Michael Jecks - The Templar, the Queen and Her Lover

He cuddled her closer, but even as he did so he grew aware of a stiffness about her body. ‘What?’

‘The man in the ditch — that wasn’t you, was it? You didn’t kill him because of what he did to me?’ She stood upright, hereyes fixed on him with an immeasurable concentration. He had killed before, as she knew.

‘You think I did that?’

‘Did you?’

‘No. It was not me,’ he said.

‘Good,’ she said, and appeared to melt into his embrace again.

‘Perhaps it’d be best if they stayed behind?’ he wondered.

‘Why, love, are you jealous because they can wind an instrument? Would you prefer that to me? Because you have me , don’t you?’

He grunted and placed his hands on her backside, pulling her nearer. ‘In that case, they can do what they like,’ he said.‘I’m content!’

New Palace Yard, Thorney Island

It was some little while later that Ricard and the others separated for the afternoon. They each had different tasks to undertakebefore they left in the morning. For his part, Ricard wanted to make sure that he had provisions — smoked sausages for thejourney, some dried meats, and plenty of gut for his strings. A musician never knew where he’d be able to pick up the nextsupply. And now he had an extra mouth to think of, he thought to himself, glancing down at the boy.

‘You the musician?’ a man asked.

Turning to him, Ricard found himself confronted by yet another messenger in the King’s livery. ‘Yes? What now?’

‘You are to come with me.’

Sweet Mother of Christ, these flunkies always think that their business is so bloody vital, Ricard said to himself as he tookthe boy’s hand and followed the man round the side of the great hall and in through a small door. He was taken through anotherhall, through a little door and up some stairs until he had no idea where he was inside the palace complex. The place mighthave been designed to confuse a body, he thought. ‘Where are we going?’

‘Here.’

A door was opened, and he found himself thrust inside.

‘Sir William?’ he said with some surprise.

William de Bouden was seated at a broad table, his fingers steepled before him. ‘Ah, Ricard de Bromley. And you …’ headded, looking pointedly at Charlie. ‘Well, good day to you. Are you prepared for your departure tomorrow?’

‘Well, there are one or two matters. Mostly ready, yes.’

‘I have heard you were speaking to a servant. A drummer.’

‘The Irishman? Yes, we made some music with him.’

‘He is very good, I understand.’

‘Good enough,’ Ricard agreed, thinking of the rapid drumming of the bodhran. But then he frowned. What was this about? Whywould de Bouden wish to speak about the Irishman when he had so many other matters to concern him, not least the safety ofthe Queen?

He was answered immediately. ‘The Queen liked the look of the man. She knows he is respected as a drummer, and would enjoylistening to him during the journey. If you have space, you could bring him with you. Do you have too many men already?’

‘Well, no, I suppose …’

‘That is settled then. The whims of a queen are not to be lightly disregarded, man. You may go now.’

And Ricard found himself outside the door. With a perplexed, ‘Well, ballocks to that!’ he shook his head, wondering why deBouden wanted the man with them. He certainly did not believe the story about the Queen asking for him. There must be anotherreason.

And then he remembered — he hadn’t the faintest idea how to get back outside from here.

Feast of Piranus 10

Louvre, Paris

The King of France sat back on his throne as the cardinal entered, his robes hissing as the fur trimming swept over the floor.He stopped near the King, bowing but holding the King’s eye as he did so.

There was an arrogance in these men of God that no other would dare display before him, King Charles thought to himself, keepinghis features devoid of all emotion. It took an effort sometimes, in God’s name.

This one, Thomas d’Anjou, was one of the worst. Others would at least make some civil display as a matter of courtesy, butthis one was full of piss and wind. He had few of the attributes of a diplomat, and believed that anything he said would automaticallybe taken as the word of God. Arrogant fool! Well, kings could be arrogant too. And Charles was not of a mind to give up hisown position in the world just for a man in holy orders who wanted to pretend to have authority over him.

The cardinal looked about him at the knights and dukes surrounding the King, and King Charles gave a shrug of agreement, wavingthe men aside.

‘Your highness, I bring word from your Holy Father in Christ. The Pope has asked me to communicate his thoughts to you.’

Controlling his impatience, King Charles nodded. ‘Speak.’

‘He believes that the present state of affairs between your kingdom and that of the King of England is a canker that affectsthe whole of Christianity.’

‘Then he should aid me in my desire to see the king of the English become more reasonable.’

‘The Holy Father would like to see the English and French burying past disputes and coming to an agreement.’

‘I agree.’ King Charles wondered where this could be leading.

‘The Pope will be happy. There is an urgent need for a fresh crusade to wrest the Holy Land from the heathens who have overrunit. We must unite in our love of God to smite them and recover Christ’s birthplace.’

A crusade! That would be a marvellous undertaking. To lead his armies across the seas to Palestine was the height of a king’saspiration. ‘I would be delighted to join such an undertaking.’

‘It would permit both you and the English to join together in love of God to do His will. But first there must be peace betweenyour nations.’

‘There will be peace — as soon as my brother-in-law agrees to come and pay homage for the lands he holds from me. He mustcome here and kneel before me and swear his allegiance.’

‘Perhaps he will. But you should also make allowance for the fact that he is a king in his own right. He deserves respect.Especially if he makes the effort to come here and make his peace with you.’

‘For his realm, I have no ambition. For the lands of mine which I allow him to administer and rule, I expect him to show methe same respect as any knight, any marquis, any duke. Just as he expects of his barons and earls. We are of a similar mind.’

‘Perhaps another embassy would aid the negotiations?’

The King pursed his lips. ‘And who would you have me send? Or do you suppose to tell me whom the English should send to me?’

‘I am sure that you will have heard that the Pope has requested the English to send your sister to you. That way, you wouldhave a friend with whom to discuss this affair.’

‘It is entirely up to the English king whom he decides to send to me.’

‘I know that, naturally. But, if he were to send the Queen, would you be comfortable to negotiate with her?’

‘I have already indicated to the English king that I would.’

‘In that case, I am pleased. Perhaps we can hope to see a successful resolution of this matter before long. And then we mayhope to begin to plan for a crusade.’

King Charles nodded and the audience was over. The cardinal bowed again, this time walking backwards all the way to the doorout of the hall, showing considerably more respect than he had on the way in.

In the past King Charles’s father, King Philip the Fair, had been able to rely on several well-trusted advisers, but one inparticular, William de Nogaret, had been especially dependable. There were few of his stature now, sadly, since his death.It was William to whom Philip had turned when he needed a pretext to expel the Jews and take over their wealth; it was thesame William who had written up the accusations against the Knights Templar which had seen them persecuted, tortured, killed,and their wealth confiscated to the benefit of the Crown.