Conscious that I already owed my life and liberty to Hroudland’s impetuous actions, I decided that I would go with him. If I was the cool head by his side, there might come a moment when I could repay the debt.
*
Just three of us set out in mid-morning – Hroudland, Berenger and myself. Hroudland had decided to keep our group as small as possible to attract the least attention. Eggihard raised no objection to our departure. Indeed he was so keen to see us go that I suspected he was hoping that Hroudland would get himself killed. Our plan was that we would be back by the time the broken cartwheel was repaired so we could catch up with the main army. Gerin was to stay behind, partly to help stand guard over the disabled treasure carts, but also to make sure that Eggihard kept his word and waited for our return. At Hroudland’s request I carried my bow, and he and Berenger were armed with swords and daggers. None of us wore our armoured jackets for we intended to travel fast and light, and we left behind our horses for the trail we followed was a thread of a footpath that branched from the main track.
The path looped its way around the flank of the hillside and by the time we had gone less than a mile, we were out of sight of the main track behind us. The surface was crumbly and treacherous, and we had to walk cautiously. To our right, the land was a series of steep slopes scarred with dry gullies and an occasional deep ravine. In places a few scrubby plants had managed to take root, but in this season they were parched and shrivelled. To our left the mountainside rose so abruptly that the path was often broken in places where land slips had carried away the trail. It was a bleak, rocky wilderness where the only signs of life were a large bird of prey hanging in the air far above us, and, very far in the distance, a small group of animals on an upper slope that I guessed were wild goats. They took fright and went bounding off across a ridge as soon as they detected our presence.
The weather was in our favour. The day was sunny and bright, and there was enough of a breeze to make the air feel pleasantly cool. I began to hope that Hroudland’s notion of locating the Graal was misplaced, and our venture would prove to be no more than a pleasant stroll. It took us another hour of steady walking before we turned a corner around a spur and Hroudland, who was in the lead, came to a sudden halt. He dropped to one knee and gestured to us to wait where we were. After a few moments he beckoned me forward and pointed. I could just make out some sort of building in the distance. It was perched on a rocky crag that jutted out from the mountainside like the prow of a ship. The building was made of exactly the same grey stone as the surrounding landscape so it was difficult to make out any details. It was much smaller than I had expected, little more than a substantial hut surrounded by what looked like a wall built of boulders. The line of our footpath continued on, doubling back and forth, climbing across the face of the mountain in that direction.
‘That has to be the place,’ Hroudland muttered.
We retreated to a small patch of level ground.
‘Berenger,’ instructed the count, ‘you stay here and keep a look out.’
Berenger started to object but Hroudland cut him short.
‘This is our only way back. I trust you to make sure it stays open. Use force if necessary. If that’s impossible, sound a warning.’
He unslung the oliphant horn from around his neck and handed it to Berenger who accepted it reluctantly.
‘I would prefer to go with you,’ Berenger told the count sulkily.
Hroudland shook his head.
‘I need Patch to accompany me. His bow could make the difference.’ Then he turned to me. ‘You and I will climb up the mountainside immediately behind us. We’ll be out of sight from anyone in that building. After we’ve gained enough height, we begin to work our way sideways.’
I glanced up the rugged slope and must have looked doubtful because he added, ‘There’s no hurry. We must wait until late afternoon before we cross into view of anyone in that building. They’ll have the sun in their eyes, and we’ll be able to take advantage of the longer shadows as we get closer.’
The boulder-strewn mountainside looming over me brought back a memory of the rock slide that had almost killed me. My attention wavered for a moment as I wondered who had been behind it. Since Zaragoza there had been no attempt on my life, and I had almost forgotten the series of mysterious attacks.
Hroudland was speaking again.
‘In our final approach to the building, Patch, I want you to be higher up the slope from me, looking down so you have a clear shot if necessary.’
I had removed the bow from its cover to check that everything was in order.
‘You’ll need both hands while we’re climbing. So keep your bow slung across your back. When it’s time to take up your position I’ll pause and give you a signal.’