Sword and Scimitar

‘On the contrary. I fight hard mostly because I am scared. So scared that I want it to end more than anything else. A bullet then would be a mercy. I face every attack with fear in my heart and cold sweat on my palms and ru

Thomas. ‘I would not be surprised if you are ashamed of me.’

‘Ashamed?’ His heart was torn by a helpless desire to protect his son, to shield him from his torment. He rested his hands on the young man’s shoulders. ‘I could not be more proud of you, Richard. You are the bravest man I have ever known.’

Richard shook his head. ‘I am a coward.’

‘A coward is one who imagines the risks and turns to run. Courage comes from having the will to stay and face peril. I know it better than most, Richard. It is the standard against which I have tested myself throughout my life.’

Richard looked at him sceptically and Thomas chuckled.

‘Did you think I was any different to you? Fear is the spur which drives men like us on. How else could we tame it and not let it become the master of our fate? It seems that we are alike in this, father and son.’

Richard nodded, his lips quivered for an instant and then he looked away awkwardly and hurriedly brushed at the corner of his eye. Thomas felt a stab of pain at his distress, which he took for shame.

‘There is no need to reproach yourself.’

Richard laughed nervously. ‘It is not reproach. I am happy. Happy to have a father . . . Happy to have you as my father.’

The distress inside Thomas instantly gave way to a serene joy and he drew his son close to embrace him and kiss his brow. Then, as if they had just shared a joke, he released him and punched him lightly on the chest. ‘We shall drink together tonight. God’s wounds! If ever there was a true test of courage, it must surely be the preserve of those who consume a bottle of the local wine.’

Richard gri

When they reached the gate of Stokely’s house, Thomas stepped forward to reach for the latch. He raised it and pushed the gate inwards. Glancing back he saw that Richard was standing in the street.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing.’ Richard smiled. ‘Nothing at all. I’m not coming in tonight. I’ll sleep at the auberge.’

Thomas frowned. ‘Why?’

‘I have had my moment of closeness to you, Father. It is well that you should be alone with my mother tonight. I will see you tomorrow, on the wall. Good night.’ Richard nodded with a fond expression and then turned away into the gathering shadows of the street. Thomas stood on the threshold of the small courtyard, tempted to call after him.

‘Thomas?’ Maria’s voice came from the house. ‘Is that you?’

He turned away from the street and closed the gate behind him. He saw her standing in the doorway of the house, outlined by the pale glow of the candlelight in the small entrance hall. Above her the walls of the house rose up to the skeletal remains of the timbers that had supported the roof, before it had been dashed to pieces by a Turkish roundshot. Most of the tiles had crashed through to the floor below and now only one room above the ground floor was habitable. Thomas slipped the bolt across to lock the gate, crossed the courtyard and climbed the steps to take her in his arms and kiss her on the lips.

When they parted she asked, ‘Where’s Richard?’

‘He’s staying at the auberge tonight.’

‘Why?’

‘He wanted to give us the chance to be together.’

‘Why?’ A faint frown creased Maria’s brow. Thomas took her hands and stroked his thumbs across her soft palms. Maria looked hurt for a moment and then nodded. ‘As he wishes. It is a pity as I have prepared a meal to share with my family. I found some salted pork in the cellar, together with some cheese to go with the bread ration. ’

‘A veritable banquet,’ Thomas said lightly.

Maria gave a laugh as she drew him inside and closed the door behind them.

Later that night they lay naked on a couch behind the open wooden lattice of the balcony outside the surviving bedroom and looked up at the sky. The starry heavens were streaked with thin silver shreds of clouds. To the north a dense mass of shadow covered the horizon and steadily edged closer to the island. Despite the change in season the night was not so cold that it discomforted them. Their bodies still radiated warmth from their earlier love-making. Maria lay against his right side, head resting on his chest as she ran her fingers lightly through the hair that covered his stomach.

‘I want, more than anything, to talk about the future,’ she said softly. ‘But I know it is a luxury we ca

Thomas smiled sadly. ‘We should not look to the future, my love. We should not.’

She was silent for a moment and then propped herself up on an elbow. ‘The future is my only comfort, my dear Thomas. There is little but peril in the present and only darkness and despair in the past. There is too much pain there. All we have is this moment.’ Thomas touched her cheek, uncertain whether he should unburden his mind. He had no right to hide the truth from her. ‘Sweet Maria, this night may be our last together. The Turks are coming tomorrow. La Valette thinks that this will be their final attempt to crush us. Every gun and man will be used in the attack. We must meet them on the same terms.’

‘You will be fighting as well?’

‘I must. To defend the Order, Birgu, and most of all you.’

‘Then I shall fight with you.’

Thomas shook his head. ‘You can’t. There is no place for women on the battle line.’

‘Really? Do you think we shall stand idle while the Turks overwhelm you, and then turn their thirst for blood and lust upon us? I can assure you, Thomas, that every woman and child knows what is at stake. We shall do all we can to defeat the enemy.’

‘No. You will stay here, where you are safe.’

‘Safe?’ She laughed bitterly. ‘If the defences are breached then all will die, or be enslaved. I would rather die at your side than wait here to be raped and butchered. I will not have my life end like that. I will choose my own end.’ She pressed her fingertips gently on his lips. ‘That is my final word. You ca

‘I would not dare,’ he replied in a mocking tone. ‘No more of that now. Just hold me.’

She lay her head on his chest again and pressed her body against his and Thomas closed his eyes and let his mind dwell on the sensation of warm closeness. Outside, a bank of cloud closed over the island, steadily blotting out the stars. Shortly after the cathedral bell struck midnight, the first drops of rain began to patter on to the ruined town, swelling into a rattling hiss as the downpour passed overhead accompanied by a chilly breeze that blew drips in through the trellis. They rose from the couch and went back to the bed and held each other beneath the warmth of its coverings.

In the hour before dawn the rain had not abated and seemed to be falling harder than ever, accompanied by lightning and thunder. As the bell struck the appointed hour, Thomas lit a candle and rose and dressed, aware that Maria was awake and watching him. When he had buttoned his jerkin he turned his head.

‘Will you help me with my armour?’

She nodded, and reached for her gown as she sat up. She followed him downstairs to the hall where the armour and weapons lay on a chest by the door. Thomas pulled on his breastplate and held it to his chest while she fitted the backplate and fastened the buckles. She helped him with his gauntlets and fastened the mantlets to protect his arms and hands. When she reached for his thigh guards, Thomas shook his head. ‘I ca

She carefully placed the padded cap on his skull and then lifted the morion helmet and eased it down and fastened the chinstrap. ‘There.’