Adam and Heather must go on an epic adventure to discover the Templar Treasure. Along the way, they will meet the Guardians of the Treasure and uncover more than they ever hoped. But, will they get there in time? The race is on in this action packed thriller.
The Guardians of the Templar Treasure (2019) Kindle | Paperback | Audible | Goodreads
THE GUARDIANS OF THE TEMPLAR TREASURE
CHAPTER 1
The drops of blood made a sizzling sound as they fell from Jacques bare feet onto the open flames burning below him. The ropes that suspended him from the rafters of the old castle cut deeply into his wrists causing him to lose all feeling in his hands. But that was nothing compared to the sting of the leather whip that was ripping the flesh from his back each time that it connected with his bared skin.
“You will tell us what we want to know!” Said the guard.
But still, Jacques de Molay, the Grand Master said nothing.
“Confess your sins!” barked the guard as he swung the heavy leather whip again.
Earlier that morning, Jacques and more than fifty of the knights that followed him had been arrested inside the Old Temple. Many of them had been beaten and tortured before being thrown into the cold cells beneath the castle. But none had confessed to the charges brought against them.
The knights had been charged with heresy to the Crown and Cross. Five charges in total all brought forth by King Philip IV himself. The knights were accused of renouncing the cross and even requiring new members of the order to spit on the cross during initiation into the order. None of which was true.
As the guard raised his heavy whip in the air to land another blow, the Royal Guardsman grasped his arm in midair stopping the next blow. “Cut him down and throw him into the cells,” he barked. “We need this old fool alive. Let’s see if time in the cells will loosen his tongue.”
As Molay’s bloodied body hit the stone ground below, the Royal Guardsman leaned in close to his ear. “You should know, my guards are searching every inch of the Old Temple. We will find all the money; we will take everything that you own. You will have nothing left, old man.”
Still, Jacques remained silent and would not even give the guards the satisfaction of hearing him scream as they drug him across the cobblestones down into the cold cells below.
The cells below the castle were filled with the beaten and broken Templar Knights. The freezing cold October air was wafting in through the tiny windows that had been cut into the stone walls of the cells. To Jacques the cold air was as refreshing as a welcomed friend.
Jacques was given his own cell while the others had been crammed together into the smaller ones. Jacques knew that this was done to turn the other knights against him. To make them think that he was being treated better because he had talked. He also knew that their ploy would not work. His men would never believe that he would talk. Jacques men would remain loyal to him to the death and would never say a word.
“Jacques!” whispered a voice through one of the small slits in the wall.
Jacques moved painfully to the wall and pulled himself up just far enough that he could peer through the tiny opening into the courtyard outside.
“Jacques, it’s me – Edward!” came the voice from outside.
“Edward! You must warn the others! Tell them that Paris is no longer safe! They must keep the secret safe!” whispered Jacques. But that was all the old man could find the strength to say before collapsing to the ground and falling unconscious.