Rufinus, the bishop of Acre, who was clad in the armour of a knight, went to the object, and drawing the veil, revealed a broken, blackened cross, set around with jewels, that stood about the height of a man above the ground, for all the lower part was gone.
At the sight of it Godwin and every man present there fell upon his knees, for since St.Helena found it, over seven centuries before, this had been accounted the most precious relic in all Christendom; the very wood upon which the Saviour suffered, as, indeed, it may have been.
Millions had worshipped it, tens of thousands had died for it, and now, in the hour of this great struggle between Christ and the false prophet it was brought from its shrine that the host which escorted it might prove invincible in battle.Soldiers who fought around the very Cross could not be defeated, they said, for, if need were, legions of angels would come to aid them.
Godwin and Wulf stared at the relic with wonder, fear, and adoration.There were the nail marks, there was the place where the scroll of Pilate had been affixed above the holy head--almost could they seem to see that Form divine and dying.
"Now," broke in the voice of the Master of the Templars, "let Sir Godwin D'Arcy swear to the truth of his tale upon this Rood."Rising from his knees Godwin advanced to the Cross, and laying his hand upon the wood, said: "Upon the very Rood I swear that not much more than an hour ago I saw the vision which has been told to the king's highness and to all; that I believe this vision was sent to me in answer to my prayer to preserve our host and the holy city from the power of the Saracen, and that it is a true foreshadowing of what will come about should we advance upon the Sultan.I can say no more.I swear, knowing that if I lie eternal damnation is my doom."The bishop drew back the covering over the Cross, and in silence the council took their seats again about the table.Now the king was very pale, and fearful; indeed a gloom lay upon all of them.
"It would seem," he said, "that here a messenger has been sent to us from heaven.Dare we disobey his message?"The Grand Templar lifted his rugged, frowning face."A messenger from heaven, said you, king? To me he seems more like a messenger from Saladin.Tell us, Sir Godwin, were not you and your brother once the Sultan's guests at Damascus?""That is so, my lord Templar.We left before the war was declared.""And," went on the Master, "were you not officers of the Sultan's bodyguard?"Now all looked intently at Godwin, who hesitated a little, foreseeing how his answer would be read, whereon Wulf spoke in his loud voice:
"Ay, we acted as such for awhile, and--doubtless you have heard the story--saved Saladin's life when he was attacked by the Assassins.""Oh!" said the Templar with bitter sarcasm, "you saved Saladin's life, did you? I can well believe it.You, being Christians, who above everything should desire the death of Saladin, saved his life! Now, Sir Knights, answer me one more question--""Sir Templar, with my tongue or with my sword?" broke in Wulf, but the king held up his hand and bade him be silent.
"A truce to your tavern ruffling, young sir, and answer," went on the Templar."Or, rather, do you answer, Sir Godwin.Is your cousin, Rosamund, the daughter of Sir Andrew D'Arcy, a niece of Saladin, and has she been created by him princess of Baalbec, and is she at this moment in his city of Damascus?""She is his niece," answered Godwin quietly; "she is he princess of Baalbec, but at this moment she is not in Damascus.""How do you know that, Sir Godwin?"
"I know it because in the vision of which you have been told Isaw her sleeping in a tent in the camp of Saladin."Now the council began to laugh, but Godwin, with a set, white face, went on:
"Ay, my lord Templar, and near that very blazoned tent I saw scores of the Templars and of the Hospitallers Iying dead.
Remember it when the dreadful hour comes and you see them also."Now the laughter died away, and a murmur of fear ran round the board, mixed with such words as "Wizardry." "He has learnt it from the Paynims." "A black sorcerer, without doubt."Only the Templar, who feared neither man nor spirit, laughed, and gave him the lie with his eyes.
"You do not believe me," said Godwin, "nor will you believe me when I say that while I was on guard on yonder hill-top I saw you wrangling with the Count of Tripoli--ay, and draw your sword and dash it down in front of him upon this very table."Now again the council stared and muttered, for they too had seen this thing; but the Master answered:
"He may have learnt it otherwise than from an angel.Folk have been in and out of this tent.My lord king, have we more time to waste upon these visions of a knight of whom all we know for certain is, that like his brother, he has been in the service of Saladin, which they left, he says, in order to fight against him in this war.It may be so; it is not for us to judge; though were the times different I would inform against Sir Godwin D'Arcy as a sorcerer, and one who has been in traitorous communication with our common foe.""And I would thrust the lie down your throat with my sword's point!" shouted Wulf.
But Godwin only shrugged: his shoulders and said nothing, and the Master went on, taking no heed.
"King, we await your word, and it must be spoken soon, for in four hours it will be dawn.Do we march against Saladin like bold, Christian men, or do we bide here like cowards?"Then Count Raymond of Tripoli rose, and said:
