2 The Blizzard 10th December

Henri de Vivar rode alongside Alyse as they left the Chateau de Termes He stood in his stirrups and turned to look with satisfaction at the dozen riders riding close behind. Six of his own men and six of the prince’s guards all wearing colourful tabards, their horses wearing matching comparisons carrying lances tipped with pennants.

As soon as they had left sight of the Chateau Termes he called an order for them to slow to a trot. Alyse frowned. ‘Why slow down? if Du Guesclin is following us shouldn’t we ride as far, as fast as we can?’

Well, if this deception is to work we want Du Guesclin to follow us, so we must let him know where we are,we want him to believe that Ximene has fled to Castile.’

He tipped his head to one side as he searched for the correct words.’We are not exactly hiding, but not everyone will understand the significance of the heraldry of the tabards. It is a bit like fishing to attract Du Guesclin’s attention we must dangle some bait.

The second village we pass through, Arzacq is in Bearn, nominally English territory. We will nail a copy of the next court circular, which has been written by your brother, on the notice board in the market. It will announce that Ximene Trencavel, the future Queen of England has decided to visit her relatives in Castile and that this famous person will be passing through the village.

‘You have a copy of Juan’s next court circular?’

‘Yes, Juan rode down from Bordeau to Termes, at the request of Countess of Kent, specifically to make that possible. Similar copies will be by tomorrow morning be appearing on village notice boards throughout western Armagnac and Northern Bearn.’

‘So we are in fact telling du Guesclin where to find us.’

‘yes but it is a very controlled risk once we are in Bearn he will have to be careful we could call on assistance from any number of sources and the Presence of the Prince’s guards would make it easy for unto do that. In any case we will spend the next few days at Gaston Du Foix’s Chateau at Orthez and wait to see wether du Guesclin has taken the Bait.

But Gaston spent so much time trying to keep Ximene a Captive at Foix

So, my love, we will be together for a significant period and without people continually looking over our shoulder. Will I at long last get the chance to share your bed? the chance to share your bed

The most dangerous woman in the world

The Treasure of Trencavel

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Extract from The Prisoner of Foix--Chapter 43 -The EntranceNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley-26th April 1355

 

'Looks like we are going to see a bit of excitement, John. The Captain tried to get an agreement from the Prince that if there is surf running across the channel to Arcachon we will turn back to Bordeaux, but the Prince would hear none of it. Instead, he has offered to provide insurance for all three ships. If they are damaged or sunk, the owners will be compensated and every sailor who makes the passage will be given a bounty payment. What none of this seems to take into account is that if we sink in rough, fast-flowing waters we might all drown.'

John raised his eyebrows. 'But that is what we are going to do?'

'Yes, despite the fact that surf running accross the entrance is not uncommon and the deep water channel moves continually. In the end, the Prince attacked their captains on their weakest point, their professional pride! He threw down the gauntlet. He offered to take the Sally first through the channel, and to take control during the passage.' He raised his brow. 'We are going into the Bay of Arcachon, come what may! '

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Extract from The Eagle of Carcassone -- Chapter 24-- A Real GoddessNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley - 22 July 1355

An hour later John walked with Ximene close to the river along the valley below St Feriole. It was the very essence of a summer’s day. The sun was fierce but in the shadow of the trees, it was cool and fragrant. The trees and shrubs along the riverbank hid their progress, from the Château, from St Feriole.

Eventually they reached a point where John thought it was safe to emerge from cover. To his satisfaction the stream extended into a pool with a sandy beach, shaded by trees. Where the stream entered the pool there was a flat grassy area, almost circular. Behind this, the bulk of two mountain ridges provided a splendid backdrop. He looked around once more ‘Not just a good training ground but a great training ground. If the Greek heroes knew about this they might be tempted to join me, to train with me’

Ximene laughed out loud. He turned to look at her. She had removed her outer clothes and was wearing a white chemise, cut short so that it barely reached her knees. Around her waist, she wore a plaited leather belt, obviously fashioned from the multitude of leather straps to be found in the tackle room.

She ran her hands down over her breasts. ‘When you were unconscious I heard you muttering about gods and goddesses, so  I have decided that from now on, for you, I will be the goddess.’

Available February 2020
The Prisoner of FoixVol 1 of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

Aquitaine, an English possession, is in crisis. It is under threat from neighbouring nations and internal dissension.

The Black Prince, King Edward III’s eldest son has been given the task of taking command in Aquitaine.

Suddenly there is an opportunity. Ximene Trencavel is the heiress to the lands of Occitan, to the east of Aquitaine: lands controlled by the Franks. Ximene wants independence, both for herself and for Occitan.

A union between Aquitaine and Occitan would be mutually beneficial. The Black Prince undertakes a secret journey to meet Ximene to negotiate a marriage contract. It is, however, a marriage neither of them really wants.

Meanwhile, the  Franks plot to murder Ximene to prevent ,not just the marriage, but any kind of union between England and Occitan.

The Eagle Of CarcassonneVol II of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

The loose alliance between Ximene Trencavel and the Black Prince is under threat.

The Prince invades Occitan, to show his support for Ximene but it becomes an invasion which creates more problems than it solves.

The Prince has fallen hopelessly in love with Joan of Kent and Joan is now determined to marry him and become the next Queen of England.

Joan is therefore  determined to convince Ximene that she should not marry the Prince.

Part of her strategy is to encourage Ximene’s relationship with John Stanley—one of the Princes bodyguards—not an easy task as both John and Ximene have doubts about their compatibility.

However, John is grievously injured in a battle and Ximene commits herself to nurse him back to health.