Armand had rolled his eyes and cursed. God’s natural temple was not, nor would ever be, enough for him. Certainly not now, living in the abject poverty and humiliation he’d endured since the overthrow of their Order. He longed for a fine roof over his head, luxurious surroundings, wealth, and respect. He’d lost all of those things when they’d been driven out of France, ousted by King Philippe the Fair, who had desired the Templars’ wealth.

Many had coveted that wealth, and feared the Templars’ growing power, but only Philippe had been clever and avaricious enough—and had been owed enough political favors—to bring the mighty Order crashing to its knees. Being forced to his knees was not a position Armand could accept. His life had been precisely as he’d wanted it, and each day he’d come closer to the true secrets of the Order, becoming more trusted and taken into greater confidences. As Commander of Knights, he’d nearly been able to taste the privilege and power of the enticing inner circle he’d been laboring to penetrate. Then the false arrests had been made and the knights had been driven from their homeland. Only a barbaric, excommunicated king had been willing to grant them clemency. When the Order of Templars had been dissolved by papal decree in 1307, no order of suppression was issued in Scotland; and under Robert the Bruce, the Templars had sought haven and become the Militi Templi Scotia.

Ha, he thought morosely, more like the Minutiae Puppets Scotia, for they danced to a new king’s tune now, a king who, while he did not seek to take from them, had no wealth to confer upon them, no respect and no lands. They were fugitives, hunted and reviled.

But Armand Berard would not be so for long. The recent years of running and hiding, of pretending to keep the faith when the Order was so utterly destroyed, had firmed his resolve. His brother knights might cling to the absurd hope that they would be able to rebuild their Order in Scotland and eventually regain their prominence, but Armand knew better. The shining hour of the Knights Templar had passed.

He pitied his pious brothers, who believed that power was never to be used for personal gain. For what other reason would one ever use it?

He cursed and spat furiously. He’d been so close—so near the forbidden knowledge of the Templars’ true power.

Armand reined in his mount, ducking under a low-hanging limb and slowing to a trot as he entered the clearing. He nodded a greeting to the cloaked rider awaiting him there.

“What have you for us, Berard?”

Armand smiled. It had been impossible to get word to his co-conspirator, James Comyn, while stationed at Dunnottar, but he hadn’t had anything to tell him at the time. In the past week, however, he had come upon powerful information and knew it was a portent of good things to come. Armand Berard would sell his services for wealth and titles in England, and set about making up for lost time with wine, women, and weaving his way into the inner circles of Edward’s court, by whatever means were necessary. He was a muscular, attractive man, and word was that Edward had a special fondness for personal services from well-favored men. Armand smiled, pondering how he would bend the English king to his will.

“Have you been able to find out any more about Brodie?” the Comyn pressed impatiently.

Armand regarded the thin, sadistic face of his companion. Grizzled white brows arched over pale blue eyes that were far colder than the iciest loch. “Little. He is a private man and those closest to him do not speak of him freely.” Armand tightened his hold on the reins, soothing his mount to a standstill.

“Edward is advocating laying siege to his castle. He wants the hallows, Berard, and he grows impatient. Have you been able to confirm they are there?”

“As yet it is still rumor. But now that I am finally in his keep, I will be able to search thoroughly. That’s what Edward wanted, wasn’t it—a spy within his walls? Bid him be content that someone has finally managed to penetrate Brodie, and grant me time to search. It would be better that I find the spear and the sword than you storm his walls and try to take them,” Armand warned.

Find them he would, and then sell them to the highest bidder. The four hallows had been under the protection of the Templars until the Order fell. If he could now lay his hands on the Spear that Roars for Blood—the lance that had allegedly wounded Christ’s side—there would be no limit to the wealth and power he might obtain. If he also found the Sword of Light, rumored to blaze with holy fire when wielded, his future would be assured. Allegedly, the cauldron and the Stone of Destiny were also somewhere in Brodie’s keep. Now that he was being housed in the middle of that keep, Armand would not fail to exploit the opportunity.