East of Ashes (30 page)

While the guards dragged Lamech away, Leala and Joash watched him. He was looking at them too and, although he was clearly shaken by the events, he was still smiling - as if to encourage them. Leala's heart twisted and pain crushed her chest with a gasp. In a moment she had regained the life of her beloved at the cost of a man who had willingly laid down his own.

When the guards had left the hall with Lamech between them, the pope turned his attention to Joash.

"As for you
,
Joash: Although you are cleared of the accusations brought against you, it is clear to me that you are in deep rebellion against the church and its holy Crusade. I therefore excommunicate you from the church and you are hereby ordered to leave Europe immediately."

The pope hesitated for a second then added: "You may stay until after the execution, but then you must leave and never return on pain of death."

"That is all," he concluded.

Before Leala could say anything Joash turned to her, put his arm around her and steered her to the door. She was looking at him, tears streaming down her beautiful face.

"It's not fair!" she whispered.

"I know," he replied and kissed her lovingly on the forehead. Then he led her outside where they were met by a cold, dreary morning.

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee

from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens,

you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths,

you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side

of the sea,

even there your hand

will guide me,

your right hand

will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness

will hide me

and the light become night

around me,"

even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139:7-12 (NIV)

CHAPTER 15

--- Avignon, August 1098 ---

A small crowd had gathered the next morning at the site where Lamech was to be executed. It was a thickly overcast morning, with dark clouds covering the sky from edge to edge.

Joash had come alone as Leala
had
said
that
she couldn't face it. Truth be told, he wish
ed
he could have stayed away too, but he owed it to Lamech to be
t
here.

They had visited him in prison
the previous
night and were once again surprised to see how peaceful he was. They had gone to be with him and to encourage him during the night because Joash knew all too well how murderous those nights in prison could be when
one
faced
them
alone. But he could only imagine what the night before something like th
is
must
have
be
en
like.

In the end though
,
it had been Lamech who
had
encouraged
them
.

Where had that piece of scripture he had quoted them come from again? Ah yes, it was from the book of Proverbs. Joash had memorised the words because so very little of the scriptures were available to ordinary people. The church kept a close watch on the texts and, besides,
they were
in Latin.

But
the previous
night Lamech had shared with them a piece from Proverbs that a friend of his had shared with him during the Crusade. Joash didn't know where he had found the translation, but the words had left a deep impact.

At the time Joash
had
asked him why he had knowingly placed himself in harm's way for his sake. Lamech had explained that so much death had come from his life that if his death could bring life, he was willing.

And then he had quoted the scripture:
In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.

As he remembered the words again, Joash felt goose bumps. Lamech's intention in quoting the words w
as
clear enough. Even now
,
it still left Joash's mind spinning.

He was dragged back to the present when a loud cheer went up from the crowd. Craning his neck to see over all the people from where he was standing, Joash could barely make out Lamech being brought out with guards on either side.

Joash was surprised to see they hadn't shackled him as they usually did with prisoners about to be executed. He was walking under his own free will and climbed the stairs to the raised platform.

Normally they made a spectacle of things like this, but no church official was in sight. Apparently the official
assigned to
ma
ke
a speech at the execution had come down with a stomach ailment during the night and couldn't attend. The pope and the rest of the church leadership had left for Rome shortly after the hearing had concluded, which left only Lamech and his guards on the platform.

Joash could see him having a quick word with them. The executioner was holding a massive axe in his one hand and a hood in the other. As Lamech was talking to them, however, he nodded his head and then threw the hood to the side.

Joash realised with a start that in the absence of anyone to drag it out with a speech, they were going to get the execution over and done with very quickly. He didn't know whether to be grateful, or saddened that time had run out so quickly.

And then a beam of light broke through the clouds as it parted right over the spot where Lamech was standing. The light thickened and enveloped the platform so that it was basked in warm, yellow light.

Joash wasn't sure whether he had imagined it, but it seemed like Lamech in particular was highlighted by it - as if God
H
imself had reached down to bask
H
is homecoming son in one last glory moment.

Lamech turned his face to the sky, closed his eyes and inhaled the air deeply. He held it for a long moment and then exhaled slowly. He turned around to the executioner, nodded once and then kneeled at the block. He turned his head to face the crowd and then carefully laid his head on the block.

But through it all his eyes remained closed.

The executioner didn't waste any time. He looked at Lamech with regret on his face for a moment, then grabbed the axe with both hands and heaved it up in the air.

The axe hesitated in the air for the briefest of moments before coming down in a decisive arc - and then it was over.

Joash looked away, his eyes closed as tears streaked down his face. But even as the terrible loss wrecked his emotions, his heart was filled with light.

Because in those final moments before he was ushered into the throne room of God, Lamech had been smiling.

He will swallow up death

for ever.

The Sovereign Lord

will wipe away the tears

from all faces;

He will remove the disgrace

of His people

from all the earth.

The Lord has spoken.

In that day they will say,

"Surely this is our God;

we trusted in Him,

and He saved us.

This is the Lord,

we trusted in Him;

let us rejoice and be glad

in His salvation."

Isaiah 25:8-9 (NIV)

A WORD ON THE CHARACTERS AND EVENTS

FICTITIOUS CHARACTERS:

Lamech

Leala

Joash

Othniel

Gaal - although Pope Urban II did tour Europe to preach the First Crusade.

Kenan

Gedi

Sarah

Armand

HISTORICAL CHARACTERS:

The following characters in this novel were all actual individuals who played a significant role in the history of the First Crusade.

In most cases very little is known about their personalities though and as such I have given them what I believe to be likely personalities, based upon their historically recorded actions.

It is but a guess of course, but hopefully I haven't done them too big a disservice.

Pope Urban II

Bohemond of Taranto

Godfrey of Bouillon

Raymond of Toulouse

Firuz