INTRODUCTION

 My reading of "Travels of Sir John Mandeville" originally inspired this story. After was actual reading this 14thC travel journal/story I was convinced that at least some of this tale travel journal and some was pure fiction. I sought to write a travelogue in a similar style to "Travels" to document my time as a military commander in the Solomon Islands as a member of the Regional Assistance Mission in 2003. The parallels were not difficult to draw, "Travels" commences as Mandeville's obligation to journey to Jerusalem and he speaks of the things he sees and encounters in the places he visits. Mandeville does not dwell on the journey between places but focuses on the places themselves.

 I first ran into problems when I attempted to recreate the language style used in "Travels." Although I can understand the 14thC translated structure I was unable to effectively recreate it. The passages no longer made sense or their meaning was so convoluted even I, as the authour struggled to understand what was being said. As a result of this I have used formal language and have made a limited attempt to structure in the 14thC manner while still preserving the readability of the piece for a 21stC educated reader.

 This is a limited imitation of "Travels" scope because Mandeville was travelling near on 30 years where I was only gone quarter of a year. As a result my travels are on a distinctly smaller scale and only cover one location where Mandeville did half of Europe, most of the Middle East and made up a damn fine story about the Indies and China.

 I toyed with making up the last half in the same manner as I suspect Mandeville did with "Travels." You don't need to go somewhere or do something; you only need to make people think you did in the retelling, and from that you can 'sell' the story. As this piece was written I became quite unfortunately bound to using fact as I struggled to put events and people into a medieval context and style. I chose to only document facts as I was not happy with adulterating what had effectively become my own journal with the introduction of fiction in the conclusion of its writing. In this manner the piece does not follow the original form.

 Stylistically Mandeville is impersonal and only describes the world around him but not how he feels about it. I on the other-hand was quite self indulgent in the entire process and made free with how the environment was effecting me. When I attempted to edit this out it left a rather dry documentary that was lacking in colour. Solid as Mandeville's work is, it led me to wonder how much more it could have been if he had been stylistically inclined to speak of his own feelings during his travels.

 Mandeville has a heavy religious content to his work and opens half the chapters with 'Thanks be to God!" This was obviously very appropriate for the time of writing and probably expected by the audience. I have toned down the religious content but have imitated Mandeville's work in telling the story from a pseudo-Christian perspective. There are some references to 'Moors' and 'sons of Mohammed,' these are intended as descriptive rather than derogatory terms in the context of this story.

 By the finish of the piece the only similarity between my travelogue and Mandeville's was that we both travelled. With this complete failure to follow the work that inspired it I present this piece.

Mynjon du Jardin

The Travels and Adventures of Mynjon du Jardin in the Strange and Terrible Islands of King Solomon

 Herein lies a tale both terrible and true of the time spent by myself, Mynjon du Jardin, at that time a subject of Lochac, of the Barony of St Florian de la Riviere in foreign and strange lands, far from that which I hold so dear.

 It was about a month after Midsummer when the ruler of my land received a request from foreign and unknown islands requesting assistance. These islands were named the Islands of King Solomon for it was claimed they were as rich and beautiful as the lands of King Solomon himself. Far from our shores it was unknown to our ancestors of antiquity for on the old maps it is unmarked and not noted.

 The ruler and peoples of the Islands of King Solomon were God fearing men and women who, although they had never been subjects of Rome, worshiped our Lord   and were now in a time of much suffering. The princes, barons and representatives of the people had become corrupt a lazy and failed in their duties. As they became weak bands of thieves and rouges had taken up arms and mistreated the people. The ruler and his sheriffs had become so weakened over time they could no longer regain control of their lands and the people endured terrible hardship.

 As such the ruler of the Islands of King Solomon called to his neighbours and told them of his people's plight and pleaded for assistance. The neighbouring rulers, including my own sovereign, considered long his case and they did fear these bandits and this lawlessness may spread to their own lands and so agreed to send warriors, constables and men of justice and administration to restore the rule of law.

 As is the way of these things once a decision was made action was ordered swiftly after. I was summoned before my superiors with my fellow travelling companions Michael of Coad and a wise young woman called Michelle of the clan McGuinness. Together we were ordered to travel to the far north and meet with the army gathering there to set forth for the Islands of King Solomon.

 We packed in haste gathering our arms and armour and supplying ourselves for the journey north. I hoped when we joined the remainder of the army we would receive more provisions for we could barely carry enough to sustain us to our point of departure. Both my travelling companions were married and charged their spouses with the management of their affairs in their absence. I had no such companion in life but placed my lands and all I own in the care of Viola of Bangor, the niece of the then King Alaric of Bangor. Her consort was the King's squire Lord Wystan and despite being much enamoured of the theatre she seemed to be reliable and of good character.

 To my disappointment I did not have time even to say farewell to my consort Fleur daughter of Derdrian, granddaughter of Zora. I wrote her an inadequate note for which I should be shamed but words can only say so much in times such as they were then. In her care I left the book that records all I have done in her name so that she may remember me in my absence. Placing her maroon favour on my harness, on the day prior to the Feast of St Margaret, I set forth to join the army forming in the north.

 Many a wife and husband came to farewell the men and women who travelled north with me, and many tears were shed. It was there that I was reunited with my friend and brother in arms, Garth of the clan McClay and his wife, neither of whom I had seen since we were sworn companions as young bravados a decade ago in Politicopolis. Together in such good company I travelled in good humour. Garth left behind his wife, and two young babes, one of which had not even seen the passing of three months.

 Many miles later we joined with the army forming in a far northern port preparing to set forth for foreign shores. Men and women were gathered from the farthest corners of the realm and rumours of the Islands of King Solomon ran rife through the assembled soldiery. Some claimed to have visited the islands in their travels but their tales were cast aside as too fantastic and the gossip of fools. There were many who said their fathers had told them of great battles that were fought in the time of their own fathers in the Islands of King Solomon and how many had never returned from this place of paradise to the east. Long we dwelt on these stories and some did lament our fate may be the same.

 As we waited for the last part of the army to assemble warriors from some of the Island of King Solomons' other neighbours assembled to join us in our task. They were obviously Moors for their complexion was darker even than Greeks and rivalled the colour of coal, but they had broad white smiles and shining bright eyes. They did chatter in strange tongues but some spoke our language and through them we determined we had common purpose. There were rumours amongst us that these fierce men were savage mercenaries hired from the north who ate their enemies but this turned out to be untrue and they turned out to be very similar to ourselves in many ways, which we found strange as they were so obviously different in complexion.

 Many of the soldiers of our land were young and had never seen the hardships of campaign before. I myself had gone forth from friendly shores twice before and scoffed at their foolish notions of gold and glory. They were full of bold stories of the acts they would undertake, great men they would slay, fortresses they would storm and maidens they would deflower on their return, when the streets would be lined with admirers for the returning heroes. Little do they know that their dreams of gold and glory are of naught for mark well my words, the soldiers' road is marked not with rose petals and flowers but it is the path less trodden because it is both rough and unkind. For all the bravado in their words at the tavern I knew full well in the months to come that in the furnace that is fear and the in cold quench of loneliness they would be tempered into harder men.

 Little did I have the heart to tell these young bravados that if they returned whole to a good woman who still resided in a house which stood in good order in their name they should count themselves among lucky men. Some young bucks spoke loudly of fine young women they had met in the flurry of their departing and had taken from their lips saucy words and impassioned kisses. Well I knew of these flighty things, and also that they would be easily blown to different pastures by the winds that would pass in the months of our absence. I had chosen not to leave my heart with any when I departed, lest I too fall prey to the heartbreak I had seen befall my previous companions of campaigns and long travels in years past.

 As for the strewing of rose petals in their path on their return, to my mind they had become overwhelmed by the exhilaration of their departure and would be somewhat disappointed on their return to their towns and villages. To leave is worthy and to return is lucky but the acts of glory that occur in between are not celebrated in the homes left behind because these are acts that will only ever be truly known in the hearts and minds of those who both did and saw them. Only sallying forth and coming back would teach them this and I sympathised with them for the harsh education that was to come.

 Finally, after days of waiting, drinking, talking, boasting and preparing, , the rulers of those nations sending warriors assembled to farewell the vessels that would carry the men of their realms forth, on the day prior to the Feast St Christopher. There were long and stirring speeches and all blessed us in our task. Finally fine foods were served and after eating we departed.

 From that northern port we boarded our vessels of transit and braced ourselves for a long and arduous journey. Michael of Coad was once a man of the sea in his younger years and I myself have no fear of Neptune's realm but Michelle suffered terribly before we returned to solid ground. Before we had even arrived at our destination many aboard lamented the haste in which they had accepted this trial. Although I had faith in our craft the scurrilous crew were an assortment of ruffians and men of low birth such that I sometimes queried their motives. Dogs of the sea and even privateers they may have been, but despite my doubts they delivered us to our destination in good order. After travelling east across the waves toward the rising sun we finally saw the green lands that made up the Islands of King Solomon on the blue horizon.

 Many a time I did touch my consorts' favour between my fingers, seeking comfort from the pains of my uncertainty as to what lay on these foreign shores. All present were silent of their excited and brazen words of earlier tavern nights as we contemplated the argent sands and forest of brightest vert before us. I was upon the first craft and if the Lord was not to smile upon our endeavours that day I feared I would be amongst the first to see the dying of the light. My hands sweated against my weapons and I adjusted my chest plate and harness once again, despite having done so many times before. Many who sat beside me offered half whispered prayers up to the Almighty and others called on Saints to carry them across the open sands to the shelter of the trees beyond.

 We stepped forth at a place known as Sanguine Shores, called such because some half a century earlier than had been a battle there so fierce that the sand its self was soaked red with the blood of the combatants. We did not scurry forth like rats from our vessels but strode out with heads high and faces smiling despite the strangeness of all around us. The people of the Islands of King Solomon were gathered before us and they were truly a sight to behold. They dress as if each day is a fair, in a riot of conflicting colours. The brightness of their dress assailed me and I fear I stared at them as long as they stared at me. Their smiles were gleaming white in the blackness of their faces and the women placed flowers around our necks as if they were the finest jewels for the highest Kings. The powers that be had blessed our task and our arrival was more of a victory parade than a struggle for life.

 That first night fell swiftly upon us and with the darkness the people of the Islands of King Solomon melted away to their homes leaving us alone in this foreign place. Then to our misery rain began to fall upon us and there was great lamenting. We were unsure what would come from the darkness that surrounded our company and barely an eye closed through that wet and miserable darkness. Fear of attack was still heavy on our hearts and none strayed far from his arms or companions lest they be taken by unseen forces.

 Despite my tired eyes I slept little that night under a small shelter gathered against Michael and Michelle. In the pitch dark strange sounds would echo and time and again our steel flashed before us, as if a protective talisman against things we could not see. Finally we ceased to re-sheath our weapons and left the steel bare before us, waiting for our enemies. With the coming of the dawn our eyes spoke silent prayers of thanks as the sunlight lit our faces.

 As the light of our first day dawned we commenced the unloading of the barges that had followed behind our initial arrival with the remainder of our stores. There was much cursing and use of profane language as the wagons and essential stores of the army crossed the soft sand of the beach to the shade of the forest.

 In those early days life remained hard and I often thought of my soft bed within my own hall far away. During the day the sun would sear my fair skin and assail my half closed eyes as if I was in the lands of the worshippers of Mohammed. Men would fall from the exhaustion of just bearing the weight of the sunlight its self. From the time the cock crowed to the fall of night men would sweat with the effort of merely being awake and the elements hung heavily around us, as if damp lived in the very air.

 At night we would shelter under crude rectangles of waterproofed cloth, for our pavilions were yet to arrive. Curled on the ground in the stifling night many a voice cursed our decision not to all become clerks and courtiers who would be safe home in our own beds. The life of the adventurer is only fine in the retelling, not so much in the living.

 After that first night it had not rained again and we had rejoiced for we were ill protected from the wet. Then, for reasons known only to him the Lord visited upon us rain unlike anything civilised man had seen before. I have seen rain fall for days and flood the canals of Venice and it seemed the same rain fell but instead of taking days it chose to arrive in a mere afternoon, and wash clean the Earth in a deluge not seen since Noah. All was soaked and the earth became so wrought with water that it gave way and men sank to their knees in black mud that sought to pull the shoes from their very feet. All wagons ceased to move and men were loath to walk more than a few yards, even to speak with their friends. This lasted for several days and nights.

 Misery visited both those of rank and commoners alike and all bore the Lord’s disfavour together. As there were so few of us in this place all persons of fit body shared equally in tasks and many a lord was seen bearing heavy loads and pitching pavilions for the common good. Tables, food, water and shelter were shared without preference for class or station due to the magnitude of the task and the unique shared suffering of men that bought us together in common purpose.

 On the day of the Feast of St Jerome I lamented the size of the task ahead of us and the suffering we would have to endure in the future. I suspected I may lose heart and become morose in my despair so I shaved my head and swore I would not return to my own lands until my hair had regrown or my task was finished. With this new vow in my heart I returned to my duties.

 Weeks passed and men grew hard and lean on the crude fare of campaign food. We grew tired of the repetitive dried meats and biscuts we were rationed but we trusted not the local offerings. Local food appeared inviting and fresh but those who knew of such things swore the local foods contained strange poisons to which the people of the Islands of King Solomon were immune but would fell a fair skinned people such as ourselves before we had even stepped from the table. Even the water could not be trusted and we drank only from the gourds and cotrels we had bought with us. Barrels were bought from the ships to ensure we could refill our cups without being tempted by the glistening streams that ran past us.

 Under the weight of our labours men shrank in size even as we watched. Huge men who set forth with barrel chests and shoulder that could daunt a plough bow were reduced to the size of Corsicans under the depravations of our conditions. Without the rich food and soft comforts of our halls we all took on a more gaunt appearance, our faces drawn and eyes hard and cynical. This change took place slowly in all our company and we ourselves did not realise our state until others from our lands came later and commented at our appearance.

 With the constant wet and heat many a man began to rot of their skin as if a leper. Especially of the feet, the skin would become white and fall away for lack of air and good temperatures. Some became so poorly they were inhibited in their motions and had to lie for extended periods until their skin recovered its self. When ever possible I brought my feet out into the sunlight and checked for signs of rot lest I suffer a similar fate. One day there were a large number of red spots and I greatly feared it was a pox or some other similar malady. I went to see the doctor we had bought with us with the expectation he would recommend leeches or some such, but after long considering my plight he gave me a white powder not dissimilar to the alum of scribes. I applied this in accordance with his instructions and within the passing of a few days my feet had returned to their natural temperament.

 I was spared many of the discomforts that swept the camp and felled those around me. My consort's favour warded me against the worst of the evil that touched our company. In other campaigns I have seen men laid low in their scores by strange irritations that confine a man to the privies for days on end. The worst I contracted at that time was strange curse whereby at odd times I would feel as if an army of ants was crawling across my back, biting at me with all the commitment of the devils of hell. At first I thought there were indeed ants across my body and threw off my harness and shirt in the middle of the street despite the presence of ladies. As soon as I was reassured there were no insects on my body I began to suspect the work of dark forces and washed both myself and my clothes most ardently that night lest I had been marked in some way. I was struck down three more times with these strange pains and whether it was the protection of good fortune or another cause this curse passed in its own time.

 The vegetation of the Islands of King Solomon is strange and tangled by nature. There are trees with fine spreading fronds like the palms spoken of in the gardens of the Sultans of Persia. Under the fronds of these trees are huge nuts, the size of a man's head, that may fall and strike a person senseless should the tree take offence to him. No man of any wisdom would sleep under these trees for they can attack at any time. Often men would wake to the loud thump in the night of one of these trees casting a nut the size of a chicken at them for reasons known only to the Maker and the tree its self. One man from the Island of King Solomon we spoke with was quite simple and his friends explained he had been stuck by one of these strange nuts as a younger man and had never been quite right since. In the centre of these nuts is a soft flesh unlike anything I have known before and the core rather than being solid sloshes with a strange milk. Occasionally we would knock down one of these nuts, in the same manner as a chestnut, and then flee lest the tree take retribution for our theft. We would then break open the hard shell and indulge in the sweet fluid and meat inside the thick husk.

 There is no wine in the Islands of King Solomon. I am much distressed to report that due to the wet nature of the air and the heat that all attempts to grow vines have apparently failed as mould has overtaken them long before they bear fruit. Even the ale is of a poor nature. We forbade ourselves and our men from drinking it lest they disgrace themselves and their good names while being without their senses. Some complained bitterly but all do confess there is less fighting of a tavern night and more work done of a morning while we follow the way of the clergy and abstain from our normal excess. Our priest also noted this good behaviour and tried converting us to abstinence as a way of life when we returned to our own shores but in truth I have fears for his success. A soldiers life is hard enough while on campaign, there would be no reason to return if it was not for the want of these small pleasures.

 Although the fine liquids of the tavern were not available to us, our Moor like allies had bought with them a root from their homeland called kava. This root was ground down and soaked in water for drinking at feasts and other celebrations. There was much ceremony surrounding the consumption of the kava and to be invited to take of the kava with these ferocious men was a great honour. The root its self is white in colour and when soaked results in a cloudy water of a poor and musty taste. Like a strong ale it dulls the senses and ceases feeling to the extremities but unlike ale or cider it does not fire the temper in any way. Over consumption will leave a strong man on floor, still within his senses but unable to function his limbs or return to his bed. Men who can shift large rocks and other heavy things can do little but slump on their benches and drool as if they were aged invalids if they do not respect the power kava can have over a man. The Moors are familiar with the outcomes of kava and ensure their own safety but at least one night I dragged a helpless pale skinned companion back to his place of rest, unable to walk or even express his thanks.

 In the forest and in the clearings there are insects so large in that place that they would cause fear in brave huntsmen. The ground and trees seethe with a volume of living crawling things of such bizarre natures that one wonders at the creativity of the Maker. There are insects that fly and insects that walk and insects so small they are but mere dots in a man’s vision, and yet they sting as if powerful wasps. Many feared these flying specks because there was a rumour amongst the men that they carry a powerful fever that will strike down even the strongest man. The people of the Islands of King Solomon claimed they lose many young children to the fevers each year for children are not strong enough to resist them in their early years. Those that do make it through the fevers are almost immune for life as a result of their ordeal.

 There are huge powerful beetles many times the size of anything I have seen in my homelands. They are half the size of a mans hand and bear a huge horn in the centre of the heads. There were whispers that the horn was granted to the beetle by the Devil and carried a terrible poison but the priest we had with us declared this the prattling nonsense of washerwomen and picked up the giant beetles and blessed them as one of Gods fair creatures. From that time we trusted the beetles and debated as to whether we could harness enough together to shackle them to our wagons in the manner of oxen. Soon after we discovered they could fly in the manner of a Ladybird. They would spread their hard outer back shells and spread forth-gossamer wings like those of a Dragonfly. They were a most peculiar beast to watch fly for they hovered about in the manner of a Hummingbird despite their large size and cumbersome nature. Much amusement was had when one would accidentally alight on one of my companions in the darkness and the energetic caperings that would follow.

 Strange toads abound in that country and they are not blessed by God. They are not the small fair pond frogs of our own hands but huge ugly creatures covered in warts in the manner of a wizened hag. They are evil and only come forth at night. The toads are poisonous in nature and the dogs that chewed on them sickened and died. Some men who learned some of the local words said the people of the Islands of King Solomon had those amongst them who boiled down the toads and ate of the residue. It was said that those who did this could see both this world and the next at the same time, and that fantastic sights were made visible to them. We considered attempting this feat but were warned there was great risk and that many had died because the potion was a form of poison and not all were strong enough to withstand it.  For fear of imperilling our souls with this black magic and our bodies with this poison we killed the toads wherever we saw them and buried them in deep holes.

 There are not many large beasts on the Islands of King Solomon. I did not see deer nor rabbit in my time there. I did however see my first dragon. Some afternoons I would stand by the gentle lapping of the sea waves and stare out across the salty expanse and wonder of events at my home. One afternoon I was enjoying the cooling caress of the salted breeze when a huge dragon surged from the surf onto the white beach and lay there staring at the world through burning evil eyes. It was almost four yards long and covered in a rough hide of scales. It did not breathe fire and had no wings I could discern but it had a mouthful of teeth that left me in no doubt as to the nature of the beast. Its body was long and broad like that of a giant thick serpent. Its legs were short and stubbed, ending in small, clawed feet. Its hide was thick and a dark green almost swamp brown colour. It's nose and snout was long and allowed a huge mouth that could swallow a small sheep whole.

 I was paralysed with fear at the sight of such evil and did not step forward to slay it as I had read that others in the pages of history had done so. Perhaps I do not have the heart of St George, but then again there was no maiden to save and the beast certainly was not trying to take my soul for I would have fled should it have come for me.  It appeared clumsy on land and only dragged its self a few yards across the shores before returning to the water where it appeared far more comfortable. I feared being mocked when I returned to my companions with a tale of a dragon but I found they were quite familiar with the beast and several others had seen it both that morning and the day before. The general consensus was if it was a spawn of Satan sent to destroy us it had lost the heart for its' task. We decided to watch it and capture it if we could for it would make a fine trophy to return home with.

 Eventually we tired of having to watch for the beast when we were by the waters edge and determined to kill it and make tokens from its hide. We spoke of our intent to the local people thinking they would be glad to be rid of this lumbering menace. Quite to the contrary they were outraged and forbid us to harm their sacred animal. It appears that despite listening to the Lords word each Sunday on their churches they were still of the firm belief that the souls of their ancestors were resident in the beast and we could not disturb them. We did not wish to offend and although our priest was much taken aback at their heathen superstitions we let the dragon be. We resigned ourselves to taking care on the sandy shore lest more than local ancestors end up inside the dragon.

 Watching these people of the Islands of King Solomon they spoke a strange tongue that includes noises like those of beasts of the forest and they greet each other with great exuberance. They were filled with joy at our presence for they had grown tired of the lawlessness of the past and sought peace for their twilight years and for their children. Although we saw many smiling faces there were those who felt no love towards us. There were many young men who had taken up arms in these hard times and had benefited through their strength of arms against the rule of law. To them we represented the end of their freedom to do as they wished and for this they plotted against us.

 Commanders at all levels forbade us to take local wives. This was for several reasons not the least being we did not want to make enemies of their brothers, fathers and other suitors. There were no camp followers allowed and although we spoke politely none were permitted insinuations of anything further. Brothels and prostitutes were also forbidden; as such behaviour was believed to bring us into disrepute. We were also unsure as to if the local women of the night may be spies in this place, able to draw secrets from foolish men while their heads were cradled to their deceitful breasts. Any man found to be having relations with women was immediately disgraced and returned to his home before he could bring further shame upon our task.

 To return law and order we decided the first thing we had to do was disarm the groups of brigands who roamed from the hills and wild places of the Island of King Solomon to the streets of the capital. Unfortunately the brigands looked very much as the rest of the people and many of the common men had armed themselves against the robbers and in turn had been tempted to use their arms for their own profit. As such we came to the conclusion we would have to disarm everyone alike to ensure the peace of God for all. As foreigners they trusted us to have no stake in their petty clan feuds and gave their arms over to us in trust for they had grown tired of the constant fighting.

 For many days we travelled the land from end to end and to all the outlying islands collecting such a volume and variety of weapons that the very walls of Jerusalem would have trembled had they been borne against them. We then struggled with what to do with this mass of arms we had accumulated, for it was a larger load than we could bear, and we could not leave them where they were lest they be returned to those wrong-doers we had wrested them from. It was then that we were inspired by the heavens and followed the word of the Lord and beat them into plough shears as he had dictated in the Scriptures. Once we had ensured the weapons we had collected from one place had been made harmless forever more we would move onto the next place. Many hundreds of objects or war we destroyed in this manner.

 Not long after we arrived we commenced hunting a man named Harold. He was a bandit king and almost warlord on the south side of the island we occupied. Of his knavery there was no doubt, witnesses had sworn under oath that he had murdered priests and men of the cloth in the manner of Thomas Abecket. For this and many other crimes against the people of the Island of King Solomon we sent forward messengers calling for his surrender. We wished for him to come to us in humble form because he was the most powerful of the bandit kings and if we humbled him we hoped all others would bow to our will.

 Harold however was not completely sane. Although he knew we had many more men than he and were far better armed and that his crimes were forgivable only in the eyes of God and not in those of man, he attempted to negotiate. He would delay and tarry for days attempting to tire us or bait us into chasing him into territory he controlled where he may be able to kill our men and reduce our will. We in turn chose to show strength through patience. Fruitless meetings we attended in their scores to tell his representatives time and again that there would be no compromise and that Harold would kneel before the mercy of the law or he would be hunted down in the manner of a mad dog.

 We feared Harold would choose self-exile and flee to a nearby realm until we had left and then return to continue his mischief upon the people. He had fast ships and enough well armed supporters that he may achieve this without difficulty. It was Harlod's greed and pride that held him to the Islands of King Solomon, here he was powerful and a man of influence, whereas in exile he was nought but a homeless vagabond.

 All men feared Harold and many refused to surrender their arms for fear that Harold would take retribution on them for past ills, if he knew they were unarmed. In turn Harold knew his sworn enemies surrounded him on all sides and if he gave himself up we could betray him and give him to those who thirsted for his blood. Through endless negotiations and gestures we slowly gained the trust of the bandit leaders and took their arms from them while granting them our justice and our protection.

 The situation became more delicate when it was revealed Harold may have proof of dishonour on the part of the ruler of the country and Harold's words may result in the fall of many of the lords in power. To prevent this the very ruler who had sought for us to help his people tried to persuade us to give over Harold to his possession if we captured him. Our commanders had given their word to Harold that he would receive a fair trial and there was long debate as to whether the ruler of the Islands of King Solomon would grant him that or silence his accusations. In the end we declared that if Harold surrendered to us he would be our prisoner and we would keep him and ensure his safety and fair trial.

 Before the end of our third week on campaign, on the Feast of St Laurence, the commanders of our army went forward to meet with Harold again. This time he was waiting with five of his lieutenants and his wife and children to surrender himself and his companions into the safe custody of our army. The commanders took them onto our boats and bought them back to camp where we kept them, and there was great rejoicing for this was our first true success. At this time some wondered if we may return to our homes now because the greatest of the bandits had fallen to us.

  Harold was as we expected, a knave and a thief, but he was foremost a rebel against the ruler who he perceived as the corrupt usurper ruling his country without right, and wanted to speak on these matters with freedom in a court of his peers. One of Harold's lieutenants named Robert was shown as the true murderer amongst them. At first we thought he was a small man trying to make himself seem large by boasting of things that Harold had done but in interviews we found he had murdered eleven priests, and like a fool boasted of these things to us.

 While Harold was a robber, and probably worse, we were still unsure of him. Of Robert we had no doubt and he was clapped in irons and dragged to smallest cell we could find. We were now faced with the problem of Harold's followers and their families, some of whom we considered innocent in these affairs. Many persons on the Islands of King Solomon had suffered at the hands of Harold and his bandits and sought bloody revenge and we feared they would take up their feud against the women and children of Harold's supporters, as they were disarmed and their leader was in our control.

 On the first night after Harold's surrender it was as we had feared, years of pent up rage at the offences meted out by the bandits seethed in the hearts and minds of Harold's neighbours. In their rage dishonourable acts of revenge were undertaken. Villages and houses were burned and many of Harold's followers and their families fled into the forest. In the morning we travelled to the place that Harold did control and offered our protection to his people so that the peace we offered to all in the Islands of King Solomon may also spread over that place. They accepted our peace and his neighbours saw that we were just in our ways and did return to their own villages. So it came we were in the strange position of guarding the followers of our enemy against those we came to save for the good of all. Deep inside we understood this matter would not be ended by us for some of the feuds between Harold's people and his neighbours had commenced before the birth of their father’s father’s and were matters of honour that were only delayed, and not resolved.

 Over time the area that was previously controlled by Harold became peaceful. Villagers that had been driven off by Harold years before sought to return to their homes. There was much fear on both sides. The villagers returning feared they would be driven off again or killed. The people who had supported Harold feared the villagers would return and extract terrible revenge on them for their exile. Much negotiation and visiting had to be undertaken before either side clearly stated their intentions and committed to peace. Even after many meetings there was suspicion between the two and they remained difficult to reconcile.

 Over time all of the people of the Islands of King Solomon's threw their arms down at our feet. Weapons so ancient and rusted we could hardly determine their natures were solemnly handed to us with great ceremony by village elders bent almost double by the weight of years resting upon them. Words of peace would be mumbled and the arms destroyed before we moved onto the next village. None resisted our task and amongst the common people there was much singing and celebrating of their new freedom from fear.

 Still there remained rouges at large. They understood that our army had come to restore peace and good order and to do that we needed to re-establish justice for past wrongs and many of them faced a life in chains. As such they fled from us and hid in the mountainous and deeply forested places we found hard to control. Many were hidden by their families for blood is stronger than fealty in this place. This being so we were forced to hunt them like the beasts they were. If they heard of our coming they would flee as the hart from the noisy hunter.

 To capture the most cunning of these outlaws we raided in the manner of Norsemen. In the early morning light our fastest boats would slide ashore and disgorge men onto the beaches and swiftly surround a village harbouring a fugitive. The village would be given the opportunity to surrender their outlaw, and if they chose not to give over the guilty our men would slowly search every hut and loft until the fugitive was captured or we were satisfied he was gone. There was no burning or destroying, just a firm determination to drag every criminal to justice regardless of his nobility, religion or family.

 Soon all of the Islands of King Solomon's heard of the manner of our raiding and that the innocent had no fear of us. As we did not steal when we searched the people suffered the inconvenience of opening their homes to us in order to prove their innocence to their neighbours. The guilty would wail and pull their hair for they knew there was no escape for their fugitive brothers or fathers once we had surrounded their villages and hamlets. They knew too that we would not have come if there was not enough evidence to drag a villain away in chains and they bemoaned the captivity of their loved ones, despite knowing of their quilt.

 After the surrender of Harold and Robert we sought out Harold's half brother Moses. He was accused of murdering a retired deputy Constable in a drunken rage.  Many voices spoke against both Moses and his associate James. We sought them both but they were wily and desperate men who feared justice. We sent our allies from one of the neighbours of the Islands of King Solomon to hunt James in the shire where he lived. We did not realise that James had many wives in the manner of this place where bigamy is still accepted despite the best work of missionaries. James's second most prominent wife was a countrywoman of our allies' lands and our allies greeted her as a lost sister. When the people of that place saw our allies kiss the cheeks of the wife of a villain they would not trust them any more. Regardless of our words and promises they would not believe that our allies were not the friends of the criminal James after they saw them treat his wife with such honour. Soon we had to bring our allies back and replace them with men of my own land because none of the common people of James' shire would speak with our allies or help them in their search for James.

 Over time James realised he was so feared amongst the people of the Islands of King Solomon that no one would speak against him, so he returned to the capital and no longer hid. As none would accuse him of any crime we treated him according to the law and left him in peace. At the same time it was widely known James was an accomplice to murder and acts of arson so we collected information we hoped in the future to use against him. When we did not act against him immediately James became bold and attempted to intimidate the Sheriffs men he knew were investigating him. For his misbehaviour he was dragged in on his knees and spoken to sternly, which swiftly took the bluster from his overly loud mouth. He skulked around the capital and bothered us no further and the people of the Islands of King Solomon saw his boldness was gone. If James had been a cunning man he could have used this time to flee to a remote place far from our reach. Unfortunately for James he was strong only in body but not in spirit and he would not leave the comforts he had accumulated in the capital. As a result he stayed under our noses while we slowly pieced together a case under law from which there would be no escape.

 Long Moses did evade us in the heavily wooded high places of the outer islands and by the Feast of St Edith we still had not captured them. He was both equally cunning and moved continuously. Soon we gave up pursuing him directly. We took to walking his home places. In each village we would hold games and feasting. We would sit and talk long into the night with the people so they would come to know us. As we often did not speak the language we communicated with gestures and laughter. In all places we visited our physicians treated the sick, our engineers repaired bridges and our strongest men shifted rocks and obstacles to help the people. As we did not steal from them and did not act in the manner of lords who would not sit at their common table they spoke freely with us. In this manner we slowly reduced the areas Moses could hide in, for we became everywhere and James could only hide and his power over the people of the land faded. Slowly information on his whereabouts became available to us from members of the community. 

 Even as we sought to bring peace to this exotic place the machinations of powerful men sought to foil our way. Those amongst the corrupt lords of the Island of King Solomon who sought greater power in their realm approached the commanders of our army and offered them gold and jewels if they would stray from their true path and support them with our arms in their quest for power. As it became obvious that none in the Islands of King Solomon could resist our numbers they became more desperate in their pleas for our support for in us they saw an unobstructed road to power. Their words however were in vain because our commanders had no interest in their false offers and promises. Our mission was humble and for the good of the people and could not be turned aside by the forked tongues of wicked men. The lords of the Islands of King Solomon returned to squabbling amongst themselves and neither helped nor hindered us in our task again.

 We had brought with us engineers and artificers of assorted natures to build fortifications and other constructions for the defence of our group. When they had finished our outer walls and machinchons around the encampment they commenced to play boule's and other sports known to both labouring men and nobles alike. When the heat of the day had passed they would sometimes sit and make chairs and tables from scraps of wood and iron they found in the ruins we encamped in. Some were of such clever construction we considered returning them to our homes with us when we departed. At that time however they were but a small memory of our own fine halls and brought us up from out of the dirt that we had become so familiar with while sitting on the ground over the duration of the campaign.

 In the capital city of the Islands of King Solomon there were people of my lands who had migrated to this place in years past. I had not known of them until Garth of the clan McClay mentioned he had seen them when he was out buying trinkets. I asked him why they did not come down to our camp and break bread with us as men of the same lands should when they meet in far off places. He thought they may be smugglers or merchants of a dubious nature. Some, he said, must be criminals who had fled our realm to escape punishment for they studiously avoided the constables travelling with us and none invited us to their homes. We thought no more on them for they had become more part of the Islands of King Solomon than the land of their birth.

 There were many secrets kept by our army. Our plans we kept close to our hearts and covered from our enemies so they would not know our movements and be laying in wait for us. Maps and notes of things said when planning amongst the commanders were closely guarded by trusted men, so that spies would not take them to those who would do us harm. One night a foolish man left many leaves of vellum with many important plans and orders from our king as to how we were to conduct ourselves outside the area that was well guarded. In the morning there was much concern of who may have seen our plans when they were not in the hands of trusted men and doubt was cast upon our future actions. We relived the actions of the night before and all agreed that even without the trusted guards there was no chance our enemies had seen our thoughts that had been scribed. There was much relief but deep inside we knew we had risked ourselves foolishly and we were humbled by that thought.  

 After many weeks my close friend Garth was recalled to his home. He was glad to leave for he could return to his wife and small children, who I knew he missed dearly. I was happy for him for he would be removed from danger and be reunited with his kin, but I keenly felt his absence. After so many years apart it had been good to work shoulder to shoulder again and there was indeed a void left when he sailed for fairer ports.

 While pursuing the villains that abounded in the Islands of King Solomon we stumbled on a Norman who was dwelling on one of the islands. There were many travellers in this exotic place and although he was far from home he was of no concern of ours. It was then claimed by the local people that he was having un-natural relationships with young boys in the area. We set forth to capture him immediately and found much evidence that proved him a sodomite who preyed on the young. Much was our fury when we took him and there was talk of executing him immediately. Although our desire was to wipe clean this filth from the face of God’s creation from we considered it a poor example to the people of the Islands of King Solomon if we acted without the law. We dagged him roughly to the capital and threw him in the prison with the others. When the sheriffs and constables of nearby countries heard of our success great was their joy for they had heard of this Norman who moved between troubled and poor places preying on orphans and poor children. 

 Weeks became months and slowly we became accustomed to living in a strange place. The heat no longer tormented us so and our eyes became so accustomed to squinting in the glaring sunlight that we though nothing of it. The canvas roofs of our pavilions became as much home as the beams of our halls had been but still we pined for fine things we had left behind. Rumours abounded as to when we would be released from our task. Unlike the passing of the seasons, the brining of peace did not inevitably occur as we expected, and we struggled to decide when our duties could be considered complete. Many speculated we would dining at our own tables no later than All Saints Day but I considered their guesses to be optimistic at best, for the issues of peace are resolved in their own time and do not bend to whims of men.

 After two full moons of our pursuit Moses surrendered himself to us without a fight. He had been harried to exhaustion by our relentless pursuit over the weeks and surrendered rather than continue his flight through the heavily wooded areas of the outer islands. His beard was long and his hair unkempt, while his eyes were those of a beaten dog. Moses confessed to many crimes and attempted to absolve himself of his wrong-doing through blaming others and inferring they had been responsible. Although his words led us to arrest many others it did him little good and he joined the growing number of thieves and murderers in the darkness of the capital jail.

 I felt our duty may be coming to an end as we had chained the worst of the dogs and had harried the remainder to the point where they could think of little but running. It was at this time that my travelling companion Michael of Coad was also recalled to his home. This was indeed a great blow for we had set out together and had hoped to return together but his orders were clear and he packed swiftly for his return. I felt he was of two hearts, he as had Garth, wished to return to his kin and small child, but still felt the loss of a task not complete. I jested with him as he lest and assured him the sight of his wife at the dockside put all his troubled thoughts aside. As the last remaining members of the bold company that set out mons ago, Michelle of the clan McGuinness and I placed bets between us as to who would be the last to be relieved of our duties and see our homes once more.

 After we spent months of living amongst the people of the Islands of King Solomon the people grew bold enough to speak their hearts to us on the wrong-doings of James, half brother of Moses. Like the beginnings of a landslide, small piece at a time enough information was assembled and finally the day came. The day before the Feast of Etheldreda James returned to his house in the capital from his family’s home village on another island. When his wife came to greet him at the dock both James and his wife were locked in irons. James was charged as a murderer and his wife for drawing his sword for him. Many who spoke accused her of being a wicked woman who assisted her husband in is ill deeds. Much was the relief when James was dragged away for not even we, who had been collecting evidence of his guilt, realised the extent of James' influence and the number of persons he was causing fear. News of his capture ran like fire through the country and many of his friends and family threatened retribution but they were spoken to firmly and soon bowed before the authority of justice. James had been a leader of many youths who were without land or trades and some other troublesome individuals. Once his strength was broken they dispersed back to their homes and caused us no further troubles.

 Finally after many months our task was considered complete and we were released of our duties to return to our homes. As I packed my meagre belongings I wondered at what I had done here. I had armed my self a sallied forth from my shores with my finest men at my back. I had never stepped back in the face of my enemies and all that had been asked of me had been done. Peace was returned and the doers of evil were in chains. Yet there had been no great battles, not one man had died at our hands. I had given of myself time otherwise spent in peace, in the comforting arms of a fair maiden or at the table with fine wine so that peace may come to a far-off place that I expected I would never see again.

 I wondered at this for I had won no glory and all that could be said for my efforts is that every man that followed me across those shores returned to the peace and love of their home before I did. I had lost not one of my men and in turn had not taken the life of another. Of danger there had been some and discomfort there had been much but in all there was little to sing of in the tavern on my return. My tales would be small and mostly of my foolish gapes and not of my brave deeds. As I reshouldered my arms and began my long journey home I pondered on what I had done and the change I had helped bring to this place, and my mind was wrought with questions unanswerable.

 Upon a time I had worried that my name would not be sung in the great sagas of history as being bathed in the blood of my enemies, but I considered it a small cost when compared to the prize of returning whole of limb, in the company of the good men I left with to the home I treasured. To have a life remembered in bold tales is good, to live to write the last chapter of the book of those tales may be better.

 After the passing of days in travel I arrived back upon familiar shores. I had seen Michelle folded once more in the arms of her husband and was glad for her before I set my path to my own gate. Light shone from my door and there was the sound of voices from within. I stepped back into my own hall and was glad for my table was well stocked, the hearth was well swept and all was as it should have been. Viola of Bangor was much surprised at my return for I had chosen not to make an issue of the matter and was not expected. After she embraced me gladly as a friend and fed me well, I bathed and hung my arms and clothing of war back to its rightful place. I sat at my own table under my own roof and gave thanks for my good fortune.

 So it comes that my quill grows blunt. For others who would choose to follow my footsteps and travel to the Islands of King Solomon I give you warning to not be bewitched from your senses by its beauty. Corruption and strife dwell in that place as much as they do in any other. There are wondrous sights to see, and beauty such that it seems conjured by magic, but as with all foreign places it is not to be treated without caution. Our efforts bought peace but whether it is a lasting peace only the passing of time will tell. I sit now at my desk and think of these travels through the fog of memory and hope the tale of my journey may entertain and amuse in some small way.