Labyrinth

CHAPTER 59

A soldier appeared in the doorway. “Lord Trencavel?”

He turned his head. What is it?“

“A thief, Messire. Stealing water from the Place du Plo.”

He signalled he would come. “Dame, I must leave you.”

Alais nodded. She had worn herself out with weeping.

“I will see him buried with the honour and ceremony that befits his status. He was a valiant man, both a loyal counsellor and trusted friend.”

“His church does not require it, Messire. His flesh is nothing. His spirit is already gone. He would wish you to think only of the living.”

“Then, see it as an act of selfishness on my part, that I wish to pay my last respects in accordance with the great affection and esteem in which I held your father. I will have his body moved to the capela Santa Maria.”

“He would be honoured by such evidence of your love.”

“Can I send anyone to sit with you? I cannot spare your husband, but your sister? Women to help you with the laying out?”

Her head darted up, realising only now that she had not thought of Oriane once. She had even forgotten to inform her their father had been taken sick.

She did not love him.

Alais silenced the voice in her head. She had failed in her duty, both to her father and to her sister. She got to her feet.

“I will go to my sister, Messire.

She bowed as he left the chamber, then turned back. She could not bring herself to leave her father. She began the process of laying out the body herself. She ordered the bed to be stripped and freshly made, sending the contaminated covers away for burning. Then with Rixende’s help, Alais prepared the winding sheets and burial oils. She cleaned his body herself and smoothed the hair from his brow so that, in death, he looked like the man he had been in life.

She lingered a while long, looking down at the empty face. You cannot delay any longer.

“Inform the Viscount his body is ready to be taken to the capela, Rixende. I must inform my sister.”

Guirande was asleep on the floor outside Oriane’s chamber.

Alais stepped over her and tried the door. This time, it was unlocked.

Oriane lay alone in her bed with the curtains pulled back. Her tousled black curls were spread over the pillow and her skin was milky white in the early morning light. Alais marvelled that she could sleep at all.

“Sister!”

Oriane opened her green cat-like eyes with a jolt, her face registering alarm, then surprise, before taking on its customary expression of disdain.

“I have ill news,” she said. Her voice was dead, cold.

“Could it not wait? The bell for Prime cannot yet have rung.”

“It could not. Our father-” she stopped.

2›How can such words be true? 2›

Alais took a deep breath to steady herself. “Our father is dead.”

The shock registered on Oriane’s face, before her habitual expression returned. “What did you say?” she said, her eyes narrowing.

“Our father passed away this morning. Just before dawn.”

“How? How did he die?”

“Is that all you can say?” she cried.

Oriane flew out of bed. “Tell me what he died of?”

“A sickness. It came on very quickly.”

Were you with him at the hour of his passing?“

Alais nodded.

“Yet you did not see fit to inform me?” she said furiously.

I’m sorry,“ Alais whispered. ”It all seemed to happen so fast. I know I should have-“

“Who else was there?”

“Our Lord Trencavel, and…”

Oriane heard her hesitation. “Our father did confess his sins and receive last rites?” she demanded.“ He died in the Church?”

“Our father did not die unshriven,” Alais replied, choosing her words with care. “He made his peace with God.”

She has guessed.

“What does it matter?” she cried, appalled by Oriane’s callous acceptance of the news. “He is dead, sister. Does it mean nothing to you?”

“You have failed in your duty, sister,” Oriane jabbed with her finger. “As the elder, I had more right to be there than you. I should have been there. And if, in addition to this, I discover you allowed heretics to paw over him as he lay dying, then make no mistake about it, I will make sure you regret it.”

“Do you feel no loss, no regret?”

Alais could see the answer in Oriane’s face. “I feel no more for his passing than I would for a dog in the street. He did not love me. It is many years since I allowed myself to be hurt by the fact. Why, now, would I grieve?” She took a step closer. “It was you he loved. He saw himself in you.” She gave an unpleasant smile. “It was you he confided in. Shared his innermost secrets with.”

Even in her frozen state, Alais felt colour fly to her cheeks. What do you mean?“ she said, dreading the answer.

“You know perfectly well what I mean,” she hissed. “Do you really think I do not know of your midnight conversations?” She took a step closer. “Your life is going to change, little sister, without him to protect you. You have had things your own way far too long.” Oriane darted out a hand and grabbed Alais by the wrist.

“Tell me. Where is the third book?”

“I do not know what you mean.”

Oriane slapped her with her open hand.

Where is it?“ Oriane hissed. ”I know you have it.“

“Let me go.”

“Don’t play games with me, sister. He must have given it to you. Who else would he trust? Tell me where it is. I mean to have it.”

A chill ran down Alais’ spine.

“You can’t do this. Someone will come.”

“Who?” she demanded. You forget our father is no longer here to protect you.“

“Guilhem.”

Oriane laughed. “Of course, I forgot that you are reconciled with your husband. Do you know what your husband really thinks of you?” she continued. “Do you?”

The door flew open and slammed against the wall.

“That is enough!” Guilhem shouted. Oriane immediately dropped her wrist as Alais’ husband strode across the room and gathered her into his arms. “Mon cor, I came as soon as I heard the news of your father’s death.

I’m so sorry.“

“How touching!” Oriane’s harsh voice broke the intimacy between them.

“Ask him what brought him back to your bed,” she said spitefully, not taking her eyes from Guilhem’s face. “Or are you too afraid to hear what he has to say? Ask him, Alais. It’s not love or desire. This reconciliation is because of the book, nothing more.”

“I warn you, hold your tongue!”

“Why? Are you afraid of what I might say?”

Alais could feel the tension between them. The knowledge. And immediately she understood.

No. Not that.

“It’s not you he wants, Alais. He seeks the book. That’s what brought him back to your chamber. Can you really be so blind?”

Alais took a step away from Guilhem. “Does she speak the truth?”

He swung round to face her, desperation flashing in his eyes.

“She’s lying. I swear, on my life, I care nothing for the book. I have told her nothing. How could I?”

“He searched the chamber while you slept. He cannot deny it.”

“I did not,” he shouted.

Alais looked at him. “But you knew there was such a book?”

The alarm that nickered in his eyes gave her the answer she feared.

“She tried to blackmail me to help her, but I refused.” His voice cracked, “I refused, Alais.”

“What hold did she have over you that she would make such a request?” she said softly, almost in a whisper.

Guilhem tried to reach for her, but she backed away from him.

Even now, I would that he denied it.

He dropped his hand. “Once, yes, I… Forgive me.”

“It’s a little late for remorse.”

Alais ignored Oriane. “Do you love her?”

Guilhem shook his head. “Can’t you see what she’s doing, Alais? She’s trying to turn you against me.”

Alais was dumbstruck that he could believe she would trust him ever again.

He held his hand out. “Please, Alais,” he pleaded. “I love you.”

“Enough of this,” said Oriane, stepping into her line of vision. “Where is the book?”

“I not have it.”

“Who does?” said Oriane in a threatening voice.

Alais held her ground. “Why do you want it? What is it that is of such importance?”

“Just tell me,” she snapped, “and this will all end here.”

“And if I will not?”

“It is so easy to sicken,” she said. “You nursed our father. Perhaps the illness is already within you.” She turned to Guilhem. “You understand what I’m saying, Guilhem? If you go against me.”

“I will not allow you to harm her!”

Oriane laughed. “You’re hardly in a position to threaten me, Guilhem.

I have enough evidence of your treachery to see you hanged.“

“Evidence of your own designing,” he shouted. “Viscount Trencavel will not believe you.”

“You underestimate me, Guilhem, if you think I have left grounds for doubt. Dare you risk it?” She turned back to Alais. “Tell me where you have hidden the book or I shall go to the Viscount.”

Alais swallowed hard. What had Guilhem done? She didn’t know what to think. Despite her anger, she couldn’t bring herself to denounce him.

“Francois,” she said. “Our father gave the book to Francois.”

A look of confusion flickered in Oriane’s eyes, then vanished as quickly as it had come.

“Very well. But, I warn you sister, if you are lying you will regret it.” She turned and walked to the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To pay my respects to our father, where else? However, before that, I will see you safely to your chamber.”

Alais raised her head and met her sister’s gaze. That is quite unnecessary.“

“Oh, it’s entirely necessary. Should Francois not be able to help me, I would wish to be able to talk with you again.”

Guilhem tried to reach for her. “She’s lying. I have done nothing wrong.”

“What you have or have not done, Guilhem, is no longer any concern of mine,” Alais said. “You knew what you did when you lay with her. Now, just leave me be.”

With her head held high, Alais walked along the corridor and into her chamber, with Oriane and Guirande behind her.

“I will return presently. As soon as I have spoken to Francois.”

“As you wish.”

Oriane shut the door. Moments later, as Alais had feared, the key was turned in the lock. She could hear Guilhem remonstrating with Oriane.

She shut her ears to their voices. She tried to keep the poisonous, jealous images from her mind. Alais couldn’t stop thinking of Guilhem and Oriane entwined in one another’s arms, she couldn’t protect herself from the thought of Guilhem whispering to her sister the intimate words he had spoken to her, pearls she’d kept close to her heart.

Alais pressed her trembling hand to her chest. She could feel her heart thudding hard against her ribs, bewildered and betrayed. She swallowed hard.

Think not of yourself.

She opened her eyes and dropped her arms to her side, her hands clenched in fists of misery. She could not allow herself to be weak. If she did, then Oriane would have taken everything of worth from her. The time for regret, for recrimination, would come. Now, her promise to her father, keeping the book safe, mattered more than her breaking heart. However difficult, she had to put Guilhem from her mind. She had allowed herself to be imprisoned in her room because of something Oriane had said. The third book. Oriane had asked where she’d hidden the third book.

Alais ran to the cloak, still hanging over the back of her chair, and snatched it up and patted along the hem where the book had been.

It was no longer there.

Alais slumped down on the chair, desperation welling inside her. Orine had Simeon’s book. Soon, she would know she had lied about giving a book to Francois and return.

2›And what of Esclarmonde? 2›

Alais realised Guilhem was no longer shouting outside the door.

2›Is he with her? 2›

She didn’t know what to think. It didn’t matter anyway. He had betrayed her once. He would again. She had to lock her wounded feelings in her battered heart. She had to get out while she had the chance.

Alais tore open the lavender bag to retrieve the copy of the parchment in the Book of Numbers, then cast a final look around the chamber she’d thought to be her home forever.

She knew she would not be back.

Then, with her heart in her mouth, she went to the window and looked out over the roof. Her only chance was to get out before Oriane came back.

Oriane felt nothing. In the flickering candlelight she stood at the foot of the bier and looked down on her father’s body.

Commanding the attendants to withdraw, Oriane bent down as if to kiss father’s head. Her hand closed over his and she slipped the labyrinth ring from his thumb, hardly believing Alais had been so stupid as to leave it on his hand.

Oriane straightened up and slipped it into her pocket. She rearranged the sheet, genuflected before the altar and crossed herself and then left in search of Francois.