"BLACK SWORD." [Preview available]

Episode summary:

"Spain in the year of our Lord 1102: the much revered and celebrated Spanish warrior 'El Cid' has been dead for three years, but another warrior has arisen amongst the ranks of the Spanish Knights and known simply as 'Espada Negro' or BLACK SWORD. Shunned by the aristocracy because of his mixed blood, this young Knight was exiled from his homeland on false charges and roamed early Medieval Europe and Africa, selling his sword to the highest bidder. Jericho Tibbs must investigate when stories and legends about such a man start to appear in Scotland.....in 1740!"

 Episode may contain the following warnings:                                                          

Alcohol - smoking - strong foul language [including historical language and opinions that are certainly not woke!] - sexual references [including sexual violence and BDSM] - Violence [including torture, combat, domestic and sexual] - references to prostitution, human trafficking, classic slavery and treating women as chattels - Supernatural & paranormal experiences - Horror - Terror induced fear and threats of violence. Reading about historical and past events which have NOT BEEN SANITISED in any way! Oh, and some episodes contain Nazi's; new and old.

 Average reading time: 60 Minutes.

   

 Episode can be found in BOOK SERIES 4.

Gregorian Calendar: MC1I
Muslim Calendar: 0495 - 0496 [AH]
Hebrew Calendar: 4862 - 4863
Christian Calendar: 1102AD

"BLACK SWORD. " The original drawing for this episode was created by the author, as was this episode, which was also conceived and written by him. Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without permission.

Author’s notes about this episode:

[1] This episode is about a regular character that appears in ‘The Temporal Detectives’ series.

[2] The original Title for this episode was: ‘THE MYSTERIOUS MISTER McIVES.’

[3] A ‘Jericho Tibbs’ original story.

[4] This episode is linked several other episodes, including:

A. “Cordless, Cordless & Fraser (Solicitors)”

B. “The Woodley Hill Chapel mystery.”

C. “The Dunmore Witch trials.” and some others!

[5] There is NO Alexandra adult extended version available.

Episode details:

Concept date: 23rd June 2019

First published: 4th May 2020

Status: COMPLETED & PUBLISHED.

Revisions: 3 [last revised February 2021]

Version: Final.

Published Episode No. 39

Previous episode: NONE.

Next episode: NONE.

Angel-in-charge: Margret 

Team Assigned: Team 74

Mission: 4 - 392650 - 6 – 1102

"BLACK SWORD."

1. THE EXILE OF SIR RODRIGO DE GARCIA; BURGOS - 1102AD.

The big man said nothing. He stared into the fireplace and simply nodded. The three other Knights stood about the rough wooden table and Sir Hector placed a hand upon the his comrades shoulder and sighed; "The King has been listening to vipers, but you have many jealous enemies at Court Rodrigo. Perhaps, it’s for the best. If you’re abroad, then what accusations can they make against you? At least, this way, your young brother can inherit cleanly." 

The other two knights mumbled their agreement with that. Rodrigo rose slowly and picked up his sword from the table. He eased it slowly into the scabbard that hung at his waist. He rubbed his chin; "The King has been merciful; he can have me swinging from his castle walls. I don't think he believes a word that has been said against me. But with the Cardinal and two dukes standing against me; what choice did he have, yet another civil war? No, he needs them against the Moors. They are the real danger here."

He gripped his friend by the shoulders and smiled; "I leave now for more friendly lands; I hope!" The two embraced like brothers. They had fought four wars together in the name of the King, who now banished his best Knight from the kingdom, to preserve a fragile peace between two dukes and the church.

Rodrigo De Garcia was of mixed blood; his mother had been the daughter of a Moor Prince, his father a King's Knight. But the church authorities - and much of the aristocracy - could not stomach a knight of such mixed blood, especially Moor blood; despite Rodrigo being the best man with a sword. His precious grandfather’s sword. 

 The strange black blade had become his, upon the death of his beloved father. Rodrigo had already added blood to its blade in many battles. Few would go against him; with that cursed black sword gripped in his hands. His enemies whispered - always behind his back - that Satan himself had blessed the damn thing. That his grandfather had sold his soul to the Dark Prince in return for the blade; which clearly had been forged in the fires of Hell itself! It was said that any man killed by the sword had his soul taken by Satan. That was part of the pact that Rodrigo's grandfather had made with the evil one; so it was whispered and gossiped. Little wonder that the church sided with the two dukes, who had designs on the De Garcia lands and castle.

The King had publicly ordered the arrest of Sir Rodrigo De Garcia on charges of which craft and devilry. The 'evidence' conveniently supplied by the two dukes and bishops of the church. But privately, had sent three knights to Rodrigo with a warning to flee from the kingdom; he owed the knight that; for his loyalty and the victories that he had provided the king.

That evening, the three knights watched from the battlements of the De Garcia castle, as Sir Rodrigo left by the North Road, with just his horse - Diego - and a pack mule. His younger brother - the boy Santiago - had pleaded to go with him. But Rodrigo had mealy kissed him and handed the boy, their father's precious ring.  Sir Hector watched him depart with great sadness; the Moor's were - again - gathering on the borders and bloody war would be upon them yet again. The Kingdom desperately needed men like Rodrigo and Sir Hector cursed the King's weakness and the greed of the two great dukes.

 Sir Diego gripped his friends shoulder and said quietly; "What will happen to him? Where will he go?" Sir Hector shook his head and whispered; "Wherever our brother goes, death will follow him like a shadow. That cursed sword will see to that." The knights returned to the grand reception room and without any real appetite, ate some dinner, before setting out for Madrid. The King was assembling the army. The Moor's were on the march.

 Rodrigo travelled for several days, camping at night; well away from any village or town. He had selected the edge of a dark forest for this night’s encampment and secured his horse and mule. He was just making up his fire, when he heard the shouts. He pulled his sword and headed towards the noise. In a small clearing, he saw three men and a goat. The old man was sprawled in the dirt; he looked almost ancient with a long grey beard and dark robes. Just for a minute, Rodrigo thought he might be a priest. The two much younger men had axes and daggers. They were clearly robbing the old man.

 He stepped from the trees and said loudly; "I am Sir Rodrigo De Garcia. Let the old man up." The two turned and grinned, the bigger one ran a hand across his dirty face; "My arse is King Phillip! Fuck off stranger before my axe makes your whore wife a widow!" Rodrigo just smiled and sighed a little. The two, would be robbers, were dead; less than a minute later and Rodrigo helped the old man up.

 The old man thanked him quietly, brushing dirt from his beard and robes. He gestured for the goat to follow them and it did!

They walked back to Rodrigo's camp and the old man accepted the wine goatskin with some gratitude. The strange pair sat around the fire and the old man introduced himself; he was simply 'Hernando the healer'.  He ate some of Rodrigo's freshly killed rabbit and made himself comfortable against the remains of a fallen tree. He eyed the knight with a little smile. "Your fame precedes you my friend. As does the Kings warrant for your arrest; total codswallop. If a man like you follows the devil, then Jesus was born from a Bull!" The old man chuckled at his own words. 

 Rodrigo ate a little rabbit with his fingers and said quietly; "What brings you to the dark woods, especially at night Hernando?" The old man grinned and waved his thin, almost transparent arms about; "But this is my home. Those two fools were trespassing in my woods. I told them to leave, but they didn't listen. So, sadly they had to die." He wiped his greasy fingers with the hem of his robes and scratched his beard. Rodrigo smiled; "So you told them to leave. A pair of desperate robbers well armed and you had nothing but a goat for protection. I do see that!" He chuckled. But Hernando lifted a hand; "But I had you my friend, so I was in no danger. You were always welcome in my home."

 The old man leaned back against the upturned tree stump and smiled. He ran a hand across his face and stared up at the stars and half moon. There was silence between the two for a minute or so. Then Hernando the Healer sat upright and fumbled amongst his robes. He pulled a necklace from them and held it up in the moonlight. Rodrigo stared hard at it; a circle and a snake, probably cast in gold and silver. The old man held it out and said softly; "Just a little thank you my friend. Take it. It will show you many roads and many strange places, where men like you can feel at home; for a while." 

 Something inside Rodrigo told him who refuse the gift. But he slowly took it from Hernando and held it up in the moonlight. It was truly beautiful. A woman would be most pleased and grateful to receive such a necklace. He turned back to Hernando; "How can it show me so many paths to take, when I don't even know them for myself?" He chuckled.

 The old man smiled; "That comes from Egypt. It is many thousands of years old and belonged to a sect of priests that worshipped by the Nile. It's a symbol of their brotherhood, which has always existed and will always exist; as long as men walk the earth. But, you already have the means to travel wherever you wish, and more importantly, when you wish." He gestured to the black sword that lay close to Rodrigo's hand. 

 "Your grandfather was given that sword by a grateful fellow, whose life he saved. That sword is very old my friend. It will never break, never fail its master. It carries a secret. A very old secret; with the necklace, it will give its holder, the power to travel wherever he wishes and to whenever he wishes. Use it wisely my friend. But remember; you can only stay for a short time. You must never settle and grow content with one place or one woman. That will destroy you. For you will no longer age; as you are, so you will remain, despite the passing of years for other humans. But remember this also; should you wish to die; then you must return here, to this year of our Lord, eleven hundred and two. Otherwise, your precious immortal soul will be lost in darkness forever." The old man rose from the log and gestured to the goat.

 "Remember good Sir Rodrigo; when the time comes; return here." The old man patted his goat and thanked Rodrigo for his assistance, food and company. Rodrigo stood and stared down at his sword and recalled the tales, he's father and grandfather had told about the sword. No matter how they ill-used it; the sword had, indeed, never broken or even chipped. He looked up and said; "How do you know these things, Hernando the Healer...." But the old man and his goat were gone. Rodrigo grabbed up his sword and searched about. There was no trace of the old man. He had vanished.

 Rodrigo sat by his feeble fire and held the necklace in one hand and his sword in the other. He had a strange feeling inside him and he said softly; "Take me somewhere that I can be of use; a good knight's use, against oppressors of the people." Sir Rodrigo De Garcia was gone. The campfire no longer existed. His horse and mule had vanished too, gone with their master. The two bodies of the robbers had also disappeared; it was like that no time had passed since Rodrigo had encountered Hernando the Healer and his goat of course.

"BLACK SWORD" CONTINUES IN 'TEMPORAL DETECTIVES' BOOK SERIES 4 [EPISODE 4.]

End of Preview.

VIEW ADULT EXTENDED "ADVENTURES OF ALEXANDRA" WEBSITE VERSION [IF AVAILABLE.] 

PLEASE NOTE: All 'ALEXANDRA' SERIES VERSIONS ARE AGE RATED at 18+

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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:

“All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.” 

CAUTION:

“SOME OF THESE EPISODES CONTAIN VERY STRONG LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE, HORROR AND SEXUAL REFERENCES. Some are RECOMMENDED suitable for persons aged 15+ years only.”

THE AUTHOR.

 Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without permission.