until we could reach the trail. Unfortunately the underbrush grew thickly in this area and in order to reach the castle we would need to pass very near the fire. I found it hard to believe we would escape unseen, and indeed, an instant later, someone saw us trying to quietly pick our way through the darkened forest.
The fire became a clamor of chaos as the soldiers began to shout and jump to their feet, scrambling for their weapons.
“Let’s go!” I shouted and kicked at the sides of the horse. The horse bounded forward and Maryam and Robard spurred along right behind. Angel barked, but I concentrated on holding the reins. Bending low in the saddle, I trusted the horse to pick its way through the trees and not run me into a low-hanging branch.
We moved through the very edge of the clearing, and one of the men had wits enough to draw his sword and charge at me. I held tightly to the reins with my left hand and drew the short sword with my right. But, almost comically, Angel charged at the man, barking ferociously, and ran in and around his feet until the man tripped and fell to the ground. A few yards past the clearing, we burst onto the trail and began the steep climb toward the fortress.
I hoped the confusion of the lost horses would give us enough advantage to gain the castle gate before they could catch us.
“Hurry!” I yelled behind me.
We gave free rein to the horses, and once clear of the woods they galloped along the trail. They were used to the rocky terrain and slowed only a little.
We were nearly halfway there when I heard shouts and the approaching hoofbeats of the High Counsel’s men. I looked back to find those on foot carrying torches, but it sounded as if a few had managed to find their mounts in the darkness.
Each of us hollered for our horses to go faster, and I grasped the reins as tightly as I could, praying the sprint over the rough ground wouldn’t send one of us crashing to our deaths. Ahead I could see a few torches flickering on the battlements of Montsegur, as the noise must have attracted the evening guard. I prayed again, hoping Celia had found Robard’s arrow and would know what to do.
The wind was stronger out here in the open, and the horse’s mane whipped against my face. The gate was only a short distance now. I glanced behind me. It was too dark to see Robard and Maryam, but I heard them shouting encouragement to their steeds. Angel barked as she raced to keep up with us.
With my reins I whipped the horse’s flanks, urging him to go faster. More torches lit up the battlements now, and the outline of Montsegur was visible in the darkened gloom of the night.
A few seconds later, we were at the castle gate.
“Celia, if you can hear me! It’s Tristan! We are here to help, but please open the gate!”
Looking up, I could see torches bobbing to and fro and men shouting, but could not make out what they were saying. We turned our mounts to face the oncoming rush. The men carrying torches were closer now. I was not worried about them because they still had much ground to cover, but the mounted soldiers would arrive at any moment, even though I couldn’t yet see them. I strained to hear, but the roar of the wind drowned out their approach.
Robard dismounted, and in the flickering torchlight I could see he had nocked an arrow in his bow. Maryam joined him on the ground, her daggers glinting in the torchlight from the walls.
“Tristan! You had better do something quickly!” Robard shouted as he scanned the trail for targets.
“Celia! Jean-Luc!
I steered my horse right to the gate and pounded on the thick wooden door with the hilt of my sword.
“Help! We are friends!” I shouted in both English and French.
“Tristan! They’re almost here!” Maryam shouted.
Over the noise of the wind and the shouts all around us, I heard the thundering hoofbeats. We were trapped.
Robard loosed an arrow in the darkness and I heard a scream. I dismounted. We would have to make our last stand here at the gates of Montsegur.
Robard shot again but missed, and the sound of the horses drew still nearer. I clutched the satchel with my free hand, wishing I had taken Robard’s advice and headed home instead of standing where I was now, on a rocky mountaintop about to be run down by my enemies. Then, though it was difficult to hear in all the noise and confusion, the satchel vibrated slightly against my hand, and the musical hum of the Grail reached my ears. I breathed a sigh of relief, but not wishing to tempt fate, hollered again as loudly as I could for someone to please open the door.
Robard, as he was wont, shouted curses at the oncoming soldiers.
“Come and get it, you Frank swine! I’ll send you all to the bloody devil!” he shouted over the sound of the approaching riders. I was reasonably sure not one of them understood a word he said.
The wind picked up, but the sound of the breeze couldn’t hide the fact that the horsemen were nearly upon us. Robard kept shooting, and even Maryam joined in, shouting out at them in Arabic. How brave they were. Friends I didn’t deserve, I thought, chiding myself for bringing them to this place, leading them to their deaths. I hoped the Grail would protect them, save them as it had saved Maryam on the ship. Please, God, I prayed. Don’t let my friends die.
And my prayer was answered by the groaning sound of the castle door as it swung slowly open.
16
Robard, Maryam! The door!”
With a shuddering creak the wooden door pushed open just wide enough for a person to slip inside. Inside, Jean-Luc held a torch in one hand and shouted,
“Robard! It’s open!” I shouted.
“Want another, you fleas on a Frank dog’s arse? Show this one to your pompous cow of a High Counsel!” he shouted as he loosed yet another arrow.
Jean-Luc stepped through the door, and in the light of his torch I could see Robard reaching for his wallet, but I leapt forward and grabbed his arm.
“Robard! We have to go now!” Something whizzed by my head, and a crossbow bolt thunked into the wood of the door behind me. I pulled at Robard, and Angel barked at him furiously, either because he was unnecessarily risking his life or because she was angry at his mention of fleas. Robard released one final shot, and then we all darted through the gate to safety. The door moaned shut and I could hear the horses and the men outside shouting. The sounds of bolts and battle-axes thumped against the gate.
Robard, Maryam and I slumped, bent over with our hands on our knees, trying to catch our breath. The sounds of the High Counsel’s men eventually retreated.
The interior of Montsegur was lit by torches. A few yards away, a large bonfire cast a glimmering light off the rocks and bricks of the walls. I heard a voice I recognized in an instant.
“Hello, Templar,” she said.
When I first looked at her, something happened to my heart. I’m not sure what, for nothing like it had ever happened to me. It seemed to stop beating momentarily, then started again as if in a rush to catch up. My breath wouldn’t come, and I told myself it was because I was winded from the ride and all the excitement outside the gate. But I knew it wasn’t true.
She was dressed simply, in a cream-colored tunic falling well below her knees. My eyes were drawn to hers. I remembered their icy blueness. If anything, the intervening days had drawn them an even deeper shade. Her auburn hair fell loose about her shoulders and framed a heart-shaped face. Her skin glowed in the firelight, and looking at her made me feel like I had taken a long drink of cool spring water.
“I. . We. . Hello, Celia,” I stammered. Time had slowed. I couldn’t move, and could barely speak.
