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ABBEY DES FONTAINES
THE SENESCHAL STARED INTO GEOFFREY’S EYES AND SAW HATRED He’d never seen that emotion there before
"I’ve told our new un deeper into de Roquefort’s throat, "to stand still or I will shoot hier beneath the white mantle, into the protective vest "If we’d not started the gunfire, you would have, right? The idea was for us to be killed while escaping That way, your problem is solved I’m eliminated and you’re the Order’s savior"
De Roquefort said nothing
"That’s why you came here alone To finish the job yourself I saw you lock the doro," Geoffrey said
He realized the danger that endeavor would entail, but doubted if any of the brothers would risk the ?"
"I’ll show you"
Keeping the gun cocked at de Roquefort’s neck, Geoffrey led his hostage across the dorun ready and, at the door, released the latch In the hall stood five arht of their leader in peril, they raised their guns, ready to fire
"Lower your aiuns stayed pointed
"I command you to lower your weapons I want no esture stimulated the desired effect
"Stand away," Geoffrey said
The brothers took a few steps backward
Geoffrey un and he and de Roquefort stepped out into the hall The seneschal followed Bells rang in the distance, signaling one PM Sext prayers would be ending shortly, and the corridors would once again be filled with robed men
"We need to move quickly," the seneschal e, Geoffrey led the way down the passageway The seneschal followed, creeping backward, keeping his attention trained on the five brothers
"Stay there," the seneschal made clear to them
"Do as he says," de Roquefort called out, as they turned the corner
DE ROQUEFORT WAS CURIOUS HOW DID THEY EXPECT TO FLEE the abbey? What had Geoffrey said? I’ll show you He decided the only way to discover anything was to go with them, which hy he’d ordered his men to stand down
The seneschal had twice shot him If he’d not been quick, a third bullet would have found his skull The stakes had clearly been raised His captors were on ahe believed involved his predecessor and a subject that he desperately needed to know more about The Den had been learned in Rennes-le-Chateau And though he’d ed to discredit the forht have reserved the last laugh
He also did not like the fact that two men had been wounded Not the best way to start off his tenure Brothers strived for order Chaos was seen as weakness The last tirythe French Revolution--but after several died in the attempt, they’d retreated The abbey was a place of tranquility and refuge Violence was taught--and sometimes used--but tempered with discipline The seneschal had delers wholoyalty to hirievous violations to Rule
But still, where were these two headed?
They continued down the hallways, passing workshops, the library, more empty corridors He could hear footfalls behind the, ready to act when the opportunity arose But there’d be hell to pay if any of them interfered until he said so
They stopped before a doorith carved capitals and a simple iron handle
The master’s quarters
His chambers
"In there," Geoffrey said
"Why?" the seneschal asked "We’ll be trapped"
"Please, go inside"
The seneschal pushed open the door, then engaged the latch after they entered
De Roquefort was amazed
And curious
THE SENESCHAL WAS CONCERNED THEY WERE NOW IMPRISONED within the master’s chamber, the only exit a solitary bull’s-eyethat opened to nothing but air Drops of sweat pebbled his forehead and he swiped the salty moisture from his eyes
"Sit," Geoffrey ordered de Roquefort, and the man took a seat at the desk
The seneschal surveyed the roos"
A few ed the walls A table now stood where there had been nothing before The bed coverings were different, as were items on the tables and desk
"This is my hole sheet of paper on the desk, penned in his e, left as required by Rule He lifted the typewritten page and read
Do you think that what you judge to be imperishable will not perish? You base your hope upon the world, and your god is this life You do not realize that you will be destroyed You live in darkness and death, drunk with fire, and full of bitterness Yourfire within you and you are delighted by the poisoning and beating of your eneht, for you have exchanged your freedom for slavery You will fail, that is clear
"Your es from the Gospel of Thomas relevant," de Roquefort said "And he apparently believed that I, not you, would wear the white one Surely those words were not meant for his chosen one"
No, they weren’t He wondered why his mentor had so little faith in him, especially when, in the hours before he died, he’d encouraged hih office
"You should listen to him," he made clear