The Cardinal's Assassin: Book one in 'The Hand of God' historical fiction series by Dobson Harry

Author:Dobson, Harry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-09T00:00:00+00:00

It was dark when later the same day Leonardo and Sir Maurice met outside the chapel. Sir Maurice was looking extremely uncomfortable. ‘I don’t like this, Leonardo,’ he said, fidgeting more than usual. ‘It just seems very dishonest.’

‘But it will do good in the long term. Do you not wish to help us find the man who betrays the King?’

‘Well, yes I suppose.’

‘Very well, then. It must be done. Wait here. I will check that he is alone.’

Sir Maurice sighed as Leonardo opened the door to the chapel and ducked inside. He reappeared a moment later and gave Sir Maurice a nod. ‘He is within, and alone. Good luck.’

Nodding, Sir Maurice took a deep breath and pushed open the wooden door, closing it behind him. Leonardo waited. The plan was simple. Sir Maurice was to approach the Count discreetly and inform him that in his possession he had some very interesting information about the King. He would wait until he’d piqued the Count’s interest before continuing, telling him the story the fictional letters told before naming his price and asking that the Count send a man along with a bag of coin to an inn in the city where the exchange could be made in secret. If the Count’s man showed up, then they would know Raymond’s intent.

But whatever Leonardo expected to happen, it was not the events that unfolded.

Several minutes after Sir Maurice had entered, he heard a roar from within and even through the thick wooden door could hear the Count of Toulouse shouting at the top of his voice, ‘You weasel! You would think to dishonour the King with such information? To dishonour your own blood! I hope to God for your soul’s sake that you burn those letters! Get out of here!’

The door opened and a pink-faced Sir Maurice appeared and hurried through, with Count Raymond’s voice echoing out even louder through the open doorway.

‘God help us. What is wrong with the younger generation? Call yourself a knight? You think that I would ever use such foul tactics? Don’t let me see you again, you worm!’

The pair of them made good their escape, just in time to hear the Count descend into a fit of coughs that slowly faded away as they absconded into the night.

‘Well,’ Sir Maurice said when they were a safe distance away, ‘he didn’t take the bait.’

‘I could tell,’ was Leonardo’s reply. ‘At least now we know.’

‘I don’t suppose I’ll be able to show my face around the Count of Toulouse for a good few years,’ he said bitterly. ‘I feel wretched, trying to swindle an honest man.’

‘Yes, he does seem to be honest,’ Leonardo said thoughtfully.

‘Right well, that’s that I suppose.’ Sir Maurice turned to Leonardo and said, ‘The taverns will be open for a last drink. Will you join me, my friend?’

‘Another time,’ Leonardo said. ‘I would like to be alone to think.’

Although Count Raymond’s actions pointed to him being the one betraying the King, what Leonardo had just learnt suggested otherwise.

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