Twist of Time by Gy Waldron

Author:Gy Waldron
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: Gy Waldron
Published: 2024-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

Father Pierre was traveling south on the road to Avignon after leaving the Templars the night before. Failing to find a peasant’s hut, he had spent a miserable wet night in the rough. Worse, he must prepare himself to report his failure to the Holy Father. Pope Clement, though French, demanded much from his Inquisition agents. Pierre could expect no leniency.

He reined his palfrey to stop. Approaching around a turn were five riders; the leader was obviously a knight. His cloak bore a red chevron: a sherif. God was favoring him!

Sherif Gilbert saw a man in Dominican black with an assortment of horses, three carrying combat harness and tack. That he traveled without protective escort was most unusual.

After exchanging greetings, Father Pierre presented credentials with Papal seals. He told what had occurred with the two Templars and that they stole a chest he was personally delivering to Pope Clement.

The sherif feared that the Inquisition might be involved. The priest showed documents with a Papal seal: authority equal to the King’s. That Gilbert could not read did not matter; the beribboned Papal seals were enough.

Pierre explained that the Pope’s letter gave him full authority to enlist help to recover the chest. He added that in addition to gold payment there was also papal preferment; special indulgences would be granted.

With a lifetime heavy with sins and the prospect of many more to come, Sir Gilbert found this as tempting as the money—almost.

Pierre raged. “The Templars are possessed by Satan himself! They have taken up with a Gypsy witch! In our company were two veteran cavalry and four Papal knights! Two Templars killed five of the six!”

“Only two Templars? How?”

“They were bewitched by the Gypsy! Naked as Babylon’s whore, she cast a spell on them. They were cut down like wheat. The two Templars escaped scart-free with ’naer a wound.”

Sir Gilbert had done his share of campaigning. He saw that there was more strategy than witchcraft in the Templars’ attack. After questioning further, he understood: a diversion in front by the woman, a surprise assault in their rear. Besides, these were Zealotes. On horse, the two could have beaten all six without the help of a naked woman. In his own troop were four veteran cavalrymen. Against two Zealotes, they would be quickly defeated.

“Father Pierre, where are the Templars going?”

“La Rochelle. I heard them discuss the route.”

“Which way?”

“North by west.”

“First, I must see the Baron de Ville.”

“No! We must continue the pursuit!”

“Priest, you have five dead! I found eight rotting bandits and a day later, four of the King’s cavalry cut to pieces—all the work of these two Templars. You will use your papal authority to order the Baron de Ville to help us!”

“Ask for more soldiers?”

“No. Archers.”

Pierre saw that the sherif could not be persuaded. “Where is the Baron de Ville?”

“Saint Cyr.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.