Murray’s Reviews > Harlequin > Status Update

Catharism had died a hundred years before, scourged and burned out of the land. It was now a figment of the troubadours. But when Thomas looked at Sir Guillaume the man was not mocking the Cathars. He was staring at a crucifix hanging on the wall and mouthing a silent prayer. God help me, Thomas thought, but I am being asked to do what all the great knights of Arthur's round table failed to do: find the Grail.

'Jesus, Thomas said in disgust, 'that man spared you, and you'd not return the favour? You're not a bloody knight, you're just a bully. Go and boil your arse.'

The sword rose and so did Thomas's bow.

Sir Simon looked at the glittering arrow point, its edges feathered white through sharpening and he had just enough wit not to strike with his sword. He sheathed it instead, slamming the blade into the scabbard.

'I'm bastard born, Thomas insisted.
'Your father was of good birth'
'You know what family?'
Sir Giles shrugged. ‘If I pressed him he would just say that God was his father and his mother was the Church.'
'My mother was a priest's housekeeper and the daughter of a bowyer. I shall go to France as an archer.’
'There's more honour as a man-at-arms.’
But Thomas did not want honour.
He wanted revenge 🏹

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