The Templars' Last Days Read Online Free

in hope of sleep than certainty as my mind was still troubled with the forthcoming and imminent crisis.
    Still whatever may happen tomorrow will, by God’s grace, happen and with that thought I drifted into a light but restful repose.
     

Chapter 2
    William of Nogaret had ridden hard through the previous day and night so that he could deliver the latest developments in his negotiations with the Pope and his legate to King Philip IV, but, despite all his efforts and discomforts, he still did not arrive at the outskirts of Fontainebleau until the early hours of the morning. The news was not good, and he felt it better to get some sleep, refresh himself and face the King later in the morning.
    Besides, he was in no fit state to present himself before his Monarch, being roughly attired in riding garbs and covered in the dust and grime that a hard ride across the country roads would cover both horse and rider in.
    He therefore headed to his home to rest, reflect on the last few days and how he could best tell the King the result of his latest negotiations, or, to be more exact, the lack of any meaningful progress.
    William's servants were unprepared for their master to be arriving at such a late hour. The large torches that illuminated the gates to his estate were almost flickering their last. The gatekeeper, however, managed to recognise the horse and rider approaching him at speed and opened the gates so that the horse did not have to break its stride.
    Now he was within the security of his own grounds, William allowed himself to slow down and upon reaching the front of his chateau dismounted, removed his all important saddle-bag and strode meaningfully, though somewhat tiredly, through the impressive front doors.
    The palatial hallway and staircase were dimly lit, but William was too tired and distracted with the matters in hand to be bothered. He barked out his orders to the butler regarding the time he was to be woken, the clothes he would need and the breakfast he would have.
    To William the stairs seemed to have doubled in number since he last ascended them to reach his sleeping quarters, or was this an illusion due to the time spent in the saddle? Either way, his bed looked extremely inviting and he fell immediately into a much needed deep sleep.
    It seemed to William that he had only just closed his eyes, when he was being woken by his butler. Although the tiredness of his body yelled at him to remain in bed and sleep some more, William knew that today was no day for a lie in. Fighting the instincts of his body to remain where it was, he ignored those feelings and rose. Once out of bed William shook off all thoughts of more sleep and lost no time in making himself ready for the tasks that lay ahead of him.
    His butler had, as commanded, laid out William’s finest black tunic and surcoat, white shirt and hose and his best black shoes. His gold chain of office was ready to be placed over his shoulders before he left. He took a few moments to admire himself in the long mirror which stood in the corner of his lavishly fitted bedroom. Satisfied that all was correct, he nodded a sign of approval to himself and headed down to the dining room for his breakfast.
    William deliberately took his time over breakfast, mentally reviewing his actions and reassuring himself that he had not failed in any aspect of the negotiations he had been involved in over the last few days. For he knew only too well that the King would ask him for every detail and fully expect to be answered without hesitation. As his mind mulled over all this information, he heard the sound of his coach pulling up at the front of his chateau. It was time for him to go.
    William's purposeful strides to his carriage were stopped by his butler at the front entrance. After placing over William’s head the solid gold chain of his office as Chancellor and Keeper of the Seals, he adjusted it until it was perfectly symmetrical on his shoulders. The butler then draped over