Be careful, he told himself. Be really, really careful. He抎 drawn Rome抯 interest, and the man sitting before him had the pope抯 ear. A word from him could make or break. Something here, in Toulouse, had grabbed Fuentes抯 attention. So he could be either a help or a hindrance. And he抎 learned long ago that hindrances ended up with nothing.
揑抦 sure the cook is preparing my dinner as we speak,?he said. 揑 will make sure there is plenty for two.?
揟hat is most kind of you. But perhaps we could go out to eat. I would so like to see Toulouse again. It has been a long time since I visited.?
Okay. Plan B. 揑 will make us a reservation.?
揑 will also need a place to stay.?
He knew the correct response. 揑 have five bedrooms. Pick whichever one you desire.?
揂gain. Most kind.?
Like he had a choice.
Fuentes pointed a stubby finger. 揑 was told by those who know that you are a good man to have on your side. The pope himself is aware of you. But let me make something clear. Your cooperation here will have a direct bearing on whether you remain in good favor.?
As if he did not already know that.
揃e assured, Cardinal Fuentes, you will have my undivided attention.?
Chapter 37
Nick and the mother superior retreated to a small office not far from the dining hall. There, behind a closed door, the older woman faced him.
揟here are many, many religious organizations,?she said. 揈ach has its own purpose. Its own meaning. They cover everything and anything. The one common denominator, though, is an unwavering devotion to the particular duty, or duties, they select.?
揂nd what is the duty of the Maidens of Saint-Michael??
揟o serve the poor and help the disadvantaged. Along with another, more sacred responsibility.?She paused. 揟o protect a secret.?
揂re you les Vautours??
She nodded.
揥hy are the Dominicans focused on you??
揟he Vatican has been seeking us for a long time. But we抳e managed to evade them at every turn, which was no small feat. Our luck, though, has finally run out.?
揇o you have a vulture on your left shoulder too??
揑 led the maidens for fifteen years,?she said. 揑 did my best, as have all of the other women who came before and after. I know the current abbess would vehemently disagree, but I抦 trusting you. You seem like a decent person. I was told about what you did at the hotel, helping with the escape. With the Dominicans at our door, I have no choice, Mr. Lee. We need your help. Please don抰 make me regret this.?
揌ow about you answer my question.?
揑 have a vulture on my shoulder. As do all of the maidens. It is placed there after taking an oath. It reminds us of our duty.?
揥hich is??
揟o guard the truth.?
He could see that she meant every word. This was no fanatic. Or dreamer. Whatever was involved seemed deep-set, reverent.
揟rusting outsiders has proven a problem for us in the past. That抯 why we deal with things ourselves, in our own way. The truth we protect is not something the Vatican supports. Quite the contrary. Many popes have preferred that it go away, which has placed us at odds with Rome for centuries. But this is the first time that they have ever been able to positively identify us.?
He understood. 揃ecause of me? And what happened last night??
She nodded. 揑t was an unprecedented breach of our security. You heard Friar Dwight. He knows where to go now. He doesn抰 need those images you guard. They are irrelevant now. The path straight to us has been brightly illuminated.?
揥here will they go??
揟o our motherhouse, in southern France. They came here first. To be sure. Now they are.?
揑t would help if you抎 stop talking in riddles and tell me the situation.?
He could see the older woman was conflicted. A part of her seemed to want to talk, while another part, one trained and hewn from years of experience, cautioned silence.
Finally, she said, 揇o you know much about Jan van Eyck??
揙nly that he created the Ghent Altarpiece, finishing what his brother started.?
揌e did just that. But he also went a step further.?
In late spring of 1428 Jan van Eyck found himself along the border with Spain and the Languedoc. He抎 been sent south from Burgundy by his patron, Philip the Good, on a reconnaissance mission to map mountain passes. Philip was then in a state of civil war against the French dauphin, blaming Charles for the murder of his father, John the Fearless. Charles saw Philip抯 Burgundian state as a serious impediment to the expansion of French royal authority. Finally, in 1420, Philip formally allied himself with Henry V of England against Charles. In 1423, the marriage of Philip抯 sister Anne to the Duke of Bedford, regent for Henry VI, further strengthened the English alliance.