Page 36 of Under a Spanish Sky

‘Give them what they want.’ Friar Laurent’s voice had suddenly become falsetto.

‘Here, take this.’ Luc felt the purse pass his arm and drop on the street in front of the two attackers.

The taller of the two ducked down to retrieve it.

In a flash, Luc’s new staff caught him behind the ear with a heavy thud, laying him out, unconscious.

Seeing one man down, Luc transferred his attention to the other.

For a moment their eyes met. Then there was a clatter as his battered sword landed on the cobbles and the man turned and disappeared back up the alley as if the devil himself were at his heels.

Luc grunted with justifiable satisfaction and picked up the friar’s purse.

‘Here. You don’t want to be too generous, you know.

’ He smiled encouragingly at the monk, whose pasty face still expressed bleak terror.

Luc held out the leather pouch and Friar Laurent took it from him as if in a dream.

It was only when Luc bent to retrieve the fallen swords that he managed to find his voice.

‘It’s you, isn’t it?’ Luc froze, the swords still in his hands.

The friar stared at the blades, mesmerised, as he repeated, ‘It’s you.

You’re the Templar knight they’re looking for.

I knew it.’ He wiped his face with his sleeve and managed to slide his attention from the swords to Luc’s face. His voice was hoarse as he continued.

‘My God. Those two bandits. They could feel it too, and you didn’t even have a sword.

’ As if realising for the first time that Luc now held the weapons, he reached out his hands towards him.

But it was not in supplication. The gesture was one of thanks.

Luc let him take his left hand in both of his and pump it up and down gratefully.

After a glance over his shoulder, Luc threw the swords up and onto the roof of a low barn on the other side of the road.

There was a clatter as they landed, then silence.

‘So what do you intend doing about it?’ Luc’s tone was light, but his thoughts were anything but.

Automatically, he found himself thinking that he could very easily break the friar’s neck, if it came to it.

The presence of the unconscious bandit would ensure that no eyebrows would be raised.

However, the thought of doing it filled him with regret, not least because he had come to like Laurent.

Besides, even though he knew the friar was the most likely to betray him of anybody in the group, he recoiled at the thought of cold-blooded murder.

‘Logrono. That’s where they’re waiting for you.

’ Luc listened intently to the friar’s words as they came rushing out, barely louder than a whisper.

‘The priest back at Los Arcos told me that there are soldiers checking all pilgrims going into Logrono. You’ll have to skirt round the town and meet us the other side.

’ He still had hold of Luc’s hand and pressed it to his own chest. ‘Upon my honour as a man, and upon the holy cross of Christ, I swear I will not betray you.’

Luc felt the touch of the crucifix beneath the rough habit.

He relinquished the friar’s hand and smiled.

‘Isn’t it your holy duty to tell your superiors of the presence amongst you of a foul idolator, who’s probably a blasphemer and a pederast to boot?

’ He prodded the unconscious man on the ground with the end of his stick and was reassured to see him still out cold.

‘Forget for a moment that you have most probably just saved my life.’ The monk was regaining his composure. ‘When I came out looking for you a few minutes ago, I had already decided to warn you of the trap ahead.’

Luc’s expression was one of surprise. Friar Laurent explained.

‘I’ve seen you with Aimée. Her whole life revolves around you.

She loves you with an obvious fervour that even we men of the cloth can admire, and maybe envy.

’ His voice faltered a little. Luc flushed in spite of himself.

Friars like Laurent, after all, were bound by the same rules of celibacy as Templars.

‘The way you look after her, that’s not the behaviour of a pervert or a blasphemer.

Nor is the way the two of you pray together every night and morning.

No, if the Templars are really as evil as the king would have us believe, then you’re an exception.

If the Order of the Temple is as virtuous as it claims, then you’re the living proof. You can trust me.’

Luc’s heart sang, not just for the lifeline Friar Laurent had thrown him.

‘Laurent, my friend, you bring joy to my heart and your words give me hope. It’s been all too easy for me and my companions to fear the worst over the last few years.

Listening to you, I know all is not lost.’ He smiled broadly and caught the friar in a bear hug.

‘I believe the others have ordered us a drink of wine, Laurent. Come, I feel we’ve earned a little relaxation.

’ Clapping his arm around the other man’s shoulders, he led him back to the inn.