The Wolves of Solomon (Wolves of Solomon Book One)

by R. L. Blackhurst

“Sshhhh,” Galeren said suddenly looking around him. Red sidestepped nervously and Galeren drew rein. Catherine pulled closer to him, her arms encircling his waist and waited patiently. She knew he’d sensed something for she sensed it too and her heart beat rapidly for fear of what it was.

  “De Floyran,” she whispered tentatively.

  “I don’t know,” Galeren said moving his hand to the hilt of his sword. He knew that Catherine, though new to this life, was as sensitive as he and especially so when it came to the man who had marked her, “what do you think?” he said turning his head to look at her.

  “I am not as certain of my senses as you,” she said, “but I sensed something in the second that you did.”

  They had only left the cottage in Ashby that morning and were making their way to Scotland. Galeren thought that it was a sensible, albeit temporary, solution and one that would give them time to make more solid plans for the future. Scotland was a wild land preoccupied with its warring with England and was seeking to carve out its own future, like Galeren. Templar presence was minimal but adequate for his purpose, he knew people at Balantrodoch and they would give both he and Catherine shelter while he figured out what to do next.

  Though he always thought himself independent he had been, like many others, conditioned to life in the Temple. Having to think about where the next meal came from, or coin to pay for clothing and shelter, was foreign to him. But if he was to have the freedom to live the life he wanted with Catherine, then he would need to put what talents he had to good use.

  He considered joining the retinue of some lord and becoming a simple hearth knight, but it would not give him what he desired. Catherine would be bound to endure endless hours with the wives and mistresses of other knights, day in and day out, and he would run the risk of heading into whatever battle or skirmishes were afoot for what could amount to months on end. The pay would be poor and though there was security in such an occupation, they would be no freer than if he remained in the Temple.

  More importantly their other lives would be difficult to manage under such close confined living conditions. They would need to change and they would need to run and often. Galeren was personable enough but the camaraderie that he knew would form a necessary part of being a household knight would be difficult to muster up or maintain and most likely would lead to unpopular scrutiny, just what he didn’t need.

  Another possibility was to become a tourney knight. It was an arduous existence, following the tourney circuit, not to mention somewhat perilous. A man could lose all he had with one ill thought move, but he wasn’t a man and that is why it could work well for them. Though it appeared to be the domain of the young, sometimes reckless and in some cases desperate knight, Galeren’s prowess on the battlefield and enhanced strength that came from his wolf blood would prove profitable.

  He was no novice to the tourney either, though Templars by the rule were not meant to compete in tournaments, they often did, albeit anonymously. He need only compete for a short while to gain a decent fortune, though this would not come without some guilt. He knew he would be unbeatable and the idea of using his gift to strip knights of their livelihoods, with relative ease, did not sit well on his conscience. But there were his skills as a physician that were not to be put to waste and what he took from a man in one hand, he could give back to him in the other. Catherine had some talent in the art of healing and he could teach her what he knew.

  Security and a household of their own would be their ultimate prize and he could ease his conscience in acts of goodwill thereafter. But then there was De Floyran; sooner or later he would have to be dealt with. Sooner was Galeren’s preference as he did not the relish the idea of forever looking over his shoulder, but as the unease now crept up his spine he already wished to be far from this place and the threat of him.

  “He may be tracking us.” Galeren said.

  “How can you tell?” Catherine looked around her noting that Galeren’s hand was still firmly upon his sword.

  “He’s not here,” he said, “but he has been. There is a trace of a scent, it lingers and sometimes you can pick it up. Its strength depends on how long ago it was left. He’ll be using the same method in his search for us. It is likely he’s been to the convent and therefore he will know that I was there and that you are now with me. I did not give the Abbess a false name. He will be tracking the main routes between Temple Bruer, the convent and Faxfleet. Especially the less used roads.”

  “Why would he bother? Why does he want me?” she said, frustrated and annoyed.

  “You eluded him, you are with me and,” Galeren smiled softly, “who wouldn’t want you?”

  Catherine smiled ruefully at him. “But he won’t get you. It will be over my dead body,” Galeren said darkly, “I can promise you that.”

  Catherine shivered. Galeren looked away toward the path ahead.

  “What will we do?” she rested her face against the soft wool of his cloak between his shoulder blades and felt the first drop of rain fall against her cheek. Galeren looked up and felt the steady patter of the rain drops that began to grow in intensity.

  “We’ll shelter at an inn tonight.”

  “Won’t the rain protect us?”

  “It can make things more difficult, but better that we surround ourselves with people. Besides it won’t be much fun riding in this, it looks to set in for the night. Tonight we rest and then tomorrow we can make haste and head west. A long way round but I don’t want him following us to Scotland.”

  In truth Galeren wanted to face De Floyran now and finish it, but Catherine gave him fear. It was something he had never experienced before. He knew he would lose reason if she was in harms way and the thought of anything happening to her weighed heavy on his mind. De Floyran had done enough to her already. But when was he likely to have the chance to face De Floyran alone now she was by his side? For now, he reasoned they would find shelter and he would think on the matter later.