Gone were the feelings of pain, guilt, and sorrow, and in their place arose a singular, intense focus that drove Rodrigo as he moved through the darkness toward the al-Aqsa Mosque. When he neared the entrance, the door suddenly opened, and he quickly moved into the shadows behind the pillars. Several of Peter the Hermit’s men came out and began arguing among themselves outside the entrance as Rodrigo listened.
“He told us to stay here after we finished. We need to follow his orders!” one of the men said.
“Who knows how long they will be down there?” another argued. “They might be down there all night, hoarding the best plunder for themselves! Stay if you want. I am not going to wait around for them!” He turned and walked away into the darkness, heading toward the Dome of the Rock. The re
