The brush was lit.
Smoke began to rise and soon flames licked through, twigs popping and crackling as the heat built up. Sickened and utterly helpless to intervene, Martin wanted to turn and walk away, but he felt the need to observe, to bear witness to this depraved act. Unwilling though he was, he pushed through to the front of the crowd. It was then, to his astonishment, that he saw the grand master raise his head and look directly at the king and the pope.
Even from this distance, the sight unsettled Martin. De Molay's eyes were blazing with a fire more fierce than the one that would soon consume him.
Despite his frail and broken appearance, the grand master's voice was strong and steady. "In the name of the Order of the Knights of the Temple," he rasped, "I curse you, Philippe le Bel, and your buffoon pope, and I call on God Almighty to have you both join me before His seat within the year, to suffer His judgment, and burn forever in the furnaces of hell ..."
If de Molay said anything else, Martin didn't hear it, as the fire roared upward, obliterating any screams of the dying men. Then the breeze turned, and smoke swept over the grandstand and the crowd, carrying with it the sickening stench of burning flesh. Coughing and spluttering, the king stumbled down the steps, the pope trailing behind him, his eyes streaming from the smoke. As they passed close to where Martin stood, the old Templar watched the pope. He felt the bile of anger rising and burning in his throat, and, at that moment, he realized that his task was still not over.
Perhaps not in his lifetime. But one day, maybe, things would be different.
That night, he set off, leaving the city and heading south to the land of his forefathers, to Carmaux.
He would settle there, or elsewhere in the Languedoc, and live out his days. But before he died, he would ensure that the letter did not vanish forever. Somehow, he would find the means for it to survive.
It had to survive.
It had to fulfill its destiny.
He owed it to those who had died, to Hugh and to William of Beaujeu and above all to his friend Aimard of Villiers, to ensure that their sacrifices had not been worthless.
It was all down to him now. He thought back to Aimard's final revelation that night, deep inside the church by the willow tree. About the painstaking efforts of their predecessors, who had first concocted the deception. About the nine years of meticulous crafting. About the careful planning that had taken almost two hundred years to bear fruit.
We came close, he thought, so close. It was a noble goal. It was worth all the hard work, all the sacrifices, all the pain.
He knew what he had to do.
He had to make sure the illusion was kept alive. The illusion that it was still out there, waiting.
The illusion that it was real.
And at the right time, certainly not during his lifetime, maybe, just maybe, someone would be able to use their lost masterpiece to achieve what they had all set out to do.
And then, a bittersweet smile broke across his face as a hopeful thought drifted into his mind.
Maybe one day, he mused, it would be obsolete. Maybe the plan would no longer be necessary.
Maybe people would learn to overcome their petty differences and rise above murderous squabbles over personal faith.
He shook the thought away, chiding himself for his wistful naivete, and kept on walking.
Acknowledgments
Many people generously contributed their knowledge, expertise, and support to this book, and I'd like to start off by thanking my great friend Carlos Heneine, for introducing me to the Templars and, as always, having fun batting ideas back and forth with me; Bruce Crowther, who helped usher me into this new realm; and Franc Roddam, who swooped in and gave it wings.
I'd also like to personally thank Mitch Hoffman for his enthusiasm and support, along with Erika Kahn and everyone at Dutton. It's been a real treat.
A humongous thank-you to my literary agent Eugenie Furniss, without whose passion, relentless prodding, and support this book would have never materialized. Jay Mandel, Tracy Fisher, Michelle Feehan, Raffaella De Angelis, Charlotte Wasserstein, and everyone in the New York office for the breathtaking international reception; Lauren Heller Whitney and Lucinda Prain; and Rowan Lawton, Stephanie Cabot, and everyone at the William Morris Agency.
Warm nods of gratitude are also due to Olivier Granier, Simon Oakes, Cephas Howard for his phenomenal work on the UK cover; Howard Ellis and everyone at Mid-Atlantic Films in Budapest for their continued support; Dotti Irving and Ruth Cairns at Colman Getty; Samantha Hill, Eric Fellner, Leon Friedman, Maitre Francois Serres, Kevin and Linda Adeson (sorry about roughing up Mitch), Chris and Roberta Hanley, Dr. Philip Saba, Matt Filosa, Carolyn Whitaker, Dr. Amin Milki, Bashar Chalabi, Patty Fanouraki, and Barbara Roddam.
Last, but galaxies away from least, I'd like to thank my wife, Suellen, who's lived with this project for so long; a man couldn't ask for a greater supporter, friend, and soul mate.