Echoes of a Legend

Chapter SEVENTEEN: The Final Act

“You know young man, you possess all the skills we require in a Knight and I do hope you take up the oath.” Brother Upwood Fontemai

The following morning they were greeted by the Snow which fell purposely on Clairvaux, leaving the Abbey’s grounds frosted and hard for the Brothers who dug the graves; but dig the graves they did. Thirteen in total. One for Brother Nash, three for the Saracens, seven for the monks that perished in the Refectory, one for the guard at the gate and one for the travelling monk that had accompanied Ackerley and was found slumped by the wall of the church with several cuts across his body and a fatal wound to his stomach. There was no sign of his murderer Pierson, whose meticulous plan almost paid off. The monk had fought bravely and must have held out long enough for Mary to break the Brothers free from the burning building or surely Pierson would have stayed to see it through and collect his bounty.

Lying next to the monk was the gold canister that had been in the De Godefroy family chest for years. The map, still inside, was of no use to Pierson now; with the location found, all the treasure would now be moved to a new location.

Mary and Ackerley stand under an arch on the south side of the cloister and look up to the soft white sky. Holding out her hand and catching a few drops Mary says, ‘Can we stay a while?’

‘Stay?’ Ackerley is surprised she wanted to. ‘I thought you would rather get going as soon as possible.’

‘No. I would like to stay and help out until the memories fade a little.’

‘We can stay as long as you want.’ He feels for her hand and upon contact wraps his fingers over hers. Her skin is cold and soft.

Brother Upwood Fontemai, one of twenty Templar Knights, and a Provincial Master, staying at Clairvaux, walks towards them and bows his head as Ackerley looks directly at him. ‘Sire,’ he says in a shallow voice.

‘Father. Are you sure there is nothing we can do to help?’

The Templar smiles, ‘I think you have both done enough to help don’t you? Especially you my child.’ He says leaning slightly to the left to try and catch Mary’s attention. Mary continues to stare into the sky, oblivious that Upwood had even arrived.

‘Father. I know you all met in council last night and wondered if you could share some of your thoughts with us.’

‘Indeed. But to be honest we only know patches from what you told us and what we can guess.’ The Brother gestures to a stone bench where Ackerley, letting go of Mary’s hand and the monk take a seat. Mary doesn’t move. ‘It appears Pierson was the instigator of everything. He was at the Battle of Hattin last year. Did an incredible job by all accounts, but something happened, we don’t know what, but something sent him over the edge and onto this trail of treachery.’ He coughs to clear his throat. ‘The biggest thing that I hope won’t happen is his unhealthy lust for death and destruction does not deter you from joining us young Lord.’

Ackerley looks at the monk and then over to Mary. He has had little time to think of what he wanted to do next. In fact, he had little time to digest any of the actions of the past fortnight. ‘My mind is not made up but in no way will Pierson’s actions affect my decision. In fact they will make it all the stronger should I decide to stay on.’

‘That’s good.’ Upwood rubs his hands together as the chill factor increased. ‘Where was I?’

‘Hattin.’

‘Right Hattin. After the battle we knew we had a turncoat in the camp when the Saracens found one of our secret stores very easily. We can now assume it was Pierson that told them its location because in that particular store was a key document about your Great Grandfather’s quests and one of our sacred relics.’