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October 12, 1307

Castillo de Loarre

Aragon, Spain

A

shout outside the barbican tower jerked Brother Frémis from his contemplation of the insides of his eyelids He fu only a cold stub, and entreated Saint Ambrose for patience as he stretched his stiff ar flaht for him to see his way down the narrow stone steps to the portcullis There he peered through the oilette of an old arrow loop in the stone Seven ate All had dressed in dark hoods and plain, rough garb, and appeared at first glance to be nothing rims Yet each man’s cloak only partially concealed the two-handed sword he carried, and did nothing in the slightest to disguise his otten youth had been a stable boy, knew horses

Pilgrims did not travel by means of battle destriers Killers did

"Who are you?" he called out in Spanish "Why do you come here?" When they didn’t answer, he repeated himself in French

"God’s work," an aate, brother"

No canny siegeSancho had given it to the Church only after everything of value had been removed from its walls Nor would a band of Moorish raiders attehted they would have been pursued by the road patrols until their mounts dropped dead of exhaustion

Besides that, what ht? Even by the French?

"Brother?"

"Come back at dawn," Frémis blurted out "You may apply to the abbot after matins"

One of the ate He did not snarl threats or brandish his sword, but simply stood there

"There is no tiate"

Pain jabbed inside Fréed "Our order follows the path of Christ We have nothing of value but the purity of our souls"

A harsh laugh rang out "Then you are infinitely wealthy, little monk"

As the man pushed back his hood from his dark, handsome face, the scent of war nose

"My lords," he heard hi awaits you behind these walls but disgrace and damnation"

"Of those, we have an abundance," the knight assured him "Let us in, brother"

Fréh the slot, which had becoht from the kitchen Such was his preoccupation with the delicious scent that he ignored his feet, which moved of their own accord back to the steps and cli Rust from the old chains flaked from his fists as he yanked on them before he hurried back down to secure the ropes

By the tiate had been raised and secured, Fré to his knees seeiveness, auntlet landed on his shoulder "We led to stand, the huge hand encased in the blackened glove provided assistance "May I do this for you, my lord? I was born in a stable, you know Just as the son of God was"

"And every other poor nameless bastard whelped by a homeless whore," one of the otherin English, which Frémis did not understand, but it served to silence his foulmouthed companion

"This way, my lord" Frémis stumbled over his own feet, such was his haste to lead the auntlet descended, this time to catch the back of his robe and steady him A fold of his cloak fell away from a snohite tunic, upon which the passion cross blazed in all its scarlet glory

"Saint Ambrose protect us You are God’s warriors" Fréht his eyes ht pop out of their sockets "Why did you not say, my lord? I shall summon the abbot at once--"