Keeper of the Grail

“And where were you? Exactly?” the Marshal asked.

“Not more than forty leagues west of the city. We heard a patrol approaching and managed to hide in the underbrush. They searched for us for a while but then gave up when their commander ordered them to remount. He said they needed to return to camp to ready for the attack on Tyre,” I said.

“And how do you know what a Saracen commander said?” Sir Hugh cut in.

I realized my mistake. I couldn’t tell them about Maryam. If I did, they’d never believe me. I needed a convincing lie.

“We were camped with a trader, bound for Tyre. He spoke Arabic, and he heard the Saracens’ words.” Every time I told a lie, the abbot’s face popped into my head. He would be disappointed in me for all the lies I had learned to tell so easily. A small bead of sweat found a path from my forehead down my cheek. The look on the Marshal’s face was impossible to read. Did he believe me?

“Marshal Curesco, he is lying. He is trying to concoct some story of an attack to cover up his crimes! I demand we put him in jail right now!” Sir Hugh was obviously excited at the prospect of seeing me in chains.

Marshal Curesco turned to the sergeanto standing beside him.

“Brother Lewis, please gather a few men-at-arms and escort these young men to the jail. Hold them until I return from the King’s headquarters. We will sort this out later. If indeed there are Saracens nearby, we will need to discuss our strategy,” he said.

Brother Lewis shouted out a command, and I heard the corridor behind me fill with men-at-arms.

“What?” Robard yelled. “You’ll not lock me away!”

He began pushing his way down the hallway, but the men-at-arms blocked his path.

I turned back to Marshal Curesco.

“Marshal Curesco! You cannot do this. I am telling you the truth! Please!” I pleaded.

“That may be. But I cannot discount the word of another Marshal of the Order. I promise you that you will be held there only until I return from conference with the King. We must attend to this news of the Saracens. Then we will sort out the facts of your story,” he said.

Sir Hugh glared at me, but his lips curled into a self-satisfied smile. I knew we would never see Marshal Curesco again if Sir Hugh had his way.

The men-at-arms led Robard out of the hallway. They had relieved him of his bow and wallet. Two others entered the room and relieved me of my short sword, each taking an arm and leading me toward the corridor.

“Sire, please!” I shouted, struggling against their grip. But Marshal Curesco was already talking busily with Brother Lewis. He gave me a dismissive wave.

We were led out of the main hall and through the gates of the Commandery past the startled guard who had let us enter only moments before. Robard was shouting and cursing, making a very big commotion, but with no weapon there was little he could do. The men-at-arms ignored him.

“So, it would appear that your protector has abandoned you,” Sir Hugh said tauntingly.

“Sir Thomas has likely died a hero’s death, fighting with his comrades to the end. Unlike you, who seem to have made a very convenient escape from an embattled and surrounded city. How did you do it? How did you flee Acre?” I asked.

“My activities are no concern of yours,” he said. “I can’t tell you how it pleases me to see your fall from grace. Sir Thomas was an officious, pompous fool. Countermanding my orders in front of the men, doing anything he could to undermine and embarrass me…”

“You don’t need anyone’s help to embarrass yourself,” I interrupted. Sir Hugh reacted by angrily shoving me forward into the street. I staggered but didn’t fall.

“Well, it appears he misplaced his faith in you. Look at you now. A failure easily captured and likely to hang, if I have anything to say about it. Which I will,” he said.

I didn’t respond, though I would certainly have voted against being hanged.

As we were dragged along toward the jail, small crowds of people formed in the streets to watch us pass by. For a moment I thought I saw Maryam. Here and there I caught a glimpse of a black tunic, but then I wasn’t sure. It could have been anyone.

The jail was perhaps a half league from the Commandery, and shortly we entered a large earthen building. Inside was a single room holding a table and bench along the far wall to the right. Along the back wall were the cells-three of them built like cages in the room, each enclosed by iron bars, with a small barred window.

Our weapons were laid on the table. Robard was taken to the far left cell. The men-at-arms pushed him inside, shutting the door with a clang. Robard turned at the sound, spitting at them, cursing in very specific ways about what he thought of them and their mothers, but they paid him no mind.

“Now, young squire, you will answer my questions or you will spend the rest of your days in there,” Sir Hugh said, pointing to the cell next to Robard. “Where is it? Do you have it with you?”

“Where is what?” I asked.

“Don’t toy with me, squire,” Sir Hugh said. “I give you marks for bravery, but now, tell me!” He ripped the blanket and satchel from around my shoulder. He walked to the table in the middle of the room, shaking out the blanket and dumping the contents of the satchel on the table.

“Where is it?” he snarled.

“I haven’t any idea what you’re talking about,” I said.

“Do you think I’m joking, squire?” he sneered. His fist flew out and backhanded me across the face. I tasted blood in my mouth, but did not cry out.

Rubbing the blood from my lip, I vowed not to allow him to gain any advantage over me.

“What I think is that a nun hits harder than you. Other than that, I have no idea what you are talking about.” Seeing Sir Hugh had started a fire in me again. I thought of Sir Thomas dying at his post. Then I saw this coward standing before me. He had slunk away before the last fight began, most likely. I could not bear it. Quincy and Sir Basil, some of the bravest men I knew, were likely dead, and this vermin thought he would break me? I swore that no matter what he did to me, I would tell this man nothing.

Sir Hugh’s eyes bored into me, but I held his gaze, determined not to blink.

“You will tell me where it is. Now,” he said.

“Sir Hugh, Sir Thomas sent me here to warn the Commandery that Acre had fallen. As I explained to the Marshal…”

Sir Hugh grabbed me by the tunic, pulling my face close to his. His voice was a whisper of barely contained rage.

“You have it. The Grail. Sir Thomas had it. He would not have left it in Acre. So he must have given it to you. I tell you so you understand me. I will have it! Now you will tell me where it is, do you hear me?”

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I said to Sir Hugh, my face only inches from his mouth. His fist drew back again, but he stopped himself, releasing his grip on me as if some outside force had suddenly caused him to regain his composure. He rubbed his hands over his face, pacing back and forth before me a few times.

“All right, squire. You win. You have what I want. But I believe I possess something you will find far more valuable than the Grail.”

“You have nothing I need, Sir Hugh,” I said.

“Don’t be so quick to judge, boy,” he said.

He looked at me, his face almost gleeful, taking great joy in drawing out the moment. I waited, silent, determined not to let him bait me.

“I know who you are, where you were born, your parents, everything.”

I tried not to let my face show anything, but failed miserably. I felt as if I’d been punched solidly in the stomach. My vision narrowed, and it was suddenly difficult to breathe. Then I remembered who I was dealing with.

“Liar. You lie,” I said.

“No, I really don’t,” he said, his voice low enough so that only I could hear him. “I know everything, you see. We suspected you had been left at an abbey or a nunnery as a babe but weren’t sure which one. We searched and searched for you for months after your birth, but the monks did a good job of keeping you hidden. Isn’t it rich that I just stumbled across you fifteen years later? It was Sir Thomas who insisted that we stop at St. Alban’s that night as we rode toward Dover. I thought nothing of it at first, but when you injured my horse and he took such an