The Templars' Last Days by David Scott

motion. The King took the despatch bag and waved away his butler with some disdain.
    The King was further displeased to find that the scroll within the despatch bag was for the attention of William and not himself. As he handed the scroll to William, he asked him what could be that important to disturb his breakfast. William took one look at the seal and replied that it was from Matthew. This information seemed to pacify the King thus enabling the breakfast and pleasant conversation to be resumed as if there had been no interruption.
    Everybody around the breakfast table was in good heart this morning, and with good reason. For each party had made substantial gains over the last 48 hours, and as such were in no hurry for the meal to finish, but finish it must. Foulques gave his thanks to the King and Queen for being the perfect hosts. He took the Queen’s hand and in a seamless move, bowed and kissed her hand, he then bowed and shook the hand of the King and whilst doing so re-pledged his commitment to hand over to him the leadership of the Knights of St. John when the Crusades started. He acknowledged the presence of William with a curt nod of his head and with that he made his departure from the palace.
    Foulques’ departure was shortly followed by the Queen and her hand maids making their leave. Finally William and the King were alone. The King gave a broad smile to William, who, in return gave a knowing smile and a shrug of his shoulders, for they both knew that nothing and nobody could now obstruct or delay their plans for the expansion of France, but more importantly the filling of Philip's treasury with the Knight Templars’ money.
    It being a bright, warm and welcoming morning, the King invited William to walk with him in the grounds and talk, rather than them retreating to the confines of the dusty library. He linked his arm with William’s and asked him to tell him all the latest news and how his meeting with the Pope had gone.
    William welcomed the opportunity to be able, finally, to relay his progress to the King, especially in light of the message from Matthew. He started by confirming that the King's opinion – that the Grand Master of the Knight Templars was not for changing his mind regarding the proposal to place his organisation into the hands of anyone other than the office of the Pope – had indeed been proven accurate.
    On hearing this, the King smiled and nodded, acknowledging that his instincts in this matter had proven to be as always correct; however, he was less pleased to hear that the Pope appeared reluctant, even perhaps to the point of refusal, to exert his immense influence to persuade the Grand Master of the Knight Templars to yield to the demands of King Philip, even after the strong reminder that William had put before him.
    The King became pensive upon hearing this and eased his grip on William's arm; however, his mood changed again when William revealed that he had the solution to the deadlock, which would not rely upon the co-operation of the Grand Master or the Pope, but was entirely in the control of the King. Philip gripped the arm of William even tighter and urged him to explain how such a thing could be done without any further delay.
    Sensing this was his moment, William confidently began to explain to the King that, provided proof of heresy committed by the Knight Templars could be placed before the papacy, then the Pope would have no option other than to dissolve the Templars and hand everything over to Philip.
    King Philip was beside himself with joy and excitement and began to hug William so hard that he struggled to get his breath. Suddenly the King stepped back, holding onto William's shoulders and looked him directly in the eye. There was a silence for a few minutes before he questioned William as to how he could be so sure.
    William's smile contained all the confidence of a man who was totally sure of his stance. For the note delivered this morning over breakfast was in