Lucien opens his eyes to darkness, sluggish with heavy sleep, the bed beside him empty. He shoves the drape aside and reaches for his cloak and the night candle. Cold air wakes him as he strides to the door and down the dim corridor where a light beckons from a slightly opened door. Sophia is … Continue reading Chapter TwentyTwo-The Red Herring and the Eel, by Corso
Chapter Twenty One-Desperate Ruse, by Mordaunt
When she was younger, Catherine de Renard sought her mother in the faces of lay sisters and nuns knowing well her mother chose God over her daughter. Many years later, Catherine no longer remembers her mother’s face, only being abandoned when she was eleven. The lay sister from the Benedictines of Abbaye aux Dames in … Continue reading Chapter Twenty One-Desperate Ruse, by Mordaunt
Chapter Twenty-The Château d ‘Glenay, by Corso
Mercenaries, wagons, and horses fill up the yard, the stable and the outbuildings. Some accompany the others, crowding into the tavern room, the serving women rush food to the tables, other servants carry jugs of steaming water and linens up the stairs. In between refilling flasks of wine and ordering his servants to hurry the … Continue reading Chapter Twenty-The Château d ‘Glenay, by Corso
Chapter Nineteen, Part II-The Road to Glenay, by Corso
The only light in the dark room comes from the fireplace. The corners of the room are lost in deep shadows, the flickering firelight casts dancing shadows on the high ceiling and walls, over portraits of stern men and women. They look down from their lofty position on a wall, with dark expressions of disapproval … Continue reading Chapter Nineteen, Part II-The Road to Glenay, by Corso
Chapter Nineteen, Part I-The Road to Glenay, by Corso
‘Fils de pute!’ Lucien swears viciously, yanking his sword from the dead man’s body, pivots to drive his dagger into another belly, his sword slashing across another throat. He stumbles over the rocky terrain, cursing his attackers continuously dragging a man down with him grabbing for his face and banging his head repeatedly into the … Continue reading Chapter Nineteen, Part I-The Road to Glenay, by Corso
Chapter Eighteen-When the Devil Knocks, by Corso
‘Madame! Madame! ‘Gilo! You are not…’ Sophia de la Croix blinks as Gilo’s word register… …Men! Men coming down the road… Marchal. Sophia grabs Gilo, glares at Alban. The boys are wide-eyed and still. ‘Both of you to the chapel- now! Cousin Francois is there. All of you stay there until I come for you.’ … Continue reading Chapter Eighteen-When the Devil Knocks, by Corso
Chapter Seventeen-Intermezzo, by Mordaunt
Zwischenzug, Intermezzo, or in-between move is a chess tactic, whereby a player instead of the expected move, interposes another move that is an immediate threat, thus forcing the opponent to respond, and only then plays the expected move. No one knows when the first intermezzo was played, but it must have been played long before … Continue reading Chapter Seventeen-Intermezzo, by Mordaunt
Chapter Sixteen-Road to Consequences, by Corso
‘Is there anything more to add?’ Lucien straightens up from the leaning over the map table, one finger still resting on the open map. The men ranged around the table are silent, each thinking of the task ahead of them, the length of the journey, the routes they have scouted – at least on the … Continue reading Chapter Sixteen-Road to Consequences, by Corso
Chapter Fifteen-Pandora, by Mordaunt
“Madame is in her salon…” the footman at the door barely has time to speak. M. de Rohan is already running up the stairs two at a time, hat in hand. He flings open the door of Marie Cessette’s private salon, where she sits at her writing desk finishing her daily correspondence. She springs to … Continue reading Chapter Fifteen-Pandora, by Mordaunt
Chapter Fourteen-Piecemeal Truce, by Corso
She leans against the worktable, feeling slightly sick. The argument with Lucien drained her. He has never raised his hand to her, but there had been times when she felt his fury as a heated blast, and knew he stalked away before he lost control. This had been one of those times. She delays … Continue reading Chapter Fourteen-Piecemeal Truce, by Corso
Twelve Years After 