Requiem: The Fall of the Templars (34 page)

“Did I do the right thing?”

Nogaret halted. “My lord? Is everything all right? You look pale.”

Philippe met his gaze. “Answer me, Nogaret. Did I do the right thing?

Should I have arrested Saisset?”

“Without doubt. He was fomenting unrest against you, confronting decisions you have made, ridiculing your rule. The man defamed your character, calling you a stupid owl, a witless—”

“All right,” snapped Philippe. He drew in a breath. “But there was no evidence of heresy. My confessor, Guillaume de Paris, believes the bishop to be innocent of such an unspeakable crime.”

Nogaret sucked his lip contemplatively. “We discussed this, my lord,” he began slowly. “The people are still led by the Church, by the old ways. They needed a strong reason, a reason they would understand for your arrest of a prominent man of the cloth. And they understand heresy very well.”

196 robyn

young

“As do you,” retorted Philippe.

Nogaret went still, his pallid face frozen in the candlelight. Outside, rain hammered on the windows. When the minister spoke, his voice was low. “I do what is best for you, my lord, and what is best for the realm. My advice has always been to this end. If you wish to reign supreme in your kingdom, you must show yourself to be greater than priests and bishops, greater even than the pope, or your power will always be limited to what the Church is willing to dole out. Do you not want your people to proclaim you as a saint? To revere you in name and deed, as they did your grandfather?”

Philippe’s eyes fixed on a tapestry beyond Nogaret, which showed the Vir-gin and Child. From within the safety of Mary’s enfolding arms, the infant Christ stretched out a finger. His eyes were two black pools. “Yes,” Philippe whispered. “Yes, I do.”

“Then stand fast, my lord, and I swear I will help you achieve this.”

The council reconvened before the hour was up. The nobles and burghers gave elaborate speeches, announcing their full support, and read aloud letters of protest that would be sent to Rome. Philippe tensed when the bishop of Paris rose to speak for the clergy. The bishop spoke haltingly, as if choosing his words carefully, but it soon became clear the clergy would stand with their king, and Philippe eased back in his throne.

Surveying the clergymen, he saw anger and discontent on the faces of many, but also resignation. They had to obey him, or risk their benefi ces. His eyes fell on Bertrand de Got, standing near the front. The small man, dwarfed by his ecclesiastical robes, looked wan and weary, but showed no signs of rage.

This pleased Philippe. De Got had been elected archbishop of Bordeaux two years ago and now had real power in the heart of Guienne, still in contention despite the truce with Edward. As much as he disliked the archbishop, Philippe needed to keep him on his side.

The bishop of Paris finished speaking and, after an imperious address from Nogaret thanking the men of France for their support, the first assembly of the estates-general was brought to a close.

“What did you think you were doing, Chancellor?” murmured Nogaret, catching Pierre Flote’s arm as the mass of men filed out of Notre Dame into the storm.

Flote glared at the minister and shrugged off his hand. “I did what I had to.”

the fall of the templars

197

“It was what our king
commanded
of you. You should have afforded it every importance and presented it with all skill. Instead you sounded like a timid choirboy at his fi rst recital!”

“How dare you—”

“The only thing we can be grateful for is that you didn’t damage the verdict.”

Flote scoffed. “Verdict? We knew what it would be before the assembly began!”

“There was still danger from the Church. You could have jeopardized everything we have been working toward.”

Flote’s eyes went wide. “You talk to me about jeopardy? You are going to destroy
France
!” He led Nogaret into one of the side aisles. “Why are you conducting this travesty of a trial against Saisset? Is it some foolish display of power because I persuaded the king to concentrate on Flanders when you wanted to remain in Guienne?”

“I admit, I believe we should have continued our drive to regain control of the duchy, but that isn’t what—”

“I cannot believe you still don’t see the sense in this action! Flanders is just as wealthy, but far more controllable. It is ruled by a French vassal, not a foreign king, and whereas we have reached a stalemate with the English in Gascony, in Flanders we already stand victorious in battle. Now that our troops are stationed in Bruges and Ghent we have a far greater chance to bring the territory under our dominion.” Flote continued quickly when Nogaret went to interrupt. “If we control Flanders, we can infl uence King Edward. England relies on Flanders for the wool trade. We can gain power over them with this, perhaps come to an arrangement over Guienne. Can you not see the wisdom in this, Guillaume?”

Nogaret’s rigid expression didn’t change. “This isn’t about Flanders, or Gascony. This is about punishing men who commit treason. Saisset was damaging our lord’s reputation. He had to be arrested.”

“Have you forgotten your training? By that action you violated the laws of the Church! Bishops can only be judged in the Roman curia. Pope Boniface had every right to demand Saisset’s release.” Flote’s voice dropped to a murmur. “And every man in this cathedral knew that, whatever they said to ap-pease our lord. All that is happening now will only serve to widen the schism growing between the royal and papal courts.”

“The wider the better. You heard the reports of Boniface’s Jubilee ceremony.

198 robyn

young

A quarter of a million pilgrims journeyed to St. Peter’s at his promise of a re-mission of their sins, to be confronted by the spectacle of the pope planted on his throne, holding sword and scepter, yelling,
I am Caesar
!” Nogaret’s tone was scathing. “And now he has exiled or imprisoned as many of the Colonna family as he can find, Boniface has no one left to oppose his swelling arrogance. If he lived to usher in another new century, no doubt his cry would be
I am God
!”

Flote winced. “This isn’t a game, Nogaret. Your actions have seriously threatened France.” He held up the bull he’d had in his hands during his speech. “Did you even read this? The pope promises that unless Saisset is released, he will suspend all privileges granted to our kingdom by the Holy See.”

He unrolled the parchment. “
Come back, my dear son,
” he read, “
to the path of
God, from which you have strayed, by your own faults, or else by evil counsel. Do
not believe that you are without superior or free from my dominion as vicar of the
earth. This indeed would be madness, for whosoever held such a belief would be an
infidel, cut off from the flock.
” Flote looked up. “Cut off from the fl ock. Don’t you see? He threatens excommunication.”

“He wouldn’t dare. Boniface needs the monies the Church in France provides him. That much was clear when we removed those funds and forced him to withdraw
Clericis laicos
. He backed down then. If we hold our nerve he will back down again. Now,” finished Nogaret, “I believe we both have our orders.” He moved to walk away.

Rage sparked in Flote, making him forget where he was. “You’re a Godless beast, Nogaret. A son of heretics! And I will do everything in my power to bring an end to your malign influence over our king.”

Nogaret turned back, his dark eyes fixing on Flote’s scarlet face. “I would be very careful, Chancellor, about exciting yourself in this way. You are not a young man anymore.”

st. gervais–st. protais church, paris, may 25, 1302 ad

Taking a candle, Will held the wick in the flame of another until it sputtered into life. He placed it among the others before the altar and spoke a prayer, while the ivory statues of saints Gervais and Protais, the twin brothers mar-tyred during the reign of Nero, looked sadly down. He felt someone move in beside him. A hand reached out from under a white mantle and chose a candle from the pile.

the fall of the templars

199

“Shall we sit?”

Will met Robert’s gaze, then motioned to the benches.

As they sat, a sacristan headed to the altar with a knife and tray. He smiled uncertainly at the two men, one a Templar, the other indistinct in a plain woolen cloak, then knelt beneath the candles and began to scrape wax from the floor. It was late afternoon, between Nones and Vespers. Apart from a couple of people seated near the front, heads bowed, the church was empty.

The only sound was the rasp of the sacristan’s knife against the stone.

“I wasn’t sure you were still in the city,” said Robert quietly. “I thought perhaps you’d returned to Scotland.”

“Simon would have told you.”

“Simon only tells me when you wish to meet. Most of the time, he avoids me. I think he is worried I’ll ask questions and the wrong people will overhear.” Robert pushed a hand through his hair, which was silvery-white and receding. “Either that or he doesn’t trust me to keep your secret.”

“I’m certain that’s not the case,” said Will, with a frown. “But it is good he is cautious.”

“I wouldn’t worry. Hugues thinks you’re long gone, and as most of the knights who knew you returned to Cyprus with the grand master, there are not many left who would recognize you. As long as you keep your distance from the preceptory, it is doubtful you’ll be noticed.”

“Still, I need to be careful.”

“Wouldn’t want anything to endanger your important work,” murmured Robert.

Will exhaled. “I presumed you understood.”

“No,” responded Robert sharply, “you hoped I did to ease your guilt.” The sacristan glanced over, but returned to his industrious scraping when Robert’s gaze flicked to him.

“What is this about, Robert? I thought we were—”

“What?” Robert cut in. “Friends?”

“Are we not?”

“I don’t know what we are. You appeared after three years with no word and expected things to go back to the way they were. But how can they? You left the Temple and you left others with this great burden that wasn’t theirs to bear. You were Everard’s successor. You pledged yourself to the Brethren.”

“As did you.”

“After you dragged me into it.” Robert paused at Will’s pained expression, then looked away. “What do you expect? You send for me every six months or 200 robyn

young

so as if I’m your servant, wanting to know if the Temple has any information on this or that. You don’t even ask about the Anima Templi. I almost didn’t come today. I found myself asking who it is you call these meetings for and realized I didn’t know the answer. Is it William Wallace? Or King Philippe? Or do you work for anyone these days—a mercenary?”

“You know I’m not that.”

“No? Simon didn’t tell me everything when he returned from Scotland, but I know you both fought at Falkirk. Templars died there. The master of England died there.” Robert followed Will with his eyes as he turned away. “Perhaps you chose the wrong side.”

“I never changed, Robert. It was the Temple that did. I’m still working against the man who betrayed our ideals, who used us for his own ends.”

“And how exactly are you doing that as Philippe’s bloodhound?”

“The king and the pope are the only men who can exercise any power over Edward. Already one of his campaigns has been halted by their intervention.

Wallace must continue to keep them on his side if the war against Scotland is to end.”

“I thought you said you were doing this for the Temple,” said Robert, a little cuttingly.

“All the while Edward is tied up in his political and military entanglements, he will most likely leave the Temple alone. And I still have family in Scotland, so of course if I can protect them through my work here I will.”

Robert fell silent for a time. “If you are in Paris on Wallace’s behalf, why are you running errands for Philippe?”

“While the rule of the duchy of Guienne remains in dispute, the king needs the Scots. He can use them to mount offenses against England, designed to occupy Edward’s forces. That is why he is still sending money to the Scots, albeit nowhere near as much as we need. But should the balance ever shift?”

Will raised his shoulders wearily. “Let us just say I am making sure Philippe continues to find the services of a former Templar as useful as possible. It is one of the reasons Wallace left me here when he returned to Scotland: to keep in with him.”

“One of?”

“I asked to stay. Rose,” Will explained. “Mostly, I make sure messages and the little money Philippe can spare find their way safely into Wallace’s hands.”

“I heard a rumor Wallace is dead.”

“No. But he has gone to ground. Edward is intent on hunting him down.

the fall of the templars

201

He has Scottish nobles scouring the realm for him. Some of them are willing, but most have had their families threatened unless they obey.”

“Have you spoken to Philippe of the Anima Templi?”

“No. He knows I deserted over the Temple’s support of Edward and that I was a commander. But that is all.” Will paused as the sacristan passed by, his tray full of yellow shards of wax. “How are things in the Brethren? Is Hugues still in contact with Edward?”

“Messages pass between them, but infrequently and they contain nothing more than the usual political pledges and assurances as far as I know. In truth, the Brethren don’t do much at all these days.”

Will’s surprise was followed by a jab of anger. “Nothing?”

“It is just Hugues and me in Paris, and Thomas in London now. What on earth can the three of us do?” Robert snorted. “Reconcile the faiths of the world at our annual meeting?”

“Enlist more members?” suggested Will, irritated by his tone.

“Hugues is kept occupied with the running of the order: expanding our wool trade, recruiting knights, building ships, collecting donations. In turn, I am busy helping him. Among other things.”

Will sensed he was holding something back. “Other things?”

“It is nothing, just some rumors I’ve been trying to get to the bottom of.”