The Last Templar (2005) by Raymond Khoury

Author:Raymond Khoury [Khoury, Raymond]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Raymond Khoury
ISBN: 9781409118565
Publisher: Orien

267

Aimard shook his head. “No. He’s not a member of our Order, and there may come a point when the grand master of the Paris Temple will only listen to a true brother. In fact, I think Hugh should be the one to travel with you.”

Martin nodded thoughtfully, then asked, “What about you?”

Aimard coughed and wiped a hand across his beard, and Martin saw more blood in his spittle. “So far, we’ve been fortunate, but more dangers will come your way, without a doubt,” Aimard said. “Your journey can’t be slowed for the sick and wounded. Not later, and certainly not now. As I said, this is my journey’s end.”

“We can’t leave you here,” Martin protested.

Cringing with pain, Aimard touched his fingers to his ribs. “After the accident on the ship,” he said, “I’m lucky to have reached this far. Take the letters and go.

Somehow, you must reach Paris. A lot rests on your shoulders.”

Martin of Carmaux nodded, then, reaching out, he clasped his friend and mentor in his arms. He then rose and walked away to where the others and their mounts waited.

He spoke briefly with them and they all turned to look at Aimard of Villiers, who held their eyes for just a moment before rising laboriously to his feet and walking unsteadily to the well. The geared device was in his hands. Martin watched in rapt silence as his old friend smashed it against the stone wall and, piece by piece, dropped its broken fragments into the well.

“May God be with you,” Martin said softly. “And with us all.”

Taking the bridle of one of the horses, he swung up 268

into the foreign saddle. Soon, the line of four horsemen was filing through the ruins of the village, their spare mounts trailing behind, before they began to head northwest, uncertain of their fate, unaware of whatever dangers might lie before them on their long journey to France.

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