Michael Spradlin - Trail of Fate

“Languedoc, Robard, not Lancelot,” I murmured. Robard gave me a dismissive wave and shrugged his wallet onto his back.

Maryam yawned and stretched. In truth the three of us could probably have stood to sleep for several more hours, but I had just told a deliberate lie to a dangerous man who rode at the head of fifty very heavily armed soldiers. It would be best if we were not easily found when he discovered my deceit.

“What are we going to do now?” Maryam asked.

Needing to think, I had unconsciously looked to the north, which led to Celia and her people.

“Oh no. No, Tristan. Absolutely not! I know that look of yours!” Robard stared at me, hands on his hips.

“What look?” I asked innocently.

“The noble and stupid look you get. The one that says you’re thinking about going after this Celia to help her,” he complained. “You had the same look on your face in Tyre when you jumped into the water to rescue the dog!”

“I do not. . No. . I mean, I’m not thinking. . only. .” I didn’t want to admit it, but the thought of going after Celia had occurred to me. Yet I couldn’t ask my friends to take part in something that really did not involve them. I was drawn to Celia, but it was not their concern.

“What are you two talking about?” Maryam cut in.

“He’s smitten with the girl. He thinks he can help her or keep this High Counsel fellow from catching up to her. It’s not your business, squire. We need to find a ship. I want to get home. This is, if you’ve not discovered yet, a wretched country. Two of the seven people I’ve met so far have been quite unpleasant. I want to leave these Franks behind me. The sooner the better.”

In the midst of his rant, Robard had grasped the very essence of my dilemma. Despite his bluster and occasional-all right, frequent-poor humor, he did have an uncanny ability to cut through a problem and see it for what it was. How could I ask my friends to delay their journeys while I traipsed after Celia? Besides, I had sent the High Counsel on a wild goose chase, and Celia and her friends were headed in the exact opposite direction. They knew he was coming. What aid could I offer? One more sword, to make it seven against fifty? With any luck they would reach their mountain fortress and get safely away from this man. But what if they did not? What if the High Counsel saw through my ruse and Celia and her group were captured?

On top of it all there was one other argument in Robard’s favor. Any time I spent following after Celia or delaying my trip back to England were days that would allow Sir Hugh to catch up to us. As sure as I was of anything, I knew he was coming. I had no doubt he had taken a ship from Tyre and followed us. Sir Hugh was cunning. It would have taken him no time to secure a ship and supplies, and he could have left just a few hours after we had. Until he was sure we were dead or lost in the storm, he wouldn’t stop looking.

“What are you thinking?” Maryam asked.

Robard kicked dirt on the fire and grabbed his bow.

“I’m thinking about Sir Hugh,” I said.

“What about him?” she asked.

“He will follow us here. He won’t just assume we drowned in the storm. Once on shore, he’ll go to the nearest commandery and put out word he is searching for us. Maybe even offer a reward. It’s not safe for us to find a port anymore.”

“Oh? And what would you suggest we do? Walk home?” Robard said.

“Yes,” I said.

“You must be joking,” Robard said.

I shook my head.

“All right, forget that for an instant. Why would Sir Hugh care so much about a squire?” Robard asked. “If he did follow us, he saw the storm. What would make him keep coming after you? Why wouldn’t he assume our rickety ship had sunk, and us with it? What do you have that makes him take after you with such determination?”

Part of me wanted to tell them exactly why. After all this, they’d earned the right to know. But I couldn’t forget my pledge to Sir Thomas. The fact that I carried the most sacred relic in all of Christendom must remain my secret. Luckily, for once I had thought ahead and prepared a story.

“Sir Hugh wants power. He wants to be Master of the Order. In Acre, he was accused by Sir Thomas of breaking Templar law. I carry evidence of this, the written testimony of Sir Thomas and a few other knights. If this knowledge becomes known to the current Master, Sir Hugh is finished. This is why he wants me dead. I buried the evidence in the alley in Tyre before we went to the Commandery and retrieved it before we left. I swore to Sir Thomas I would see this duty through. I’m following the last order of my knight.”

“Yet in Tyre you only told them Acre was lost. You didn’t present your evidence to the Marshal there,” Robard said, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

“I didn’t know if he could be trusted. Sir Hugh was already there, and Sir Thomas thought word must be sent to warn the Master alone. And to do so I must return to England.”

“So you lied to us?” Maryam interrupted. “You kept the true nature of your mission a secret from us. Why?”

“If we had been caught or Sir Hugh had captured us before we got to Tyre, it was better for you both if you didn’t know anything. He is after me, not you. If I’d told you or if he suspected I’d told you, you’d be in even more danger.”

I tried hard to confuse them so they wouldn’t focus on specifics. I wanted to get moving and leave this discussion behind us. My story was full of holes, and all I could do was make Sir Hugh out to be an evil and manipulative villain and hope they would concentrate on him.

I held my breath. Robard and Maryam were studying me. My gaze never dropped from their eyes. If they demanded to see the evidence I carried, I was safe with Robard, for I knew he could not read. I didn’t know about Maryam. She had been born a merchant’s daughter, and if she could speak English, she might be able to read it as well. If they wanted proof, I was in trouble. Sir Thomas’ letter said nothing about Sir Hugh.

The sun had fully cleared the horizon now and was burning away the early morning mist. We had to get moving. But I waited while Robard and Maryam considered my words.

“So if we accept your story, how do you intend to get to England?” Robard asked skeptically.

“I have thought about this. Since the ports are the first place Sir Hugh will look, I think we go overland, north to the Channel, and get a ship there. It will take him time to search this part of the coast. If we head inland, we can get a head start on him.”

“Do you have any idea how long it will take?” Robard snorted. “Weeks, at least! Months even! Not to mention your friend the High Counsel will also be looking for you when he finds out you lied to him. What do you intend to do about him?”

“I intend to hurry.” I knelt down, shaking out my blanket and rolling it up. It had been soaked in salt water, and as it dried, had grown stiff, but it still looped over my shoulder easily enough.

“Maryam,” I said. “I would like you to come with us. If we can get to London, the Master will make arrangements for you to return to your home on a Templar ship. If you wish to try to find your way alone, I understand.”

Maryam looked at me for several seconds. Her face was impassive at first, then changed, and for a brief instant doubt flashed across her features. She didn’t believe me. She knew I hadn’t told either of them the truth, but didn’t challenge me. Since we had first met her, Maryam had argued with Robard repeatedly, but she took me at my word. I wondered why, but had no time to think about it.

After putting the fire out, we were ready to leave. I was hungry and hoped we could find something along the way. Berries or nuts or maybe Robard could shoot some game.