Michael Spradlin - Trail of Fate

“Well done, Tristan,” Robard said, joining me at the wall. “You gave them something to think about, the jackasses!”

“Yes, I suppose we did,” I said. “You did some fancy shooting yourself.”

Robard nodded. Maryam and Celia joined us on the battlement, and the four of us peered out at the assembled troops where they had retreated near the tree line.

“What do you think they will do next?” Celia asked.

“I’m not sure,” I said, looking across the battlement at Jean-Luc, who would one day make a very capable commander, tending to his injured men and making sure they were resupplied with bolts, food and water. “I think it will be some time until they try another attack. They got more than they bargained for. Sir Hugh is not stupid. He’ll come up with something. He will not retreat. Either he will gather more forces, or wait until he starves us out,” I said. Something pushed at my leg, and I looked down to find Angel sniffing about. I scratched her ears and she yawned. What would happen to her, I wondered, if Sir Hugh captured the castle?

We had won the first round with a little trickery and the overconfidence of our enemy. They would not be so easily surprised the next time. Celia’s faith in her people was palpable, but they could not hold out forever. I had to do something to give them a better chance of survival.

“I know that look!” Robard said as he studied my face. “You have another one of your plans?”

“In fact I do,” I said. “We’re leaving.”

“Leaving? How?” Celia asked with a fair measure of alarm in her face.

“Yes, Templar, how?” Maryam joined in. “You won’t be able to get past Sir Hugh or his men. If you were lucky, you might outrace them to the trees and slip away in the forest, but his men will ride you down. The only other way is climbing down the cliffs, and you can’t possibly. .” Maryam stopped when she saw the look on my face.

“No. You can’t be serious. Do you think. . No.” She couldn’t get the words out. “Robard, tell him. Tell him he can’t do what he’s thinking.”

“I’d be happy to, but I have no idea what he’s thinking,” Robard replied, confused.

“He wants to climb down the cliffs,” Celia said. “And he’s a fool, for it can’t be done.”

“Celia, you don’t understand. He won’t give up. He will stay here until you surrender or he will gather enough regimentos to overwhelm you. You have your people to think about. I have to go. It’s the only way.” I tried to make her understand. I had no desire to leave, just when I had found her again. But I could not let her or her people suffer further on my account.

“Tristan, they might be right,” Robard cut in. “If you want to leave, fine, but wouldn’t it be better to try slipping through the woods at nightfall?”

“I’ve thought of that. It’s too risky. Sir Hugh will have his men covering the woods around the clock. We have no horses, and we’re no match on foot against well-mounted Templars, even in a thick forest.”

“I’d rather take my chances against the knights than fall to my death,” Robard said with a shiver.

“I don’t expect any of you to join me. You can stay here. When Sir Hugh finds out I’m gone, he’ll leave to come after me. You’ll be safe,” I promised.

Robard and Maryam looked at each other. Then at me.

“What?” I asked.

“Why are you doing this, Tristan? Why are you risking your life like this?” Maryam demanded. Robard nodded in agreement.

I decided they needed to know. Despite what Sir Thomas had told me, they deserved the truth. They were not power-mad Templars or treasure seekers or wanting to control the world. They were born to simple lives. Now they were warriors who wanted nothing more than to return to their homes, but they had given up much to help me. Both of them had saved my life numerous times. And Celia as well. They were my friends.

“I will tell you everything. . I promise-” I was interrupted by a shout from Jean-Luc. Sir Hugh was riding back toward the fortress, holding a white flag aloft.

My confession would have to wait.

Sir Hugh had two other knights with him. This time, I kept Robard on the battlement, his longbow at the ready. Jean-Luc and two of the cross- bowmen joined me, leaving Maryam and Celia inside. Before I left, and for the first time in the past many weeks, I removed the satchel from my shoulder. Handing it to Maryam, I said, “Promise me this: if anything happens to me, see to it this satchel finds its way to Father William of the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Rosslyn, Scotland.”

Maryam’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you said you needed to take testimony to the Master of the Order in London.”

“I’ll explain later,” I said. With the Frenchmen behind me we slipped through the gate and walked across the rocky ground to where Sir Hugh squirmed nervously astride a speckled gray warhorse.

“Are you a woman?” he asked when I stood in front of him and his two companions.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Is this how Sir Thomas trained his squires? To fight like women, with fire and trickery? What’s wrong, squire? Are you and your peasants incapable of fighting like men?” he yelled.

“If you find you’ve lost your taste for battle, feel free to leave the field,” I replied calmly.

“You kill my men with flaming grease, squire? Are you a warrior or a cook?” he thundered as he spurred his horse forward, his hand going to the hilt of his sword as if he meant to draw it and strike me down. In an instant Jean-Luc and his men raised their crossbows and pointed them directly at him.

“Not another step, Sir Hugh,” I warned. “These men will kill you where you stand. You can’t win here. Withdraw. You have no chance. We can survive for months inside this fortress. We have plenty of food and water. There is no shortage of weapons.”

“I will have it, squire. I will have it! Do you hear me?” Sir Hugh reined his horse backward, in line with the other knights. Jean Luc’s men slowly lowered their crossbows, but Jean-Luc, apparently a good judge of character, kept his pointed at Sir Hugh’s chest.

“Mark this, squire. Your life is forfeit. I will see you and everyone in Montsegur dead. You will give me what I want or I will not stop until everyone inside your fortress is nothing but a pile of bones. I don’t care how long it takes. Do you understand me?”

“Sir Hugh, I’m tired of this. And tired of you and your empty threats,” I replied wearily. “Take my advice and withdraw from this place. If you try to take this fortress, we will make you pay and pay and pay again. We will not yield. With my last breath I will destroy what you seek before you lay eyes on it. Do you understand me?”

Sir Hugh’s face became a vision of anguish and frustration. The very thing he wanted more than anything in the world was within his reach, yet unattainable. He pursed his lips, and even over the distance between us and the noise of the wind, I could hear his breath coming hard and fast in tortured gasps. His gloved hands were knotted on the reins of his horse as if he might wring water from them. In contrast, the two knights with him sat atop their mounts as still as stones.

“However, in the interest of preventing further bloodshed, I will make you a deal, Sir Hugh,” I said.

He looked at me, his eyes hooded, but with just a glint of expectancy within them. He said nothing, waiting for me to speak.

“Leave the field, take your regimento and retire to the small hamlet that lies at the entrance of this valley. You must have passed through it on your way here. There is a small inn there. You leave this mountain and promise never to return, and in three days’ time I will meet you there and give you what you seek.”