Tales of the Knights Templar Read Online Free PDF Page B

built by the descendants of Cain in ages past, before the Deluge. Caring nothing for its origins, they occupied the city as their own and caused this temple to be made a shrine to house the object of their veneration.
    “Their beliefs concerning the Baptist’s head were a blasphemy,” the
djinn
continued, “and for this sin the Almighty cursed them, sealing them up within their homes and leaving the Palace to the servants of His enemy. Thus did I come to make my home here, and here I feed upon the souls of those who come in search of the fabled head.”
    Sudden hunger quickened the fire in the
djinn’s
jewellike eyes. Swift as an adder, it shot past Thierry, interposing its vaporous bulk between him and the doorway.
    The young Templar stood his ground. “You may try to take my soul, demon,” he challenged, “if you dare.”
    The
djinn
belched out another roar of laughter. Quivering with gleeful anticipation, it put out a tentacular arm and plunged it like a dagger into the young knight’s breast.
    Thierry staggered slightly under the impact. There was a deep-throated sucking sound. Snarling and slavering in sudden bafflement, the
djinn
pressed in closer. Then all at once it recoiled with an anguished, ear-splitting howl.
    Still howling, it tried to pull away, only to find itself held fast. As it continued to shriek and struggle, a sudden bolt of black fire billowed up out of Thierry’s chest cavity. Corrosive as acid, the flame ate its way up the
djinn
’s outstretched arm. Like some dark leprosy, it overwhelmed the creature’s body in a consuming winding sheet.
    The
djinn
’s frantic thrashing grew weaker. Wholly enveloped by the black flame, it withered and shrank, dwindling down to human proportions. Thierry watched impassively as the creature writhed and moaned in throes of mortal agony.
    “You should not try to take that which has already been bought by one greater than yourself,” he observed coldly.
    “By Baphomet!” the
djinn
gasped through its agony.
    “Aye, by Baphomet,” Thierry confirmed grimly. “Damned I may be, but you are twice damned for trying to take what is his.”
    The
djinn
gave a final piteous wail. The black fire flickered and began to die away. The
djinn
’s ravaged form collapsed to the floor. Thierry came to stand over it, sword in hand.
    The words of his demonic master echoed in the depths of his mind.
“The Almighty One has cheated you of earthly happiness. If you will do me service, I will ensure that all you desire is placed within your hands. Among the most militant of my adversaries are the Knights of the Temple, whose appointed mission is to bring a new order to the warring nations of the world. Should these holy knights succeed in uncovering the secrets of the Temple, they will have the means within their grasp to banish the evils upon which I feed: poverty, injustice, cupidity, and despair. Join the fellowship of these Templars, corrupt them with blasphemies, and you will have had your revenge on the One who scorned you and yet would elevate them.”
    “My lord Baphomet,” he intoned to the surrounding air, “I now see your will in all that has transpired. The Baptist’s head, sorcerously preserved, which you have delivered into my hands, will give me the means to bend the Templar Order to your will. Those who submit will reap the world’s wealth and the rewards of earthly pride. Those who resist will see their virtues set at nought. So shall the Order become your instrument and devour the very heart of Christendom.”
    He paused and looked down at the charred, foul-smelling form of the
djinn.
“One more thing remains to be done,” he murmured.
    So saying, he raised his sword high above his head, and with a single downstroke struck the
djinn
’s head from its still-twitching body.
    Dusk was gathering over encampment at Ra’s al-Ma’ as a tall, robed figure mounted on a ragged hill pony rode slowly through the ranks of the Saracen host and at last drew rein