Light from the east fluttered into the valley surrounding us. The Templars outside the gates were now silent, but I knew another attack would commence before long. I stood at the rear wall of Montsegur with Maryam, Celia and Robard. Angel moved nervously around my feet. Staring down the sheer rock wall, my stomach tightened and I wanted to reconsider my plan. But I couldn’t waver. I looked at the crossbowmen on the battlement opposite where we stood. They all sat slumped with their backs to the wall, resting and waiting to fight again. Sir Hugh would starve us out if necessary. I needed to get him to chase me instead so Celia’s people could return to their homes. But then, as I stood looking down the cliff face, my head swimming, I thought that a few more weeks bottled up inside a fortress might not be so bad.
“Tristan, are you sure this is the only way?” Celia asked.
“Yes,” I said quietly.
“Ha!” said Robard to no one in particular. For approximately the twelfth time, he was checking and rechecking the rope we had looped around a parapet and lowered over the side.
“Of course he’s sure,” Maryam chimed in. “He has a plan.” Maryam was not in love with the idea of climbing down the side of the mountain by rope either.
It was easy to ignore barbs, busy as I was trying to memorize Celia’s face. Her eyes were tired, but they still drew me in. I hated to leave Montsegur. To leave her.
Taking her hand, I gave her a small piece of parchment. With ink and quill I had found inside the keep, I had written a brief note to Sir Hugh.
“If you can withstand another assault to buy us some time, I would be grateful,” I said fearfully, worried at the cost her people would pay to give us a head start. “Then I would have you ask to speak to Sir Hugh under a flag of truce. Don’t venture outside until his forces withdraw from the wall, and make sure you meet him in range of the crossbows. Jean-Luc will know what to do. Give Sir Hugh this note and tell him I’m gone. Tell him you’ll allow two of his men, but not him, to search the castle to confirm it. When he realizes we’re already gone, he should be itching to get away from here and come after us.”
Celia nodded, taking the note from me and secreting it in her tunic.
“What does the note say?” Robard asked.
“Nothing much. I just told him farewell, leave these good folk alone, and he’ll never catch me,” I said.
“That should work,” Maryam said.
“Good note. I need to learn how to write one of these days,” Robard commented as he pulled again and again at the rope.
Martine joined us on the wall now to say her good-byes as well.
“Good-bye, Martine,” I said. “Please take care of her.”
“Oui, monsieur,” she said. Her eyes filled with tears, but she willed them away. I hadn’t gotten to know her well, but I had witnessed her fierce loyalty to Celia. Like Philippe, I believed Martine would gladly give her life for Celia.
“One more thing,” I said. “Would you mind looking after Angel?” I pointed to her, and as soon as I did, she snarled and jumped up, putting her forepaws on my hip.
“I would, but I think she prefers to go with you,” Celia said.
“I don’t see how we can take her!” I said.
She dug at my hip with her paws. “Quiet, girl!” I said. But my words had no effect.
“I don’t see how we can leave her,” Robard said.
“What? Why not?” I replied.
“Because she doesn’t want to stay,” Maryam said.
Martine took action. She removed the cape she wore over her tunic and scooped Angel up into her arms. Very quickly she twisted the cape around and around, tying several knots, and before I knew it, she looped it over my head and shoulders. Angel wiggled against my chest and poked her head out of the covering.
Everyone laughed. I couldn’t help but chuckle myself. If she was so determined, I would have no choice but to bring her along.
“Now you carry your dog like a Cathar woman carries her baby,” Celia said.
Despite the fact that we were likely to plunge to our deaths in a few moments, Robard and Maryam found this extremely funny.
“Could you make one of those carriers for me?” Robard asked Martine. She didn’t understand him, so she just nodded. “Never mind,” he said glumly.
The time had come to leave and yet, looking at Celia, I found myself rooted to the spot. My body was unwilling to move, yet I knew I had to go. The morning light had painted the world a mellow gold, and despite the dust and sweat that clung to Celia, she was still beautiful and I wished more than anything to change my mind.
“Celia. . I. .” There was nothing left to say. My silence was physically painful, as though the seconds would never pass, but almost in slow motion she stepped forward and threw her arms around me. I went as still as a statue, not sure if I could, or should, return her embrace.
She stepped back from me and I could see the slightest tear at the corner of her eye. “Good-bye, Tristan. Robard. Maryam. My people will not forget you. We will remember what you have done for us. If it hadn’t been for all of you, the High Counsel would have caught us before we reached Montsegur. And you helped us drive him away. Do not worry about Sir Hugh. I believe you. When he learns you are gone, he will lose all interest in us. ”
Robard and Maryam said nothing, too humbled and embarrassed to reply. They merely nodded repeatedly until Maryam finally hugged Celia.
“Good-bye, Celia,” Maryam whispered. “I’m so sorry about what happened when we first met. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“Don’t take it personally, Celia,” Robard chimed in. “She usually tries to kill all of her friends first.”
Celia laughed as she hugged Robard. I still couldn’t move until Maryam nudged me and whispered that it was time to go. Reluctantly, I stepped up onto the parapet and looked again over the side. Celia had called a few men from their posts to lower us by rope to the ground beneath the northeast wall. Facing away from Sir Hugh’s forces attacking from the opposite side, we could pick our way down the cliff and, I hoped, make it to the valley below.
I would go first. Gripping the rope in my hand, I sat down on the parapet with my legs dangling over the wall. One of Celia’s carpenters had fashioned another windlass, which would give us stability as we were lowered. The men took up the rope, and I looped it over and around my shoulders, being careful not to hurt the dog. She wiggled a little bit more inside her carrier and then stilled. In fact she might have even gone to sleep.
Maryam had taken the battle sword from me and carried it across her back. Robard had his bow and remaining arrows in his wallet. He also carried a pouch of food Celia’s cooks had prepared for us. We all carried water skins, and Robard and Maryam each held a coil of the longest rope the Cathars could spare.
I took a breath, offered up a silent prayer, and nodded to the men working the rope. Gently I let myself go over the side. My last glimpse of Celia was of her ice-blue eyes watching me disappear from sight.
“I promise, Templar,” I heard her say. “We will remember this.”
A few seconds later I stood on the small ledge at the bottom of the fortress. Completely removed from the safety of the walls of Montsegur.