“Hearsay,” he spat. “A lie, as with each charge lodged against us by King Philip.”
“Why would France’s king utter such horrific falsehoods?” she asked, still floundering beneath the disclosure. She had expected a confession, not this startling revelation. Yet she believed Cailin; he was too honorable to lie. They’d both experienced the brutal backlash of betrayal and had survived.
“For the same reason too many wars have been waged,” he spat. “Greed. The king wanted the Templar wealth.”
“Merciful saints. So many brave men were arrested and killed.”
“They were,” he said, his voice ice, “and revenge for our Brothers who were betrayed burns within each Templarwho survived.”
A gust sent snow blustering past their tent as Elspet listened while he explained how, during the riots in France the previous year, the Templars had sheltered King Philip. After the king debased France’s currency to a fraction of its worth, solely to increase his revenue, outrage ignited among his people.
“He was ill advised to believe his subjects would docilely submit their coin,” she said.
“Nay, he anticipated their anger, but not the intensity, or that they would pack the streetsin rebellion.”
Disgust rolled through her at the sovereign’s selfish decision. “King Philip was a fool to dare such an extreme measure.”
“Not a fool; frantic to replenish his coffers.” He slowly exhaled. “A desperate financial state the Knights Templar were unaware of. Even had we known, we had offered him protection over the years, along with the support of our strategic force. None within the Brotherhood would have believed he would betray us, more so when if he had but asked, we could have lent him more money.”
She frowned. “More?”
“Aye, Templars have loaned coin to many nobles over the years to ensure their interests were protected, including King Philip. Our trusting the sovereign was a crucial error, one paid for with the blood of many of my Brothers.”
Her heart echoed the loathing on his face for France’s king, a vile ruler who’d slaughtered devout men guilty of naught but blind faith.
“As King Philip hid in our Paris temple during the uprising,” Cailin continued, his voice raw with contempt, “he saw the treasures within the sanctuary and realized if the Brotherhood was removed, ’twould eliminate the huge debt he owed us.”
Sickened, she fisted her hands, wishing she could wrap them around the sovereign’s despicable neck. “Even if it meant destroying the Templars, knights who had been loyal to him throughout?”
Face grim, he nodded.
“But theriots ceased?”
“Aye, because after he’d concocted his plan to claim the Templar fortune, King Philip rescinded the devaluation, and peace again settled over the realm. He departed the Paris temple. After a brief time, he issued the charges against the Knights Templar fromunidentified claims, which led to the arrests. Unidentified.” His lip curled in disgust. “I, as do the remainder of the Brotherhood, have little doubt the falsehoods were crafted by France’s king.”
Her hand trembled as she lay it over his. “I am so sorry. ’Tis tragic what those within the Brotherhood have endured.” She hesitated, frowned. “But you arehere now. How?”
“Prior to the arrests, the Grand Master was warned of King Philip’s nefarious intent. Many of the valuables within the Paris temple were transferred to a Templar fleet located in the port of La Rochelle. Most ships headed to Portugal, but five sailed to Scotland.” Grim satisfaction glittered in his gaze. “King Philip may have found bits of gold left behind at the Paris temple, but he willneverfind the sacred treasures the Brotherhood have guarded over the years.”
She shook her head. “I would think after the king’s despicable actions, Pope Clement V would intervene.”
A muscle worked in Cailin’s jaw as he thought of the feckless Christian leader. “His Grace wasna selected as pope due to his staunch beliefs or righteous manner, but because he is a man King Philip can manipulate to do his bidding.”
She gasped. “France’s king would dare threaten the pope? H–how is such a treasonous action possible?”
“Because King Philip is a powerful man, one who will take whatever lethal steps are necessary to achieve his goal.”
In the glow of firelight sifting into their tent, Elspet’s face paled, and she made the sign of the cross. “God have mercy on those tragically betrayed.” Her body trembled, and he laced his fingers with hers and rubbed his thumb against the soft curve of her palm.
Her skin was warm, not hardened with calluses as he would have expected given the trials she had survived as of late. He knew that she, more than most, would understand what he had gone through, which was why he had shared his strife. In truth, it felt good to reveal his past.
An owl hooted in the distance.
Eyes dark with grief met his. “Why did any of the fleet sail north to Scotland?”
A grim smile touched his mouth, faded. “Unknown to most of the Brotherhood, years before, a covert plan had been made with the Bruce to protect the Order’s secrets if ever a dire circumstance arose. When Jacques de Molay learned of King Philip’s foul plot, he set the plan into action.”
“Wait. What does King Robert have to do with the Knights Templar?”
