The Crusader's Crown (Tales of the Brotherhood Series Book 1) by James Mercer (ink ebook reader txt) 📗

   “Nothing that won’t heal,” said Robert.

   “You must be tired?”

   “I’m exhausted.”

  Already the snores of Jimmy could be heard which made Selva giggle.

   “Why not use my tent?” she said.

   “That would be a godsend with the racket he makes.”

  With her help Robert removed his armour and gambeson and went into her tent. She followed him in and waited for him to collapse down on the bed. As he lay back in the cot he breathed a sigh of pleasure and looked up to see her smiling.

   “Rest now and we can talk later.”

*****

Two full days had passed since they arrived back at the Crusader camp and Esca had not been outside once. When his gag was removed to allow him to eat and drink he had tried to bargain with each of the men – offering them vast fortunes of wealth, but it did not work on any of them. It seemed that the actions and subsequent fate of the mercenary Saul, who had been persuaded to betray the Commander back in Constantinople, had ensured the men knew only too well the consequences of disloyalty.

  On the fourth day a new face appeared. Unlike the men who had been guarding him, all of whom were dressed and armed ready for battle, this man looked more like someone who knew class.

  He entered the tent casually and looked down at the Cardinal. His look was neither menacing nor pitiful. In his left hand he carried a small stool and in his right a small bag. Placing the stool on the ground, he sat down and then opened the bag. Esca’s first terrified thought was that the stranger was going to produce tools to torture him with. Instead the man first withdrew a bottle containing what looked like wine, then two goblets, and finally a block of goat’s cheese.

  The man lifted the cheese to his own nose and inhaled the aroma.

   “Cheese and wine. The finest of combinations and not the easiest to come by when on a campaign such as this,” he said.

  The accent was difficult to place but was either Hispanic or Italian. There was a pause as he placed the bottle on the ground and then leant forward to remove the Cardinal’s gag.

  Esca stared hungrily at the food. The visitor remained silent.

   “Who are you?” croaked Esca.

   “Ah, forgive me. I forget my manners. I am Fernando Handos,” the man replied.

   “And you serve the man Reynard?”

   “We help one another out from time to time.”

   “And how does he expect your help here?” Esca asked nervously.

  Fernando did not answer, instead he filled one of the goblets and then broke off a piece of the cheese and took a sip from the goblet. Closing his eyes the man hummed a little tune of pleasure.

   “What a perfect blend. The mixture of flavours coming together. Almost like alliances between factions.”

  Esca smiled sourly.

   “So you are here to interrogate me? I have told your Commander and his friends all I know,” he sneered.

   “Hmmm …Would you prefer to be interrogated by the Moor who right now stands outside?”

  The cleric said nothing.

   “I thought not.”

  The interrogator knelt forward to undo the rope that bound the Cardinal’s hands behind his back. Then filling the other goblet he handed it to him along with a portion of the cheese.

   “So I don’t know much, but what I do know is that you are in league with some very unpleasant, dangerous people.”

   “I am a captive with nothing left at my disposal; my allies are either dead or captured. So what reason would I have to withhold information?”

   “Exactly! Well done! That was exactly what I said to the Commander. And in that case, they may as well have your head and be done with it. But then I considered an alternative. What if there is still someone who can save you while you are a guest of the Commander?”

  The Cardinal did not reply. That was a good sign to the inquisitor, who took another sip of his wine.

   “Did you know that the Order has accomplices in almost every court and realm of Christendom bar one?”

  Still the cleric remained silent.

   “The Vatican,” answered Fernando. “To my knowledge, not one Holy Order has an informant within the Vatican. Of course there are those like you for example, who may reach out to those Orders for their own personal gain. Even the Cathars.”

  This time the Cardinal smirked. Whoever this man was, he had been trusted with much of the information he had given to the Brotherhood members.

   “I can tell you no more,” he said.

   “You see, that is what the Commander said, but I see different,” continued Fernando, pressing the tips of his fingers together and gazing into the distance as if he had spotted something fascinating.

   “And what would that be?” asked Esca.

   “Your Cathar friends. Surely they would not set you loose on such a quest without someone closely monitoring your progress?”

  There was a momentary flicker of uncertainty on the Cardinal’s face before he turned it back to a bland smile.

   “So what I’d like to know from you, is who are they and where do they hide?”

   “I swore only to speak with the knights of the Brotherhood and their traitor priest, not you,” answered the Cardinal stiffly.

   “By my reckoning they must be close enough to keep watch not just over you, but over the knights of the Temple as well. And after the information you bartered about the Order and the Brotherhood, most likely them too? For we both know they would simply take your head.”

  Esca’s condescending