Chapter 10

Enraged, Prince John crumpled the letter and threw it down, trampling on it:

"Damn it!"

A few wondering looks made him bounce back.

"Your Highness", said Maurice, "you shouldn't forget we have a funeral to finish."

The regent took a breath and continued with a more quiet voice.

"I wish to speak to Sir Charles Delorges immediately. Did you hear that, Lord Chancellor?"

His words were joint with a so expressive look that Maurice started to walk, whispering irritated:

"How I hate the moments when he remembers he is a prince!"

Arriving near the bank where the two adolescents were sitting, he caught faint and addressed Charles:

"His Highness, the regent, wishes to see you, Sir."

The knight stood up, kissed the lady's hand and fallowed De Bracy back to Prince John.

"I understand you had came a long way here so you must be very tired. I allow you to retire."

The knight made an ironical bow and answered with a naive air:

"You are most kind, messier."

He turned his head away to Maurice and said with a cold smile:

'Have a nice day, sir."

Than he passed through the group of courtiers who were making way for him and vaulting into the saddle, he rode off with a loose rein. A few hours later, after the tomb was established, Maurice de Bracy walked out of the burial vault and looked up at the sky.

"And so the Frenchman has declared war", he whispered thoughtfully and directed his steps to the stables. "Poor innocent children! How can they hope to survive in the middle of this hell ruled by John Plantagenet?'

Maurice burst out with laughter.

"After all, what do I care? I am being waited in paradise."

After he assured himself nobody sees him, he chose the best breed horse he found and galloped away. At twilight, he dismounted near the small cottage which was secretly visited from time to time. He knocked at the door in a special way and listened carefully. Some daring steps were approaching quietly to the door.

"Nicole!" he shouted. "It's me, Maurice!"

The door slowly opened and, in the deep darkness inside, he could discern the unclear outline of a man. Suddenly, the blade of a dagger sparked in the stranger's hand. Hardly had Maurice jumped a step behind, that the bad-intended man attacked him at lightning speed. Even though, Maurice had guessed his movement and caught the armed hand into his iron fist. He knocked the stranger to the ground and , taking the dagger, he rose it against the enemy. Just then, a woman's cry made him rise his head. He recognized Nicole staying still in the threshold.

"My apologizes, miss, it's just self-defence" he said coldly and wanted to stab the rival's chest to death.

Nicole dashed at Maurice, crying out:

"Maurice, don't! He's my brother!"

De Bracy frowned. Catching the impostor by the collar, he pushed him twenty steps behind and said:

"You are extremely lucky that this lady called you 'brother', but you might not have this chance again, so beware not to came across me any time soon…"

The man glanced angry at Nicole and left.

Maurice shrugged his shoulders and entered the cottage, humming an old hunting song. He sat down on an armchair and stared at the open window. Nicole took a few grapes from a plate and went to sit on the bed.

"You have never told me about your family", said he after a while.

The young woman realized he was thinking at something else, so she answered:

"Neither have you."

Again there was silence. Maurice continued with a different and strange intonation.

"Aren't our lives enough difficult already? Don't I have enough problems and enemies at Court? All I should care about is how to protect you and my position from both John and Richard. All that matters is to survive. And yet…"

Nicole went at the back of the armchair and taking her lover's head into her small hands, she ran her fingers through his hair.

"Yet?..." she whispered.

Maurice closed his eyes and sighed.

"I can/t help thinking at Isolde of Canterbury and that young knight, Charles Delorges. Even the prince noticed that they are in love."

"Already? He just arrived today!"

"Yes! But their souls are the same. I could see the destiny of misfortune lying in their looks. And there's no wonder, since they live under such a reign."

"What do you think they'll do?"

De Bracy shrugged his shoulders.

"One thing's certain. Prince John won't give up the Fair Fairy. To him, Sir Delorges shall soon be an obstacle. He won't risk a trial, he can't blame the king's most trusted knight of treason. There shall be no other way but murder, same as always."

"Don't you fear he might use the same method for you, too, someday?"

"My dear, beautiful angel", said De Bracy, taking her in his arms an kissing her, "no commander, no matter how crazy, not even the regent could ask his royal assassin to commit suicide, don't you think?"