The Wolves of Solomon (Wolves of Solomon Book One)

by R. L. Blackhurst

5th September 1307, Fontainebleau Palace, Fontainebleau, France

  “De Nogaret!” Philip called out with genuine delight at seeing the councillor enter his private chambers. The King, reclining on a chair with legs crossed resting one upon another, was greedily feeding himself grapes with one hand and slurping wine from a large bejewelled goblet held by the other.

  “Get some more wine, boy!” he growled to the servant beside him through masticating jaws which were crammed full of the fruit, “And better than this piss you’ve given me thus.” He shook the goblet at the servant as if in warning and shooed him away. “Well Guillaume,” Philip said to De Nogaret when they were alone, “what are your thoughts on the latest gesture of the Grand Master? Is he fool or genius?”

  “Your Majesty,” Guillaume de Nogaret paused and bowed his head out of respect and only continued forward when Philip motioned him to do so.

  “I was surprised when I received your message.”

  “Surprised, and?” Philip pressed, his eyes bright and eager.

  De Nogaret sighed. “The Grand Master’s confidence that nought will come of it may be for several reasons; either that there is no truth in the accusations made against the Temple or he is unaware of any damning deviations within the Order. In addition, there is also the probable difficulty in proving such heresies if they indeed exist.” Guillaume smiled, but Philip frowned showing his irritation at De Nogaret’s answer.

  “Was it not you who presented the five denouncers to me?” Philip snapped. De Nogaret nodded and lowered his gaze.

  “Have you no belief in their accusations then?”

  “Only the belief one could have in someone who has been wronged and thus seeks a cold revenge.” De Nogaret said being honest even though he knew that it may anger the King so passionate was he in his will to kill the Temple.

  Philip was himself just another who felt wronged by the powerful knights. De Nogaret on the other hand did not care what the Templars had or hadn’t been doing, he had no opinion on the matter and was not inclined to even think on it; this was merely another assignment for him and one that he would exact with zealous precision. To have judgment on a task was pointless and potentially vexing; when it came to the King’s work De Nogaret was free of opinion yet coldly determined. Guilt or innocence mattered not, only the King’s pleasure and his own reward.

  “Whose side do you think you are on? I need faith to be instilled in the accusers! Christ be damned, if there is no truth to it then I will make a truth of it by any means necessary.” Philip drained his goblet just as the servant returned with two fresh flagons, De Nogaret waited for the King's cup to be refilled before he spoke.

  “It matters not what I think your Majesty, only that I act on it, and –”

  “Of course it matters!” Philip interjected, “I need assurance of success. De Molay ridicules me at every turn. His over-confidence and arrogance incenses me. I must know that the days of the Master of the Temple thinking he is above the King are drawing to a close. Even popes have sailed too close to the wind on that point.” Philip raised his eyebrows at De Nogaret to remind him of the point and to show his understanding, De Nogaret nodded.

  Satisfied, Philip continued, “I will not allow myself or my descendants to be ruled by impudent Popes or knights of low nobility who believe they rank high enough to challenge or refuse the King. I want it to be understood that I answer to no-one ’cept God himself. Your opinion matters to me because I seek an end to this constant provocation and you are instrumental to this. Can it be done Guillaume?”

  “It can and will be done. Clement is ignorant of the extent of your aim, is he not, your Majesty?”

  “Clement is immaterial, he may support the Temple now but he is easily unnerved. He is weak. He may peck like a chicken at policies with his valueless opinions but he soon tucks in his neck when it comes too close to the chopping block. A new crusade and a merging of the Temple with the Hospitallers would be to his satisfaction. Both would have interested me at some point but crusades drain kingdoms of their wealth, as my father aptly proved, and I want not a shred of the Temple remaining merged or otherwise.

  I know how to turn Clement but I need the accusations to have weight. I want the Temple destroyed, Guillaume. No mistakes this time.” The King tilted his head at the councillor gravely reminding him of another point and drank back his wine. It was refilled immediately.

  “Clement appeases the Grand Master with this inquiry and they both think that this is just a matter for course. The Master’s arrogance and belief in Clement’s unquestionable support is proved by this move but I promise that he and his brethren will fall foul because of it.” De Nogaret assured.

  “We need to strike with haste. Clement has already spoken of delaying the inquiry over this illness of his. I want this done, not dragged out for years.” Philip said impatiently.

  De Nogaret knew something of the King’s impatience. He looked at Philip reclining in his lavish quarters. He was an extravagant king with the looks to compliment his manner, yet his treasury was not so bountiful. The wars with England in Gascony had exhausted the treasury and it needed to be replenished and quickly. Seizure of Jewish goods and money and even debasing the currency and increasing taxation had not given the King the capital he desired. It was the wealth of the Templars, reputed to be in vast stores of treasure, which obsessed Philip. De Nogaret could not judge the King too harshly on that fact for he too was ambitious for wealth and to be fair Philip did have other reasons for seeing the Temple felled.

  He resented their power and influence and what he condemned as their hideous arrogance and their impunity. In particular it was the current Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, whose conceit proved insufferable and it was this, coupled with his unshakable conviction that he and his brethren were unassailable, that enraged the King. There was also moral motivation on Philip’s part. There was hypocrisy about the Order that bothered him, for although he dared to challenge the authority of popes, he was deeply pious.

  He sensed corruption and misdeeds behind the Templars’ wealth and influence. The recent accusations of heretical activities within the Order by ousted Templars that had come forth with complaint, had only confirmed Philip’s suspicions. They were immoral and self driven and served neither God nor King. It was their resistance to merge with the Hospitallers that convinced Philip that the Order was problematic and better served him dissolved and with their resources within his grasp. De Nogaret smiled to reassure the King and then brought forth the news that he knew would enthral him.

  “Esquin de Floyran will provide a strong testimony to the Temple’s misdeeds and not just acts of heresy and corruption, he has more.”

  Philip sat up, his expression rippled with interest and De Nogaret nodded his assertion that what he was about to say, would not only please the King but put to rest his fretting over the matter.

  “Spit it out Guillaume!” Philip cried impatient for the information.

  “I know not the exact details of it but De Floyran has assured me that there is a secret of the Templars so diabolical that it could strike Clement dead merely upon its revelation to him.”

  “Damn you Guillaume, you best reveal it to me now you have spoken of it!”

  “Your Majesty I cannot because as I said I know nothing of its intricacies, but De Floyran swears that if Clement survived the utterance of the said revelation then he would have the Temple burn in the fires of hell for all eternity and you would have his blessing to send them there.”

  Philip clenched his fist and then motioned for more wine to be poured for the both of them, “You tease me with this morsel. Why the secrecy from De Floyran?”

  “He says it is very . . .” De Nogaret stopped to find the right word, “dangerous knowledge and if he reveals it then it should be kept from the public domain at all costs.”

  “Hell’s teeth, what is it? Where is De Floyran? I will see him now, I cannot be left thus!”

  “He is in England at present, you
r Majesty.” De Nogaret said removing one of his gloves and fingering it.

  Philip stood up suddenly. “England? What the devil is he doing in England?” He began to pace the room.

  “Your Majesty, my news was meant to ease your worry over the matter, not add to it.”

  “By leaving it a mystery? You fool! Do you now expect me to sleep? What if De Floyran is lying, what if there is nothing? Has he asked for more money?”

  “Of course, he desires wealth and land; however he maintains that he can provide irrefutable evidence but does not wish to reveal the secret until he has such before you and the Pope.”

  “And he has gone to England for it?”

  “Of that I am not sure.”

  “Mmmm, De Floyran.” Philip mused and thought back to their meeting months before. “He had a Templar’s arrogance that’s for certain. I did not like his manner. Can we trust a man who would betray his own?”

  De Nogaret shrugged contemplatively. “He is a mercenary, expelled from the Temple at the fall of Acre and he has such bitterness towards them that you can almost taste it when he speaks of them. He has waited a long time for revenge and so desirous is he for their fall that this revelation is his way of ensuring it, even though he risks his own position by revealing the secret.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “He told me so and ’tis why he is cautious in his disclosure of it. He requires guarantee of his impunity.”

  “He’ll have it.” Philip waved his hand dismissively. “What I want to know is whether you trust him?” Philip asked.

  “He served me well at Anagni, though the outcome was not altogether as planned, he played his part well.” Philip raised an eyebrow at his councillor impatiently. De Nogaret sighed.

  “No, I do not trust him. But his mistress is money, so trust matters not when the weight of coin controls the tide. We offer him revenge and wealth and so his loyalty is secure.”

  Philip nodded. “When does he return from England?” He rubbed his left eye and returned to his chair.

  “When his business is concluded but he said no later than the end of September.”

  “Jesu so I must wait, must I? Once again it is a Templar who has me by the balls!” Philip said throwing his arms up.

  “Ex-Templar and he is firmly in your camp, Majesty.”

  “Let's hope Guillaume, for your sake, it better be good. But,” he continued shaking his finger at De Nogaret thoughtfully, “if this secret shouldn’t be made public then what good is it against them?”

  “It will destroy the Pope’s support of the Temple and it will give those who come to judge them, reason to judge them mercilessly. De Floyran wants to expose the Templars for what they really are.” De Nogaret replied confidently.

  “Mmmm,” Philip nodded his fascination gnawing at him, “I want De Floyran brought to me as soon as he sets foot back on French soil. I want this to begin. Clement’s ailment means that his meeting with the two Grand Masters to discuss a new crusade and merging of the Orders will be delayed.

  De Molay will not go back to Cyprus until he has met with Clement nor until the inquiry into the Order has been concluded. The arrogant fool! This inquiry he has asked for provides us with a cloak and his infernal conceit will dampen his vigilance. We must not give him any reason to suspect anything else; I want De Molay arrested with the others. I will decide whether this other matter of De Floyran’s is to be solely kept between our agents and those of the papacy when I’ve heard it.”

  Philip stood up and began to pace back and forth as his mind worked. “In the meantime, watch the Temple closely De Nogaret, and gather as much evidence as you can against them. I want charges to be laid against them, charges that will stick like shit and seize Clement’s interest, charges that will destroy their foundations. I want the world to turn on them, see to it that such are drawn up.”

  Guillaume nodded, “Consider it done. De Floyran leads a handful of mercenaries that are, according to him, other expelled Templars. The Temple is unpopular and has enemies aplenty. It will be easy to secure other testimonies, false or otherwise.”

  “Good, good.” Philip said stretching his arms above his head. “Now are you joining us on the hunt this afternoon?”

  “No, I have work to do.” De Nogaret said, bowing his head respectfully. “I must return to Paris this afternoon.”

  Philip shook his head incredulously, “How can you come to Fontainebleau and not wish to enjoy the thrill of the hunt? Surely you have time or do you never make time for pleasure, Guillaume?” the King asked inspecting his fingernails briefly before looking back at him.

  “I find pleasure in my work.” De Nogaret replied. “Besides I have a hunt of my own to conduct.” He smiled at the King with a glint in his eyes that made Philip curious about the councillor’s true nature, of which he knew little about. He was good at his job, clever and honest but, while Philip enjoyed the company of some of his other advisors, he had never cared to socialise with De Nogaret. The King kept his gaze firmly fixed on him and studied him for a moment.

  Philip was aware that he and De Nogaret could not have been more different from each other in form. The King was tall, blond, strongly built and devilishly handsome while De Nogaret was squat, swarthy and had beady eyes that showed cold resolve. Philip knew that they were similarly ambitious and hungry for wealth and, while for perhaps different reasons, would seek any means necessary to secure that which they desired.

  However, De Nogaret had a hidden quarter that when glimpsed, albeit rarely, made Philip a little uncomfortable. While most men enjoyed hunting for the sport of the chase, he knew that for De Nogaret it would be the point of slaughter that would most satisfy him. Philip could tell himself that the hunt for the Temple’s destruction was a morally justifiable cause but he knew that, conversely, De Nogaret cared not for whys and wherefores but for the destruction of the quarry itself and that it was the final blow from which he would derive his greatest pleasure. He had been cheated of it with Pope Boniface VIII, so he would be doubly determined to have it satisfied with Templar casualties.

  “Very well,” Philip said breaking his thoughts and walking towards the door, “keep me informed, and I want to know when that renegade Templar is back in France.” He finished sweeping quickly out the room. De Nogaret stared after him with a smile on his face that swelled with his damning objective.