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

   “God be praised.”

   The priest and the four surviving knights made the sign of the cross upon their chests.

  Esca looked up malevolently as he watched the peasant-born knight hand the Holy Treasure to the priest. Anzac stared at it for a moment before looking back to Robert.

   “Once again Sir Robert, you have proved that your place amongst us is more valuable than we could have imagined. Sir Reynard, if you would guard this with your life for a moment.”

   Reynard walked over and took the chest from Anzac before stepping back a few paces. Finally the priest turned his eyes to the Cardinal who still glared up at them.

   “Your eminence, it is an honour to finally meet you,” smiled the priest.

   “You will burn in the fires of hell for this disservice to the Almighty,” spat Esca.

   “Maybe you’re right, for as I said to Sir Aguillard, I certainly have sins that I must repent for,” answered Anzac, crossing himself again. “However your eminence, if God is to banish me from heaven I can assure you that you will be travelling right next to me.”

  The Cardinal was about to speak again when Schaffer strode forward. His dagger of the Brotherhood was drawn and for a moment all present thought the knight was about to drive the blade into Esca’s gullet. Instead he brought the pommel down on the Cardinal’s head knocking him unconscious.

   “He’ll live,” said the knight.

*****

Cherik and Jurgen soon returned with the others. Jimmy was conscious and looked relatively his old self again. Sir Edward had come round, still slightly pale from his injury. Ridley explained that the knight had taken a wound to his side but he would heal.

   “We have dressed the wound but it will need more attention,” he said.

  Sir Arnaud’s squire knelt down by his master’s body and took the knight’s mailed hand.

   “Where is Count Rolf?” asked Sir Guillame.

   “He is dead my lord. His wound was too great and his strength gave out. His squire is still tending him at the gate,” answered Ridley.

   “We have lost another brave and honourable Brother,” said Quintos sadly.

   “The Army will come to Baeza soon enough. We must conceal as much evidence of our presence here as possible. The Temple knights will need to be secreted away. Their men however can be left for the carrion,” said Sir Guillame.

   “I must return to the church before we leave. Bind and gag the Cardinal. We have a lot more to discuss, he and I,” said Father Anzac, pulling himself up onto his horse.

Amongst the party who had arrived from the gate were two men-at-arms who had served Garcia. Athaelstan reported that another two lay dead back at the town’s entrance as they tried to flee the battle. They were put to work gathering the dead Templar knights and piling their bodies in the centre of the courtyard. Reynard had his men find anything that would burn easily.

  Once alight, the putrid smell of burning flesh started to spread through the courtyard and down the streets. Its stench was enough to make several of their group wretch. Their last task was to strip the sergeants and men-at-arms of their Templar mantles and surcoats and add them to the raging fire. With such scorching heat, Robert had no doubt that by the time the fire burned out all that would remain would be the remnants of the charred carcasses encased in melted metal from the chain mail.

  Chevalier finished filling in Sir Guarin’s grave and after saying a quiet prayer he watched as the rogue Templar Garcia and his followers burned in the inferno. Esca came round to find himself strapped on one of the captured palfreys. He too stared in horror at the actions of the Brotherhood knights and their mercenaries.

   “The knight of the Temple is truly a fearless knight. He is secure on every side, for his soul is protected by the armour of faith, just as his body is protected by the armour of steel. He is thus doubly armed and need fear neither demons nor men.”

  Sir Elizondo Quintos spoke softly but his words resonated around the square.

  Although Reynard and the others looked upon the raging flames with no remorse, Robert could understand why Quintos had spoken the words of a past Grandmaster. The knights who had foolishly joined Garcia on his own pursuit for power had still been knights of the Temple Order. The Brotherhood would never know how Garcia had turned them but it was hard for Sir Elizondo to look upon the dozen warrior monks who had broken their vows.

  As the sun started to descend, the survivors of the conroi who had assaulted the walls of Baeza left through its gates. The bodies of Count Rolf, Sir Eugene and his squire, The Master of the Keys, Sir Edward’s squire and those who had served under the Commander were draped over their horses and covered over.

  Turning in his saddle, Robert looked back at the town. Due to exhaustion and their injured comrades, they were travelling slowly and had only covered a few miles. The black smoke of the dying fire still trailed into the sky. He could no longer make out the two bodies that were suspended from ropes in the town’s open gateway. Robert knew the importance of the Brotherhood’s secrecy so wasn’t surprised when Anzac had given the orders to hang the two captured men-at-arms. He hoped he would never see the town again for he had no doubt he would sometimes visit it in his nightmares.

  That night they made camp on a small ridge, west of the abandoned town. They were lucky enough to dine on freshly cooked meat, courtesy of Cherik