Chapter Twenty-Five
October 13, 1307
Christian watched uneasily as Landyncontinually glanced toward the road.
The moonlight faded, and the sun rose, spreading its light over the small thicket in the center of the forest where they rested. The birds began to sing, waking to the new morning.
They had all related their stories: how John died, and Landyn and Raven had killed Boucher. How Marcus had kidnapped Sage and his cousin deceived him to get the book. How Willow and Christian had tracked Sage and tricked his brother.
Christian observed the red book lying amidst the leaves in the center of their circle. He stood with his arms crossed.
“It’s maps,” Willow repeated from her kneeling position before the book.
Raven’s hands were on her hips and her lips twisted in distaste. “And Sage decoded the other book before burning it.”
Sage nodded. She knelt on the ground opposite Willow. “It’s directions. But there is no starting place. And no clue as to where the directions lead.”
“Do you still have the decoded message?” Christian asked.
Sage patted her black boot. “The parchments are in my boot.” Sage sat back on her heels. “Perhaps the directions are for one of the maps.”
“There are so many maps in this book,” Willow groaned. “We’d be old by the time we figured out which map the directions were for.”
Christian’s gaze swiveled to Landyn. He paced through the leaves and brush of the forest just outside their circle, occasionally looking toward the road.
Raven moved to him, intercepting his path, and spoke quietly.
Christian didn’t like this. Nervousness snaked up his back.
Willow assured Sage, “You’ll figure it out.”
Christian walked to Landyn’s side. “What is it?”
Landyn paused, assessing Willow, Sage, and Marcus as they bent over the red book. He locked eyes with Christian and lowered his voice. “The king is going to arrest the Templar Knights today.”
Christian recoiled in shock. “All of them?”
“All the ones he can find. We cannot be on the roads this day.”
“But…how? How do you know?” Stunned, he shook his head. He knew many Templar Knights and was friends with de Molay. “We have to warn them.” His instincts were to protect them.
Landyn turned to him. “They know.”
“They know, and they’re allowing this to happen?” he demanded, outraged.
“The king wants the treasure.” Landyn put his hand on Christian’s shoulder. “The king will not get his hands on it. We were warned ahead of time.”
“What of the Templar Knights?” Raven asked.
Landyn sighed sadly. “Most will be arrested.”
Christian’s chest constricted. “What of de Molay?”
Landyn swallowed. “He is likely to be the first one taken.”
Christian clenched his jaw. “We can’t allow this to happen. We have to prevent this.”
“We can’t stop the king. His order is already in motion. His men are descending on the Templar strongholds as we speak.”
