Thank you so much for reading and leaving comments on the previous chapter. I continue to exist in a building site, with the builders hampered by deterioration in the weather and delays in sourcing materials but it will be completed eventually, if not when first thought. This chapter grew so long that I have divided it in two and the next bit WILL be posted on Wednesday.

So, what is so significant about the reliquary? (And will Athos ever like Tanquerel?)

CHAPTER 16

I

The five men ate on in silence, mulling over Willoughby's pronouncement regarding Chesman's blood line and a Tanquerel ancestor.

"What's this Oath of Supremacy then?" Porthos asked, reaching for a second helping of the tender chicken that remained on the serving platter.

"Henry VIII was excommunicated in 1533, after he had divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and married Anne Boleyn," Willoughby answered, pouring himself another glass of the fine red wine they had been given and sitting back in his seat. "The following year, there was the Act of Supremacy which recognised him as the Supreme Head of the Church of England and after that, in 1535, came the Oath. Anyone in public or church office had to swear the Oath of allegiance to him as Governor of the Church. Many of those in the monasteries refused, giving him and Thomas Cromwell the excuse to confiscate lands and wealth."

"An' this Tanquerel was on a list of refusing to swear the Oath." Porthos wanted to make sure that he had fully understood what he had heard and huffing when Willoughby nodded his affirmation.

"Are we assuming too much to link this Tanquerel with our Tanquerel or is it merely coincidence?" Aramis wondered.

"I would rather not think of the man as our Tanquerel," Athos said firmly, "but it is a huge coincidence if they are not related. It is not a common family name these days."

"So monkish Tanquerel wants to stay true to Rome and refuses to swear the Oath to Henry. Once the King's henchmen start destroying the monasteries and seizing anything of value, he knows his days are numbered where he is. And now we're expected to make a huge leap of faith," Aramis continued.

"How so?" Athos frowned.

"He just happened to know that this valuable box with the document or whatever it contained was in the tomb of a man buried two hundred years before, so he raided the tomb and removed it before it fell into the wrong hands and was added to Henry's treasury where someone like Cromwell might have discovered its significance. And we are supposed to just accept that?"

"It is believed that one person in each generation is entrusted with the information regarding the treasure's location," Willoughby reasoned. "It is more than feasible that after Hubert's death, someone in the religious house was privy to those details."

"Custodians through the centuries," Athos added. "It is likewise feasible that Tanquerel, once the dust of events had settled, searched for Hubert's remains and, finding only a few bones that he thought were those of the saint, reburied them in the box that he had retrieved earlier. He removed whatever was inside first, though."

"But if he had a document – at least that's what we are thinking – doesn't that suggest that the treasure can be found with just that, leaving the reliquary as unnecessary?" Aramis was perplexed.

Athos gave a slight shrug. "Or perhaps he wanted to make things more difficult for future treasure hunters by separating the box from the document and he perpetuated the idea of the custodian. The locations of both reliquary and document were passed down by word of mouth. We know that at some point in the last one hundred years, the document was returned to the family, otherwise Phlippe de Ricart could not have passed it to the King."

"Maybe Louis is the new custodian an' knows all about it," Porthos suggested.

"Or Richelieu," Aramis shot.

Porthos pulled a face. "I 'ope not."

Athos was thoughtful. "It brings us back once more to the question as to why de Ricart is prepared to dismiss the story involving his family and being so ready to part with both reliquary and document."

"As I said, he does not believe the story," Willoughby reminded him.

The musketeer did not comment. As his mind raced with all the information he had received, it occurred to him that Philippe de Ricart could possibly know something of which they were all ignorant. Ideas were beginning to form in his head, but he was reluctant to share them until he learned even more, if it were possible.

Porthos took a deep breath. "So is our Tanquerel," and he glanced at Athos to gauge the reaction to his words, "the current custodian?"

"I strongly doubt it," Willoughby replied. "From what I already knew and what you have subsequently told me, his clandestine behaviour seems a far cry from the honourable Templars. I suspect that either Tanquerel's ancestor or someone else during the past one hundred years took that document to the de Ricarts and that Philippe is the current custodian. Also during that period, the information slipped out within the Tanquerel family and was passed down through the generations until it reached the highly gullible and greedy man you are now escorting."

Athos shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Willoughby's comments fuelled his own thoughts. "We have to be careful here; we are jumping to wild, unsubstantiated conclusions."

"But it's all entirely plausible," Aramis insisted, "This inability to keep secrets is also evident within the de Ricarts, because something must be driving the cousin who is totally opposed to the reliquary being sold to the King. Chesman is also involved and apparently prepared to do anything to prevent it from becoming the King's property."

Porthos groaned. "My 'ead's spinnin' with all of this an' tryin' to keep it all straight: who wants the reliquary for themselves, who's related to who, tales of treasure that might exist or not, an' all these ancestors."

"I'd love to get a closer look at this reliquary," Fitzwilliam said with a less than subtle hint.

"You an' me both," Porthos agreed.

Willoughby grinned disarmingly. "Then I suggest we talk of lighter things and enjoy the next course, gentlemen, before we go and examine the cause of all these problems."

II

An hour later, the five men left the table as Fitzwilliam led them to where his men guarded the reliquary. They had only drawn level with the top table though when Tanquerel rose and moved to intercept them, calling Athos by name.

"I have been invited by the Earl to join him for a drink in his private quarters with a select few, so I shall be back later. It is advantageous that I am in the outer room after all; I shall not be disturbing you when I return," and he grinned smugly, not only because he now had a justifiable reason for insisting upon taking the larger, outer room, but also because he was emphasising that the Musketeers were not included in the 'select few' – not that any of them minded about that for they were more than happy in their new-found group of acquaintances. He was putting them in their place, reminding them that although they had been allowed to partake of the special dinner that marked the exchange of the reliquary, they were soldiers after all and were not to expect any further favours.

"I thought to advise you as to where I was going," Tanquerel said, looking directly at Athos as if challenging him to object to his plans. "I take it you are on your way to retrieve the reliquary before you retire?"

"It is safe enough locked away where it is if you wish to leave it there," Fitzwilliam spoke up. "You have no need to worry; my men will remain guarding it until your departure."

Tanquerel's eyes narrowed. "I thank you, but I would prefer it if my men were to assume responsibility for its safe keeping with immediate effect."

Athos could not help bristling at being described as Tanquerel's men, although he knew it was irrational; for the purpose of the mission, he and his brothers were the emissary's men in that they were to protect him and take any necessary risks.

"We could leave it locked away and take over the guard duties ourselves," Athos suggested. There was something appealing in not having to spend the night in the adjoining room to the emissary.

Tanqerel shook his head. "Impractical. There are only three of you and I do not want less than two on guard at any time so that would not be conducive to your getting rest before we begin our journey home."

"We are used to greater hardships in the field," Athos persisted, his face devoid of expression.

"I do not doubt it," Tanquerel replied with a smile that did not reach his eyes, "but there is safety in numbers. You will do as I proposed and that is to take the reliquary into the inner room with you. It should be safe in the keeping of three of you. I bid you goodnight."

With that, he turned and walked back to the Earl, suddenly all jovial and friendly as he spoke with his heavily accented English.

Athos stood still, facial muscles tensing as he struggled to keep his temper and his eyes boring frustratedly into Tanquerel's back. A hand lightly patting his shoulder brought him back to the present.

"Easy, brother," Aramis said gently. "Let him go."

Sensing the atmosphere between the Musketeer and the emissary. Fitzwilliam hastened to move them on. Dismissing the guards to wait outside the room, he retrieved the key from around his neck and unlocked the chest.

Moments later, the men stood around the artefact which had been placed in the centre of a table. It was shorter than the forearm of a man of average height and no more than a hand span in depth. From a distance, it looked as if it were made of gold but, in fact, it was a painted wood; its corners edged in the precious metal, which was also used for the engraved panels mounted on every surface, save the bottom.

The circular addition to the lid bore the symbol of two knights upon a single horse.

"I've seen that before," Athos said quietly. "It's a popular Templar image."

"Exactly," Willoughby agreed. "It was often used as a seal by the Grand Masters."

"Looks a bit like us," Porthos said, "when we have to ride double." He grinned. "We don't 'ave to carry a lance an' shield though. What does it mean?"

Willoughby studied him carefully as if wondering what it might be like to have someone on whom he could depend without question. "There is no definitive answer. It could signify brotherhood – and I am sure that does apply to you three – as the knights often operated in pairs. Others say it symbolises duality and balance, representing their dual function as both knights and warriors."

"You know a lot about 'em." Porthos' admiration for the young man's knowledge was evident.

Willoughby, though, coloured slightly at the big soldier's praise and shrugged awkwardly.

"I have had occasion to read what I can about them since becoming involved with this particular task."

"So what else does this reliquary tell you?" and Porthos beamed at him encouragingly.

"There are several other symbols relating to the Order here so there is no disguising that the person associated with the reliquary was a Templar. Note the two crosses that flank the mounted knights," and Willoughby indicated the two small flags on the lid.

They were identical. Set in a rectangle that was very dark at the top and a shimmering white at the bottom was a cross of red stones.

"The red cross on a white background was the Templar cross; I know that much," Aramis added, "but I don't understand the supposed black background."

Athos bent low and was peering closely at the lid. "I think it is ebony and the bottom part is mother of pearl." He straightened up, "And the crosses themselves are largely made up of garnets, although I suspect that the stones in the very centre of each cross, just where the arms meet, are actually rubies."

Porthos whistled through his teeth. "Tanquerel said there was value in the box itself."

"But the black bit?" Aramis persisted.

"This is the Beauceant," Willoughby explained. "It was the war flag of the Templars. The exact meaning is not known either, but the black wood could depict the sins of the world and the white the purity of the Templar Order. Whatever, whilst this flag was flying, the warriors were not allowed to retreat or stop fighting."

"And so they were prepared to fight to the death," Aramis breathed, "just as you said they did at Acre."

"An' just as we've sworn to do in the safety of our King an' France," Porthos said pointedly.

"So what message is Hubert de Ricart or his reliquary trying to tell people now?" Fitwilliam was bemused.

Athos' brow furrowed as he explored possible interpretations. "That he carried out his task as custodian up to his death and that those who come after him must do likewise."

It was a sobering thought that any person connected with the reliquary and tasked with maintaining its secrets was potentially prepared to die to protect it and Athos could not help but wonder just what they were up against.