Written by Guy, Fri Sep 4 17:29:13 US/Pacific 1998
Chapter 4
Austria, November 15th, 1191
The wind blew itself out and the pale autumn sun reappeared. Their route southward led the four three men along the river of Salzach, a turbulent stream that rushed down from the mountains. The country was hilly and timbered. The men didn't speak, still mourning the death of their fourth companion, which occured two days ago. He fell ill after they had left Rome and died on the 13th.
By late afternoon the cloudy sky was gradually darkening as evening approached.
-"We are going to spend the knight in the forest", Ulrich said, looking around. "There is no chance reaching the next village."
-"All right", one of the knights, Louis de Mansarre, replied, "but let us get back from the road a bit. Our fire could attract attention."
-"There is a woodcutter's track right there", the second knight, Philip de Portbleu said, pointing at a break in the trees. "It should lead us back into the trees."
-"All right", Ulrich agreed.
The sound of their horses' hooves was muffled by the sodden leaves on the forest floor as they turned in among the trees to follow a narrow track. They rode silently for the better part of two km until a clearing opened ahead of them. Ulrich ordered his men to halt.
-"How about here?" The Count suggested.
-"I will go to get wood for some fire", Philip said, climbing off his horse and untying his axe from his saddle.
Ulrich nodded and the knight made his way into the trees.
After a while, Philip returned to the clearing where Ulrich and Louis were waiting. He dropped his wood and cleared a space for the fire with his foot. Then he knelt and began striking sparks with his knife. In a short time he had a small fire going, and Ulrich set out the rabbits, which they had hunted earlier that day, beside it.
After they had eaten, they sad around the fire, talking quietly.
-"How far have we come today?" Louis asked.
-"Seventy or seventy-five km, I believe", Ulrich answered.
-"How much farther do we have to go to get out of the forest?"
-"About fifteen km".
The horses picketed nearby, stirred uneasily. Ulrich rose to his feet.
-"Something wrong?" Philip asked.
-"They shouldn't be", Ulrich started. Then he stopped. "Back!" He snapped. "Away from the fire. There are some men out there." He jumped back from the fire, drawing his sword. "Arm yourselves", he commanded.
Then with a hoarse shout, a gang of men burst from the edge of the trees and splashed across the clearing, branding swords. The three companions leaped forward to meet them. With a choked cry, one of the attackers stumbled back, Ulrich's knife cut his throat. Another doubled over sharply, clutching at his stomach, and fell on the ground, groaning. With a great sweep, the Count's heavy sword shattered an upflung blade and crunched down into the angle between the neck and the shoulder of the man, attacking him from his right. Another attacker turned to Louis, carrying a sabre in one hand and a knife in the other. At the last moment, the knight dived forward, rolled and struck the attacker full in the chest with both feet. Without pausing, he came up and ripped his dagger into the enemy's belly. The dagger made a wet, tearing sound as it sliced upward, and the stricken man fell on the ground.
At that moment, more than ten other men entered the clearing, branding their swords. Ulrich grabbed Philip's arm.
-"Listen very carefully. I am afraid we will not be able to make it."
-"We will Excellency."
-"Anyway, the message must be delivered to the Emperor. King Richard wishes Henry VI to join our noble crusade. In return, his Royal Highness grants some concessions. But there is one condition: the Emperor must put an end to his association with Leopold, Duke of Austria."
-"I understand", the knight replied.
Suddenly, an attacker appeared from behind and was about to strike the Count. Philip branded his sword and brutally hit him, saving his master's life. The body of the attacker collapsed beside them.
-"Thank you", Ulrich mumbled. "I command you to leave us here and to ride to my castle in Quirnheim right away."
-"But your Grace, I can not abandon you."
-"The safety of our holy mission is far more important than our mortal lives."
Unconvinced, Philip nodded.
-"Take my Royal Ring", Ulrich continued, taking off his ring and handing it to the knight, "and give it to my wife. She will treat you as my messenger and will help you, supplying you with guards and food. Then you'll have to ride to the Emperor's castle. Do you understand?"
-"Yes your Grace."
-"Hurry up before other attackers come."
Philip knelt and kissed the Count's hand. Then he climbed on his horse and rode away.
As the Count kept on fighting courageously, he was suddenly grabbed roughly from behind. He struggled for an instant, then felt a stunning blow on the back of his head, and his eyes filled with blinding flash of light.
Ulrich was being carried that much was certain. He could feel the strong arms under him. He didn't know how long it had been since he had been struck on the head. His ears still rang. The Count stayed limp, but carefully opened one eye. His vision was blurred and uncertain, but he could make out a man's bearded face looming above him in the darkness.
-"Good day, your Grace, I hope you slept well."
He closed his eyes and started to struggle weakly.
-"Don't do it", the bearded man laughed, "you'll need all your forces, trust me."
-"Where are you taking me?"
-"You are now under 'the protection' of his Lordship, the Duke of Austria. You are currently in his castle, brought to our 'cosy' dungeon."
Ulrich looked around. Two guards were carrying him down some narrow stairs. The bearded man seemed to be the leader. He wore an iron armour, and his right hand rested on the haft of his axe. After a while, they arrived to a wooden door and the bearded man unlocked it. The two guards put Ulrich down on the floor and left the cell. Shortly afterwards, Louis entered the cell followed by one of the guards.
-"Here is some company for you, your Grace", the guard announced sarcastically. He brutally pushed Louis, who fell on the floor, and exited the cell, locking the heavy wooden door behind him.
-"Are you all right, your Excellency?" Louis asked.
The Count looked at his counterpart. The knight seemed injured and terribly exhausted.
-"They hit me on the head", Ulrich mumbled, his hand going to the swelling behind his ear.
-"There were too numerous. I couldn't fight them anymore. I had to surrender. I was so afraid." Then the knight buried his face in his hands. It was dark and difficult to see, but it looked as if his shoulders were shaking with a kind of terrible suppressed grief- a soundless wrenching series of convulsive sobs.
Suddenly the door flung open and the three guards entered the cell, followed by a tall handsome man. He wore an elegant red tunic and a golden cap. He had black thick hair and penetrating green eyes.
-"Welcome to my humble dangeon", the man announced, "I am Leopold, Duke of Austria."
-"I am Ulrich Wilhelm Von Quirnheim", the Count stood up, "serving under the holy flag of King Richard I of England and Philip II of France."
-"I know who you are, your Excellency", the Duke replied sarcastically, "usually I know the the people I arrest."
-"How dare you attacking my men and myself? England is not in war with Austria."
-"Don't take me for a fool", Leopold smiled, "I know quite well that you are the envoy of Richard. You are carrying a message that might compromise my fruitful association with German Emperor."
-"You must be mistaken", the Count remarked, "I am on my way back to Bavaria. I haven't seen my family and my people for more than two years."
Leopold didn't say a thing. He simply retrieved a letter from his tunic.
"I have received it from one of my trustful spies. Richard told him about your mission. I am not here to argue whether you are his messenger or not. All I want to know is where is your third companion."
-"I didn't have any third companion."
-"I ask you again, where is he? I know he was there with you, my guards saw him riding away."
-"Your guards must be as blind as you are."
Smiling, the Duke pulled out a golden dagger.
-"This beautiful dagger was given to me by my father when I was ten", he explained, and I've always kept it for special occasions."
Saying that, Leopold turned to Louis, grabbed his hand, and with a quick and sharp movement cut off two of his finger.The poor knight fell on his knees, hurling from pain and trying to pick up the fingers that had fallen on the floor.
-"Now", the Duke continued, "where were we? Oh, yes, the third companion. Where is he?"
Even though Ulrich was deeply concerned about Louis' fate, he kept his lips sealed and refused to answer.
-"Well, our mutual friend has eight fingers left." He grabbed the knight's hand once again and cut off two more fingers. "Oops, I believe I've made a mistake- six finger left. The question is: for how long?"
-"Please don't", Louis begged, "I will tell you everything I know."
-"And what exactly do you know?" The Duke asked.
-"I was fighting", the knight explained, "and I heard the Count talking with Philip."
-"Philip was the third member of your charming expedition?"
-"Yes", Louis nodded, "Philip de Portbleu."
-"Go on. If you cooperate with us, I will spare your miserbale life", the Duke encouraged him.
-"The Count ordered him to go to his castke in Quirnheim in order to seek the help of his wife, Eleanor. He gave him his Royal Ring so that the Countess would recognise him as her husband's messenger. Then ho told him to meet the Emperor. Richard wants him to join the Crusade in return to some concessions. But there is one nonnegociable condition: the Emperor must cease his alliance with your Grace."
-"Just as I thought", the Duke replied, smiling.
Ulrich dived forward Louis, but was stopped by one of the guards.
-"You traitor", the Count yelled, "if I had my sword I would kill you."
-"That wouldn't be necessary", Leopold said, drawing his sword.
-"But your Grace, you have just promised to spare my life", the knight murmured.
The Duke made a quick feint with his sword, then ran it smoothly through the body of Louis. The knight stiffened, and a gush of bright blood burst from his mouth as Leopold pulled out the sword. Louis remained still for a few seconds. He clutched at his stomach with a scream, trying to hold in the blue coloured loops and coils of his entrails that seemed to come boiling out through his fingers. Then his body collapsed on the floor.
-"I lied", Leopold said, laughing.
-"You miserable Ulrich cursed.
-"I thought you wanted him dead as well."
-"Not that way."
-"Well, never mind. I promise I'll leave you the next one."
Then the Duke turned to his guards.
-"Keep an eye on him, unlock the door and do not feed him at any price. I want his Excellency to starve here like the rat that he is."
Both guards nodded and Leopold turned to Ulrich.
-"I hope that you will have some great time in my dungeon. My guards will take good care of you."
-"Your chief of command, Manfred Pichler is here, your Grace", the servant announced.
-"Let him in", Leopold said.
The captain proved to be tall, sober-looking man with penetrating grey eyes. He stepped into the room and the servant left hurriedly.
-"Your Excellency", the captain bowed to the Duke.
Leopold looked at him for a while.
-"I have a mission of great urgency for you", he finally said.
-"How can I be of any assistance to your Grace?"
-"I would like you to set up a garrison of about forty men. You must choose the bravest and the strongest among all my soldiers. Then, under your command, they will tide to Quirnheim."
-"Pardon my ignorance, my Lord, but where is it?"
-"It's a small village located in the northen part of Bavaria", the Duke explained. "You will have to ride there as quickly as you can. When you arrive to Quirnheim, I want you to head the attack on the castle of Count Ulrich. You must kill a knight called Philip de Portbleu at any price. I leave the fate of the House of Quirnheim upon your good judgement."
-"I am most honoured to fulfil my master's command."
-"I remind you that it is a matter of high importance. You must kill the knight, thus preventing him from reaching the German Emperor."
-"I fully understand you orders, my Lord."
-"Very good", the Duke said. "You may go now."
The captain bowed and left the room.
Less than twenty minutes later, a fully armed garrison of forty guards, headed by Manfred Pichler, rode away from the Duke's castle.
NEXT TIME, YOU'LL READ HOW GABRIEL GOT INVOLVED IN THE CASE...
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