Widow of Jerusalem: A Medieval Mystery Read Online Free Page B

Richard had brought in pieces from Sicily to be constructed anew before the walls of Acre, was being taken apart, its bolts and pins carefully packed into barrels.
    “Where are they going?” I asked. “Aren’t they going to finish rebuilding the walls here before they head home? This city is far from being defensible.”
    “Home?” he snorted. “Do you really think that they would come all this way and lose all those men just for Acre?”
    “Acre, and Cyprus, and Sicily,” I said. “Not a bad haul for one crusade. King Philip already went back to France. I was hoping maybe Richard would want to get back to his territories before Philip started moving on them.”
    “A smart king would do that,” said Scarlet. “A rational king, one who cared about his subjects, would do that. But Richard’s bloodlust is up. Twenty-seven hundred hostages was a mere snack, something to whet the appetite. He won’t be satisfied until he has Saladin’s head on a pike, the True Cross in his saddlebag, and possession of Jerusalem.”
    “Madness,” I exclaimed. “There’re miles of bad road between here and the Holy City, and Saladin’s men behind every rock.”
    “Nevertheless, he leaves tomorrow. Which is where we come in.”
    I looked down at him. He hadn’t moved from the cushion, hadn’t even looked out the window since I woke up.
    “Have you slept at all since last night?” I asked.
    “Slept?” he laughed. “I’ll sleep when I get back to Tyre. After I deposited you here, I went everywhere, pumping my sources for whatever information they had and eavesdropping to get the rest. One of the great advantages of being small, by the way, is that big people with big plans tend not to notice you when you’re listening to them talk about the big plans with their big voices. Now, I have a modest little plan of my own, but I will need your assistance, and possibly Blondel’s, if we can tear him away from the nearest looking-glass long enough. But mostly you. I’ve been hearing quite a lot about you, Brother Theo, and if even half the stories are true, you’re one of the most reckless, adventurous, near-suicidal and, I’ll say it, foolhardy fellows the Guild has ever produced.”
    I bowed in reply. He stood up, grinning.
    “I can use someone like that,” he said.
    “Use away,” I said. “What are we going to do?”
    He hopped up on the windowsill and leaned out, looking north. “There’s a supply ship that landed up the coast a ways,” he said. “They’ll be unloading onto wagons tomorrow. Enough food and weapons to last the Crusaders all the way to the Holy City.”
    “Where did you hear this?” I asked, impressed.
    “They sent a rider down to inform the troops,” he said. “A very thirsty lad who’s been at sea too long. I persuaded him that the urgency of his message was not as important as the urgent needs of a lively wench of my acquaintance, especially as the King wished not to be disturbed at night. He agreed with the logic of my assertion, and allowed me to be his guide to these earthly pleasures. He should wake up in a few days.”
    “So, the Crusaders leave tomorrow, and they don’t know about the supplies yet.”
    “Exactly.”
    “But they’ll learn of them soon enough, won’t they?”
    “No,” said Scarlet. “They won’t.”
    “Why won’t they?”
    “Because we are going to steal them,” he said, and the grin grew even wider.

Three
    His fool... was not only a fool, however. His value was trebled in the eyes of the king, by the fact of his being a dwarf...
    EDGAR ALLAN POE, “HOP-FROG”
    “ H ave you got any rope ?” I asked.
    “As a matter of fact, I have,” he said. “Why?”
    “Because if I’m going to be hanged, I’d rather do it myself,” I said. “I want to make sure the job’s done right. Why are we going to steal the Crusaders’ supplies?”
    “Grab your gear and come walk with me,” he replied.
    We descended the stairs and emerged into an inn that was