Conquest

The old man paused. Leo noticed that his hand was shaking and that he was wincing from the effort of movement.

‘May I ask how many summers have come and gone in your life?’

‘Eighty-two, Father.’

Leo looked at the man in amazement, not doubting for a moment the truth of the answer, but wondering how a man could live so long, especially a man so heavily scarred by battle. Leo had heard that some men had lived beyond their eightieth year, but he had never met one.

‘You had better make your way home now, Father. Let me fill your flagon and pack some bread and cheese for you.’ The ancient warrior spoke warmly, concerned for a man who had a difficult descent ahead, especially as the last part would have to be negotiated long after nightfall.

‘What will I tell Prince John?’ asked Leo.

‘Tell him that I am honoured to be asked to speak with him. I will be with him as soon as I can.’

‘Will you not travel with me?’

‘No, I have much to do here. It will take me some time to make my way down the mountain. Go to the Prince and ask for his patience.’

As Leo prepared to leave, he could not resist a parting question. ‘You are obviously a man of some repute. May I ask why you are here, on the top of a remote mountain with only goats and wolves for company?’

The old man stared long and hard towards the distant sea before he answered. ‘Father, I have lived a full life and done many things. I have seen most of our world, met all varieties of its feeble humanity and come to understand how weak and inadequate we are. But from here, when I stare into the distance, I am reminded of the strength, wisdom and courage that many people are capable of, especially the most humble. That gives me hope, it keeps me alive. Perhaps it’s kept me alive for this day.’

Leo did not respond, but simply followed the old man’s gaze towards the western horizon.

After a while, the Northerner continued. ‘I came here with the Emperor Alexius many years ago, when he was raising one of the Greek themes for the Imperial Army. Many good men came from these hills and valleys. The old sages told us stories of how the ancients had a sacred temple near here, at a place called Olympia, built in honour of their God, Zeus, where great warriors from the Greek world would compete in contests of war and physical skill. When I retired from the Emperor’s service, I could think of no better place to find solace in my old age.’

‘I know nothing of such a place and I’m not sure it’s part of our Christian tradition.’

‘It isn’t, Father. Many generations ago, Olympia was destroyed in an earthquake, its location forgotten, and in all my years here, I’ve never been able to find it.’

‘Can you not find our Christian God in these mountains to bring you solace?’

‘No, Father. Our “Christian God” has not revealed himself to me too often — not even here, close to Heaven!’

‘Your words are a path to Hell and an eternity of suffering.’

‘I know, Father, but my cynicism is born of bitter experience, both of men and of God. Aren’t we supposed to be in His image? Look into men’s hearts, what do you see, good or evil?’

Leo responded with the philosophical certainty of a priest. ‘With God’s help we can be all the things He wants us to be.’

‘Well done, Father, you know all the right answers; I wish I had your faith.’ He paused and smiled. ‘You should hurry; the sun is making its way towards the west. Go safely. I will see you with the Prince tomorrow.’

His mind racing, intrigued by all that had happened in just a few hours, Leo made his way down the mountain as rapidly as he could.

As he reached the thick forest of the mountain’s lower slopes, a dank mist swirled up from the valley. Increasing fatigue and the dark of the night slowed Leo’s progress.

He found a sheltered overhang in the rocks to rest.

Leo slept fitfully and, when he woke with a jolt, he was cold and wet. His head and neck ached and his legs, made numb under his weight, tingled as the blood rushed to them. He longed for the soft straw and warm furs of his little hut in the clearing below.

The glow behind the mountain suggested about half an hour before dawn. He got to his feet and turned towards the path. As he did so, he saw, standing at a bend in the track just a few paces below him, the mysterious Northerner he had left only a few hours ago.