Hugh looked well-rested and healthy, but claimed a headache. Geoffrey suspected it had more to do with the fact that it was his turn to supervise the repairs on the city walls, than with the blow on the head the previous night, for it had not affected his sword practice with Roger. The knights loathed “wall duty,” which involved overseeing large work parties of soldiers and local labourers to repair the damage caused when the Crusaders took Jerusalem. The soldiers and locals were apt to quarrel at the slightest provocation, and both slacked at the heavy labour as soon as the knights’ attention was elsewhere. Wall duty was hot, dirty, and unrewarding, and the knights thoroughly resented its necessity. Geoffrey, Roger, Helbye, Wolfram, a trio of soldiers from Bristol, and Geoffrey’s dog set off toward the market in the Greek Quarter. The business day in Jerusalem was already well under way. Carts clattered along the packed-earth streets, and the gutters ran wet with night waste. Blankets were draped out of windows to air, and shutters were thrown open to allow the clean morning breeze to circulate.
What do You think about 01 - Murder In The Holy City?
