Orphan of Destiny

us,” I explained again.

Maryam shook her head, knowing I couldn’t be dissuaded. “If your friend Sir Hugh hasn’t turned them against you,” she muttered.

“Sir Hugh. . is. . was. . not popular with many members of the regimento. I doubt he could persuade them all to turn against Sir Thomas’ memory. But if you both are so concerned, you may stay here-”

“Oh no you don’t!” Robard interrupted. “I don’t intend to let you out of my sight. I’ve had quite enough of coming to your rescue.”

Now it was my turn for mock anger. “What? When have you ever come to my rescue? I caught you on the cliff at Montsegur, I saved you from a beating at the hands of Philippe! Well, actually it was Angel, but still. You coming to my rescue? I think you are sadly-”

“Enough! Goodness, the two of you argue like the old women in my village. Stop this nonsense. Let’s go!” Maryam shouted at us and stomped away, leaving the cover of the woods behind and heading down the rise toward Dover.

Robard and I followed, and after a short walk we reached the outskirts of the city. The night was cold. I rubbed my hands together and wrapped them in the folds of my tunic for warmth. It would be colder before the sun rose again. There was a half moon in the sky and some of the buildings were lighted by torchlight. Candles burned in the windows of the huts and small shops, and the glow of their cook fires danced through shutters and curtains as we passed by.

We left Angel behind to guard the horses. She was napping peacefully and opened one sleepy eye when I bade her stay. She had looked at me with her intelligent eyes and, somehow understanding our need to keep the horses as safe as possible, didn’t make a fuss about following us. She rolled back over and was soon asleep. The poor little mutt had been through a lot the last few days.

Off in the distance high above the city stood the castle where I’d first met King Richard more than a year ago. It felt like only yesterday when I had stood in the Great Hall while the Lionheart addressed our regimento. In other ways it felt like a lifetime since I’d last walked these streets.

“What are you thinking about?” Maryam asked.

“Nothing,” I answered.

“Are you with us, squire?” Robard said, his tone somewhere between teasing and serious. “You need to be alert. I don’t like this idea one bit. I’m willing to bet you my bow Sir Hugh is here, and we’re likely to run into him at any moment.”

“Yes. I am alert, Robard. I was just thinking,” I said, pointing toward the next street. “This way. We’ll head to the Commandery. It’s on the other side of town.”

The sky was overcast, and when the moon rose later in the evening, the clouds would cut the light. Most of the dwellings were quiet, with no firelight coming from inside. A few torches were lighted here and there, but we would be able to move about without being seen clearly, for the most part. As we walked, I found myself clenching and unclenching my hands and breathing in short bursts. My side ached, and I was certainly not going to be much help if we had to fight our way out. Had I made a mistake in bringing us here?

We darted down the alleys and the narrow passageways between buildings, trying our best to stay out of sight. Each step we took made my heart thunder in my chest. In truth, there were very few people out at this time of night and we had little difficulty passing through town largely unseen. But I felt as if danger lurked in the shadows and Sir Hugh was hiding behind every corner. Despite the cold, I was sweating. My legs grew heavy and each step took more and more effort. I kept telling myself it was only nerves and to stay alert, but I had trouble concentrating and only became more agitated.

Whenever someone appeared on the street, we behaved as if we belonged there-strolling along, talking in low tones and giving no one a reason to suspect us of anything. In a few minutes we had reached the marketplace in the center of town. It was deserted, but as we cut through the closed-up stalls, memories overtook me. I thought of the morning after Sir Thomas had introduced me to King Richard and he’d reacted so strangely. He must have sent the King’s Guards to follow me that day. The guards had tracked me through these very streets, and were it not for the timely appearance of Sir Basil, who knows what may have happened. In hindsight, it was clear the guards had intended to do me harm.

Then later, Sir Hugh attacked me on the practice field during sword drills, and Sir Thomas had warned him to leave me alone on threat of death. When Sir Thomas had bested Sir Hugh on the fields of the Commandery, Sir Hugh had said, “I know who he is. . ” How could he when I didn’t even know who I was?

Something jerked me off my feet, and the next thing I knew I was up against the side of the building with Robard’s face inches from my own. He had yanked me back into the alley after I had just absentmindedly wandered out into the street.

“What?” I groused.

“What are you doing, Tristan?” Robard asked. “You blundered out into the street without looking to see if it was clear. Are you deliberately trying to get us killed?”

“No,” I said, ashamed.

“You need to be here, Tristan, not in Outremer or back in France or dreaming of the fair Celia,” Robard commanded. I blushed when he mentioned Celia’s name. It would be useless to protest that she was about the only thing I wasn’t thinking of.

“I. . I’m sorry,” I said. And I was. Robard was absolutely right. My attention was too scattered, and my lack of focus was dangerous.

I took a deep breath and tried to push the thoughts of kings and queen mothers and King’s Guards out of my head.

Robard let out an exaggerated sigh. “Sorry won’t keep us out of the dungeon, squire. Let’s do what we came here for, whatever it is, and get back to our horses.”

“Right. Of course. I’m sorry, Robard. Come. It’s not much farther.” We walked on, keeping to the shadows, and a few moments later stood just down the street from the main gate of the Commandery. Peering around the corner of a darkened shop, I studied the surroundings for several minutes. No one entered or left the grounds, but it was not guarded.

“What now?” Maryam whispered.

“I’m going to sneak in and see if there is anyone there who might be able to help,” I said.

“How are you going to ‘sneak’ in?” Robard asked incredulously.

“I don’t know,” I replied.

“That’s what I thought,” he said.

I tried hard to think of something. If I could get into the Commandery without being seen, perhaps I could find a friendly brother like Sir Westley or some of the squires I’d served with and explain my predicament. Perhaps I could even learn of Sir Hugh’s whereabouts.

Several minutes passed and no one came or went from the grounds. Time to take action.

“Come on, I want the two of you to boost me over the wall,” I said. “We’ll go around to the rear where the training grounds are. We’re less likely to be noticed there.”

“Wonderful,” Robard muttered, but he and Maryam followed me down the street.

“You are trying to sneak into a small fortress manned by a group of heavily armed, well-trained fighters who may have been ordered to capture you,” Maryam observed. “You don’t see any problems with your strategy?”

“None,” I said. Without giving them time to answer, I stepped onto the street and, staying to the shadows, moved along the front of the building opposite the gate. I wanted to circle the Commandery first, to make doubly sure there was no one about.

Just then, without warning, the doors pulled open and six mounted knights rode through, Sir Hugh at their lead.

8

I dove behind a two-wheeled cart parked in front of the building. It would be a miracle if they didn’t see me. Casting a quick glance behind me, I found Robard and Maryam backing into the shadows of the