The Templar's Penance

Chapter Ten

It was while the two friends were leaning back, feeling the soporific afterglow of a good meal, that Baldwin saw his old colleague Matthew again.

The former Templar walked slowly among the tradesmen, speaking to no one, which made him stand out from the other beggars there. Men and women clothed in black all moved with the same lethargic pace, but most offered a greeting to the traders standing there in the crowd. Not Matthew. He walked with his face averted, as though he hated to see how much the people there detested him. In his past he had been a warrior monk, someone notable for his religious dedication, his integrity and his honour. Now he had become a shrunken man.

Baldwin had long ago developed the ability to isolate his logical mind from his emotions. It had been necessary when he saw his friends dying in the hellish Battle of Acre, and had grown still more necessary while he was a renegade knight, avoiding capture as the King’s men hunted down all those Templars who had escaped their traps. Watching Matthew today, he was struck by the fact that the beggar was the most solitary man in the square. Whereas others were disabled to varying degrees or had obvious deformities, it was Matthew, albeit physically whole, who appeared the most cut off. It was curious, but Baldwin felt he understood. A man like Matthew, proud and haughty as he had been, would find it intolerable to have changed into someone who was despised or pitied. That, for him, would be worse than any form of torture.

Baldwin wondered if Matthew would, in fact, have fared better if he had suffered from some of the cruel injuries inflicted on the other Templars. It might have helped him to create a bond with other folk. Then again, perhaps not. Some men were arrogant and, whatever the circumstances, would not see fit to mingle with those whom they considered below them. Matthew was formed in that mould. While other beggars walked together, he kept himself aloof.

They were a lively group, these beggars, Baldwin noticed. A pair of legless men over at the entrance to the square were talking loudly to a deaf fellow, who bent his head, a hand cupping his ear, while he frowned comically, trying to understand what they were saying. Meanwhile a woman who had lost an arm cackled with a young mother, whose children were scampering all over the place. There was a man with a dreadfully disfigured face, who kept it half covered so as not to upset people, yet who burst out laughing uproariously at some joke passed to him by a young servant who lounged at his side. Then there was a small gathering of women nearer the Cathedral, all holding out their hands and piteously calling upon any passers-by for alms; although if they received nothing for their efforts, their cries soon became screeches of outrage. It was a common trait for beggars to hurl imprecations at those who ignored their pleas.

The woman María was there, Baldwin saw. She was a little taller than the rest, and probably louder than all the others put together. Her harangues were more spiteful, too, and her knowledge of Galician sewer-language was, to Baldwin’s ear, impressive.

‘They won’t do well if they keep shouting at people like that,’ Simon commented drily.

‘Maybe they feel they have little to lose,’ Baldwin guessed. ‘If a man will not help them with alms, they see little need to show respect.’

‘It’s damned disgraceful.’

‘It is not honourable, no – but if you were forced to beg, how would you behave? At least this way, abusing those who refuse to help them, they feel a little satisfaction, I imagine. Revenge upon the people who shun them.’

Simon grunted without conviction, and Baldwin’s attention returned to his old comrade. Matthew was near the Cathedral wall now, and he squatted at its foot, his hat tilted slightly back, surveying the crowds like a man who sneered at the antics of children. Catching sight of Baldwin, he half lifted a hand as though to acknowledge him, but then let it fall, as though reminding himself that he was no longer the equal of Baldwin, and could not expect recognition. Had their positions been reversed, Matthew would have refused to acknowledge him, Baldwin was sure, both because he would refuse to have any dealings with a beggar, and because he wouldn’t confess to knowing a Templar. That might be dangerous. Baldwin was sure he should feel upset by this, but somehow it served only to increase his vague feeling of comradeship with Matthew, as though it was their differences which bound them together.

The sun was high in the sky and the heat was growing when Doña Stefanía appeared from an alley behind them. She walked to a table at a corner, shaded pleasantly beneath a great tree, and sat quietly, as though entirely humbled or devastated.

Simon and Baldwin exchanged a look.

‘I should like to leave her in peace,’ the knight said slowly, ‘but what of others who might be harmed by Joana’s murderer? The killer might even now be stalking another young woman.’

‘There’s little point in our becoming involved,’ Simon countered. ‘It’s nothing to do with us. There’s no merit in upsetting a Prioress, or whatever she is, just to find out something which is of no importance to us.’

‘No importance?’ Baldwin snorted. ‘Come on, Simon – the truth is always important.’

‘You know what I mean. We have no authority or jurisdiction here. It’s sad that a girl was killed, but what of it? Girls are raped and murdered every day. We should concentrate our minds on returning home and helping our own folks there.’

‘Yes,’ Baldwin said, unconvinced.

Simon stared about him sourly. ‘And anyway, no one even speaks bloody English here. I don’t think I could be any use whatever.’

Baldwin chuckled. ‘Little change from life at home in Devonshire, then.’

‘Oh, you think so do you?’ Simon demanded in mock anger, but as he did so, he caught sight of the lady. She had suddenly shot upright in her seat and was staring at a tall, dark knight. ‘Who’s that?’ he wondered aloud.

‘I wonder why the lady trembles so at the sight of him?’ Baldwin murmured.

Simon was certain of one thing. ‘She’s petrified of him. Come on, let’s see what the matter is.’

Baldwin was nothing loath, because the man who had approached Doña Stefanía was clearly terrifying her out of her wits. He stood near her, a hand resting on his sword hilt in a non-threatening manner, but Baldwin still felt it was right to intervene.

‘Doña Stefanía,’ he called as they came closer. ‘We saw you sitting here. I hope you are feeling better after the dreadful shock yesterday?’

He stopped and smiled at her before turning his attention to the knight.

His first impression was quite favourable. From the look of him, the man came from a wealthy family. His sword’s scabbard was richly decorated, and his clothes showed that he possessed money and delighted in spending it. Today, though, he was not enjoying the benefits of his position. It was plain that he was labouring under some great inner stress from the way that he breathed so heavily, his breast rising and falling like a man who had run some distance in the heat, and yet it was his face that attracted Baldwin’s interest.

He wore a hunted expression. When he heard Baldwin speak, he turned to the English knight with a startled mien, rather like a dog caught stealing meat from the table, as if he fully expected some form of punishment.

‘We have not met,’ Baldwin said.

Doña Stefanía was recovering her poise. Now she lifted her chin haughtily as she introduced them. ‘This man is Don Ruy de Benavente – he says,’ she said in a voice which clearly declared that she herself doubted his word.

Baldwin introduced himself and Simon, who stood a short distance away, listening with complete incomprehension. He had been determined to make an effort to learn a little of this language on the ship coming over, but the sickness which assailed him had made that a hopeless venture, and since arriving in Compostela there had been little time for him to gain even a smattering of the language. All he could do was watch and listen, hoping to gain some sort of understanding of what was being said.

‘Did you travel here together?’ Baldwin asked politely.

‘No, Don Baldwin,’ Don Ruy said. He appeared to have recovered himself a little. ‘We met briefly on the journey, but did not travel together. My group was not in favour of feminine companionship on what was intended to be a penitential journey.’

‘Indeed? Then your companions must have been a very pious band,’ Baldwin said. Inwardly he condemned the man for his priggish attitude.

‘Perhaps. I think most of us sought to find some spiritual peace on our way.’

He stood like one who was waiting for an interloper to depart and leave him to continue his conversation, but Baldwin turned to Doña Stefanía with a sympathetic smile. ‘So, my lady, did you sleep well? I trust that sadness did not unduly disturb your slumbers?’

‘I scarcely slept a wink,’ Doña Stefanía snapped. ‘How could I? No maid to help me disrobe or see to my hair … it was appalling. And so sad that Joana should be murdered like that,’ she added with a wave of self-pity.

‘I can only express my deepest sympathy,’ Baldwin said.

‘And I too,’ Don Ruy said stiffly. He made as if to move nearer the lady, but she blanched noticeably and shifted herself farther up the bench. It was only a small movement, but Simon and Baldwin saw it, and Simon took a step to one side, so that he could threaten Don Ruy’s flank if he should think of attacking her.

Don Ruy glanced at him, and there was frank disbelief on his face as he realised what Simon’s aim was. He took a short pace back, turning to face Simon more directly but saying nothing. Glancing at Baldwin and then Doña Stefanía, his expression looked accusing.

‘Simon, stay your hand,’ Baldwin said in English, before speaking to Doña Stefanía. ‘My lady, it is clear that you are perturbed. Is there anything I can do which would help you?’

‘There is nothing,’ Don Ruy said. ‘A misunderstanding, that is all. Leave us. We must talk.’

Doña Stefanía shuddered and looked appealingly at Baldwin. ‘Please, Sir Baldwin, don’t leave me with him. I …’ she swallowed heavily. ‘I fear he means to kill me.’

Frey Ramón felt exhausted. His knees ached, his eyes were gritty from lack of sleep, and he tightened the girth on his mount like a man in a dream, although this dream was a nightmare. All he could think of was that poor, shattered body, now lying quietly at rest in her grave.

The horror of seeing her lying there on the trestle in the square would never leave him, he felt sure. It was terrible, the worst sight he had ever known. The woman to whom he was engaged, brutally slaughtered like that, left to water the soil with her own blood. He had felt a part of him die when he saw her.

This journey would be long and hard. He had surrendered his position in the Order by running away, but he couldn’t regret it. All he could do was go far away and try to find some peace. There were other Orders he could join. Perhaps he could make his way to the sister Order of Santiago, the Knights of Sao Thiago. They had broken away from Santiago a few years ago, but they still wore the same emblems and held to the same Rule.

‘Sao Thiago,’ he muttered. ‘Or the Order of Christ?’

‘Eh?’

‘Nothing,’ he told the groom, an older man with the pinched features of one who lives in constant pain. ‘I was thinking aloud.’

‘They say that the Knights of Christ have taken over from the Templars,’ the groom said helpfully.

‘So they are rich and arrogant, then,’ Frey Ramón said.

‘No more than the other Orders,’ the man said. Frey Ramón had removed his Order’s tunic, so he wore no distinguishing marks that showed him to be a Knight of Santiago. ‘But I’ve heard that the Knights of Christ are the most honourable of the lot. They turn their noses up at any fripperies, refuse too much food, and spend all their time training to kill Moors.’

‘I don’t care,’ Frey Ramón said. He could not help but slow in his work. He had the horse saddled, and he turned to his bags. There was a little food and a skin of wine, and he had a spare shirt and a tunic in another. With his great cloak to wrap himself in at night, he had all he needed.

He had thought that the Order of Sao Thiago would serve him best, because he knew the Rule. It was bound to be much the same as that of Santiago, since it was an offshoot. But one reason was also because he liked the idea of being married. Now that was an impossible dream. Certainly he would never marry now. The memory of that poor, destroyed body prevented his ever finding peace with a woman, so he might as well hurry south, escape his memories, and find meaning in action, fighting the Moors.

If he were to seek action, he should join the Order which promised the best chance of fighting and serving God.

He cocked an eye at the groom. ‘You know much about such matters, friend.’

‘My daughter, she married a Portuguese and lives near Tomar. She came to visit me last month.’

‘Which Order do you think is nearest the Moors for fighting?’ he asked.

‘That is easy. The Order of Christ has its headquarters at Castro-Marim. That’s down in the Algarve.’

‘The Algarve?’ Frey Ramón repeated. That was territory which had only recently been reconquered. Frey Ramón racked his brain and felt sure he had heard that Castro-Marim was on the River Guadiana, near the sea, but on the edge of the King of Portugal’s territory, near Africa and the Moors who infested that land. ‘And this Order has a castle at Tomar?’ he asked.

‘Yes. They took over the old Templar castle there,’ the groom said. ‘I saw the place once. Right on top of the hill over the town. A magnificent castle.’

‘It sounds very pleasant.’

‘Yes. But it is a hard ride, Señor. Perhaps eight days if you ride like the wind.’

A few hours later, the land opened before Frey Ramón, and he took a deep breath. This was the future for him. His past was gone and done, and all he had to look forward to now was an uncertain future as a warrior. He asked for no more.

There were some memories he would never be able to forget. The first time he had met Joana, the feel of her flesh when they first lay together, that silken hair, so glossy and black.

Then there were the other memories, such as the sight of Joana last night. He would have to ride for miles to escape from that. Perhaps he never would. The dreadful, macerated remains of his fiancée would always be in his heart, as though it was his fault she had died, as though he was responsible.

As, in a way, he supposed he was.

Doña Stefanía was appalled at her predicament. There was no one to help her here, not now Joana was gone. No one here whom she felt she could trust; nobody to advise her.

Perhaps she could have spoken to a cleric – but that was a stupid idea! she scolded herself. No priest would want to help her once he heard that she had succumbed to her carnal lusts on the way here. Worse, he would want to hear more about her sins, to be assured that she repented, and would probably insist that she remain in the Cathedral until a suitable guard could be found to defend her honour on the way home. Humiliating! The rumours would spread like wildfire, if she knew the way that gossip was passed about in a Cathedral like this. There was no such thing as a secret, only a story half told.

A story like this one, she thought miserably.

It wasn’t only blasted clerics who loved a good tale, either. This strange bearded English knight looked as avid as any acolyte for a bit of smut. Damn him and his torrid imagination! He was probably no better than Don Ruy, she speculated, glancing at Baldwin. Or if he was more trustworthy, what about his companion? Simon looked grim enough to be a malfechor so far as she was concerned. He was the sort of man whom she would like to have in front of her, in her court.

‘Lady?’ Baldwin said gently. ‘You have made a serious allegation against this man. Should I call for the Pesquisidor to hear your tale?’

‘No!’ Don Ruy said hurriedly. ‘There is no need. As I said, it is all a misunderstanding, nothing more.’

Watching him, although he couldn’t understand the words, Simon felt that the man was too emphatic. He sounded almost desperate.

Baldwin was struck with the same impression, but before he could speak, Doña Stefanía licked her lips and agreed. ‘I should prefer that this story does not go any further, Sir Knight.’

‘Very well, if you are sure,’ he said. ‘But if you feel your life is in danger, I should have thought that you would want the matter aired.’

‘Once it is aired in front of you, perhaps the danger will recede,’ she said with a faint blush rising from her breast to cover her features. ‘I fear I succumbed on the journey here. You know how some men can sprinkle compliments and blandishments into their speech?’

She looked away, feeling her face starting to redden still more alarmingly. This was harder than she had feared; yet if she was to protect herself, she must tell her story. She had a sudden flash of inspiration. ‘A man did so with me on the journey here. He wanted to talk to me about my faith, he said, and for many days he spoke with me, asking my advice on issues of the Gospels, telling me of his own deep convictions and love of Christ. How could a woman like me, devoted to His service, a Bride of Christ no less, fervent in her love of Him, not respond to a man who professed the same dedication and adoration? I listened, I laughed, I was overcome. In short, I agreed to meet with him and talk about some matters he wanted to discuss in private. Alas! Oh, that I should have put myself in any man’s hands! I should have realised my danger. I am only a weakly woman, but I had thought that my cloth would protect me. Alas! Alas!’

‘Do you mean to tell me that this man seduced you?’ Baldwin growled, glaring at Don Ruy.

‘Me? I did nothing of the sort!’ Don Ruy declared, torn between anger and confusion.

‘Not him, no,’ Doña Stefanía said, although with a trace of reluctance, for that would have made, she realised, an excellent end to her story. Yet she had already chosen the line of her tale, and it was better, she felt, to stick to the story she had already mapped out in her mind. ‘No, it was another man. A lowly pilgrim, someone of a very different class. All unaware of my danger, I agreed to speak to him in private, and my innocence was my weakness. As soon as I entered his chamber, he took hold of me in a strong embrace and began to smother me with kisses. In no time, he had me naked, and assaulted me vigorously, not once, but many times. This knight came in and saw me, he must have done, and although I implored him to aid me, he ignored my entreaties.’

‘You said nothing to me!’ Don Ruy protested.

‘How could I speak? He was … I was … in a difficult position!’ she declared with an embarrassed vehemence.

‘Why should that make him decide to harm you?’ Baldwin asked, bemused, but trying to save her from further shame. ‘Had you refused Don Ruy’s advances?’

‘I made no such advance!’ Don Ruy stated with a pained voice.

Doña Stefanía cast a cautious look about them. No one was near enough to give her cause for concern. ‘No. He made no improper advances of that nature, Sir Baldwin. Instead, he offered to ruin me!’

Don Ruy was staring at her with eyes filled with astonishment as though disbelieving his own ears, but Baldwin felt that although the lady’s story was far from the unvarnished truth, there was some element of veracity there – else why should she have recoiled so obviously from the man?

‘Sir Baldwin, he sought to improve himself at my expense. The very next day, he approached my maid and demanded money. He threatened to tell the Cathedral authorities that I had willingly submitted to the coarse and indelicate attack of the other pilgrim, and that I was therefore indecent. Unless I paid him a large sum of money, he would tell all about me. There! What else could I have done? And now I throw myself on your pity and honour!’

‘You agreed to pay him?’ Baldwin asked.

‘But this is madness!’ Don Ruy burst out. ‘I never spoke to you, I never mentioned the contents of your purse, nor did I threaten anything!’

‘You deny this?’ Baldwin said.

‘Yes. Entirely!’

‘He is telling the truth,’ Doña Stefanía sneered. ‘He is so courageous, he avoided me, but gave me the message through my maid. She told me so that night, and to escape his clutches, we fled before dawn the next morning. I never dreamed that he would follow so close upon our heels, but the day before yesterday he arrived here and met my maid, proposing a rendezvous so that I could go and pay him.’

‘I only arrived here yesterday!’ Don Ruy cried.

‘You told Joana the day before!’ she declared.

‘I did not!’

‘He told her to make me meet him at a point on the river, and to bring plenty of gold, for he had need of money for lodging. He dared to jest with me about the expense of staying in a city. I can only feel contempt for a man who could be so callous to a poor nun. And then, because some man had taken my mount, and I couldn’t go myself, my maid went in my place, and … and we all know what happened to my poor Joana!’

As she gave herself up to her grief once more, Baldwin watched the knight closely, but saw nothing other than confusion and rising anger. There was nothing to suggest that he was guilty. And yet the maid had died in carrying the money, presumably, to the man she thought was blackmailing Doña Stefanía: this knight. ‘What do you say, Don Ruy?’

‘That this is all invention. Why should I demand money? I have sufficient. I saw this lady with her paramour, but thought little of it. I didn’t even realise it was her, it was so dark. It was only the next morning when I heard her maid talking and laughing about her mistress, that I realised who it must have been lying beneath Parceval. We all know that women are tainted with original sin, and that they can use their wiles to snare men, but I didn’t even consider it. I was the loudest voice among my companions of the road arguing that we should have no women among our party, for they only sow dissension. My God! We all know that well enough! This woman has spun a tale to trap me – for what reason, I cannot imagine.’

‘Where were you last afternoon?’ Baldwin asked.

‘I was here in the city.’

‘Is there anyone who could vouch for you?’

Don Ruy looked at Baldwin with loathing. ‘I was alone in my chamber.’

‘You see, we have heard from another witness that you left the city, on a horse. You were seen following a young woman, this lady’s maid, who was murdered a short while later.’

‘I know nothing of this!’ Don Ruy spat.

‘I knew it!’ Doña Stefanía shrieked, and pointed with a shaking finger. ‘You took my money, and you killed my messenger! You’d have murdered me as well, if I’d been there, wouldn’t you? Murderer!’