Pilgrims of Promise(74)

Startled and confused, the Templars whirled about, and Heinrich caught the master completely by surprise. He plunged his sword into the man’s unarmored belly with a bellow as the others drew their blades. The baker rushed toward Alwin’s rope and swung wildly at it. The edge of his sword nicked the rope, but it was not enough. The Templars charged the man and would have slain him on the spot had not Pieter leapt between them. “You’d not dare slay a priest!”

“Move off!” one cried.

The air was suddenly filled with the sound of hooves and shrieking voices. The knights spun about to see torches surging toward them out of the darkness. “You two, charge them!” cried one. “Ill take these.” As his fellows rushed past, the soldier turned his fiery eyes at Pieter. “Move, I say!”

“Burn in hell!” answered Pieter.

At that moment three riderless chargers burst by the tree, distracting the Templar for just an instant. It was time enough, however, for Heinrich to lunge forward and drive his sword into the man’s neck.

Another horse ran by, and a moment later a Templar came running out of the darkness toward Heinrich. The baker stumbled backward to the ground, and Pieter jammed his staff in front of the knight’s feet. The soldier fell forward, but before Heinrich could slay him, another riderless horse thundered through the camp, knocking both Heinrich and Pieter aside.

Meanwhile, in these few brief moments, Alwin had become limp. His limbs twitched slightly, save an occasional desperate lurch. Seeing his plight, Heinrich scrambled to his feet and stumbled toward the dangling man. There were still two other Templars, however, and one had retreated to the tree, where he dodged a passing horse. In that moment, he caught a glimpse of the baker rearing back to cut the rope. He flew at the man.

In the darkness, Wil hung on to the neck of his steed with two hands. He had thrown away his torch and pointed his horse toward the tree, where he could plainly see Alwin’s body in the torchlight. Closer he came, and still closer. His mind carried him to a childhood dream very much like this. He reached into his belt and drew his dagger. Not a dream, but a vision! With a victorious cry, he roared past the hanging man and sliced the rope in two.

Alwin dropped to the ground with a thud and lay crumpled in the dark as Wil fell from his rearing mount. The lad hit the ground hard, and with a groan of pain, he pulled himself up and ran toward the gallows as he reached for Emmanuel still hanging on his back.

Under the tree, Pieter had collapsed unconscious, and Heinrich was scrambling for his life. Out of the corner of his eye, the baker saw that Alwin was saved, but both Templars were now upon him.

Into the clearing charged four shrieking lads. None were armed; they had hoped their bluff might have chased off the knights. Startled, the two knights turned from the helpless Heinrich, and one snarled, “Ha! You’ll taste steel tonight!” The words had barely left his lips when a whiz and a thud caught all by surprise. The Templar stood as though stunned, then reached a limp hand toward the arrow now piercing his lung.

Astonished, the other knight whirled toward the darkness from which another arrow flew. The man gagged and gurgled, clutching the wooden shaft that had impaled his throat. Staring blankly, he coughed once and then collapsed.

Otto ran to Alwin and screeched for someone to cut the cord. Heinrich stumbled forward, but Wil charged from the darkness with his dagger drawn and laid its edge quickly under the thick hemp. He sawed carefully away from Alwin’s throat and severed the rope. He took the man’s face in his hands and prayed for God’s mercy. “Breathe, breathe, I say!”

Tomas flew alongside and pounded Alwin on the chest once, then twice, then a third time. “Breathe, y’dolt, breathe!”

Alwin stirred slightly, and the circle stared down at him hopefully. His eyes popped open and he arched his back, sucking air into his lungs. Then, midst the cheers of all, the man rolled weakly to his knees and wheezed great gulps of air.

“God be praised!” cried Heinrich.

“Wil!” shouted Helmut. “Come quick. It’s Pieter!”

Leaving Tomas to care for Alwin, the others ran to the old man’s side. He was barely breathing and still unconscious. “He’s alive,” said Heinrich grimly. Before he could say more, Otto screeched, “Look! More’s coming!” The boy pointed to a column of torches winding its way quickly toward them.

“Oh, by the saints!” shouted Heinrich. “The provost is sending a company this way! Hurry, we must carry Pieter to safety!”

Wil and Otto lifted Pieter by his shoulders and legs and hurried into the darkness as Heinrich rushed to Alwin’s side. “Men are coming. We must move you to cover at once.”