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'We shall see,' grunted the Templar commander. 'First we find the priest.'
'The miserable pisspot of a priest can wait,' corrected d'Anjou placidly. 'First we find the inn.'
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De Bracineaux allowed himself to be persuaded. He, too, was sick of the damp and filth, and the
prospect of a hot meal, dry clothes, and a jug of mulled wine melted his resolve. 'Very well. Two nights,'
he agreed. 'Have one of the men bring up the wagon.'
They proceeded down the crooked main street of the town to the inn where young Grieco was waiting
with the innkeeper, a balding man in a big shirt with baggy sleeves and a greasy linen cloth tied around the
bulge in his middle. 'Welcome! Welcome, my friends!' he said, running forward to take the reins of the
commander's horse. 'Please, come in. Eat, drink, and take your ease.' Looking past the two riders to the
wagon, he said, 'I see you have a lady with you. Let me assure you she will be most comfortable. I will
have my wife prepare a special bath for her.'
'Take no trouble,' the Templar told him curtly. 'It is not a woman.'
As he spoke, the wagon rolled creaking to a halt behind them; the driver climbed down and went to the
back where he removed the board and allowed the bellicose passenger to emerge.
'Dios mio? gasped the innkeeper, taking in the imposing bulk swathed in heavy black robes. 'It is the
lord archbishop!' Turning on the young man beside him, he cried, 'Grieco, you fool! Why did you not tell
me the archbishop was with them?'
With that, he darted forward and ran to bow before the august cleric. 'My lord archbishop! You honour
us with your presence. Please, come in. You shall have the best room I can offer.'
Archbishop Bertrano gave the man a sour smile. 'I would gladly accept your hospitality,' he replied, 'but
I believe the commander will have other plans for me.'
At the innkeeper's bewildered expression, d'Anjou put his arm on the archbishop's shoulder and said,
'Our cleric is on a special pilgrimage, you see. Nothing but cabbage and cold water for him, and a
horsehair robe in the stable.'
'The stable!' cried the innkeeper. 'But, my lord, I could never allow it. Why, it would ruin me. Please,
you must see that -'
'Just give him the room next to mine,' said de Bracineaux wearily. 'And bring us wine at once. You can
stable the horses later.'
'Of course, my lord,' said the landlord. He hesitated.
'Well?' demanded the Templar.
'I have two rooms, my lord, but they are not next to one another. Unless, you wish to ...'
'Just put him where I do not have to look at him, or listen to him snore.'
'At once, my lord.' The innkeeper spun on his heel and hurried inside, followed by Grieco, who caught
the door and held it open for the important guests. De Bracineaux pushed the reluctant churchman ahead
of him and, once inside, made for the low table before the hearth. D'Anjou came last and paused long
enough to take Grieco's arm and pull him close.
'I will be wanting a companion this evening,' he told the youth.
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'A companion?' wondered Grieco. 'I am certain my uncle would be most happy to oblige. I will ask him,
if you -'
'The devil take your uncle, boy! I want a woman. The younger the better.' He gripped the young man's
arm hard. 'Understand?'
He left the gaping Grieco at the door and, while the landlord bustled the silently disapproving archbishop
to a room at the back of the inn, he joined de Bracineaux at a large table before the fire. He removed his
gloves and put them on the table. 'God's eyes, but it is good to be dry again,' he said; sweeping off his
hat, he tossed it on to the floor. 'I thought it would never stop raining.'
'You are soft, d'Anjou. You would not last three days in the East. You would have perished long before
ever setting foot in Jerusalem.'
'Then you can have your Holy Land, and all that goes with it,' the baron replied airily. 'I will stay here
and delight the ladies of Iberia.'
The anxious innkeeper arrived just then with a large jar and cups which he placed gingerly on the table.
'Wine, my lords. It is not mulled, but...'
'Pour,' said the Templar.
The innkeeper did as he was told, and then backed away as the commander raised his cup to his lips.
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