per-the fall of the templars
53
suaded from this course. Jacques is a military man, a general through and through. You’ve been on the road with him beating the drums of war for two years. If he could have been converted from this aim, you surely would have done so by now.” Hugues went on as Will faltered. “Listen to me. Jacques will go his own way if he has to take up his sword and march east alone. We cannot stop him, but we can safeguard the order. In this changing world, territory is everything. It is what Philippe and Edward are fi ghting so fi ercely for. With territory comes power and with power comes autonomy. We stood beyond the laws of kings and princes for almost two centuries because only the pope had control over us, but now the pope’s power is waning. God’s vicar on earth does not own enough of it to match the rising authority of these warrior kings. If we do not cut ourselves away from the papacy we may find our strength diminished. But with a secure base of our own we can continue to expand and grow. We can continue to be one of the most powerful and affl uent brotherhoods on this earth.” Hugues’s eyes were bright. “We can control kings, keep royal treasuries, hold sway on sea and land, whether selling our wool at the trade fairs or protecting merchant ships, just as we did at the height of our power. With the Crusades over, we no longer have purpose in the eyes of the world. We must make our own purpose, or someone else will decide it for us. It has already begun, with the pope’s desire to merge us with the Hospitallers.”
Will was shaking his head. “And what of the Anima Templi? What of its aims?”
“The Brethren have no real power or direction anymore.” Hugues continued. “You know that, Will, or else you would have started to rebuild us as soon as Acre fell. What have you done to restore us?” He raised a hand. “I’m not blaming you. Indeed, what could you have done? After the Holy Land was lost, how could the Anima Templi continue its aims?”
Will didn’t answer. Hugues’s words just echoed what he had been asking himself all this time: what now was the point in the Anima Templi? He remembered the seneschal, the man he had always thought would become Everard’s successor, charging him to continue their work in the West and to safeguard the Temple from all enemies, within and without. But the seneschal couldn’t have known what an impossible task this would be. He sacrifi ced himself for this , a small voice said, but Will forced it away.
Hugues was nodding at his silence, taking it for acceptance. “But with the Temple’s future secured, we can rebuild the Anima Templi, continue those aims. You’ve said it a thousand times: the Brethren cannot exist without the 54 robyn
young
Temple, without the money and resources it provides us, albeit unknowingly.
If we allow the order to be taken over by other forces, we will fi nd ourselves crushed within the fist of someone else’s ambition.” Hugues paused. “Edward can help us achieve what we want, Will. Indeed, he could be our greatest ally.”
Will felt something leaden go through him. “Dear God, Hugues. What have you done?”
“What I had to.”
“It wasn’t Jacques who agreed to aid Edward’s war. It was you. You persuaded the grand master to go along with it.”
Hugues thrust out his chest. “Yes.”
“Whatever Edward promised you is a lie. He’s using you.”
“He has already helped us. In return for military assistance in Scotland, he pledged to dissuade Bishop de Got from merging the orders. That has happened. When order is returned to Scotland, he will help us find a permanent base, a place from which we can decide our own future.”
“You said it yourself, Hugues: Edward wants territory for himself! Do you really believe he’ll create a state for a mighty, untouchable army, where it can grow even more powerful? Cruel deceiver and ambitious tyrant Edward may be, but fool he is
53
suaded from this course. Jacques is a military man, a general through and through. You’ve been on the road with him beating the drums of war for two years. If he could have been converted from this aim, you surely would have done so by now.” Hugues went on as Will faltered. “Listen to me. Jacques will go his own way if he has to take up his sword and march east alone. We cannot stop him, but we can safeguard the order. In this changing world, territory is everything. It is what Philippe and Edward are fi ghting so fi ercely for. With territory comes power and with power comes autonomy. We stood beyond the laws of kings and princes for almost two centuries because only the pope had control over us, but now the pope’s power is waning. God’s vicar on earth does not own enough of it to match the rising authority of these warrior kings. If we do not cut ourselves away from the papacy we may find our strength diminished. But with a secure base of our own we can continue to expand and grow. We can continue to be one of the most powerful and affl uent brotherhoods on this earth.” Hugues’s eyes were bright. “We can control kings, keep royal treasuries, hold sway on sea and land, whether selling our wool at the trade fairs or protecting merchant ships, just as we did at the height of our power. With the Crusades over, we no longer have purpose in the eyes of the world. We must make our own purpose, or someone else will decide it for us. It has already begun, with the pope’s desire to merge us with the Hospitallers.”
Will was shaking his head. “And what of the Anima Templi? What of its aims?”
“The Brethren have no real power or direction anymore.” Hugues continued. “You know that, Will, or else you would have started to rebuild us as soon as Acre fell. What have you done to restore us?” He raised a hand. “I’m not blaming you. Indeed, what could you have done? After the Holy Land was lost, how could the Anima Templi continue its aims?”
Will didn’t answer. Hugues’s words just echoed what he had been asking himself all this time: what now was the point in the Anima Templi? He remembered the seneschal, the man he had always thought would become Everard’s successor, charging him to continue their work in the West and to safeguard the Temple from all enemies, within and without. But the seneschal couldn’t have known what an impossible task this would be. He sacrifi ced himself for this , a small voice said, but Will forced it away.
Hugues was nodding at his silence, taking it for acceptance. “But with the Temple’s future secured, we can rebuild the Anima Templi, continue those aims. You’ve said it a thousand times: the Brethren cannot exist without the 54 robyn
young
Temple, without the money and resources it provides us, albeit unknowingly.
If we allow the order to be taken over by other forces, we will fi nd ourselves crushed within the fist of someone else’s ambition.” Hugues paused. “Edward can help us achieve what we want, Will. Indeed, he could be our greatest ally.”
Will felt something leaden go through him. “Dear God, Hugues. What have you done?”
“What I had to.”
“It wasn’t Jacques who agreed to aid Edward’s war. It was you. You persuaded the grand master to go along with it.”
Hugues thrust out his chest. “Yes.”
“Whatever Edward promised you is a lie. He’s using you.”
“He has already helped us. In return for military assistance in Scotland, he pledged to dissuade Bishop de Got from merging the orders. That has happened. When order is returned to Scotland, he will help us find a permanent base, a place from which we can decide our own future.”
“You said it yourself, Hugues: Edward wants territory for himself! Do you really believe he’ll create a state for a mighty, untouchable army, where it can grow even more powerful? Cruel deceiver and ambitious tyrant Edward may be, but fool he is
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