Kate Mosse - Labyrinth

There was a small alcove behind the curtains that separated the Great Hall from the entrance to Viscount Trencavel’s private quarters. Alais had not tried to get inside the space since she was a girl and would creep down to eavesdrop on her father as he worked. She wasn’t sure if she’d even be able to slip into the narrow gap.

Alais climbed up on the stone bench and reached for the lowest window of the Tour Pinte that gave on to the Cour du Midi. She hauled herself up, wriggled over the stone ledge and threaded herself in through the narrow gap.

She was in luck. The room was empty. Alais jumped down to the ground, taking care to make as little noise as possible, then slowly opened the door and slipped into the space behind the curtain. She shuffled along until she was as close to the gap as she dared be. She was so close to where Viscount Trencavel stood, his hands clasped behind his back, that she could have reached out and touched him.

She was only just in time. At the far end of the Great Hall, the doors were thrown open. She saw her father stride in, followed by the King of Aragon and several of Carcassonne’s allies, including the seigneurs of Lavaur and Cabaret.

Viscount Trencavel fell to his knees before his liege lord.

“No need for that,” said Pedro, bidding him rise.

Physically the two men were strikingly different. The King was Trencavel’s senior by many years, of an age with her father. Tall and broad, a bull of a man, his face bore the marks of many military campaigns.

His features were heavy, brooding, made more so by his thick, black moustache against his dark skin. His hair, although still black, like her father’s was going grey at the temples.

“Bid your men withdraw,” he said curtly. “I would talk privately with you, Trencavel.”

“With your leave, Sire King, I would ask permission for my steward to remain. I value his counsel.”

The King hesitated, and then nodded.

“There are no words that can give adequate expression to our gratitude…”

Pedro interrupted. “I’ve not come to support you, but to help you to see the error of your ways. You have brought this situation upon yourself by your wilful refusal to deal with heretics in your dominions. You have had four years – four years – to address the matter, but yet you have done nothing. You allow Cathar bishops to preach openly in your towns and cities. Your vassals openly support the Bons Homes -”

“No vassal…”

“Do you deny that attacks on holy men and priests have gone unpunished? The humiliation of the men of the church? In your lands, heretics worship openly. Your allies give them protection. It is common know: the Count of Foix insults the Holy Relics by refusing to bow before them and his sister has slipped so far from grace as to take her vows as a parfaite , a ceremony the count saw fit to attend.”

“I cannot answer for the Count of Foix.”

“He is your vassal and your ally,” Pedro threw back at him. Why do you allow this state of affairs to flourish?“

Alais felt the Viscount draw in his breath. “Sire, you answer your own question. We live side by side with those you call heretics. We grew up together, our closest kinsmen are among them. The parfaits lived good honest lives ministering to an ever-growing flock. I could no more expel them than I could prevent the daily rising of the sun!”

His words did not move Pedro. “Your only hope is to be reconciled with the Holy Mother Church. You are the equal of any of the northern barons the Abbot has with him and they will treat you as such if you seek to make amends. But if, for a moment, you give him cause to believe you too hold these heretical thoughts, in your heart if not by your actions, then he will crush you.” The King sighed. “Do you really believe you can withstand this, Trencavel? You are outnumbered a hundred to one.”

“We have plenty of food.”

“Food, yes, but not water. You have lost the river.”

Alais saw her father dart a glance at the Viscount, clearly fearing he would lose his temper.

“I do not wish to defy you or put myself beyond your good offices, but can you not see they come to fight for our land, not our souls? This war is not waged for the glory of God but for the greed of men. This is an army of occupation, Sire. If I have failed the Church – and so offended you, Sire – I ask your pardon. But I owe no allegiance to the Count of Nevers or the Abbot of Citeaux. They have no right, spiritual or temporal, over my lands. I will not betray my people to the French jackals for so base a cause.”

Alais felt a surge of pride. From the expression on her father’s face, she knew he felt it also. For the first time, something of Trencavel’s courage and spirit seemed to affect the King.

“These are noble words, Viscount, but they will not help you now. For the sake of your people, whom you love, let me at least tell the Abbot of Citeaux you will hear his terms.”

Trencavel walked away to the window and spoke under his breath.

“We do not have enough water to satisfy all those within the Ciutat ?”

Her father shook his head. “We do not.”

Only his hands, white against the stone sill of the window, betrayed how much the words cost him to speak.

“Very well. I will hear what the Abbot has to say.”

For a while after Pedro had departed, Trencavel said nothing. He stayed where he was, watching the sun sink from the sky. Finally, when the candles were lit, he sat. Pelletier ordered food and drink to be brought from the kitchens.

Alais dared not move for fear she would be discovered. She had cramps in her arms and her legs. The walls seemed to be pressing in upon her, but there was nothing she could do.

Beneath the curtains, she could see her father’s feet as he paced up and down and heard the low murmurings of conversation from time to time.

It was late when Pedro II returned. From the expression on his face, Alais knew straight away the mission had failed. Her spirit sank. It was the last chance to get the Trilogy away from the Cite before the siege began in earnest.

“You have news?” said Trencavel, rising to greet him.

“None that I would give, Viscount,” Pedro replied. “It offends me even to deliver his insulting words.” He accepted a cup of wine and downed it in one. “The Abbot of Citeaux will allow you and twelve men of your choosing to leave the Chateau tonight, unmolested, bearing all you can carry.”

Alais saw the Viscount’s hands ball into fists. “And Carcassona?”

The Ciutat and everything, everyone else passes to the Host. After Besiers, the lords will be looking for recompense.“

For a moment after he’d spoken, there was silence.

Then, Trencavel finally gave vent to his temper and hurled his cup against the wall. “How dare he offer such an insult!” he roared. “How dare he insult our honour, our pride! I will not abandon a single one of my subjects to these French jackals.”

“ Messire ,” murmured Pelletier.

Trencavel stood, hands on his hips, breathing heavily, waiting until his rage had passed.

Then he turned again to the King. “Sire, I am grateful for your intercession and for the offices you have undertaken on our behalf. However, if you will not – or cannot – fight with us, then we must part company. You should withdraw.”

Pedro nodded, knowing there was nothing more to be said. “May God be with you, Trencavel,” he said unhappily.

Trencavel met his gaze. “I believe he is,” he said defiantly.

As Pelletier accompanied the King from the hall, Alais took her chance to slip away.

The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Virgin passed quietly, with little progress made on either side. Trencavel continued to shower down arrows and missiles on the Crusaders, while the mindless thud, thud of the catapult sent rock and stone thundering into the walls. Men fell on both sides, but little ground was gained or lost.