‘Your grace, my Prince – who has the love and support of his father, Edward, King of England – has tasked me to save a man’s life. The man whose bastard half-brother usurped his divine right to the throne of Castile and León.’

Archbishop Gómez looked up sharply. ‘Don Pedro?’

Blackstone bowed his head in answer.

‘I have ruled on this matter.’

Blackstone waited a moment before answering: ‘The English King and his Prince are pious men who accept that it is God who has given them victory in battle. It is an ungodly act that the French have brought an army and mercenaries into Spain to seek and kill Don Pedro. They do this not to punish a man who has sinned but to put a bastard on the throne and an enemy at my Prince’s back.’

Archbishop Gómez studied the tall, battle-scarred man who stood apparently obediently in front of him. ‘So it is for fear of an enemy at your Prince’s borders that you and your Prince plead for this murderer. A man who allies himself with heathens to fight other Christians; who murdered his Queen, his brother, his general. Don Pedro allows Jews and Muslims in his city only to usurp their wealth for his assaults on others. And you ask for this vile man, this excommunicate, to receive my blessings?’

‘I do, your grace, for the sake of Spain. My Prince has demanded he take a Christian wife, turn his face to the Church and relent. And when he does these things he will return here with an army. Galicia is loyal to him.’

‘Then let the peasants and the lords of the provinces be his friend. I will not.’

Blackstone knew he could make no further appeal on Don Pedro’s behalf. ‘I am grateful to you for allowing me an audience.’

‘Pass my goodwill to your Prince. He is, as you say, a pious and devout man and he will need the Lord’s strength and wisdom when dealing with Don Pedro.’

The audience was over. Blackstone bowed but did not leave the room. ‘I have one more request.’

The look of irritation on Peralvarez’s face was quickly dismissed by the Archbishop. ‘Let him speak. This man is a loyal servant to his King, and I suspect has sacrificed many of his men to bring Don Pedro this far.’

‘Your grace,’ said Blackstone, ‘when Queen Blanche was murdered there was a boy witness, a servant she took to her heart. She saved his life by hiding him.’

‘He saw the killer?’ Archbishop Gómez said hopefully, stepping closer to Blackstone.

‘He did not see who was responsible, but he has travelled with us from northern France and across Spain in trying to identify those responsible. This boy has great courage: he has suffered hardship and lived in fear.’

‘And your request?’