54 –23th September — Travelling

Don Fernandino – 23rd September 1355

The barge left Bordeaux mid-morning. There was no accommodation as such but there were seats all around the main deck one for every one of the forty passengers carried by the barge. The departure had been timed to take advantage of the flood tide which meant they could move upstream using the minimum sail needed to achieve control. 

Fernandino’s co-passengers were mostly traders, or at least he assumed that they were from their appearance and clothing.  They initially relaxed in the morning sun but soon formed groups having intense, occasionally quite heated discussions.  There were two very different young men. Although their dark cloaks were very similar to the traders their demeanor was quite different. They paid attention to the features on the riverbank their heads turning continually to observe both banks of the river.  Fernandino decided that this was their first trip on this stretch of river. Fernandino judged them to be soldiers and briefly wondered what the reason for their trip might be. As the day warmed up they removed their cloaks, revealing that his judgement was correct.  They were slim but muscled, wore the tabard of the lions of Aquitaine and were wearing swords.

He disembarked at Langon and went to collect his horse from the stables where he had left it on his way into Bordeaux. The two young men traced Fernandino’s steps to the stables, where they also had horses waiting for Them.

The taller of the two grinned at  Fernandino . ‘ Where are you making for?’

‘St Julien. But not now. Tomorrow morning. Tonight I will stay at the inn in Sauternes.’

We also are heading for St Julien, perhaps we could travel together. My name is Leonard,  this is Robert. We would welcome some company and if we travel together it would reduce the risk of being attacked by thieves.

Fernandino nodded. ‘I intended to stay  in Sauternes until there is a group heading for St Julien.’ He held out his hand. ‘Fernandino’

 The innkeeper at Sauternes organised the tables for dinner according to destination. Arcachon, Mont Marsan, St. Julien, Dax  It made the task of forming a group, who could travel together for improved security, much easier.

The following morning a group of six riders set out for St Julien, making their farewells to groups heading in other directions. Robert announced that he would ride ahead of the group believing that his uniform would scare off most potential thieves and that Leonard would ride behind in a position where he could intercept any potential attack from the rear. ” it is what we have been trained to do.

It struck Fernandino  as slightly odd,  Leonard had initially said they were looking for company. He shrugged his shoulders and decided that if soldiers were trained to do things a certain way it would be difficult for them to ignore their training. 

He was again surprised that evening in St. Julien, when Leonard and Robert declared their intention to continue to Auch, his own destination. The inkeeper ran the same system of seating as that which had been used in Sauternes. Those going to the same destination sat on the same table for dinner. Was it his imagination or did Leonard and Robert hesitate until they saw where Don Fernandino was sitting?  

In the following days he became convinced that the two young men were determined to travel with him, but then came the realisation that it was all intended to allow him to be followed, but by whom?  

For it to make any sense whoever was following him must be staying at the same inns he had used himself guided by either Robert or Leonard.

When they reached Castelnaudry. He nominated his next destination as Carcassonne. He never reached Carcassonne. He was now in country that he knew well  and in late morning he quietly turned off into one of the Cathar trails which he knew so well.

He then went back to Castlenaudry to the same inn where he had stayed the previous night and quietly waited until he heard new arrivals. he sat quietly in a quiet corner of the central hall as the servantssetup the tables for dinner. he did not have to wait long  

 

 

 

he was going. Fernandino replied Mont Marsan.

 

 

 

 

The most dangerous woman in the world

The Treasure of Trencavel

List of Characters

Table Of Contents

References

characters

List of Places

Table of Contents

Pseudo History

home

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! '

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.’

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.