Knights of the Black and White

FIVE

A profoundly scandalized silence descended upon the entire community of the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Jesus Christ from the moment Brother Stephen was first spotted approaching the stable precincts, dressed as he was in silks and muslin, with his face scrubbed pinkly clean and sweet odors wafting in his wake as he passed. Such was the euphoria that still gripped him, however, that he found himself grinning widely to everyone he met, calling each of them loudly by name and greeting them effusively as he swept past, into the interior of the stables, and leaving all of them, without exception, staring after him open mouthed and speechless.

He found Brother Hugh, as he expected, in colloquy with Brother Godfrey in the records room and stepped directly inside, closing the doors at his back and smiling at the expressions on their faces as they took in his appearance from head to foot. It was de Payens who first recovered his voice and his aplomb. He sat back in his chair, his eyebrows settling back into their normal position, and crossed his hands upon his flat belly. “We shall assume, in the hope of salvation, that you will be able, thanks to God’s ample blessings, to explain why you come to us dressed like an effeminate from some sultan’s seraglio, my son.”

“I will, indeed, Brother Hugh, and I thank you for the opportunity to do so, and for the forbearance that you show in not upbraiding me first and questioning me after. I have much to tell you, and when you have heard it, you will understand my appearance here today.”

Quickly then, wasting no words but omitting no single detail, he explained to them everything that had occurred that day, from the moment of being summoned to meet with the Patriarch, who was, he had since learned, in a spiritual retreat from which he would not emerge for several days. Brother Hugh nodded gravely at that, confirming that it was so, but that was the only gesture of any kind that either of the two senior brethren made until St. Clair had told them everything.

When he was finished, both elders sat silent, their heads bowed as if in prayer while they digested what he had told them.

“Did you lie to the princess?” This was Brother Godfrey.

“No, Brother, I did not. I said only that I had heard nothing of hidden hoards of gold. I made no mention of other kinds of wealth, for by then it was plain to me that the princess had no interest in anything but specie—portable treasure.”

“And she believed you.”

St. Clair turned to Brother Hugh. “Aye, she did. She believed the explanation that I offered, that there could be no treasure in solid rock.”

“Unless it had been there since the Creation.”

“Yes, Brother, that was what I implied.”

“What have you in the bundle beneath your arm?”

“Oh! This is the clothing I was wearing when I left here this morning.”

“Excellent tidings, for which we are grateful. Be so good then as to put it on again, as quickly as you may, and bring those”—Brother Hugh waved a hand in the younger monk’s direction—“garments back here to me. I will see that they are returned to the palace with your gratitude.”

St. Clair bowed his head and turned to go, but de Payens stopped him before he could begin to move away. “You have done well, Brother Stephen, and the brethren will know of it. I shall inform them tonight, after evening prayers, how bravely you have … suffered on their behalf. Now go you and change, then return here, for I doubt you will have heard the latest tidings, and you should. Quickly now. But, if it please you, make some attempt to lave away the perfumed stuff in which I fear you have been bathing.”

St. Clair returned in less than half an hour, dressed in his oldest tunic and hose, both impregnated with years of sweat, his own and his horse’s, and wearing his mail hauberk, which smelled redolently of old sweat, oily leather, and rust, and de Payens sniffed appreciatively and grinned. “There, that is a much more becoming odor for a Poor Fellow Soldier of Christ. Sit down now, and listen. We found a new tunnel this morning, almost as soon as work began. St. Agnan came across a wall of masonry closing off the tunnel he was in. He sent back word to ask what he should do, and Brother Godfrey instructed him to go ahead and breach the wall.”

“And? What did he find?”

“Another passageway, crossing the one he was in and walling it off from the other three arms of a crossroads. But it was clear of debris and had a current of clear air blowing through it, and when Brother Archibald and his companions, Brothers Bissot and Montbard, followed each of the three arms, they found another tunnel, then another and another. In fact, they found a labyrinth. When is your next patrol?”

“My first patrol, you mean, Master Hugh. The first in months.” St. Clair thought for a moment. “Tomorrow? What day is this? Yes, it must be tomorrow. Gondemare and Montdidier are out now, between here and Jericho. They should be back tonight, and I am due to leave for Jaffa with Rossal and a full patrol as soon as they are back.”

“Would you postpone it?”

“If you see a need, yes, of course. But why? We never have postponed a patrol before, and the frequency of our sweeps is part of what keeps them successful.”

“Because we will need every man to explore these new tunnels. I have a feeling we can match them to our map this time. And if any of them are blocked, by caveins or anything else, and have to be cleared, your muscles are younger and stronger than any others among us.”

St. Clair nodded. “You spoke of a labyrinth, Master Hugh. How many of these new tunnels are there?”

De Payens thrust out his lower lip and shook his head. “I cannot say at this time. But I would hazard, from what I have been told, that there are more than a score of junctions down there, each of those leading into others. Labyrinth is the proper word, I believe. Why did you ask me that?”

“In hopes it would confirm what I suspected, and it does. Let me ride out tomorrow as planned, Master Hugh. The Jaffa patrol is a ten-day sweep, and I think it might be unwise to neglect it now. I have a feeling that band of brigands de Montbard could not find is still out there, somewhere along the Jaffa road. It is only a feeling, but it’s a strong one, and I’ve learned to trust such things within myself. They were a large party, according to what de Montbard was told, and we have heard nothing about them since he came home, but that is not to say they are not out there, and it’s been a month since he was last there. I would prefer to go and make the sweep, simply for my own peace of mind, and while I am away, the rest of the brethren can explore the tunnels and make note of any that are blocked. When I return, I will gladly tackle any digging that needs to be done.”

De Payens pursed his lips, then nodded. “So be it. Make your patrol, and if you find these creatures, sweep them from the earth. By the time you return, we’ll be ready for you.”