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

  Chevalier sat close to the fire with Sir Guarin. Although the day had been blistering hot, a cold chill now engulfed the mighty Crusader camp.

   Garcia sat down by the fire uninvited and warmed his hands over the flames. He had discarded his Templar mantle and wore a matching surcoat to Chevalier and his men. Trying to goad him further, the Templar knight watched the dancing flames and spoke again.

   “Such a shame … After so many encounters with this fabled renegade one would have thought the Order would have resolved how best to seize him by now?”

  Chevalier would have liked nothing better than to slash the knight’s throat open and from the corner of his eye, he could see Sir Guarin fingering the hilt of his knife. He slowly placed a warning hand on Sir Guarin’s arm and replied.

   “Those three men were some of the finest fighters I had. They have served our Order for many years and I trusted their judgement. However it is probable you are right. They are probably dead now.”

  Garcia gave a thin smile.

   “I admit, had I sent more men, then maybe we would have triumphed,” Chevalier snapped.  “But, it has proved one thing for sure.”

   “And that is?” asked Garcia.

   “That thanks to the incompetence of your Cardinal, the Brotherhood were indeed aware of our presence.”

  Chevalier concealed his smile as he watched the unpleasant sneer quickly turn to a look of outrage on the Templar knight’s face.

   “And all you’ve done now is contribute to confirming that there is a threat against them,” he responded in a low dangerous voice.

   “That we have. And now the game of cat and mouse becomes more difficult and strategy is of the upmost importance. Soon enough, one will find the other and swords will cross.”

   “You think they will come for us?” asked Garcia intrigued.

  Chevalier was about to answer when Sir Guarin intervened.

   “You have truly learnt nothing at all of the Brotherhood have you Sir Alejandro Garcia?”

   “You’d be wise to mind your tongue young knight!”

  Ignoring the Templar’s warning, the Order knight continued.

   “What did you think these men were? Priory monks? Withered old clerics?”

  Garcia remained silent. A look of amusement on his face. He almost admired the young pup’s foolishness of mocking a man who could easily crush him in moments.

   “The Brotherhood is a replication of the Order. Just as they are of the knights Templar. Made up of some of the most powerful and skilled warriors in Christendom,” he continued.

   “Finer than your Order Brothers?” provoked Garcia.

   “Some of them yes. Some of them could quite easily cut down even your fellow Templars. Some of them actually are Temple knights.”

   “I was well aware that there were a few naïve members of the Order of the Temple who have allied themselves with the Brotherhood.”

   “But were you aware that some of our sources reported that it was actually a Templar who aided the Brotherhood in thwarting our comrades back in Constantinople? You should consider Sir Alejandro, that those very men may be doing exactly the same, right here in this camp?”

  Garcia’s expression changed again, this time to a look of uncertainty. He had not considered that another of the Temple knights may be aware of his plans and report his discovery to the Grandmaster. Had his arrogance and hastiness alerted those who stood alongside the beliefs of the Brotherhood and been feeding information back to them?

  Chevalier grunted in amusement, almost reading the knight’s thoughts.

   “So you see Sir Alejandro - strategy. Since the creation of our Order, the Brotherhood have relied on information to combat us not by mere bloodshed. But fear not. You know as well as I do, if any of your Templar fellows have been foolish enough to stand alongside the Brotherhood, they will not be taking their findings to the Masters of your Templar Order. They only want the weapon of Christ for themselves.”

  There was a moment of stillness as Garcia and Sir Guarin considered the words of the more experienced knight. Chevalier was amused by the uncertainty that was obviously crawling around Garcia’s thoughts.

   “Have you heard of a knight by the name Sir William Marshall?” continued Chevalier.

   “I have heard the name,” said Garcia.

  The man did his best to sound casual but there was intrigue in his voice.

   “He was King Henry of England’s champion was he not?” replied Sir Guarin.

   “Not just King Henry,” came a voice from the shadows.

  It was Sir Olbrecht. The knight had removed his surcoat and wore only his undershirt and gambeson. He took a seat by the fire and stared into the flames.

   “King Henry, and the warmongering Lionheart as well as his brother, King John Lackland. If you can even call that fool a King. He was champion to all of them,” he continued.

   “Quite so,” added Chevalier. “Even now, at his withered age he would be a formidable opponent. He is said to have fallen in a tourney to just one man.”

   “Who was?” asked Garcia.

   “They call him The Master of the Keys. Said to be the mentor of the Commander Reynard.”

   “In the early years of my joining the Order I once heard that when Marshall and the Master of the Keys fought in Palestine, the Saracen would flee at the sight of their banners,” added Sir Olbrecht musingly.

   “And these men are members of the Brotherhood?” asked Sir Guarin.

   “The Master of the Keys is,” replied Chevalier.

   “And Marshall?”

   “Marshall has been approached by both Order and Brotherhood. Yet he has refused both.”

   “But surely he would make a valuable asset to the Order?”

   “He has made