Death of a Squire (Templar Knight Mysteries, No. 2)
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King John’s words echoed in his mind. Was his father’s fief worth breaking the vows he had taken when he joined the Templars? Poverty, chastity and obedience. He had made those vows not only to the Order, but to God. Even though not now an active member of the Templars he had, for the most part, kept to his promise of poverty, breaking it only for the expenditure of small gifts for Gianni. As for chastity, his thoughts had succumbed to temptation, but his body had not. Obedience was the hard one, for he had not obeyed his senior Templar officers, not since the day he had returned to England and found that his family had all perished during those long years he had been a captive of the Saracens. It had been the compassion of the Order that had kept him in their ranks, not his own honour. What was the wording of the oath? “To obey his Templar Master, or those to whom the Master has given authority, as though the command had come from Christ Himself.”
He looked down on Lincoln town, then up into the night sky. Crystals of ice were beginning to form on his hair and beard and his ears burned with the cold. Silently he prayed for guidance. What was God’s purpose for him? He begged for aid from heaven, some sign that would tell him what to do. But there was no answer.
Author’s Note
The setting for Death of a Squire is an authentic one. Nicolaa de la Haye was hereditary castellan of Lincoln castle during this period and her husband, Gerard Camville, was sheriff. Late in the year of 1200, King John travelled to Lincoln to receive the homage of King William for lands the Scottish monarch held in England, and both kings lengthened their stay in order to attend the funeral of Bishop Hugh, a man who was destined to be revered as a saint.
For details of medieval Lincoln and the Order of the Knights Templar, I am much indebted to the following: Medieval Lincoln by J. W. F. Hill (C.U.P) and Dungeon, Fire and Sword by John J. Robinson (M. Evans & Company). And for information on forests to: Historic Forests of England by Ralph Whitlock(A. S. Barnes & Company, Inc.).
Maureen Ash was born in London, England, and has had a lifelong interest in British medieval history. Visits to castle ruins and old churches have provided the inspiration for her novels. She enjoys Celtic music, browsing in bookstores and Belgian chocolate. Maureen now lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.