Blackstone kept his eyes on the fisherman. He saw others cross themselves. He glanced at Killbere, whose concerned look told him he felt the same apprehension as himself.

Gontrán’s voice lowered, reflecting his sense of awe at what he had seen. ‘It flew low along the open path and then soared high. As if waiting for me. I turned my back on the way home, followed the path and into the forest. I kept hoping it would fly off, that my grief at the murders had twisted my mind. But every time I faltered, the hawk appeared.’ He looked up at the silent men. ‘And led me here, but I do not know why.’

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

Blackstone thanked Gontrán, put coins in his calloused palm and told him to go into Santiago as he had intended, because it would be the prayers of the pilgrims who would restore the spiritual faith of the city.

Blackstone checked the bastard horse’s girth, ever wary of it swinging its head and snapping with those yellowed teeth.

‘No, Thomas, this is madness. You cannot go alone,’ said Killbere.

Blackstone busied himself. ‘The men are ready, Álvaraz knows the way, it is your job to protect Don Pedro and get him on that ship and then wait for me.’

‘God’s tears. Not one man will let you ride after the bastard de Hayle and the devil’s whore alone. Not one of us!’ Killbere’s voice rose in a mixture of desperation and anger.

‘There is no time to lose, Gilbert. I’ll travel fast and I’ll catch them up.’

‘We will not do as you ask. Who knows how many the bitch has with her?’

‘De Hayle had two left alive in the cathedral. I doubt he has more with him. We hurt him badly along the way. Most of those we didn’t kill will have deserted him. He’s done no raiding here; he has no money to pay more men. It is not a request, Gilbert,’ said Blackstone, securing his shield to the saddle. ‘You must command the men. Do not defy me, I beg you. Take this wretched King to his ship and send him to the Prince.’ He laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder. ‘Our honour demands it.’

Killbere’s despair was plain to see. ‘I cannot,’ he pleaded.

‘There are only a handful of men with her. They will be on foot once they reach the cliffs, and they are not us, Gilbert. We climb better than mountain goats and every one of them will lag behind the other. I’ll kill them one by one.’

‘One mistake, one fall – anything could happen and you’d lie dead on a mountainside. We can take this turd King to his ship and turn back and hunt them down.’

‘You heard what the old man said. Why do you think they’re avoiding the ports? They’re going to a deserted part of the coast because they have a boat waiting in one of the coves. There is no time for us to hunt them. One man can track them. And that is my decision.’