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"Then you ain? Or to armor you for eternity?" The o to Marseilles and fling myself before Philip the Fair’s throne" He went back into the rooive form to this damnation, then you will hts "Leave us"

When Trehts filed out of the room and disappeared down the corridor No one paid any attention to Fréht frowned "What will you have? Gold or blood?"

"Protection" Brother Noir hefted the sack "Once it is done, I shall conceal it froreed of the world Only I will knohere it is hidden"

Tre for only one to know"

"Those who share my name will shoulder the burden," the monk said "And when the day couardian"

"You ask too aze dropped as Brother Noir offered him the sack "You would have us rely on the honor of mortals"

"The honor of my name Those who bear it have never betrayedof that, would you, my fine lord? For Blanche told me the brat was yours"

"As she told a dozen others they were his sire" Tre moment "Your kin will betray you, Cris Just as she did"

"That is my concern, not yours," Brother Noir assured him "Those who prove disloyal will die by ht fell silent for a tiland," Tre will be persuaded to offer us sanctuary during the trials By spring ill divide the territory and establish our strongholds"

"When the work is done I will return to France and begin the education and training of lanced at Frémis "You will not kill this one He is an innocent"

"They always are" The dark knight stepped out into the corridor and helped Frémis to his feet "Come, brother Come with me now"

The heavy scent of cherries o, , hard arm steadied him "Back to your post"

Chapter 1

October 12, 2011

Provence, France

D

uring the day the waitresses at La Théière Verte delivered filling but forgettable meals from the crary tourist who had wandered in through the old green doors The owner, Mada the cheapest ingredients and as arlic as she dared She considered this blatant desecration of God’s bounty an econonorant cretins that they were, never see as they were served a plate close to overflowing, they happily handed over their euros

Only after dark did ers who came to dine, and whose standards were French The local residents could not be appeased by a stew of shredded lapin sne of carrots, the blandest of radishes glued by oleo to day-old black bread, or gallons of cheap Spanish wine funneled into eenie ever dared to serve such swill to her neighbors, they would consider it their patriotic duty to lock her and her staff inside the old restaurant before setting fire to the place

For these reasons ed her and nodded toward a tall, flaxen-haired stranger standing just inside the threshold