“Do you think the rest would be spared if we left?”he demanded despite the tightness in his chest.
Eustache cast him a look that spoke volumes.
The two men regarded each other silently for long minutes before the crackling flames, each recognizing the truth when they heard it.
“It seems a chance well worth the taking,” Eustache said finally.
Dagobert nodded.“’Tis my suspicion, as well, though I am reluctant to leave this old keep untended.”
The abandonment of Montsalvat was not half the problem, but Dagobert noted that Eustache was willing to let the explanation be.Only the crackling of the fire filled the air between them until Eustache at last cleared his throat.
“There are those that would tend this keep should you go.”
Dagobert considered his friend with surprise, wondering if he had misinterpreted the words.He had never considered that Eustache would not go with him, for they had been virtually inseparable since Alzeu’s death.It seemed incomprehensible that Eustache would want to stay behind when there was adventure to be had of any kind.A quick glance revealed a ruddy flush on Eustache’s neck and with that, Dagobert understood.
There was a lady Eustache did not wish to abandon.
“Aye?Do you know any who would take on such a burden?”he asked, watching Eustache’s ears redden in embarrassment.
“Iolande saw fit to entrust its care to me once before,” the older knight began, and his lack of confidence amazed Dagobert.
Indeed, the man had felt the bite of Cupid’s arrow.Dagobert marveled that he had not guessed.
Eustache inhaled, perhaps mistaking the reason for his lord’s silence, then flicked a glance in Dagobert’s direction.“’Tis true I erred in going to Toulouse myself, but the lesson has been learned, and ’tis my belief that none other could so surely see to the care of Montsalvat.”He spoke in a rush, his confident words undermined by his tone.
“Indeed, there is no other to whom I would entrust the task,” Dagobert agreed.“But it must be said that your offer surprises me.’Tis unlike you to choose the hearth over the road.”
“I would ask your permission to wed, my lord,” Eustache mumbled, his use of the formal address betraying his uncertainty.
“The lady has agreed?”Dagobert asked, not having the heart to tease his friend in the face of his discomfort.
“I thought to have your word first.”
Dagobert nodded in the firelight.“’Twould ease my concerns to entrust Montsalvat to the care of you and your lady.”he agreed, and Eustache grinned with relief as he reached to shake Dagobert’s hand.“And who is the fortunate lady?”
“Giselle,” Eustache confessed.
Dagobert’s eyes widened with a surprise that Eustache evidently did not miss.Did Alienor know anything of this?
“Aye,” Eustache added with a solemn nod.“’Tis long indeed I have held her in high regard, and the lady has recently given me cause for encouragement.”
“Indeed, I would wish you every good fortune.”The men shook hands again, Eustache’s relief nigh tangible.’Twas good to know that the fortress would be maintained by those he could trust, but that was but the first of many problems to be solved.“As future master of the keep, I would ask your advice to holding the gate until Bema,” Dagobert asked, watching Eustache stare into the embers.
“Tis clear they will take the gate in less than a fortnight,” that man acknowledged, drawing a nod of agreement from Dagobert.Eustache’s eyes brightened suddenly and he leaned toward Dagobert in his excitement.“What do you think of a truce?We do not care if the gate falls after Bema, for you will be gone and I cannot think that they will harm any others in your absence.”
Dagobert leaned back in his chair and frowned as he considered the idea.“Do you think they would agree to a truce now with the surrender of the keep to take placeafterBema?”
Eustache shrugged.“We can only try.”He pulled his chair closer as the details seemed to become more clear.“Consider that we offer to surrender the day after Bema, that we agree to surrender all Cathars to the Inquisition on the condition that the others walk free,” he proposed.
Dagobert shot him a skeptical look.“We already know that they do not truly seek Cathars.”
Eustache shook his head.“’Tis you and your avowed followers we discuss when we say Cathar and they know it as well as we do.”
Dagobert nodded slowly.’Twas remotely possible that this idea could work.
“We would simply have to leave during the night, sometime after the ceremony,” he mused, flicking a glance to Eustache in sudden recollection.“Remember how Thierry climbed down the west wall that summer when we said ’twas impossible?”he demanded, and Eustache’s eyes lit up in turn.
“Aye, aye, a fine dare ’twas,” he agreed, the conviction in his tone growing as he spoke.“He used knotted ropes, and should we remain within the keep, they could be untied after your descent was complete.No one would know how or when you had gone and you would be halfway to the coast before they sought you.’Tis perfect!”
