'If that is how it must be,' she replied, steeling herself for the privation ahead, 'so be it. We will catch them. We will get Thea back.'

'Never doubt it.'

'I am Carlo de la Coruna, magistrate and governor of this fine and prosperous town,' said the man. He made a flourish in the air with his hand, removed his fine red cap and bowed deeply. 'On behalf of the worthy citizens of Palencia, I welcome you and your excellent company, and may I wish you a most enjoyable stay.'

The knight took one look at the chubby, round-shouldered fellow in his peculiar hat, and decided that he was an absurdity likely to cause problems if not strenuously avoided. 'Good day to you, magistrate,' he replied stiffly. 'As you can see, we are in need of food and lodging. I will thank you to arrange it.'

The magistrate puffed out his cheeks. 'Well…' he began to protest, but thought better of it, and said, 'Of course, my lord, if that is what you wish. It will be my pleasure.' Turning, he summoned his deputy to his side. 'Grieco! Where are you? Come here, Grieco. I want you to take word to Master Hernando at the inn. Tell him I am sending very important guests to stay with him. Tell him -' Breaking off, he turned once more to the newcomers and said, 'If you please, my lord, may I know who I have the pleasure of welcoming?'

'I am Renaud de Bracineaux, Master and Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of Jerusalem,' he replied. 'And this,' he indicated the fair-haired, thin-faced man on horseback beside him, 'is my companion Baron Felix d'Anjou. Also with us is Bertrano, Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela; unfortunately, friend Bertrano is indisposed and cannot speak to you now. I want rooms for three. The rest of my men will lodge at the monastery.' Turning his arid gaze to the soggy, windblown street, he shivered in the autumn chill. 'You do have a monastery in this…' he hesitated, 'this place, do you not? And an inn?'

'But of course, my lord,' answered Governor Carlo proudly. 'We have a very fine monastery. It has long been renowned for -'

'Good,' said de Bracineaux decisively. 'You can show us where to find it.' He called Gislebert to attend them. 'The magistrate will lead you to the monastery. Lodge the men and then come to us at the inn.'

Turning back to Carlo, the Templar said, 'Come now, governor, my men have ridden far today and are in want of a hot meal and beds. Be quick about it, and you will find it worth your while.'

Governor Carlo stared in astonished indignation. Who did these men think they were to order him about so? Even the king was more gracious to his subjects than these arrogant saddle-polishers. Well, if they wanted him to lead them to the monastery he would do it. But it would be the last service he would perform for them. After that, they would pay for what they received. Moreover, as they imagined themselves emperors of vast domain, they would pay royally. The thought suffused his face with a glow of magisterial satisfaction. Carlo smiled, bowed, and led the heavy footed Gislebert away.

'Simpletons,' muttered the Templar, 'all of them-complete and utter simpletons.'

'Come now, de Bracineaux. That is overharsh,' said d'Anjou. 'It is a substantial enough town and we have seen far worse in recent days. I think we may well find some amusement here.'

'We will not have time to amuse ourselves,' de Bracineaux growled. 'The moment we find this priest Matthias, we will be on our way.'

'Have a heart, de Bracineaux,' sniffed the baron diffidently. 'We have spent the last three days slopping through mud up to our fetlocks, and I demand a few decent nights' sleep in a bed that does not float.'

'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.'

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.

'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…'