Free The Chapel of Bones: (Knights Templar 18) by Michael Jecks Page A

Matthew showed no sign of having recognised him. Curbing his desire to fly had been difficult, but then Thomas started to feel a little more settled. If even Matt didn’t realise who he was, surely he was as safe here as anywhere in the realm.
    Still, he didn’t want to go back to the Cathedral and see Matthew just now. The Vicar would stare at him if not accusingly then somewhat pityingly, and Thomas wasn’t ready to suffer that. He carried on to Carfoix, the great crossroads where the main east-west and north-south streets all met. Therewere a great many people there: men and women, horses, dogs and cattle, all vying for space while tranters added to the din, shouting their wares. Thomas took one long look at them all, and headed south.
    He hadn’t been here since his return. Well, there wasn’t much point in coming here. He had no need to travel, and the Southern Gate was only useful for those who had to go down towards the coast. All the things that Thomas was likely to need were already available at the Cathedral. He didn’t need to even look this way usually.
    But just now, after the shock of Saul’s accident and the wretchedness he had caused that beautiful woman, he felt the need to go and see the gate again. Just once more, he told himself. He’d never have to come here again after this.
    The South Gate to the city was a massive affair, with two square towers set in the wall presenting a daunting view to those approaching from outside. From the interior, they were scarcely less alarming. A large building lay beside the roadway, with lodgings for the porter, as well as rooms for a guard. There was a room beneath in which all those whom the porter considered dubious could be held, too. Thomas could remember that place only too clearly, the foul odours, the sobbing of men or women as they waited for the guards coming to take them away … and the never-ceasing drip of water from somewhere. No matter what the weather, that cell always seemed wet.
    Looking to the left, he saw the church, Holy Trinity, where he had been baptised and took Mass until he left. Beyond it was the wall where he had played as a child. It was huge, a rising rampart supporting the masonry, and as a mason himself he could only wonder at the labour that over the years had created this enormous ring of stone about the city. The wall was crenellated, and must have been eleven feet thick at thebase, narrowing to perhaps six or seven at the top. It was a wall that could hardly have been bettered by any other in the land.
    But it wasn’t the wall which attracted his attention. He could not stop his eyes from moving back to the gate to take in the three wizened, blackened shapes hanging up by the gate itself. They were good and high, so that they should be out of reach of people attempting to move them, but positioned where all could see them, for these were men who had been accused of treachery to the King after the most recent wars, the fights between the Lords Marcher and the King’s friends, the Despensers. There were only the three, all of them knights, and each of them a loyal servant of his own master, whoever he might have been. Up and down the kingdom there were similar hideous shapes hanging or stuck on spikes. They would remain there until they had disintegrated, so that the King’s justice could be seen by all.
    The King’s
justice
, Thomas sneered to himself. It was an amusing concept, here where a King could choose a man’s fate, whether he should live or die, on a whim.
    Still, at least his own father wasn’t there any longer. His body would have rotted and fallen away many years ago now.

Chapter Five
     
    Sara woke to a miserable morning, feeling as though the cold had penetrated her very marrow. She wriggled further under the scratchy fustian blankets. They smelled of the damp, of cats’ pee, but it was better than rising. Outside, the rain was sheeting down. There was a growing puddle by the door, spreading slowly across