Extraits

The Knights of the Temple of the Order of St George and the Holy Grail were the successors to the extinct Order of the Knights Templar.

After that Sir Francis made Hal outline the history of the Order ; how in the year 1312 the Knights Templar had been attacked and destroyed by the King of France, Philippe le Bel, in connivance with his puppet Pope Clement V of Bordeaux. Their vast fortune in bullion and land was confiscated by the Crown, and most of them were tortured and burned at the stake. Hovewer, warned by their allies, the Templiar mariners slipped their moorings in the French channel harbours and stood out to sea. They steered for England, and sought the protection of King Edward II. Since then, they had opened their lodges in Scotland and England under new names, but with the basic tenets of the Order intact.

Sir Francis stood and scrutinized Hal carefully. "It lacks but one detail," he grunted, and returned to the chest. From it he brought out a sword, but no ordinary sword. Hal knew it well. It was a Courtney family heirloom, but still its magnificence awed him. As his father brought it to where he stood, he recited to Hal its history and provenance once more time. "This blade belonged to Charles Courtney, your great-grandfather. Eighty years ago, it was awarded to him by Sir Francis Drake himself for his part in the capture and sack of the port of Rancheria on the Spanish Main. This sword was surrendered to Drake by the Spanish governor, Don Franscisco Manso."

Once Hal recited his beliefs, Cumbrae called upon him to make his knightly vows.

- I will uphold the Church of England. I will confront the enemies of my sovereign lord, Charles." Hal's voice quivered with conviction and sincerity. "I renounce Satan and all his works. I eschew all false doctrines and heresies and schisms. I turn my face away from all other gods and their false prophets."

"I will protect the weak. I will defend the pilgrim. I will succour the needy and those in need of justice. I will take up the sword against the tyrant and the oppressor."

"I will defend the holy places. I will search out and protect the precious relics of Jesus Christ and his Saints. I will never cease my quest for the Holy Grail that contained his sacred blood."

Le garçon s'agrippa au rebord du nid-de-pie, nacelle de toile dans laquelle il se tenait accroupi à soixante pieds au-dessus du pont tandis que le navire envoyait vent devant et que le mât s'inclinait fortement. C'était une caravelle, baptisée Lady Edwina, en l'honneur de la mère du jeune homme, dont il se souvenait à peine.

Loin en contrebas, dans l'obscurité qui précède l'aube, il entendit les grosses couleuvrines cogner contre leurs cales et tirer avec un bruit mat sur leur brague. Lorsque le bateau vira, la coque gémit et vibra sous la poussée différente puis fila de nouveau vers l'ouest en plongeant dans la lame. Avec un vent arrière de sud-est, l'allure du navire s'était transformée, il était plus léger, plus agile, même avec des ris et trois pieds d'eau dans ses cales.

Hal Courteney était habitué à tout cela. Voilà soixante-cinq jours qu'il accueillait ainsi l'aube en tête de mât. De tous les hommes qui se trouvaient à bord, c'était lui qui avait la vue la plus perçante et on le postait là pour repérer d'éventuels voiliers dans les premières lueurs du jour.