The Desert Rose

[Starsailor2804]

There is a secret story that needs to be told.

In a world of chaos and war where blood ran more than wine, art was only found in the battlefield, and conquest of the barbarians was the battlecry far and wide, a rose had been able to bloom in the harsh desert winds. This rose was a young woman whose beauty was as gentle and enticing as petals and whose true identity as dangerous as thorns. Her existence known only by a very few and her location known by even less. The life of her own was in as much danger as was the life of the known world; should her existence be known, it would send the world into chaos. The earth would be littered with blood. She was the daughter of west and east.

A son was born in the land of Egypt in 1138, a man who would become one of the greatest leaders the Middle East had ever known. This man's name was Saladin. Through his leadership and skills of war he was able to unite a people to push back the intruders to the Holy Lands. The east had gone too far and had soiled the land of his father and mother, the land of his people, and for this he was going to push them back and drive them from his lands. Merciful and wise he had attempted to negotiate with the west but they had cheated him and betrayed, sealing his hatred for people who he once considered equals. In Jerusalem once he had reconquered the Holy Land from the west that was where he had met her. That was where this dangerous secret would begin.

A noble woman whose destined was assured from birth was raised in a home of privledge, but much was expected of her. Her name was Berengaria of Navarre. Being a noble daughter her life was barely her own as she had always expected to be guarenteed to another noble whose marriage would bring partnership, peace, and prosperity. And, that was indeed the case as in 1190 she was to bed when to King Richard I of England, who at the time was in the Holy Land fighting the Crusades, as many nobles of Europe did at the time. En route to the Holy Land with Richards sister to meet with her husband their ships ran aground in Cyprus. Fate so cruel, for this event was where this dangerous secret would begin.

On a secret mission in Cyprus to meet with merchants who knew the travel destinations and travel times for the armies of the west to the Holy Land, Saladin pretty much considered this a vacation after having lost in battle against his respected adversary, King Richard I. While in Cyprus he learned of the incident of Richard's future bride and sought her to present her with gifts of comfort and good tidings to the bride of his respected adversary. However, things did not go as planned for a meeting of good tidings had grown into a passionate affair, which had left the young bride pregnant. A pregnancy she hid as long as she could until she could pin the birth on Richard, which he celebrated in. Only two people knew the truth though, Saladin and Berengaria. Richard could never see the child though and thus, when it was time to give birth and Richard was away in the Holy Land on another Crusade she claimed to have lost the child, which was far from the truth.

In the dark of night the third person to know the truth, a young knights templar, born from Navare smuggled the young child, who didn't even have a name, to the Holy Land and gave her to a childless family in the small town of Coris in Egypt. And thus, the child was raised by her adopted family, however against the wishes of Berengaria of Navarre he stayed in the child's life and at the age of 16 he told her the truth of her lineage. Thus only three knew of her existence for Saladin had died. But, the secret was not to remain such a secret for much longer. Her close friend and second father, George du'Galle, the Templar Knight who had played a big part in her life, had told two people of the truth. One had sought power and influence with the truth, while the other lived only to respect his master's wishes.

From the chambers of their master's deathbed George du'Galle, master of the Templar Knights, told his proteges, Sir Bernard Lemiux and Sir Henry Cardalle, about the existence of the daughter of Saladin and Berengaria of Navarre. While Henry told his master he would keep the secret to his deathbed, Bernard disappeared the next day, his destination unknown. Without a doubt Henry knew he had taken a ship back to the west to alert the Pope of the existence of a child of Saladin and the Queen of England. The implications of such a revelation were huge, and dangerous.

Knowing he had not much time to find her Henry set out to find the daughter of Saladin and Berengaria, to save her before the west could find her, to save her before the east could find her. Secrets did not last long when they reached the Pope. If the Pope knew the secret, the powers in the east would as well and all hell would descend on that town. War would descend on the Holy Land again. She could not been found or captured.

 

[caela]

The winds of change were blowing, Jezenya could feel it in her very bones. She'd felt it on waking that morning and it was a feeling that had ridden her all day. She'd learned to heed such feelings as a child and a young woman but this was so non-specific that she wasn't sure what she was meant to do about it and so she waited expectantly. Whatever was about to change in her life would come in it's own time.

Shaking her head a gentle laugh was carried by the wind as the young woman shook off her thoughts. Wandering through her village she wondered, not for the first time, what it was her neighbors saw when they looked at her. Wondered if they could see the secret she carried, buried deep in heart, etched on the planes of her face.

She was like them, but not. Silken black hair flowed down her back in gentle waves, instead of being straight, and she looked out at the world from that were a soft grey instead of the ever present brown that surrounded her. Tall and graceful she carried herself in an aware and poised manner, with what her foster mother called a regal bearing and her honey-gold skin usually seemed to almost glow.

Wandering past the edges of the village she made her way out to a small spring fed pond and settled to the ground at it's shore. Staring down into the water she looked at the wavering image of her own face and, not for the first time, sighed. So different and never had she been allowed to forget it. Only her adopted parents and George had ever treated her like she had any value, the rest treated her as if she were...well simply less then they were. She might have lived her whole life believing the rest of the village if George hadn't told her the truth.

But the truth hadn't freed her. Instead it had bound her even more surely than her ignorance had. George had told her who she was, who her parents were and it had changed everything and nothing for her. Reaching out she broke her image on the surface of the water with her fingertips and tried not to think about that day three year ago. He was visiting as he often did and when he'd told her about her parents she'd thought he was teasing...an odd joke to be sure, but a joke she was certain. He'd been insistent however and had at last shown her small portraits of her parents.

Portraits he had later burned but those images were seared into her brain and after seeing them there had been no denying her parentage. They'd fought before he left that visit. She was only 16 at the time and his news had ruined all her youthful notions of who her parents might have been and who she was. Now she was many things but the most important - and the one she liked the least - was that she was a secret that must be kept at all costs.

 

[Starsailor2804]

From the shores of the Mediterranean, as the water rushed upon and retreated from the sandy beaches, Henry questioned his role in this whole secret. Wrapped around the skin of his right hand the chains of a necklace hung to it, burning deep it and forming unnatural valleys, tightening their grasp as he made a fist. A rush of sea wind blew over him sending his dark brown medium-length hair blowing behind him and dancing on his shoulders as his clothes caught up also in the wind like a sail on the high seas. Dark blue eyes scanned the sea in a squint as the sun had begun to set in the west. Henry knowing that at the same moment Bernard Lemiux was surely making good time, he had not hesitated, and thus had an advantage on him as the ship had already landed on the shores. It would not be long before the Pope would know and all would race to get to her.

That thought broke Henry free of his thoughts of what was right and wrong, where his loyalties lied, if he had any real honor and would follow the wishes of a man he considered a second father. Holding out his hand he let the chains go slack and allowed what was held on them fall and dangle in the air. The cross that danced in the wind, the sun rays reflecting off of it, meant so much more to Sir Henry Cardalle than a cross would to any Christian man, for it had been given to him by George du'Galle. Grasping it in the air Henry placed the necklace over his head and turned from the sea, and grabbed the reins of his horse to assist him as he flung himself up onto his steed. They had a lengthy ride ahead of them.

His white tunic with the red cross in its center held snug to his chainmail underneath it. A knight's templar he was, sworn to serve the Pope, but for now he was only to serve the mission given to him, to find the woman he only knew by her first name: Jezenya. Turning his steed around Henry raised his eyes and scanned the men of fifty who waited for his word to move out. As of now they served his wishes for this Spainard had become the new master of these men with George du'Galle's passing. Unsheathing his sword he raised it into the air, the light of the sun sending glares of sun rays all about him on the sand. "Knights of the Templar we head out for a most secret mission, we head to the town of Coris in Egypt for the return of Jezenya, daughter of George du'Galle, his final wish. May God guide us and may du'Galle make our swords swift and deadly for any enemy we shall meet."

Kicking his mount into a gallop down the shoreline south his men formed up behind him, what they were told was truth to them, even though Henry knew he was leading them in a much guarded lie. His muscles tense as he held tight to his mount and to the thought of the treacherous times ahead, he knew that his sword would become quite bloodied to prevent from all chaos being unleashed on these lands to make them anything but the Holy Lands.

 

[caela]

Still lost in her own thoughts, even hours later, Jezenya never noticed the smudge of dust on the horizon that would have warned her of riders approaching. She also didn't notice the slight tremor that preceeded the many riders moving toward her villiage. It wasn't until she could the sound of pounding hooves that she looked up and her grey eyes went wide in surprise.

From the distance, and because of the dust of hte road, she couldn't make out faces but the white tunics with their red crosses were clear and familiar to her. Templars!

She didn't think, she simply rose and wiped the dust from her own tunic. She wouldn't let George (for who else could it be but her dear adopted Uncle/second father George du'Galle?) come upon her dusty and lost in thought. After all he was always teasing her on his visits that she was too serious. So she put a smile on her lips and waited to be reunited with the only other man in the world, besides her foster father, that she trusted.

As they drew closer however her smile faltered. George had never come alone but he had never come with so many either. Normally he came with only one, perhaps two, others and those only from among his most trusted men and she knew that even they didn't know who she truly was. She'd wondered at times what story he told them. Looking closely at the faces she could see she realized that the one face she didn't see was the one she most longed for.

George wasn't among these men.

She should have been frightened but instead she found herself becoming angry. Who were these men that dared to approach her village? Standing tall and proud she eyed the man at the front of the troup so fast approaching and waited now for him to stop and tell her what they were doing there. It couldn't be for anything good. If George wasn't with them something was wrong.

 

[Starsailor2804]

The trek along the beaches had been long and rough on the hooves of the horses, but fortunately their destination was a small village located just off the beach, and not deep in the heart of Egypt. Had that been the case and they would have had to enter into central Egypt, their journey would have been much harder and resistance would have been fierce. George had been smart in where he had placed Jezenya. Looking back at his men for a moment he saw them form up in columns ready to descend on the village that was quickly approaching, the orders of his second in command being yelled at them.

As they drew closer Henry watched as the small village erupted in a small panic, which was quite unusual as most would have caused women and children to scurry inside as men picked up weapons. That was not what happened here, obviously they were at the right location for Templars had visited this place before. Holding up his hand the columns of Templars came to a slow halt and Henry turned to speak with the men, none who had been here before. It was unknown who George had brought with him on his visits to the town, but no one in the group of knights seemed to be familiar with what was going on.

"You ten form up with me, we are going into the village. The rest remain here and wait for our return." Turning back to face the village Henry rode up with the band of ten knights at full pace, as they grew closer still a single woman seemed to be standing at the edge of the village awaiting their arrival. Was she the head of the village? A woman leader, in these lands? Coming to a halt before her Henry calmed his horse as his other men on horse stayed behind him. "Is this the village of Coris?" When he got the confirmation from her he continued, not letting her get in a word for it seemed like she had plenty of angry things to say.

"We have come to retrieve Jezenya, bring her to us for we have not much time," Henry said, not in the nicest manner for he had never dealt diplomatically before and looked upon her kind as being inferior to himself. However, what happened next Henry was certainly not ready for, what he did not know was the whole village knew of Jezenya, and George du'Galle had sworn them to protect her with their lives if anyone should come asking for her. If only he had chosen his words better and told him he was here on behalf of George du'Galle, what happened next surely never would have happened.

The village that had once been quiet and peaceful erupted in chaos, from the houses the doors slammed open in which both men and women flooded out of them armed in swords and whatever item they could get their hands on to use as a weapon. The horses startled, Henry barely had been able to maintain himself on the horse as some of his men fell off their own. The situation chaotic as easily one hundred men and women charged to meet them Henry withdrew his sword and began to cut furiously at those who attacked. His men did the same and against the untrained mob they began to drop like flies, Henry's own sword barely missing the face of Jezenya.

The wave was just too great though and soon one after another his men fell under their horses and were brutally cut down by the mob. Henry suffering the fate of being knocked off his horse as well by a club that flew through the air and connected with the side of his head. Stunned by knowing to hesitate would be to die he rose and cut furiously at the mob, at times ducking to fling bodies up and over his shoulder. Bodies were everywhere, as many dead as there were continuing to charge. Suddenly, Henry was knocked to the ground as the forty horsed Templars who were left behind finally reached the village.

As they arrived it turned into a slaughter of the village, but they did not stop and surrender, nor did they flee. They would fight until the last one stood, the concern that Jezenya may be cut down did not even enter their minds at this point. Unlike Henry though, the other Templars cut down anyone fleeing and unarmed and in the chaos homes caught on fire and the town began to burn to the ground.

Bloodied and dazed by the blows he had received everything became a blur to Henry as he saw people falling all around him, what had happened? Why did this have to happen? Everything spun and it caused Henry to fall to his hands and knees just to get everything to spin around him. By this time the battle had ended, it did not last long, more than a dozen of his men were dead and more than a dozen were badly wounded. However, of a village of slightly more than three hundred men and women, eighty were dead or badly wounded and fires burned out of control sending huge plumes of smoke into the air. Those who survived had either fled, were currently running and hiding for their lives, or were surrounded and captured by Henry's men.

The battle was over and soon enough Henry's world stopped spinning though his bloodied face was beaten and bruised, and blood ran from a nasty gash. "What the fuck! Fredrick, I want you to find this Jezenya and kill the rest of these animals once we do!" Henry was talking out of anger and pain right now, they had meant no harm to the village, but everything had gone completely out of control! Were these people enemies or was their a miscommunication or what!?

Confused and angered, and in so much pain Henry could barely keep his balance, leaning against the sword he jabbed into the ground he looked over a blood covered sand littered with bodies. If this was the result of the secret already....what would happen once the armies of all the west and east descended upon these lands?

 

[caela]

"We have come to retrieve Jezenya, bring her to us for we have not much time,"

One of Jezenya's eyebrow's shot up at the high handed manner of the man before her. About to tell him just where he could put his sword, anything she might have said was cut off as the people of her village swarmed out around her to attack the Templars. It all happened so fast that she wasn't entire certain what was happening but simply held her ground in shock at the fighting around her.

At last the fiht was over and the ground at her feet was littered with the bodies of the wounded and dead and stained with blood. She'd had no doubt once it started that the Templars would carry the day but she was still at a loss as to why it had started in the first place. She had little time to think on it however as the wounded leader growled his orders.

"What the fuck! Fredrick, I want you to find this Jezenya and kill the rest of these animals once we do!"

Lifting her head at his orders she turned her body from the carnage around her to stare at the wounded man barking orders for her villagers to be killed. This wasn't to be born! George would never have sent men to hurt the very people he trust to protect her. It was on the heels of that thought that she realized just what had happened. This stranger had spoken of taking her and these were people George had trusted to protect her. Obviously they'd taken some oath to George and had swarmed the men thinking they meant her harm.

"My people are not animals Templar. And if you wish to find Jezenya I suggest you tell us what business you have with her. If your answer doesn't satisfy I can promise you no one will tell you where she can be found.

And if you wish to call people animals perhaps you should look at your own. You come here aggressively demanding one of our women and are surprised when we would defend her? For all you know Templar she lies somewhere in this dust, dead or dying, because of your lack of a civil tongue."

 

[Starsailor2804]

Breathing heavy due to the event of what had just happened, his heart beating of so rapidly, and blood running down his face, Henry looked about the animals gathered on the ground in fear of what was to become of them. He had considered himself highly merciful and kind, but not right now, no, his men had been killed, men were badly injured, and he had not been the aggressor. He came her with a limited number for that reason, he had not wished this to happen! Looking down at his feet as a pool of blood rolled down it and covered his foot he nearly found himself crying. But, he could never show tears.

Looking up as he heard the familiar voice of the woman who had first spoke to him when he arrived, he pointed his finger at her and sent men to lift her to her feet. Listening to her speak his anger only increased with every word, even if much of what she said was correct. He had no come here with this purpose, but because he had come this all had happened. "George du'Galle sent us to this town to find a woman named Jezenya, who he claimed to be his ummm.... daughter." If the woman looked into his eyes she would read the lie and know that he knew the secret for she had seen the lie in someones eyes before. "Jezenya is in danger and must come with us, I have sworn my life to protect her."

The crackling of a burning building broken the moments of silence between words and the stench of human dead was already strong. When the guts of humans were cut the most vile of stench was released. Not only that, but with the fire and smoke other villages were soon to be alerted and with that Egyptian armies would soon converge on this spot. "We have no much time before the enemy will arrive, we need to find Jezenya now. If she steps forward or is identified we will leave in peace, we wish no more death on this spot. The conflict had been a misunderstanding, we came in peace...."

Even now Henry felt anger and pain surging through him. Had he made the wrong choice to come here. Was this all really worth the pain he had caused? All for one woman.

 

[caela]

Jezenya's head snapped up, her eyes just barely widening when this stranger mentioned George's "daughter". She could have seen the lie on his face even if she hadn't already known that George had no daughter for this man to come fetch. No daughter of his own flesh anyway, it had been one of his few regrets.

"We have no much time before the enemy will arrive, we need to find Jezenya now. If she steps forward or is identified we will leave in peace, we wish no more death on this spot. The conflict had been a misunderstanding, we came in peace...."

His words made her laugh in disbelief as she waved a hand at the slaughter around her. Granted a few of his men were dead but hte great majority of the bodies around them were those of her village. Those who had thought they were protecting her.

"Is this your version of peace and protection? This village has held Jezenya in it's heart since first George brought her here. If you had truly come in peace you would have simply said that George had sent you and that she was in danger. You didn't come in peace, you came in arrogance and with a feeling of superiority and my people's lives were the price for it."

Glareing at this stranger that George had dared to send to fetch her her voice was little more than husky growl as she asked the question foremost in her mind, "And if you speak the truth then where is George? Why did he not come for Jezenya himself?"

 

[Starsailor2804]

As she laughed Henry held his head low for he knew why she laughed. It was a laugh of mere insanity for what had just happened, his words again not chosen well. He was ashamed of what happened, truly he was, but he could not change it and he could not leave without this woman. He had to keep his promise for the bloodshed that would occur if he did not would be so many times greater. And he knew, that no matter what, this village would have been slaughtered to find her, at least some shall survive and be able to flee now. That was his way of dealing with the situation.

Looking up into her eyes he could see the deep anger she felt towards him, he knew if she had been given one, he would have a dagger at his throat. "George du'Galle, my mentor and a man I considered my second father...is dead. Oh his deathbed I was told a secret, one of two. The other fled west to inform the Pope of the deception while I came to honor George's wishes." With the mention of the Pope's name the Templar's who overheard looked at Henry oddly, unsure of what he meant by that. These men may have been bound to du'Galle, but now with his death they were bound only to the Pope.

Henry had said the wrong words and made this all the more dangerous for him, for though many still remained loyal to the wishes of George, many of the men were not. They were simply wealthy nobles here with aspirations of wealth and power, nothing more, certainly not what was good and right. "The last words of George du'Galle were to save Jezenya, and to prevent destruction." Suddenly, a blade was raised to his throat by Sir Paul Langford causing Henry to raise his chin in fear of it cutting his neck. "What are you talking about, destruction, the Pope, and deception? Why did Bernard really return to the Rome?"

To counter the raising of his sword many of the Templar's raised their swords against one another, ally had become enemy. "Who is this Jezenya really?" Henry should have known that Paul would have taken the opportunity of this to his own advantage, the man was a Brit, Henry a Spainard. They weren't exactly the best of allies, only allies because of common interest in the Holy Land, but blood had run between the two for centuries. If only Paul had known that the woman standing mere feet from him was a daughter of the Queen of England. Oh the irony of this all, George should have been so more cautious, but then again he should have as well with the words he chose.

"I am your commanding officer, lower your weapon now. All of you, lower your weapons!" Like that was really going to happen.

Suddenly, Paul cut in when he knew that this situation would have much more understanding if this woman would identify herself. "Jezenya, I don't care who in the fuck you are! Identify yourself now or I will kill your entire village, including the children who hide in the homes!" The tip of Paul's sword seemed to rise higher and higher as he commanded the this woman among the villager's to step foward. While he did so he had taken his eyes off of Henry who had shifted and grasped the sword in his hand. However, he could not react, not yet. The Templar's who had opposed him had their attention elsewhere as it was a mere tie of forces, 10 vs. 10, pointed at their former allies.

 

[caela]

"George du'Galle, my mentor and a man I considered my second father...is dead. Oh his deathbed I was told a secret, one of two. The other fled west to inform the Pope of the deception while I came to honor George's wishes."

Her face remained passive at his words but in her heart they struk with the accuracy of a well placed dagger. George dead? It couldn't be! And yet she had known he wasn't a young man. George was dead and he had sent this foolish young man to fetch her because one of the two men he had trusted with her secret had proved unworthy of that trust.

About to speak her words were cut off as Templar suddenly turned against Templar. Once more this strangers words had proven to be ill chosen and the consequences looked to be even more dire this time. These men had heard just enough to know it would be likely the Pope would consider it a service well done if they were to kill her and the lines between them seemed to be along the lines of loyalty. Loyalty to George and loyalty to the Pope.

"Jezenya, I don't care who in the fuck you are! Identify yourself now or I will kill your entire village, including the children who hide in the homes!"

"Jezenya would be a fool indeed to introduce herself to someone so ready to hold a blade at his compatriots throat now wouldn't she? George accused her of being many things...fool was never one of them"

Turning her gaze on the man holding a blade at the first strangers throat she simply stared at him and saw his eyes widen and his face grow slack with curiosity and realization. At least realization of who her mother was. It was they eyes. Those shimmering, dove grey, eyes that had no place appearing in this village but which every good englishman would recognize. She stared at Paul Langford (though she didn't know his name) from his Queen's eyes.

 

[Starsailor2804]

Henry had barely been able to breath anymore for the blade had been coming ever so closer to his throat. Paul was growing much more angry with every word from the woman he considered to be a beast and nothing more. And, after he raped her, as so he planned, he planned on killing her and every other beast of this village. They had given him way too much trouble and had killed far too many of his men, yes, his men, for he considered Henry to be nothing more than a traitor. He would die with these beasts and the birds would eat his eyes and eat his flesh, as he so deserved.

However, as Jezenya turned her attention to Paul he saw something there he had not seen before. There was something different about her eyes than all the other beasts. She was not all beast. Certainly not. And, it was at that moment when he realized she was not all beast that he also saw something there that spoke much more to him that words could have. Being an Englishman and a man of high noble birth he had been in the court long enough to recognize those eyes of hers. It could not be. She was the daughter of the Queen of England.

Slowly the blade retreated from Henry's throat as Paul stepped away and took a step in her direction. "It simply can not be true. You are her daughter, but how....," he had just about to give away her true identity when suddenly he not only stopped walking towards her, but his speech stopped as well, his eyes incredibly wide in shock. His arms going limp at his side he dropped his blade right before his body shook and a blood soaked shimmer blade shot out from his gut. As the blood flew through the air a woman screamed as the blood landed upon her and others among the villagers including Jezenya.

The blade slid back out easily and as Paul fell Henry stood there behind him with the blade lowered. As soon as he dropped the Templars began to fight one another, but Henry would have no more bloodshed, not here, not now. "Stand down!" He yelled as long as he possibly could, causing blades to halt in mid swing before they could connect. Dropping back all the Templars stopped their fighting. "There shall be no more blood here, all those who choose to remain with me and fulfill George's last wish stay, but know you are no longer a Templar. Those who wish to leave do so now," he said with a commanding voice.

After all was said and down only six remained with him as the others mounted their steeds and rode off, back to base, and back to alert the entire camp of what had happened. It would not be long before they would return in large numbers, by then he would have to be gone as would Jezenya. "Knights of du'Galle, as you stand by me fulfilling the final wishes of our friend and leader I promise you the secret that brought this bloodshed shall be known to you soon, but first we must suit up and travel north. Throw the bodies of our allies in that home and burn it to the ground, give them a burial worthy of a king, but Paul shall remain on this bloodied sand, for the birds to take the eyes of this traitor." Understanding what they had to do they quickly gathered the bodies and set them in the house before setting it ablaze.

Meanwhile, Henry lowered himself to a knee and raised Paul's tunic to his head to wipe his bloodied head. The blood had mostly stopped now, but it still was oozing and the pain was definately not getting any better. After wiping off his blade he looked up at Jezenya who was covered in blood. "I apologize for this all Jezenya," he said, Paul having given away her identity to him. "I know it may mean little to you, but I truly meant for none of this to happen and had no idea....," he said, paused and then continued, "I'm sorry, I truly am."

After a brief pause he continued, but did not look back up at her. "I need you to tell the villagers to gather everything they can and abandon this village for soon the Templars and surely the Egyptian armies will descend on this village. You must say your goodbyes, and must come with us, we are your only chance at survival." Did this woman even understand what was about to happen simply because of her birth parents? Did she know that the blood that was poured here was absolutely nothing of what was to come? Hopefully she did not realize it all for now for it would be so very overwhelming, hopefully her sheltered life had left her clueless to the reality of the situation.

They would have to move soon, she did not have long to say her goodbyes, from this day forth everything would be different for her as it would be different for him and his men as well.

 

[caela]

"It simply can not be true. You are her daughter, but how....,"

Jezenya never got the chance to answer Paul. What her answer would have been she didn't know but as he moved toward her she forced herself to watch. She saw the stranger rise and realized what was to come before she saw the blade slice through the Englishman's body. She could have warned him but he'd already proven himself willing to turn on his commrades and she couldn't afford to have such a man with her if she wanted to live. As much as she wanted to turn away when it happened, however, she forced herself to watch because it was her fault he was dieing with a blade in his back.

"I need you to tell the villagers to gather everything they can and abandon this village for soon the Templars and surely the Egyptian armies will descend on this village. You must say your goodbyes, and must come with us, we are your only chance at survival."

Without a word to him she simply nodded and turned her back on him. Searching out the Headman of her village she spoke rapidly in a fluid language that the Templars wouldn't understand. She explained that these were George's men and soothed as the Headman's eyes flared wide with the realization that these should be allies not enemies. When she explained that they needed to abandon the village and that she needed to go with these men all he could do was nod and she realized that he had expected this day to come eventually.

With his blessing she moved away to find her foster parents only to find that her father was already bringing out her horse, a gift from george, and a pack of her clothing as well as several smaller packs of foodstuffs that he handed out among the Templar men with the warning that his daughter should eat well and be well protected while with them. It made tears fill her eyes and she hugged him tightly wondering if she would ever see him again.

Her mother was among the dead on the ground and she pressed a tender kiss of farewell to her cooling forhead before turning back to the Templars.

"Names. I need to know who I'm riding with," she demanded before she would mount her horse.

 

[Starsailor2804]

OOC: This is the second time I lost my post I was working on for this thread...grrr I hate that.

IC: Ripping off a long piece of Paul's tunic Henry wrapped it around his head and tied it off to prevent any further bleeding from running down his face and it seemed to alleviate the pain somewhat. Gritting his teeth as his head throbbed from that blow slowly he stood and walked over to where his men had gathered. With the swords of the fallen knights gathered to bring with them for they were surely be needed in the future the men waited for their orders. All six of them had risked their life to join him for they were no longer Templars, and were the enemies of the Pope.

Walking over to them Henry looked over their faces, which like his own were in pain and bloodied from the conflict. "Knights, we are no longer members of the Templars so shed your tunics. We ride armored, and in the garbs of the dead. From this point we are the Knights of du'Galle, and we ride north to Russia. First, we must enter the lands of the Seljuk Turks, the journey dangerous. I promise you all once we arrive at our first encampment the secret will be known to you all for now we have not much time, we must move soon before all hell descends on this place."

Looking at his men they nodded and began to shed their tunics so only their chainmail laid against their skin. Nodding Henry walked away to find a shirt of the dead that fit him as well, shedding his Templars blood-stained tunic as did everyone else. Kneeling down he began to remove the shirt of a man who had died on the field when he heard Jezenya speak. Looking up at her and then standing, shirtless, sweating, and his arms all bloody, he did not answer her until after he had put the shirt on and tossed his old tunic in the fire as did all the other Templars. "Of course," he answered her and then turned to his men who by this time were newly clothed and gathered, ready to leave.

"Knights, I want a role call for our Lady Jezenya," Henry said, for the first time referring to her as lady and thus signifying her as of noble birth in their lands. Most of the knights who had remained were very young, besides for one, and the first to speak up. He was certainly the oldest, bearded, and had hair with plenty traces of gray. "I am Jean Cornwall of Navarre, who will serve the wishes of du'Galle to death." He was obviously a frenchmen, which could only be known by the other knights for towns often gave them away if their accent in speech didn't, or appearance. For being in his late thirties he was still a very valuable asset, for his experience in battle trumped all others by far. He held a secret, he knew who Jezenya really was, he had been here with George du'Galle before, the only one of the group who did besides for Henry. Being from the town of her mother he had known Berengaria since childhood.

Spitting blood at the ground the next man to speak wiped his lips and then looked up at Henry and Jezenya. "Alexander Capricus of Venice" He was a very youthful knight, if you subtracted his blood-stained face, who was the youngest of them all at barely eighteen years old. He was a fresh nobleman who had arrived from Venice, likely this was his first battle. Shaby blond hair and a scrawny body besides for strong arms were his noticeable features.

The next to speak was a man who Henry actually recognized, a loyal friend of the battlefield who he had fought with before. His shaby dark brown hair and dark blue eyes looked over the two before responding. "George Leonhardt of Pfalz." A German, who was certainly the strongest of the group for his body was massive. And, he was the only one that wielded a broadsword, the sword which had been his father and he would not let out of his sight. The man even slept with it by his side. He was incredly intimidating for he looked like he could crush your head with a simple swipe of his hand, but he was very loyal, except when he drank.

The next man was another Frenchman that Henry knew personally, not that he liked him all that much though. "Louis Corneille of Lyon." The man, despite having just been in a bloody battle, was void of any blood and seemed as if he had time to slick back his hair for he looked to be ready for a banquet. He always looked that way, and being such a stuckup bastard he was among the most hated of the group. He was incredibly handsome and a huge playboy from his hometown, he had only been sent here as he was forced by the French king after he had slept with a powerful nobles wife.

"William Langford of Sheffield, and may I add wishing I had not chosen to stay right now," he said with a smile as he looked around at the group, no one who looked back at him with a smile. Thing was, he had tried to be funny. His humor was incredibly lacking though. Scratching his head he looked away to void the eyes, a big gash on the side of it had caused much of his blond hair to become blood red. Clean shaven he was quite youthful as well and he was the only who looked to remain innocent in nature after what had just happened. After he had spoke Louis cussed something under his breath that Henry had heard, a non-flattering remark at the English boy who had tried to be funny.

Finally, the last one to speak up turned around for his back had been to both Henry and Jezenya. "Umm.... we had better get moving, riders are on the horizon and from the dust in the air I'd say they are moving pretty bloody fast," the Englishman. "Name's John Cornwall of York," he said, jittering and the first to mount his steed. His longer blond hair flowed in the wind, but noticeable was a gash in his leg that had caused his entire right leg to be bloodied, from his own blood. He had a light beard and was older, but not as old as Jean Cornwall, who oddly shared the same last name. There seemed to be no relationship though, at least that they mentioned, but it would not be odd.

"I hope this has been what you asked for My Lady, but we had best move now," he said and mounted his own horse as did everyone else. Once she was ready they would ride east for awhile being heading north as fast as they possible could. Smaller in numbers and with the fear on their lives they would certainly make great time and lose the pursuing forces quickly, that was if they did not meet other forces coming from all over to converge on the village.

 

[caela]

"I am Jean Cornwall of Navarre, who will serve the wishes of du'Galle to death."

A small smile managed to touch Jezenya's lips as she recognized Jean. He'd been here with George before and his oath touched her greatly. It was clear that he'd loved George as much as she did though in a very different manner and she was gladdened to know that the man she thought of as a second father could inspire such loyalty.

She listened as the other men introduced themselves but none of them were men she'd recognized and it wasn't lost on her that their leader still hadn't given her his name. Still with riders approaching there was no time to reprimand him for the lack and she turned to her villagers, once more speaking that fluid language and urging them to the desert. With riders coming there wouldn't be time for them to do anything but hide but they were a desert people and none knew how to hide better or faster when the need arose.

Swinging up onto her own horse she used her knees to guide the mare while wrapping a scarf around her neck and head to keep out the dust and sand as she followed the men who were now her companions. Her life was changing radically and she desperatly wished that it had been George who had come for her and not this stranger.

Without thinking about it she guided her mare to ride alongside Jean Cornwalls's. Here was the one man that she had seen before and knew was a friend of George's along with being the only one to have expressed a willingness to do George's will even unto his own death. He was the only man among those she now travelled with, who had her trust for now.

 

[Starsailor2804]

Henry had actually not even realized that he hadn't introduced himself to Jenzenya until many minutes had passed into the ride and his thoughts were all over the field as he was the leader of these rebels. He had so many things to think about that they surely did not make his head feel any better and thus tried his best to limit the thoughts the best that he could. With hand signals he brought the group of riders to change direction every now and then and finally, they were heading north. The horses were fresh and thus a hard ride would be able to last for hours on these flat sands, fortunately they were not deep in Egypt and the harsher deserts or further east as well. The land among the Meditteranean was much easier to travel, though dangerous for them as well.

For hours they rode with little problems and no sight of any pursuers or armies converging on their position. It seemed they had made a safe getaway and only had to worry about the next few days until they reached the lands of the Turks. When they reached those lands they would have to be in great worry of running into bandits. And, running into the army of the Turks that had recently, from reports, been positioning on the southern border of their lands. Darkness had fallen over the ride but fortunately the moon was bright and lit their way, and Henry knew exactly where he was going for George du'Galle had informed him what road to take. Unfortunately, Bernard knew that path as well and because of that eventually they would have to make a new course, but for at least for a few days they could travel the path given by George.

Pulling up the caverns of Dara he knew they had arrived without question. Raising his hand up the men and women to halt he slowed the group as the caves were lit with fires as surely people were living inside. These caves, George had told him, were enormous in scale and could hold a city. Henry had not totally believed him when he was first told, but now, seeing its scale he felt bad for doubting the man he considered a second father. Dismounting from his steed everyone did the same, "We shall camp here for two days to rest and recuperate from the battle and heal our wounds." Leading his horse by the reins inside the caverns they found a huge town of people and makeshift buildings.

No concern was shown to the new arrivals for this was a merchant trading post, a city with a natural ceiling that was always illuminating by burning fires and such. Waving them over a finely dressed man Henry had been looking for approached. "I have purchased your dwellings for the night, though there are much less than George told me there would be...," the man said, concerned, but he had already be paid so he did not mind all that much. "I know, but we are here and need to rest. Thank you for your help," Henry said to the man before turning to his men. "Chose a tent for the night. You may walk around town, bathe and clean your wounds, but do not cause any trouble," he said, making sure to look directly at George, the German, who loved to fight, especially after drinking.

The men broke up at that point leaving just Jezenya and Henry alone. Turning to her he sighed before he spoke, "I suggest bathing, getting a change of clothes and getting as much rest as possible. We may be here for a day or so, but the next few days shall be very busy. What we must discuss can wait for tomorrow," he said, and without letting here even get a word in he walked off to a tent. He was sure she had many questions and surely she would not let him in peace for too long. He had far too much to answer for, including giving him her name and identifying himself.

 

[caela]

"I suggest bathing, getting a change of clothes and getting as much rest as possible. We may be here for a day or so, but the next few days shall be very busy. What we must discuss can wait for tomorrow,"

Jezenya rolled hey eyes as he left and, not for the first time, found herself wondering what George had been thinking to leave her with such an unpleasant and ungracious, man for a protector. She'd traveled with him and his men all day through the low desert and still he didn't even have the manners to give him her name. Still she hadn't been without resources and had struck up a conversation with Jean, remaking their aqaintance, and had learned that his name was Henry. Jean hadn't been willing to tell her much more than that saying that it was Henry's place to tell her about himself not Jean's.

Turning her back on the tent he'd disappeared to she sought out hte proprietor that Henry had spoken to when they first arrived. If she was going to bathe she had to know where the women of this city did such things. Finding out where the women's baths were she chose a fresh habit from her bags and made her way down to them.

She was stared at in the baths, as most strangers are, but she was left undisturbed as she washed her hair and her body. It felt good to be clean once more after the grime of hte roads and she hummed a soft song to herself as she made her way back to her tent to rest for the evening.

As she settled in for the night a small, slightly vindictive, smile curved her lips and she found herself hoping that the rude, unmannerly stranger names Henry had a sleepless night and that the rest of the men slept quite well. It would serve him right for his rudeness.

 

[Starsailor2804]

To say that Henry was the only one who had nightmares would be a severe lie for plenty of the man had a restless night that evening as the images of dead men and women civilians plagued their minds. And to think it could have all been avoided, if only he had chose his words more carefully, made Henry's night a living nightmare. He had been unable to sleep besides brief times he passed out due to exhaustion. Fortunately though, he had found enough time to bathe and have his wound looked at by the doctor of the little town as did the rest of the men. They would have to be healthy to proceed.

Thankfully for them all, George had kept his drinking to a minimum that night and had taken it back to his tent and thus prevented any problems. The others had remained on their best behavior as well, sure the exhaustion they all felt played a huge part in that. With the morning coming sooner than expected all the men were up and out of their tents before much of the town had awakened. It was at this opportunity that Henry gathered them all in seclusions to tell them of the secret that had caused all of this. Most of the men were completely floored when learning the truth, most civilians would barely grasp it all, but noblemen such as them knew the huge impact and implications it had for everyone.

Henry knew that they would all be looking at Jezenya differently from this point forward and treat her differently as well. She was not only nobility, but royalty as well. It was during their conversations that Jean revealed himself as having been a confidant of George du'Galle and having known who Jezenya was and having visited her before. There was much to do and Henry knew that he would have to count on Jean who was not only more informed than he was, but also was the oldest and had the most contacts to assist them. Louis cut in to Henry's conversation with a concern he had, "Now, I know you've made yourself leader and all, but why exactly are we heading to Russian lands and what are we going to do when we get there?"

Looking at the man he hated so very much, but needed, Henry looked about to make sure they had no one listening in on them. "Our final destination is England. Only two person can help us, and that is Queen Berengaria and King Richard. Yes, I know you are wondering why we are being so secretive. It is because Rome does not want Jezenya to be reunited with her mother and father, they'd much rather use her for their own powerplay in Europe and in the Holy Land. Surely you must know how much power someone would have if they had the daughter of the Queen of England and the late Saladin behind them. That is why we remain on the run and why Rome will keep this secret as much as possible. Tomorrow evening we leave under the cover of darkness for the north. Rest today and prepare, and do not cause problems. Understood?"

With nods from everyone Henry departed the group and left them to go about doing whatever they wanted. Hopefully, not getting in trouble. Walking off alone he headed for Jezenya's tent. Standing outside he called inside to her, "Lady Jezenya, it is Henry, may I speak with you in private?" It was about time he was going to sit down and talk with her about everything. He deserved to inform her of it all much sooner than now, but he had far too much to deal with up to now to take time to sit down with her. His head still wrapped, though in a clean cloth now, his clothes new and he was not armored so he hoped to appear much more human-like now. He hoped any problems between them could end right here and they would begin to work together.

 

[caela]

"Lady Jezenya, it is Henry, may I speak with you in private?"

Packing her things Jezenya was surprised to hear Henry's voice outside her tent. She'd known he was meeting with the men and been quite annoyed at not having been included in that meeting. All of this was supposed to be for, and because of, her and yet she was excluded from the decision making like a small child. When his voice reached her her mood was less than amiable.

"You may enter," she said and turned to settle into the cushion that compromised furnishings in her tent, deliberatly keeping them all behind her so that she could comfortable and he must either stand and stoop uncomfortably or sit on the rough ground.

Looking up at him from her cushions there was no intimidation in her and her grey eyes flared with an anger that made them darken like stormclouds.

"So now you come, am I to hear my fate like a prisoner then, with no say in the matter? To simply go meekly because the men about me said so? If you thought so then George told you nothing of me. I am Jezenya deGalle, daughter of Saladin and the Queen of England though I claim neither name as my own but that of the man I loved as a father.

Do not mistake me again as some tame, weak, thing that will cower at the men around her or keep properly quiet. I know my worth and understand fully the consequences and chaos that my very life could bring down upon all our heads. Don't treat me as a child or a simpleton Sir, for you'll find I'm neither and that I am quick to anger and slow to forgive."

 

[Starsailor2804]

Honestly surprised that she was awake after all she had been through the day before Henry ducked into the tent when allowed and slouched over awkwardly for there were no seats available. He saw why this was the case immediately as it seemed she had purposely placed all cushions behind her. He should not have been so surprised that she was treating him so poorly for he had not treated her any better up until now. However, he planned on changing their relationship of sustainable hatred to friendship and trust. The way she looked at him though did not give him much hope this was going to go well though.

Just unable to stand like this any longer Henry took a knee, which was very uncomfortable, but much better than standing awkwardly that had brought pain to his lower back. Henry did not cut in at all during her longwinded speech, or moreso rant, that seemed to be nothing but an attempt to belittle him as much as possible. There was one thing he knew though, she was indeed royalty. "My Lady, please allow me to explain myself and apologize for the wrong start to our...partnership," he said, not too sure if he had chosen the best word, but he had not too much to work with.

"I..., from this point forward we serve you and it is you who I receive my orders from. However, I would like to add my input as it was me who George placed his trust in to keep you safe. I implore you to forgive me, and My Lady, I am Sir Henry Cardalle of Seville, your most loyal knight whose life it is to serve you." Lowering his head Henry tried to show her the most respect a man of noble birth possible could to royalty. Yes, he was not a man of grand words and often said such stupid things by mistake, not on purpose, but he surely did try his best to serve in the best interests of those he was sworn to serve.

"If it is your request I will inform you of all of George du'Galle's wishes."

 

[caela]

"I..., from this point forward we serve you and it is you who I receive my orders from. However, I would like to add my input as it was me who George placed his trust in to keep you safe. I implore you to forgive me, and My Lady, I am Sir Henry Cardalle of Seville, your most loyal knight whose life it is to serve you."

Jezenya wasn't impressed. His words were pretty but his actions until now hadn't been and they spoke hard against him. He'd have time to prove his pretty little speech however since she wasn't stupid and knew she needed knights to gaurd her until she was somewhere safe. If he proved false to his oath however she was savage enough to do to him as he'd done to Paul in her village.

"If it is your request I will inform you of all of George du'Galle's wishes."

"Tell me what my adopted father wanted Henry," she said, her voice quiet but firm. Settling deeper into the cushions around her it was clear she wasn't about to share. She was angry and while she wouldn't rant at him anymore she wasn't appeased enough to make him comfortable either. "And stop calling me "Lady" and "M'Lady" there may come a point where it's safer for me to pose as nothing more than a camp whore as we travel and it'll be an easier ruse to perpetuate if you, and the other men, simply call me by name."

 

[Starsailor2804]

Henry nearly found himself mumble at the camp whore comment for he was getting tired of her anger and hatred directed at him as much as she already had a perception towards him that did not welcome respect. He had surely wished that things could have been different and that he had done things differently, but there was no going back anymore and they would have to deal with it. Time would heal things for sure and he knew he would prove himself to her time and time again, but for now things were not very good, not good at all. They seemed to be of similar age and all, but he had been raised and educated by the best while she had surely not been afforded such, and yet she spoke much more wisely and with an educated tongue than he.

"George wanted me..., wanted you to make travel safely back to England to meet with your mother for the first time, the Queen of England. She is the only one who can provide us...you with the safety you will need from external, and internal forces who would wish to use your identity to their advantage. George believed that the King of England would accept you and keep you safe and allow you to live your life as his child should you be able to meet with them. However, getting you to England is where the danger lies." He paused and looked up at her for the first time after having his head lowered for so long.

"George knew he could not trust many and knew that if your identity came out that all would converge to capture you and use you for their own advantage. Rome would be able to use you to gain power in both the Holy Land and England, which would directly risk the stability of the world and could very well return the Roman Empire. The Egyptians and other forces of the Holy Land would use you to raise enormous armies of the people of the east to unify and endanger all of Europe. I wish that was it, but there are just so many enemies that would wish to capture and use you. George knew this...unfortunately, he trusted only myself and another, who is on a ship to Rome to inform the Pope. He betrayed myself and George and thus the situation is dire and I moved much quicker than had been anticipated."

"George gave me orders to assist in your escape to Russia and then west into very hostile lands of the Slavs, Saxons, and Vikings. However, it is the only path he believed was possible. When we reach the land of the Danes we should be able to find a boat to travel to England. It will be a very risky journey, but it can be done and I swear on my life I will get you to England."

After having informed her at great length of the journey George had planned for her Henry kept his eyes focused on her, knowing it would be incredibly difficult for all of it to register and for her to comprehend the journey ahead of them. Tomorrow they would truly begin the treacherous journey before them.

 

[caela]

It will be a very risky journey, but it can be done and I swear on my life I will get you to England.

Throwing a cushion to him she rolled her eyes and shook her head, the arrogant tone in his voice as she spoke grating on her nerves. He may not have meant to but he had all of a Templar's arrogance and it was practically seeping out his pores at her.

"Sit comfortably Henry and open your ears and mind. Until you heard my name you didn't even see me as a person, you still probably don't see my villagers as real people at all do you?" she asked but didn't give him a chance to answer.

"It's not in the words you say but in how you say them and the look on your face as you say them. You talk to me like you don't think I could possibly understand you. As if you truly believe that George du'Galle would have left not just hidden but wholey uneducated as well. There were reasons he chose the village he did, one of them being the fact that it harbored more than one retired scholar. I'm as educated as you are Henry and, despite being female, my mind works as well as yours.

I don't want to be fighting you every step of our journey so stop thinking I'm a fool."

Reaching for a jug of wine that had been left by her tent she poured herself and him a goblet and handed him his before continuing, "George's plan was a sound one but if it's been betrayed we might be better off gathering the men and hearing if they perhaps have any better notions so that we can avoid waltzing into a trap set by Pope."

 

[Starsailor2804]

As he was tossed a cushion he believed maybe he was actually getting somewhere, maybe she was beginning to treat him like some sort of equal. He did not like being talked down to and treated as inferior. However, the hypocrisy of that thought was about to be shown to him through a series of questions directed at him. She had not even given him the chance to respond to her questions, but it wasn't like he knew how to respond to them in the first place as he felt like she had just punched him in the gut. Finally, he took a seat and opened his ears and mind to her.

She spoke at length just as he had spoke before her, but now he had been given a wine-filled goblet to drink from. How he needed it after all he had been through yesterday and already today. "The Pope will find it extremely hard to track us and capture us in Turk, Russian, and Danish lands for he has absolutely no power there. The Russians are orthodox Christians and oppose the Pope, they may actually be our best allies in preventing him from finding us. However, should they find out who you are they'd likely use us just as well. The Pope will only send small numbers of enemies after us into these lands and will not know our travelling locations. I say we stick to George's plan."

Taking a sip from his wine he found the taste to be incredibly enjoyable, and was glad that she had offered this drink to him to share with her. "Jezenya," he began, calling her by her first name as she requested him too, "You are correct in your assessment about how I viewed you, before I knew who you were, and the people of your town. I do not deny I judged them harshly and inferior, but that was because of my own ignorance and upbringing. It's no excuse, I know, but I am trying, and I hope you can help me change." Lowering his head again he took another sip of his wine and hoped that she could partially understand him more now and even more in the future with being around him.

He was not like Paul, that bastard, he did not view those of her village at that level, he would have never slaughtered them. But of course, only he was the one that knew that truth.

 

[caela]

I say we stick to George's plan.

One of Jezenya's eyebrows rose at that but she said nothing. He had made a couple of good points but he wasn't the only one that knew George's plan for them and, unlike Henry, she didn't underestimate the Pope and his spies. A man didn't become as powerful as the Pope was without an extensive information network and she had no doubt that he had his informants even among the "orthodox".

"Jezenya," he began, calling her by her first name as she requested him too, "You are correct in your assessment about how I viewed you, before I knew who you were, and the people of your town. I do not deny I judged them harshly and inferior, but that was because of my own ignorance and upbringing. It's no excuse, I know, but I am trying, and I hope you can help me change."

At that she waved her hand slightly. If he wanted to change only he could do it, the most she could do was point out when he was allowing his ignorance to inform on his actions and most men didn't like a woman doing that.

"I can't change you but I'll gladly point out when you're being a fool so you can change yourself," she said and this time there was just a hint of teasing in her voice.

 

[Starsailor2804]

Taking another sip of his wine he watched her closely as she chose to respond to his lengthy apology, surely it hadn't be his first, but she seemed less eager to attack him this time for what he had said. Instead, she jested with him it seemed, which wasn't that easy for him to catch on considering the seriousness she had shown him before. Seriousness and hostility that is. "Umm... thank you, I believe. I will prove my worth and will grow to become a knight and man you can trust, hopefully as much as you trusted in George. He will be quite missed by me, if it was not for him I don't know what would have become of me," Henry said, quite slowly at the end, and took another sip of his wine to finish it all.

"May I suggest you get out and interact with the men, if we wish to succeed in getting you back to England they need to have their spirits uplifted. Plus, they may provide you greater insight into possibly ways of travel than I." Taking one last sip he finished off his goblet of wine and set it upon the ground. "I thank you for the ability to sit with you and chat and for the wine, I will take my leave for now, but I shall return later this evening before we leave early tomorrow morning," he said, rising and leaving the tent. Looking around he saw some of the men nearby chatting with one another and the villagers.

He saw them all eventually for they had not gone far yet, besides for Louis Corneille, who Henry expected had already found himself a woman he was currently sharing a bed with. But, what Henry did not know was that Louis was much closer than he thought, crotched behind Jezenya's tent after having listened to the entire conversation. He had plans, sinister ones, that needed him to be informed as much as possible so he knew how to react to it all. As Henry walked off Louis took position just outside of Jezenya's tent, hoping she would take Henry's advice.