sure where they were headed, but I heard the word
The High Counsel had locked eyes with Robard while I spoke, but now he looked at me again.
“Perpignan? Yes, it’s a nearby city. Are you sure?”
“If it is west of here, it must be where they are headed. When they broke camp, they headed south, riding in the shallows. They must have been trying to hide their tracks from you. They probably turned west downstream.”
The High Counsel looked at me, his black eyes never wavering. I don’t think he even blinked.
“Why would they head to Perpignan?” he asked, thinking out loud.
“Can’t swear to it, Father, as I speak only a little French, just heard them mention it. And they said something about
He studied me, his brow knitted together ever so slightly, then turned and spoke to one of the mounted riders behind him in hushed tones.
“Very well. Thank you for your assistance. We shall ride toward Perpignan and see if we can pick up their trail. If you come across them again, avoid them. They are outcasts and enemies of the church. They have committed grave sins against God,” he said.
“Yes, Father. Of course,” I said. “May God have mercy on their souls.”
He remounted his horse and the column slowly moved westward. He stopped, turning his horse back toward us.
“If I find out you’ve lied to me, Templar, God will be the only one to grant you mercy.”
7
What a rude fellow,” said Robard as the High Counsel and his men faded into the distance.
“Who was rude?” Maryam said as she staggered to her feet.
“So glad you could join us. Help us fend off the attackers,” Robard teased.
“What are you talking about?” she mumbled.
“We just met Celia’s pursuers,” I said.
“Nice men, one and all,” said Robard.
“What did they want?” Maryam asked.
“They referred to Celia and her band as heretics and outlaws,” I told her.
“Actually he said outlaws first and then heretics,” Robard pointed out. “Then Tristan told this fellow, who calls himself the High Counsel to some Archbishop of Lancelot, an elaborate fib to throw them off the trail.”
“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
