Only a tiny portion of those who attempted to join were allowed to stay. The most dedicated and determined, she抎 been told. Women who freely swore allegiance to God and the Virgin. Every single person who抎 done that was recorded in the Books of Honor. Volume after volume that noted the date of final vows and date of death. Rachel抯 entry would now be amended to add her date of death, then she would be afforded her final rites, as had been extended to maidens all the way back to Joan of Arc and before. Claire had presided over many such solemn occasions. But all of those maidens had died from natural causes.
This was different.
She muttered out loud three Hail Marys and asked for strength.
Catechism declared that through that prayer a person rendered to God the highest praise and most gracious thanks, because He bestowed all His heavenly gifts on the most holy Virgin. Never be afraid to earnestly implore Her help and assistance as She is most desirous to assist. As a Christian, a practicing Catholic, and a daughter of Christ she believed that to be true.
But as a maiden?
Sworn by oath as a Vautour.
She had her doubts.
Chapter 52
Bernat was dragged from the car, his hands bound behind his back, his mouth taped shut. Two men had burst into his bedroom, roused him from a sound sleep, then forcibly removed him from his house. In the past, living outside of Toulouse amid the woods had been a blessing. He enjoyed the solitude. But now that refuge had turned into a liability, as there was no one around to see what was happening. He抎 never alarmed the house or equipped it with cameras either.
There抎 never seemed a need.
After all, it was nothing but physical objects that carried only a minimal amount of value. Eventually, he would shed himself of them all.
The best he could determine they were an hour to an hour and a half south of Toulouse, in the Pyr閚閑s foothills. Darkness enveloped everything in thick shadows, the black sky overhead teeming with stars. His captors were two men, one tall, the other short and stout. They抎 not said a word on the trip from his house, nor could he speak thanks to the gag. He was still in a state of shock and surprise. Never had he been so violated. He was unsure as to the men抯 identity or affiliation, except for one thing.
The Holy Roman Church.
It had something to do with them.
Vilamur waited among the trees, watched as the car came to a stop, and Bernat de Foix was pulled from it. He and Cardinal Fuentes had come straight here from the rectory while Friars Dwight and Rice retrieved de Foix. He was unsure just exactly what was happening and what was going to happen, but he appreciated all of their efforts.
Desperate problems mandated desperate measures.
De Foix was bound and gagged. Not the cocky son of a bitch who抎 sent threatening e-messages and summoned him to Monts間ur.
揂re you ready to face your son??Fuentes softly asked.
揑抦 ready to be rid of him.?
Bernat caught movement in the darkness and saw two people walking toward him through the trees. They came to within a couple of meters and, with eyes adjusted to the dark, he saw that one of the men was Vilamur.
揗onsieur de Foix,?the other man said. 揑 am Hector Cardinal Fuentes. I抳e come from Rome to deal with you.?
Friar Dwight ripped the tape from his mouth.
揟his is outrageous,?he blurted out.
揑 agree,?Fuentes said. 揟he murder of Father Tallard, though perhaps deserved, is outrageous. The extortion you have attempted relative to Archbishop Vilamur is, without question, outrageous. Your chosen religion is most definitely outrageous.?
What had Raymond warned? Careful, the barrel has been jostled, and you have no idea what will now spill out.
No kidding.
揥hat are you doing here??he asked the cardinal.
揥hy did you mention les Vautours??
揑s that what this is about??
揚lease answer the question.?
揑 was told to use the reference in order to get Vilamur抯 attention. Beyond that, I know nothing.?
揃y who??
He hesitated. No way he was going to involve Raymond Barbe. One Perfecti never implicated another. Not eight hundred years ago. Not now. Not ever.
揌ow about you go棓
Fuentes held up his hand. 揘o need to resort to the profane. I understand. You do not wish to say. I can only assume it was one of your Cathar companions. Possibly another Perfectus.?
He said nothing.
揟he Cathars knew les Vautours,?Fuentes said. 揟hey were卥indred spirits. Rome wanted them both destroyed. It sent a crusade to accomplish just that. It seems the church failed in both endeavors.?Fuentes paused. 揃ut all that failure has brought us here.?
He wanted to know, 揑s the archbishop allowed to speak? Or does he just do as told??