The Spymaster's Protection Read Online Free PDF Page B

regardless
of race, creed, or gender. The brothers and sisters who served there believed
the sick only got better when they were well fed and cared for.
    The infirmary was always crowded, and in need of caring hands.
Gabrielle frequently volunteered her time there, as well as at the orphanage.
Pilgrims were always welcome at the hospice. The serving brothers of the
Hospital worked alongside their Benedictine counterparts in both the hospice
and the orphanage.
    The order was split between those who served in the hospital
and those who served militarily, but there were some military brothers who did
both. Their rules were much more relaxed than the Templars, but they still
answered to the same vows, including the promise to protect the Holy Land.
    Both were viewed as the only stable standing armies in
Outremer, and both swore their first and foremost allegiance to the Pope.
Gabrielle was able to move freely among the brothers of the Hospital. The only
area off limits to her was their personal living quarters and dining hall.
Otherwise, she had unhindered access to their church, hospice, hospital, and
orphanage. Once the wagon came to a halt in their immense, open courtyard, she
climbed down out of it, and was immediately greeted by her friend of five
years, Brother Giles de Chancery. Though he was a knight and a soldier, he
frequently worked with the infirm and homeless.
    She gave the tall lanky monk a warm smile as he rushed up to
take her hands in both of his. "Lady Gabrielle! How very good to see you
have arrived safely," he exclaimed. "I see you have brought us more
needy little ones," he noted as he lifted each of the six children down
with a happy chuckle. "But what have you done now? Enlisted the support of
our haughty white-robed brothers?" His keen brown eyes swept the
assortment of Templars, some mounted, some dismounting.
    "No, Brother Giles," she laughed. "They came
upon us as we were being attacked by bandits. I was traveling with a caravan of
newly arrived pilgrims and merchants. They had not enlisted an armed guard, so
we were most fortunate to be rescued by these kind Templars."
    Brother Giles was an openly friendly man, with a ready smile
for nearly everyone. His sandy colored hair and beard complimented a fair
skinned face, reddened by years in the desert, but not tanned by it.
    As Brother Lucien came around to the back of the wagon, the
Englishman grinned and slapped his thigh. "By the Holy Lance! Brother
Lucien! Ne'er would I thought to see you driving a wagon full of orphaned
tots!" he laughed uproariously. "However did you get involved with
our intrepid Lady de Châtillon?"
    "By happenstance, actually, Brother Giles." Lucien
greeted the man he had known for many years with a good-natured slap on the
shoulder. "It is as the lady said. We were out on a routine patrol and
came across her caravan being attacked. There had been no reports of bandits
raiding along the cursed road, so we were taken a bit by surprise."
    "I believe God may have answered my prayer for a guardian
angel," Gabrielle responded with an appreciative look at Brother Lucien.
"If not for him, I believe the children and I would be dead.”
    "Then we owe him a great debt of gratitude," Brother
Giles announced, waving a hand toward the orphanage. "These children would
feel a huge void in their lives if not for our lady."
    "So I am beginning to understand," Lucien replied,
assessing Gabrielle with open admiration. "I do not approve of her
traveling these roads without escort, though. There may come a day when God's
angels are busy and unavailable to come to her aid."
    "So we are trying to convince her," the Hospitaller
concurred.
    Gabrielle tossed her friend a mutinous look, then turned her attention
to the children. "I believe I shall get the children settled in. Thank you
very much for aiding us, frère, and God bless you and keep you safe."
    "Mi'lady, should we not escort you to your home after you
have settled the children in?" Lucien