could have come together at all, so soon after you even arrived unless Allah brought us together. At any rate, I am not permitted to leave your side. I refuse to leave a stranger to Jerusalem alone and friendless, lost in a sea of faces.” He smiled softly and continued. “Call me a servant or protector if you want, and if that helps you accept MY decision. It would not be far from the truth. No matter what ELSE my life is now, it is bound to yours, by choice I promise, inshallah.”
“I am obviously not going to dissuade you from this...So be it. I will insist on one thing. Do not call me 'Milord'. That just makes me uncomfortable. My name is Balian. Please do not call me anything else.”
“Very well...Balian.” Nassir stated firmly. “Where are we heading?”
“I need to find the place where Christ died. I need to find out why I am here. And I do not think they would welcome you.”
“I can stay against the wall, the reins round my wrists. An unanswered question is a difficult thing to live with...regardless of the question.” He looked at Balian, almost nervously. “You cannot ask me to stop being myself sir. Any more than I can ask you to step into another man's shoes.”
“I can't argue with you there.”
'You truly must be a stranger here' was the look on Nassir's face as he explained his fate was in his hands because of his victory. That it really was entirely in Balian's hands what happened to him, just from their understanding of fate and chance, the turning of fortune's wheel.. Balian had more than earned the right to decide his own fate. But that Nassir's willingness to become his 'prisoner or slave' was an understanding and allowance due to Balian because of his rank. “That said I must ask: What do you intend to do with me?”
“I will ne-ver own another human being. And I refuse to make you pay the price for your master's choices. I was little better than a slave myself before Godfrey...before my father found me my life changed very much overnight. We left for the Holy land together but he did not survive the journey that brought me here. Regardless of how this came to be, I will not have you following after me because of who my father happened to be. This new life was thrust on me; I've done nothing to earn or prove my rank as a knight. I have done nothing to deserve the admiration I see in your eyes right now. Go in peace.”
“I cannot Milord.” Nassir said slowly but firmly. “All is as God wills it. I truly believe that. And if I didn't before I would now. I cannot see how the two of us could have come together at all, so soon after you even arrived unless Allah brought us together. At any rate, I am not permitted to leave your side. I refuse to leave a stranger to Jerusalem alone and friendless, lost in a sea of faces.” He smiled softly. “Call me a servant or protector if you want, and if that helps you accept MY decision. It would not be far from the truth. No matter what ELSE my life is now, it is bound to yours, and it is by choice, not compulsion I assure you; inshallah.”
As he looked toward the incoming army, Balian felt his heart rise. Two men rode by his side, both of whom he trusted implicitly. Almaric, his father's best man stood stalwartly, unflinching on his left. Nassir his servant and a Saracen on his right. Together the three of them would lead the fight against what seemed to be an overwhelming army, Nassir's own countrymen. As they got into position for the charge, Balian was sure that each man would truly do his best, but it still seemed a hopeless cause.
“Why do you ride with us?” Almaric asked of Nassir.
“Do you doubt me?” Nassir asked blandly. “Do you doubt my commitment?” He clarified.
“Loyalty to me is one thing Nassir.” Balian answered his friend. “This is treason is it not?”
“We don't have many leaders who claim to speak for God. And we serve GOD no matter what, before all other considerations. I don't want innocents to die and you have set out to defend them. I won't live knowing I let something like THIS happen unchallenged. Also I promised to follow you Balian, no matter what. Forgive me but fighting for what's right seems to be something of a...thoughtless decision.”
“A forgone conclusion.” Balian corrected. That Nassir's French finally failed him did not register in his mind. As they charged the incoming Saracen army defeat, or at least surrender seemed the only possible outcome...until one Calvary officer in the army of Sala-hodeen cried out:
“Stop, stop everyone!”
Balian stared in amazement as the entire opposing army slowed their steeds and lowered their weapons. One archer even bowed his head to the trio. “Crish-ar-neth.” He said solemnly.
Only then did Balian see the reality of the situation. They were saluting Nassir. Clearly this man was not the simple, goodhearted servant he'd assumed him to be; he was a lord among his people.
“I should have known.” Balian said in a whisper.
“You are not to blame for trusting me. Trust me now that I did not mean to hurt you. I...I cannot see for certain what is coming. My lord Sala-hodeen is coming even now. As apparently is Baldwin of Jerusalem, rides to meet him.” He gestured to the middle distance. I promise no harm will come to either of you if I have anything to say about it.”
Balian looked thoroughly confused. “If there is a battle today, he is still required to fight for his lord king. It is, more than I would have expected that he guarantees your...our safety even so.”
“Let us hope it will not come to that.” Balian said with a nod and a quiet smile.
When Saladin turned back from his meeting with the King of Jerusalem he ride his horse directly up to Nassir. The brief talk ended with a single Arabic phrase, that translates as “Come, you have no reason to stay here anymore, come home.”
Nassir looked troubled and uncertain as he replied. “Milord Saladin, please forgive me but I do not WANT to leave. I gave Balian my word that if he would have me I would not leave his side. Moreover that I would do any thing to help him, a freely given choice that I have no reason to fall back from. I truly believe Allah brought *me to *him. Please do not take me home yet.”
“You choose to be a servant?” Saladin inquired, clearly taken aback.
“I do not believe he would have me walk behind him anymore, now that he knows I am a man of rank...When I met him I was cloaked as Mummad-al-Fais servant; I never corrected that perception. Balian was dressed, well, was not clearly a lord in his own right when I challenged him to a fight that ended with my servant dead and my life in Balian's hands.”
“Start again. And slow down.” Saladin said firmly.”
“When I first laid eyes on him I was dressed as a servant and Mummad-al-Fais as a lord. Taking each-other's cloaks like that was...liberating for both of us. I had him challenge Balian for possession of a horse he must have rescued from the water. Balian was not known, nor declared who he truly is...the lord of Ibelin and the son of Godfrey. When he revealed himself, the fight became even. In the end Balian was victorious, Mummad-al-Fais had been killed in the skirmish and my future was, for all I could see, firmly for Balian to decide. I chose to follow him to Jerusalem. And I chose not to reveal my rank. I asked to follow him as a servant, a life truly worth leading and a freely given choice. HE accepted and I have stood at his side ever since. In the weeks I have spent with him he has never failed to treat me with dignity, respect and consideration, far more like a friend than a servant. I must confess and I freely declare that I do not WANT to leave his side. Please do not take him from me...from my life.”
“I Cannot tear apart what God has ordained. BY no means would I tear you from a friend Imad. Does he know what his choices mean for us? Does he know what YOUR choice means?”
“He will before long, I promise you. But for now, I think just talking to Nassir knowing that's not his name will be a difficult adjustment.”
Saladin actually smiled broadly. “I am certain it will. Especially when you explain the joke.”
Imad smiled warmly as he bade farewell to his friend and king, embracing his friend and master with Joy.
As he looked toward the incoming army, Balian felt his heart rise. Two men rode by his side, both of whom he trusted implicitly. Almaric, his father's best man stood stalwartly, unflinching on his left. Nassir his servant and a Saracen on his right. Together the three of them would lead the fight against what seemed to be an overwhelming army, Nassir's own countrymen. As they got into position for the charge, Balian was sure that each man would truly do his best, but it still seemed a hopeless cause.
“Why do you ride with us?” Almaric asked of Nassir.
“Do you doubt me?” Nassir asked blandly. “Do you doubt my commitment?” He clarified.
“Loyalty to me is one thing Nassir.” Balian answered his friend. “This is treason is it not?”
“We don't have many leaders who claim to speak for God. And we serve GOD no matter what, before all other considerations. I don't want innocents to die and you have set out to defend them. I won't live knowing I let something like THIS happen unchallenged. Also I promised to follow you Balian, no matter what. Forgive me but fighting for what's right seems to be something of a...thoughtless decision.”
“A forgone conclusion.” Balian corrected. That Nassir's French finally failed him did not register in his mind. As they charged the incoming Saracen army defeat, or at least surrender seemed the only possible outcome...until one Calvary officer in the army of Sala-hodeen cried out:
“Stop, stop everyone!”
Balian stared in amazement as the entire opposing army slowed their steeds and lowered their weapons. One archer even bowed his head to the trio. “Crish-ar-neth.” He said solemnly.
Only then did Balian see the reality of the situation. They were saluting Nassir. Clearly this man was not the simple, goodhearted servant he'd assumed him to be; he was a lord among his people.
“I should have known.” Balian said in a whisper.
“You are not to blame for trusting me. Trust me now that I did not mean to hurt you. I...I cannot see for certain what is coming. My lord Sala-hodeen is coming even now. As apparently is Baldwin of Jerusalem, rides to meet him.” He gestured to the middle distance. I promise no harm will come to either of you if I have anything to say about it.”
Balian looked thoroughly confused. “If there is a battle today, he is still required to fight for his lord king. It is, more than I would have expected that he guarantees your...our safety even so.”
“Let us hope it will not come to that.” Balian said with a nod and a quiet smile.
When Saladin turned back from his meeting with the King of Jerusalem he ride his horse directly up to Nassir. The brief talk ended with a single Arabic phrase, that translates as “Come, you have no reason to stay here anymore, come home.”
Nassir looked troubled and uncertain as he replied. “Milord Saladin, please forgive me but I do not WANT to leave. I gave Balian my word that if he would have me I would not leave his side. Moreover that I would do any thing to help him, a freely given choice that I have no reason to fall back from. I truly believe Allah brought *me to *him. Please do not take me home yet.”
“You choose to be a servant?” Saladin inquired, clearly taken aback.
“I do not believe he would have me walk behind him anymore, now that he knows I am a man of rank...When I met him I was cloaked as Mummad-al-Fais servant; I never corrected that perception. Balian was dressed, well, was not clearly a lord in his own right when I challenged him to a fight that ended with my servant dead and my life in Balian's hands.”
“Start again. And slow down.” Saladin said firmly.”
“When I first laid eyes on him I was dressed as a servant and Mummad-al-Fais as a lord. Taking each-other's cloaks like that was...liberating for both of us. I had him challenge Balian for possession of a horse he must have rescued from the water. Balian was not known, nor declared who he truly is...the lord of Ibelin and the son of Godfrey. When he revealed himself, the fight became even. In the end Balian was victorious, Mummad-al-Fais had been killed in the skirmish and my future was, for all I could see, firmly for Balian to decide. I chose to follow him to Jerusalem. I chose not to reveal my rank. I asked to follow him as a servant, a life truly worth leading and my free given choice. He accepted and I have stood at his side ever since. In the weeks I have spent with him he has never failed to treat me with dignity, respect and consideration, far more like a friend than a servant. I must confess and I freely declare that I do not WANT to leave his side. Please do not take him from me...from my life.”
“I...cannot tear apart what God has ordained. And by no means would I tear you from a friend Imad. Does he know what his choices mean for us? Does he know what YOUR choice means?”
“He will before long, I promise you. But for now, I think just talking to Nassir knowing that's not his name will be a difficult adjustment.”
Saladin actually smiled broadly. “I am certain it will. Especially when you explain the joke.”
How this story will end:
Imad smiled warmly as he bade farewell to his friend and king, embracing his friend and master with Joy.
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