“I would have him named here, and so shall it be,” she said with resolve, stretching up to kiss him.She felt him shiver with relief before his arms tightened around her and knew in her heart that all would be well.
The plan toleave Montsalvat was contrived with astonishing speed.Within days it seemed to Alienor that everyone in the keep was committed to the task.The men were fairly standing in line to assist in the labor of excavating the storeroom, which Alienor did not understand.Why there?Why now?Dagobert answered her questions about the digging with naught but a mischievous smile.
Until the middle of January, when he led her by the hand to the storeroom, now filled with rubble.A trove of gold of considerable value had been unearthed, and Alienor was amazed by the sight.She was more amazed by the size of the hoard when it was hauled up into the hall.The vast majority was in minted coins, but there was an assortment of jewelry set with brightly hued gems, as well as a group of blades with beautifully wrought hilts.Many hands set immediately to the packing of the gold into two large and sturdy leather sacks.
“’Tis the legendary treasure,” the red-headed priest she recalled from her wedding day confided over his shoulder.Alienor could not decide whether she was more astonished that she had heard naught of it in almost a year of living at Montsalvat or that the mythic treasure of the keep actually existed.
“’Tis said to be a Cathar treasure hidden at Montsalvat,” Alienor said, more out of a desire to irk the man who had wed her to a goat than anything else.“But you are no Cathar.”
“Oh no?”the priest demanded with a grin.“Have you seen me at the Mass these past months?”
“No Mass is read here,” she noted, distrusting the twinkle in his eyes.
“Aye, and I know it well.Do you not think a Roman priest would protest that, as well as the lack of crucifix in the chapel?”
Alienor laughed aloud, for she had wondered.The Cathar refusal to acknowledge the crucifix as a symbol was a sore point with Rome.’Twas their conviction that evil had triumphed over good when Christ was killed that prompted their denial.
“I wondered about that at my nuptials, but there were more troubling matters afoot.”
The priest laughed and propped his hands on his hips.“I have never seen a more vexed bride in all my days, though ’twas soon enough you met the man behind the beast.”He nodded at Thierry, now nestled in Alienor’s arms, and she flushed at his implication.
“You are Cathar, then?”
The priest shook his head.“Nestorian, should you wish to be exact, but precious little difference is there twixt the two to most eyes.”
Before Alienor could ask anything more, Dagobert appeared beside her and addressed the priest.“Are you ready then, Connor?”Dagobert’s manner was urgent, but the other man nodded.
“I know the path well and the packs are ready.”He nodded at the bulging leather sacks of gold at their feet.“I merely have need of my companion.”
“I am here, sure enough,” Guibert growled as he approached.
Alienor’s heart sank that the moment of parting was upon them.It should have been sufficient for her to see him safely away from the fortress, but she feared they would not meet again.He pulled her close in his usual gruff way and she knew ’twas no coincidence that he was so late in coming to the hall.
“Be happy, child.’Twill be soon enough that our paths cross again.”
Alienor could only hope that ’twould be so.Her eyes filled with tears and she forced him to endure a longer hug than usual.“Be safe, Guibert,” she whispered as he stepped away.
Guibert avoided her gaze, making a great pretense of checking that his pack was securely closed.Dagobert pulled Alienor tightly against his side and she welcomed his support.
“Godspeed to you both.”Dagobert reached to shake hands with each of the men in turn.Guibert and Connor shouldered their packs with a bit of difficulty, pausing to shake hands with many of those assembled before they strode out the hall.Darkness was falling and Alienor hoped against hope that they would safely make their way clear of the fortress.
“Fear not, love,” Dagobert whispered into her ear, and she turned into his embrace.“All will be well in the end.”
Alienor could only hope that he was proven right.
“’Tis steady progress they make,”Eustache announced grimly.
Dagobert was forced to cede the truth of it.The fire burned low on the hearth in the hall, and the rest of the keep had long ago retired.Still the two men sat before the dying blaze in an effort to decide what to do.
Only three weeks remained until Bema and the attackers had chosen to renew their assault.Dagobert was uncertain that they could hold off the attack long enough to celebrate Thierry’s naming, but Alienor had been right when she had guessed how much ’twould mean to him to have his son named at Montsalvat.’Twas a conundrum and he could not for the life of him see his way clear of it.
“I know not what to do.”Dagobert mused almost to himself, but Eustache did not miss the low words.
The older knight stood to toss another log on the fire, turning to sit down heavily beside him, and Dagobert knew Eustache had something to say.He lifted a brow in invitation and his friend smiled in acknowledgment before he spoke.
“’Tis you they seek,” he began.Dagobert nodded immediate agreement.“And perhaps Thierry.”
A cold hand closed around Dagobert’s heart at that thought but he forced himself to face the truth of it, disliking yet again the legacy he had brought his son.
