The Wolves of Solomon (Wolves of Solomon Book One)
12th April 1310, Château de Gisors
De Floyran’s suspicions were roused in the first instance when he entered the bailey at Gisors and found that neither Caradas nor De Nogaret were there to meet him. He expected Raymond to be long back from Scotland with his mission completed successfully and De Nogaret had never failed to greet him on his return, eager and hopeful as he ever was that he was about to obtain his greatest desire. Mayhap he was ill, which upon reflection was preferable, as it gave De Floyran yet another opportunity to delay bestowing the gift that he had no intention of bestowing.
But where was Raymond? They all knew that his arrival was imminent and he had expected a rapturous welcome after the news he had sent just a day before. Mind you, he had arrived a little later in the day then planned. He had dallied on his way back to Gisors and had sought to rid himself of any pent up fervour that may spoil his reunion with Catherine. A couple of enthusiastic whores at a tavern along the way had sated his rampant lust.
He relaxed as he saw Armin de Merle and Botolf Wardard emerge from the château entrance and hasten over to him.
“Better late than never!” De Floyran said derisively, as he slipped out of the saddle and flexed his hands. Only five men had accompanied him from Chinon and Armin raised his eyebrows curiously as he noted the fact.
“So few men?” he made comment.
De Floyran rubbed his jaw. “Our enemy is detained, or did you not get my message?”
“We did, but I thought you would not have left to chance the possibility that some may have lain in wait for you.”
“Left to chance? I leave nothing to chance as well you should know. Obviously you do not know Galeren as I do. He is not wont to risk lives as I am. He came with a small troop, as I predicted. I have left the majority of men at Chinon to make sure his escape never comes to pass. These few were just for company on the journey.” He swept his gaze around the bailey once again.
“Where is Raymond?” he snapped. “I expected him to be the first to greet me. I was expected, was I not?” an angry edge entered his voice.
“Indeed you were, Esquin. Our tardiness comes from the fact that I was looking for Raymond and Botolf was searching for De Nogaret. We could not locate either of them.” De Merle shrugged, not sure what to say next.
De Floyran’s eyes narrowed. “He did return with Catherine?” his voice was thick with menace and De Merle was thankful that his answer was the one that De Floyran wanted.
“Good.” De Floyran said, his mood lightening. “He will have a good reason for his absence, I am sure.” He paused for a moment and then said, “but where is our faithful councillor?”
“He has suffered from bouts of melancholy and illness but was not to be found in his bedchamber; at least he did not answer to my call.” Boltolf said.
“Mmm,” De Floyran mused but then shrugged unbothered.
“We have a fine feast prepared to welcome you back and celebrate your triumph.” De Merle said jovially, changing the subject as De Floyran advanced towards them.
“Later,” he said decisively. “I have something better to feast upon. Take me to Catherine. I will join you when I have satisfied a craving that I have been forced to curb for over two years.”
“Of course, Esquin.” De Merle said.
De Floyran’s suspicions were roused in the second instance as they approached the door of Catherine’s place of confinement, for he could not sense her presence and a feeling of intense foreboding struck him. He pushed De Merle aside and turning the key impatiently in the door, he swung it open and met the pathetic sight of De Nogaret hamfasted and unmoving on the floor of the room.
De Floyran fell to his knees, clenching his fists in the air as he cried out in indescribable rage. De Merle’s heart sank, for he knew by the sight that greeted them, the reason that Raymond could not be found. He shuddered, for he also knew that those who were left behind and had allowed it to happen would bear the brunt of De Floyran’s fury.
“Christ on the Cross!” De Merle cried out and ran to De Nogaret’s side. The councillor was lifeless, his features a deathly white and De Merle immediately pulled the gag from his mouth. He shook De Nogaret and tried to wake him.
“Don’t bother!” De Floyran screamed getting to his feet. “He is one less fool to hinder me!”
“But we need to know what happened?”
“Can you not guess?” De Floyran said, moving to De Nogaret’s side. “He wanted Catherine, thought I would share her with him. I warned him! But it looks like he chanced his arm and my wrath. The stupid fuck forgot that she can flatten any human and by the looks of it, she has.” He slammed his boot into the councillor’s side viciously and to his surprise De Nogaret’s eyes shot open and he gasped for breath as if drowning.
“You lack witted treacherous fuck! I told you to leave her alone! You will wish that she had finished you off when you taste what I have in store for you.”
De Nogaret shook his head as he tried to come to his senses and protest his innocence through a mouth full of congealed blood.
“Raymond’s probably gone after her, ’tis why we could not find him. I did not think to check here.” De Merle offered innocently, though his heart told him that Raymond was somehow involved.
“Nooooooooo!!” De Nogaret finally managed to expel. “Fools! It was not I! ’Twas your man Caradas! I tried to stop them. He has helped her to escape!”
De Floyran reached down and grabbed De Nogaret by his collar. “Liar! I know you wanted her.”
“’Tis true,” De Nogaret spluttered. “What man would not? But I would never betray your trust when there is so much you have to offer me. What madman would that make me, to do such on the eve of you delivering your promise to me? Think about it!”
De Floyran dropped him. He was right. De Nogaret may be a slimy toad but he would not risk De Floyran’s wrath and jeopardise the gift he so desperately wanted. He turned and looked at De Merle.
“What think you of his accusation?”
De Merle shook his head, “I would not have thought it possible but –”
“But what?”
De Merle conceded, “Raymond has been here for days now and has been conspicuous by his absence. He has not been himself and has been distant and withdrawn.”
De Floyran howled in anger and looked for something to strike. De Merle tried not to cower while De Nogaret writhed helplessly on the floor.
“When? When did this happen?” he demanded looking at De Nogaret.
“L . . . last night,” De Nogaret spluttered.
“When last night?” De Floyran screamed impatiently.
“Not long after supper.” De Nogaret managed, struggling for breath.
De Floyran turned from them both and dug his nails into the palms of his hand until blood was drawn.
“Do you know what this means?” he turned back to them with his teeth exposed in a demonic expression. De Merle knew alright, but he was not about to utter it.
“Do you know what this means?” De Floyran bellowed again, his face becoming even more maleficent.
De Merle sunk to his knees submissively and said in almost a whisper, “no, my lord.”
“Don’t be such a coward Armin! Answer my question!”
“They have gone to Chinon to free the others.”
“Yeeeessssss!” he screamed and kicked him square in the face. “And you fucking let it happen!”
De Merle took the blow but remained on his knees in order to receive another should it be served. He knew weakness was what De Floyran despised the most, this way he would take a beating but if he fell then De Floyran would kill him. The second blow did not come. De Floyran turned his back on him and De Nogaret and folded his arms. Silence ensued and then, after what seemed to be an eternity, De Floyran turned back to them.
“I will have that feast now.”
De Merle looked at him in shock. “Should we not go after them?”
“It is too late you idiot! Dusk has fallen. They will be makin
g ready to strike. There is no way to stop them. Raymond will be granted entry to the fort and he will betray us.”
He was still surprised at the treachery of his old friend and would have more readily accepted that it was De Nogaret’s unchecked desire that had led to Catherine’s escape. He’d have preferred it also. Catherine would have poor chance of getting into Chinon alone, but if Raymond had turned against him then entrance would be easy.
Raymond had only once given him cause for concern and that was at the first Templar burnings at Beynac. Since then he appeared to be the same old Raymond and De Floyran had thought nothing more of it. He must have hidden his feelings well or been battling with his demons. He had still brought Catherine here, but maybe she had gotten to him. Christ knows there was something about her. De Floyran now realised that his obsession with her may have been his folly.
“I will eat and drink and try to figure a way out of this mess. I don’t want the men to know, not yet. Only tell Boltolf and come and join me in the hall when you’ve untied him.” He motioned with an air of disgust towards De Nogaret and then swiftly left the room.
Waiting until De Floyran had gone De Merle crawled over to De Nogaret and began to untie him.
“Careful you dolt, I am in agony. I could barely breathe this night past. If you had not come in just now I am sure I would not have made it.”
“Shut up!” De Merle said angrily. “Christ, how did this happen? How could this happen?”
“I was suspicious of Raymond, so I followed him.” De Nogaret quickly thought up the lie.
In truth he had been curious about Catherine and had gone to the room where she was being kept. He wouldn’t have touched her; he had just wanted to see her fine features again and innocent allure. Thank the Lord he had not been successful, for he had in fact forgot that being a werewolf herself made her dangerous to any human. As it was Raymond had gotten there first and despite his ordeal he was, at least, still alive. De Floyran may be incensed now, but he would soon see merit of his faith when he explained his attempts to thwart their escape.
“I heard voices and tried to raise the alarm but was discovered, beaten and left for dead.”
“Well, now we are all in the shit. If they are successful everything could unravel. Imagine the King’s wrath? If De Floyran thinks he will lose everything he has strived for, believe me we will all pay dearly.”
He pulled De Nogaret onto his feet and the councillor whimpered. “Keep your pain to yourself, if you want De Floyran’s favour.” He warned as he helped the councillor along. “We are all perilously close to death; do not give him a reason to deal it out.”