21 An Alternative Destiny

Ximene Trencavel- 17th July 1355

Don Fernandino pulled Ximene to one side, He had a very determined edge to his voice. “Ximene, you know I intend to meet the Prince when I am in Bordeaux. I have been talking to Guillam about what you see as your destiny, what you intend to do, what you expect from the Prince. Guillam has told me that your commitment is to free Cathars from prosecution, but that I should talk to you directly. So let’s put it all in terms of what you expect from the Prince. That is what I need to understand.’

Ximene frowned. ‘One of the reasons I want my complete independence is to decide just that.  I have had several discussions with the Prince and various options have come out of those discussions.

His father King Edward would like him to marry me, invade Occitan and make me Princess of Aquitaine and Duchess of Occitan. Oh! and at a sort of betrothal ceremony, the Prince also called me the future Queen of England, Ireland Wales and France. Incidentally, that option included the Comte de Foix becoming Duke of Gascony and swearing allegiance to King Edward.

Betrothal ceremony? You are betrothed to be married?

Yes, I suppose I am, but I don’t think it will ever happen, not least because he is infatuated with his cousin, Joan, Countess of Kent.

The same lady the Earl of Salisbury saved from Du Guesclin.

The same. But not only that. He has never satisfactorily described to me how he would defend our new empire, and I am unwilling to expose the people of Occitan to another crusade. In conversation, it became obvious that the Prince himself has a specific objective. He wants to control the trade routes from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, which pass through Occitan. He thinks he might be able to do that without marrying me. once again if he set me up as Duchess?Princess?Queen? of an independent Occitan there would still be the same question. How would I defend it?’

Don Fernandino cupped his face in his hands. It was over a minute before he raised his face and stared directly at Ximene. ‘Thank you, I needed to know that. Is there anything else I should know?’

No, except to repeat that what I am supposed to be doing now is spelling out what are the conditions I would insist on if I were to marry the Prince. In practice I have been somewhat distracted, which you may have noticed.

Don Fernandino smiled. ‘Yes, I have. Ximene there is another option which would not require an invasion or any problems of defence. We could start a completely new organisation. Initially, the organizing group should be only the two of us. The organization should have some perfectly legitimate occupation. Trading is ideal. It generates income and will, within a short period, be self-supporting.

‘But you had something else in mind?’

“Of course, it would give dispossessed Cathars a way of creating an income, but it would mean we could give good performers more and more responsibility and trust. We could have a series of stages of promotion and at each stage reveal more and more about our true purpose.’

‘And that purpose would be?’

‘To take over control of trading towns and in secret create a culture which would allow the Cathar faith to flourish. If the towns were in strategic positions on trade routes, trading would be profitable. ’ There would be no need to establish an independent state. In fact, no one outside of a small core group would ever know about it.was happening’

‘And security?’

‘Each town would develop on its own merits. We would supply finance, strategic planning skills, training, but they would never know who we are or how many other towns were involved. They would pay a tax for the trade brought to them, which would allow a continual expansion. That would not surprise them. It is the way things are done. If one town suffered from a breach of security, it would have no effect on the others. After a short period, the town could be reactivated.’

‘The way les Étoilles used to be?

‘Yes.’

‘And we would be called?’

Don Fernandino smiled broadly. ‘You already know. You heard me tell you the first day she arrived here’

‘Did I?’

‘We would be L’Ombre sans Nom. ‘The shadow without a name.’

‘Perfect… but how do we get it started ? We need a wealthy and trustworthy patron.’

‘ I think we can rule out the Compte de Foix.’ They both chuckled.
‘Nevertheless, we need someone like him, someone with power, influence and wealth.’

Don Fernandino stroked his chin, ‘You know… the Black Prince would be ideal. Perhaps whilst I am in Bordeaux I could reopen negotiations with him…on the subject of your marriage but with this alternative objective.

Ximene frowned… Something she did not want to hear.

‘No, Don Fernandino, emphatically not. If you have doubts about our ability to reach Sicily in safety then we will have to find somewhere else. But if there are to be negotiations about marriage they must take place from a position of strength. I will not even consider marriage until I have a contract in my hands which gives me what I want from the marriage. Is that clear?’

Don Fernandino smiled but nodded and gave a small bow of deference,

Despite her objection, Ximene realised that his dream could become her dream. However, it was a dream which probably did need a wealthy, powerful patron!

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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.