To Wear The White Cloak: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery by Newman Sharan

Author:Newman, Sharan [Newman, Sharan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2000-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

On the other side of the river, Bertulf and Godfrey were seated under a chestnut tree drinking a bowl of cider.

“Not as good as what we get at home,” Godfrey pronounced.

“I suppose they don’t even make proper cider in Jerusalem,” Bertulf said glumly. “I can’t fancy using dates or oranges or other foreign fruit. Drink up; who knows if we’ll ever have more.”

Godfrey drained the bowl. He looked around. They were on the higher ground south of the river, and, between the buildings, he could see the vineyards that belonged half to the Jew, Abraham, and half to the canons of Saint Victor. He could hear geese honking as they were driven up the road for market. It was a fair enough land, but he missed his own village. He had vowed to follow his master even into the jaws of hell, but his heart would always remain in Picardy.

“When can we end this pretense of trying to discover what we already know?” he asked Bertulf.

“Soon, I hope,” Bertulf answered. “The army will be leaving and with it, the Knights of the Temple. I’ve made a decision, Godfrey and I want you to honor it.”

“Anything, Master.” Godfrey sat up straight, his hand over his heart.

“I don’t want you to take the oath to the Temple with me,” Bertulf said. “No, don’t protest. Such a promise should only be made freely and in deep faith. I cannot order you to come with me or hold you to a vow of loyalty. It’s too great a sacrifice.”

“I wish to make it,” Godfrey insisted.

Bertulf smiled. “No, you don’t. And I have a task for you that is just as important. I want you to return home.”

Godfrey’s face suffused with joy, though he quickly tried to hide it.

“But, Master …” he began.

Bertulf continued. “You must go to Lord Jordan and tell him that Lord Osto and his friend Bertulf have renounced the things of this world to join the brethren of the Temple of Solomon and protect the pilgrims in the Holy Land. Tell him also that it is our wish that Lambert and Clemence be married and that the castellany be managed by Lambert until their oldest son comes of age.”

“He won’t like it,” Godfrey said.

“It’s the final request of ones who have gone to seek martyrdom,” Bertulf answered. “Father Mikel and all the men of the village will swear this was our intent. Lambert may not be nobly born, but he has good sense and understands what needs to be done. What he doesn’t know, Clemence can teach him.”

“The son of a miller as castellan.” Godfrey shook his head. “You’re asking a great deal.”

“That’s why you must be there to insist,” Bertulf said. “Will you go? If you don’t, then all this will have been for nothing.”

Godfrey stood, then knelt before Bertulf, placing his hands together and raising them.

“I will, my lord,” he swore.

Bertulf bowed his head. His tears trickled through his beard and fell upon the cross sewn onto his black cloak.

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