The Crusader's Crown (Tales of the Brotherhood Series Book 1) by James Mercer (free children's ebooks pdf .TXT) 📕

  Sir Tomas only then noticed that the tent had gone and the bodies of his hired assassins had disappeared.

   “So his bargain with the Templar, Garcia went to shit. So the Order’s participation was not the best of decisions. But why kill him?” the Commander asked again.

  The Commander’s words had just the effect he had been hoping for. The prisoner would now be wondering how much did these men really know?

   “He failed us,” he answered.

   “Aye he failed. And he was so close too. The Order knight we captured said the true Crown was almost within his grasp.”

   “That is until you stopped him.”

   “That is our sacred duty. The question is, did you kill him because he failed and the Crusade against your people will continue, or did you kill him because he knew too much?”

  The prisoner hesitated before he replied.

   “Both,” he answered bluntly. “We invested time and money to set the Cardinal Esca on his path and not only did he fail but he left chaos in his wake. The Templars, the Brotherhood, the Order. Need I go on?”

  The Commander remained quiet.

   “You must have been desperate to put your faith into a man such as Matthias Esca?” said Robert.

   “He seemed the perfect choice. A Cardinal of the Vatican, eager to get back what he had lost, and prepared to do almost anything to achieve it.”

   “And did he tell you how he lost it?”

   “He may have mentioned that the Brotherhood played a part in his downfall.”

  The Commander could tell the Aragonese knight’s calm demeanour was starting to irritate Robert.

   “Well you did the right thing Sir Tomas,” he said.

   “The right thing?”

   “To kill him.”

  This had been the last thing Sir Tomas had expected from the Brotherhood knight.

   “Then why were you holding him?”

   “To draw you out of course. Not to mention that we and our Brothers had sworn to let him live if he were to give up those who aided him.”

   “Using him as bait. Very clever. So what now?

  The Commander stood and drew his beautifully crafted dagger of the Brotherhood.

   “Do you know what Esca would have done once the true Crown was in his possession?” he said, walking towards the bound captive.

   “He was being watched and it was a risk we were prepared to take,” he answered.

   “He would have cut the throat of each and every one of you. Garcia, his followers, the Order and you.”

   “And how do you know this for sure?”

   “Because he has done it before.”

  The Commander started to tell Sir Tomas of the evil deeds of the late Cardinal Esca. The calm expression of the captured knight altered as he was forced to listen, and his face intensified as he listened to the atrocities carried out by the man who had called himself a servant of God.

   “We didn’t know,” he said at the end.

   “No you didn’t but you do now. The question now Sir Tomas is, are you and your fellow Cathars prepared to take such a gamble again?”

   “The church continues to pursue us. What choice do we have?”

  The Commander thought a moment. What choice did they have?

   “Call a meeting,” said Robert.

  Sir Tomas looked at him as if he were delusional.

   “A meeting … The last meeting that took place brought about this war in the first place,” he snapped.

   “You speak of the Pope’s envoy who was killed on his journey back to Rome?” said the Commander.

   “That murder was not of our doing.”

   “I did not mean call a meeting with the Vatican. I meant, call a meeting between the Cathars and the Brotherhood,” persisted Robert.

  It was Robert’s turn to rise, leaving Alfonso to idly poke the flames of the fire with his sword.

   “Rumour has it that the Cathars of Languedoc hold some of Treasures of Christ.”

  Sir Tomas remained silent.

   “It is our sworn duty to protect those Treasures,” said Robert firmly.

   “What are you saying Robert? That they are to just hand over that which is in their possession?” said the Commander confused.

   “The Order of the Blooded Cross and the Vatican have many things in common. Wealth, influence, but above all power, and they want more of it. Who is to say that the Vatican is not fighting this Crusade against you to take those Treasures? There will be no doubt that the Order will play a part somewhere in it also.”

   “You think it would stop the Crusade against us?” asked Sir Tomas thoughtfully.

   “To be honest, I don’t know. But if word were to reach the right ears that the Treasure of the Cathars was gone, then maybe it would give you an even chance.”

  The Commander looked upon his protégé with pride. If the High Council could see the man he had become. He made a decision. Taking a knee, he cut the bonds that held the knight and then looked at him.

   “Think on the words spoken this night Sir Tomas Berengeur. Sooner or later, the Order will come for you and the Vatican will only increase its determination for your downfall. Consider our proposal and come to us if you are willing.”

  Reynard pulled the man to his feet.

   “But never come for blood again. For we are not easy to kill, as the Order and Cardinal Matthias both learned to their peril.”

*****

The City of Toledo

Anzac, his three Brotherhood knights, the squire Harold and their prisoner rode beneath the open city gates in the late morning. They had removed their armour but Fitzbois, Sir Edward, Harold and Chevalier, still