Fiction Friday - Vol 7 Tales of Vengeance, Bk IV: Unlawful Detentions, Ch 1 & 2

Book IV: Unlawful Detention

Chapter 1: Arrest of Two Flemings

Jacques used his 20L reward from the last werewolf hunt to pay Norbert back and to throw a celebratory party at Les Deux Cheveau Tavern. On their way to the tavern, Norbert and Cobweb noticed two men in somber black clothes following them. After the celebration, they noticed the same two men loitering in a doorway across the street and mentioned that to Jacques. Norbert said, “I have had enough of these foreigners following me.” The three Guards decided to confront their tail. They walked over to the doorway. Norbert introduced himself as “Norbert Thibeaut, Cardinal’s Guard” and demanded they state their names and their business.” 

Norbert heard one of the pair say, “I told you that was him.” He realized that the dark clad man was speaking Dutch. In answer to Norbert’s questions, the two said they were Flemish tourists. One, who spoke French, was named van Duurkoop. The other, who did not, was named van Ekkel. The two said they were resting in the doorway after walking about the city sightseeing. 

The three Guards took the two strangers into custody until they produced their papers or passports to confirm their identities and their permission to be in France. The two claimed their papers were with their traveling companion who was a Flemish noble. While Norbert and Coweb went to the inn where the strangers were staying, Jacques played cards and drank with the two men and kept them under his keen eyed gaze. The Flemings were staying at the Inn of the Black Stork located on the Left Bank. There Norbert and Cobweb learned that the men’s traveling companion was the Baron van Aaldenberg who Norbert remembered from Brussels where the Baron had competed in the shooting contest. Also Baron Aaldenberg was an associate or familiar of Fray Roderigo the Spanish Inquisitor who had imprisoned Norbert. 

Aaldenberg showed the Guards papers which confirmed the identities and permissions for van Duurkoop and van Ekkel. On their return to the Châtelet, Norbert fumblingly tried to explain why they had arrested the two Flemings to Jacques de Rotondis. Rotondis, who had been an Ensign in the Picardy Musketeers before he joined the Cardinal’s Guards, was often assigned as an acting officer of the day. 

The next day the three friends learned that the arrests had resulted in a letter of protest from the Spanish Ambassador, Don Antonio who had complained to Cardinal Richelieu himself about the arrest. In consequence the three were called into Père Joseph’s office where Gaston was already present. Père Joseph gave the three a dressing down and ordered them to apologize to the two ‘tourists’ and to see that they were freed right away. The three agreed to apologize then Norbert explained that part of his motivation was his fear of the Inquisition and he asked Père Joseph for protection from the Inquisition. After they left, Gaston gave the three a second dressing down during which Norbert said he would leave Paris to which Gaston replied, “That would be desertion.” Norbert then asked Gaston to send him on an assignment away from Paris and the Inquisition. Gaston frostily asked, “Monsieur, do you believe you are entitled to special consideration?” 

Norbert said “I thought my cousin the Captain would help me.”

Curtly Gaston immediately ordered the other two out of the room. Then he told Norbert that his request was refused and asked Norbert “Name of the devil, Are you trying to ruin my career and yours? Don’t ask me to play favorites, especially in front of others.” Norbert apologized. 

Gaston continued, “Your pleas to Père Joseph embarrassed me and the Red Guards. We don’t need the Grey Eminence’s protection. We are the Cardinal’s Red Guards and we take care of their own!” Gaston then called the other three back in and told them that “With great difficulty, I have managed to persuade Père Joseph to give you a chance to redeem yourselves after this mess you have caused. And for your sake and mine, do not fail.”

“You are to take the new guard, Jean-Yves Barreau. Monsieur Barreau is new, so I want to hear your evaluation of his abilities afterward…Oh, and try not to get him killed. He is, after all, new.”

“Dismissed!”

Once again the three friends found themselves in Père Joseph’s office as they, along with the new recruit Barreau, listened as the Grey Eminence told them that the secret plans for a new weapon, called a Step-Rocket, had been stolen from the Arsenal by a thief hired by the English. “These rockets could change the face of warfare. Fortunately through my agents I have learned that the thief is to turn the plans over to Henry Rich, Lord Kensington. Kensington is one of King James’ favorites and one we suspect he has used before for secret missions. The plans are contained in a manuscript printed in German with marginal notes. Here is a copy of an illustration from the frontispiece of the manuscript.”

At Père Joseph’s word, a masked woman stepped out from behind an arras. “This is La Dame de la Rose (the Lady of the Rose). She will assist you. She is well acquainted with Lord Kensington and can point him out to you. The exchange is to take place tomorrow in the Place Maubert. You are to use any means necessary to recover the manuscript and to prevent the plans from falling into the hands of the English heretics.”

“This mission is vital to the security of France. I have my reservations, but your Captain has sworn that you are the men for this job. Pray you do not fail him…or me. 

“You may go.”

Cobweb, who had grown up on the streets of Paris, explained to the other three Guards that the Place Maubert was a market square on the Left Bank that served the Latin Quarter. The market is a frequent rendezvous for students from the various colleges and all sorts of strange conversations by the students could be overheard over the sounds of the farmers and merchants hawking their goods. In Cobweb’s grandfather’s time the square had been the place of execution for heretics sentenced to death on the orders of the Bishop of Paris. Norbert realized that the Inn of the Black Stork where Baron Aldenberg and his two companions were staying was close by the Place de Maubert.


Since none of the four Guards were familiar with Henry Rich, Lord Kensington they decided they should meet or observe him prior to the exchange. They asked La Dame de la Rose to arrange something. She said she would try, but that there wasn’t a lot of time before the exchange, but in the meantime she showed them a miniature with a painting of Lord Kensington inside. Given the importance of the mission they wanted to surround the square with Red Guards, but they learned that most of the Guards were assigned to protect Cardinal Richelieu and that the remaining available Guards were assisting Gaston with a different mission in Paris. So success with this assignment was up to the three friends and Barreau, the newest member of the Cardinal's Guard.

Chapter 2: Lord Kensington’s Detention

Painting by an unnamed artist gives a sense of the enclosing buildings and the triangular plaza.

Agents of the Cardinal[i] had learned that a hand-off of the stolen rocket plans was scheduled for that afternoon in the Place Maubert, the market square for the Latin Quarter. The plans were to be given to an English Agent, Henry Rich Lord Kensington. Norbert, Jacques, Cobweb, and Jean-Yves were ordered to prevent the handoff and recover the stolen plans. Previously the mysterious la Dame de la Rose had shown them a miniature painting of Lord Kensington and she had agreed to be in the square to help them to identify Henry Rich. Norbert’s servant Mel was there to assist them in their efforts. The Guards and Mel spread out so that they could watch the several entrances and exits to the market.

With de la Rose’s help, they spotted Lord Kensington in the Place Maubert. They confronted him and his guards, who were concealed in the market crowd, tried but failed to prevent his apprehension. At which point he calmly identified himself, “I am Rich, Henry Rich, Lord Kensington.”

He coolly disputed their authority to apprehend him and refused to be searched. In response, Cobweb drew his sword and detained and searched Rich at sword point. He personally put his hands on Rich who protested loudly and objected most strongly to the Guard’s actions. Although Rich was not wearing a sword, they confiscated his cane and threatened him with arrest even after he informed them that he was a nobleman and a friend of King James of England.

During Kensington’s detention and search, Jacques had noticed a furtive youth with short blond hair who was wearing a knapsack. He called on him to halt and then gave pursuit when the youth fled. It seemed he was not the only one after the youth as several swordsmen appeared out of the crowd and tried to hinder his pursuit, but despite their efforts he successfully chased the youth into Norbert’s arms. Once the giant had grabbed the suspect, he immediately realized the youth was actually a girl. Inside her knapsack they found a manuscript and several loose pages with diagrams and tables of numbers. 

They decided that they had found the manuscript and the rocket plans. Now that they had the missing documents and the girl, the Guards released Lord Kensington. They had thwarted his attempt to obtain the stolen plans. Unfortunately they were unable to observe any contact between the Englishman and the courier and they had no proof that he had been involved in the theft. And they had annoyed a well connected member of the English Court.

The Cardinal’s Guards brought the girl and the documents to Le Tour Dubois where they presented the lot to Captain Thibeault. He quickly scanned the manuscript looking in particular at the marginal notes and the diagrams. Then he ordered the four to accompany him and to bring the girl as he led them to see Père Joseph. Later they learned that the girl who was carrying the manuscript was "Kat" Yskert a daring, female cat burglar. Yskert had seemed particularly embarrassed at being apprehended by the Guards.

After the incident, Lord Kensington sent a letter of complaint to the French Court and personally wrote to his friend, King James I of England. But before the first protests arrived at the French Court the four Guards involved were nowhere to be found. At Père Joseph’s suggestion, Gaston had already sent the four out of Paris on a mission that he hoped would keep them away until it was safe and politic for them to return to Paris and resume their regular duties.

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[i] The thief, "Kat" Yskert, had used a crazy beggar named Romain Light Fingers as a cut out to arrange the handoff. His job is to tell the buyer where to deliver the payment and pick up the “item.” Agents of the Cardinal were able to get information on the handoff from Light Fingers.

 

Fiction Friday - Vol 7 Tales of Vengeance, Bk III: Full Moon, Ch 3 & 4

Chapter 3: The Howling

As the moon rose they heard an eerie, frightening howling emanating from the very foundations of the Governor’s Mansion. They realized that a Loup Garou must be inside the dungeon. In his report to His Eminence Cardinal Armand de Richelieu Captain Gaston Thibeault described what happened on the mission to Soissons including what they found inside the Governor’s Mansion.

Your Eminence,

In obedience to your instructions I led a party consisting of seven Red Guards and Father Signoret to Soissons. There my men and I confirmed that there had been no new wolf attacks in or around Soissons nor any recent signs or evidence of a wolf pack. We also learned that there have been no sightings or reports of a second Loup Garou.

Learning that Armand de Labrousse, the brother of the Soissons Town Governor, was reported to have been bit by the Loup Garou we had killed, we inquired as to the health of Armand de Labrousse. The Governor told us that he had treated Armand himself and that Armand was recovering successfully from his wound. The Governor further reported that Armand had left Soissons some time ago to finish his recuperation in the healthful sea air of the south. When we asked for details, Labrousse told us that his brother was staying at the Green Mermaid Inn in Marseille. My men independently questioned the Governor’s guards and a number of townspeople who confirmed that Armand de Labrousse had not been seen in or around Soissons or at the chateau in the past two weeks. 

On hearing strange noises coming from the chateau on the night of the full moon, we secretly entered. We followed the sound of the creature’s howls led us into the dungeons of the chateau where we found a man imprisoned in a cell. The man was bound with numerous iron chains and manacles of silver and iron. He spoke not a word to us, but only growled and howled like a beast as he struggled against his bonds. Some black masked ruffians attempted to interfere with our investigation. They refused to desist or explain their presence and I was forced to kill several of them before they ceased to trouble us. The man in the cell changed and his true form—that of a Loup Garou—was revealed. After its transformation the beast broke free of its chains. I led my men into the cell where we shot the beast with the silver bullets and bolts that were provided through your Eminence’s forethought. After three volleys at point blank range, the beast fell as if dead. Then I cut off its head and sent its soul back to hell.

In other cells we found and liberated, two men and a girl, who had been imprisoned there where they had personally been subjected to fiendish tortures and the most hideous and barbarous mutilations which we learned had been carried out in person by the Governor himself. Father Signoret wrote down statements from the prisoners which I have here.¹ Not knowing your Eminence’s wishes in this matter, I brought the three unfortunates back to Paris. The good Father believes that some of their mutilations may be repaired and their suffering partially alleviated by skilled physicians here in Paris. I pray God that this be so.

We also found, concealed within the dungeon, a large pentagram and what Father Signoret describes as other sorcerous and alchemical paraphernalia. Significantly this room was guarded by other masked servants whose tongues had been removed to keep them silent. Father Signoret suggests that the Governor may be engaged in witchcraft. I know nothing of such matters, but such might provide some explanation for the terrible things he has done and keeps hidden beneath his chateau.

Unfortunately the Governor observed us before we were able to make our exit. Clovis Cellier was wounded by the chief gaoler. In defending him one of my men was forced to kill the gaoler. As we left the chateau we were fired on by the Chateau Guards, but not wishing to injure His Majesty’s soldiers, I ordered my men to fire over their heads to deter pursuit. Having finished our mission and learning that the Governor had ordered the gates of Soissons closed to us, we departed and returned to Paris.

One piece of information was not included in Gaston’s report. The Captain did not reveal that before he fully transformation into a beast, the man they found chained in the dungeon looked exactly like the Governor’s brother Armand de Labrousse. However, since the Governor had most definitely assured them that Armand was far away in the south and thus could not possibly be in Soissons at the time and since the killing and beheading of a nobleman and the brother of a Town Governor in his own home was something that could cause Gaston a lot of trouble, he decided not to complicate his report with that particular detail.

¹ Prisoner Status and Statements

Jacob, a Huguenot craftsman, was convicted of debt. He was incarcerated and his shop and possessions were confiscated. He claims the charge was false, and that there was no evidence of a debt, but that Governor de Labrousse refused to accept any of his proof of his innocence and convicted him anyway. The top of his skull had been removed exposing the brain matter and his face was a mass of scars. He was missing his nose and lips and  his left eye had been replaced with a glass magnifying lens that allowed detailed observation the optic nerve. His left arm had been removed and replaced with a type of metal prosthetic, arm with a claw with adjustable clamps for gripping.

Gabrielle, a peasant girl, was kidnapped by silent masked men and didn’t even know where she was being held. She was missing her right eye and her teeth had all been removed. Her left hand had been removed and was replaced with a claw clamp like that of the prisoner Jacob.

Jean-Paul was a peasant who had been arrested and convicted by the Governor of failure to pay his taxes. He admitted that he was in fact behind on his taxes. The skin on his right upper leg had been peeled off leaving the muscle exposed and the skin on his left lower leg was burned and blackened by fire. His left hand was missing and was capped by a metal and glass cylinder through which maggots could be seen eating the dead and damaged skin.  His left eye was covered by a patch which concealed a dead, rotting eyeball which had to be removed by the surgeon in Paris. This prisoner could not speak since his tongue had been removed. 

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Based on Gaston’s report and the statements and status of the three prisoners that were rescued, Cardinal Richelieu sent a note of complaint about the actions of Governor de Lebrousse to the Count of Soisson, who is His Majesty’s Governor of the Province of. In the note he urged Monsieur Le Comte to use his influence to insure that these matters were thoroughly looked into. 

From Father Signoret, Père Joseph requested descriptions (with sketches) of the Wolf Trap Lantern and its use, the Ritual of the Key of St. Hubertus and its effectiveness, and the encounters with the two Loup Garou in Soissons. Along with Gaston’s report these become files in a secret archive on the occult that Joseph is creating on the orders of the Cardinal. 

As a reward for their actions, the Cardinal gave a gift of 20L to Jacques and Duval for their bravery as mentioned by Gaston in his report and an additional 30L as a reward to Gaston. 

Chapter 4: Inquisition and Aftermath

During a previous mission for the Society of Jesus, the Father Signoret lost a holy relic, the Thigh Bone of St. Anthony and made an enemy of Friar Fitellus, an Inquisitor of the Roman Inquisition. Afterwards Fitellus came to Paris where he lodged a formal complaint against the Jesuit. After that he remained in Paris. It was said that he was in Paris to advocate for the creation of a French Inquisition to be authorized to uncover and eliminate heresy throughout all of France. While he was in Paris Fitellus continued to complain about Father Signoret at every opportunity and to petition Archbishop de Gondi to censure the Jesuit. Meanwhile Fitellus’ familiars kept Signoret under observation whenever he left the Jesuit Professed House. 

Ordinarily this would be little more than an annoyance and possibly an embarrassment for the dueling Jesuit. However, Signoret still had in his possession the Wolf Cage Lantern that he had taken from the vaults beneath Notre Dame with neither the knowledge nor the permission of the Archbishop. If the Lantern’s disappearance was noticed that could bring him to the attention of the Archbishop. The artifact was too rare and valuable to destroy, but if it was found in his possession then even the Society of Jesus might have no choice but to turn him over to the Archbishop for punishment. And if that happened, Signoret was afraid there was a very good chance that Friar Fitellus would be able to persuade the Archbishop to turn him over to the Inquisition for questioning, which would put him in the power of the fanatical Fitellus. And that was not at all something he would relish.

His usual watchers varied between Fitellus himself, who was always accompanied by his bodyguard an armed and armored soldier of the Inquisition, a young Italian nobleman accompanied by his servant and a soldier as guard, and a third trio consisting of a hard-bitten sergeant and two of his men. Inquisition familiars investigated Signoret’s scholarly pursuits. They questioned his servant Claude, talked to his students at the Jesuit Professed House and at the University of Paris. They learned of his interest in legends of the Loup Garou and investigated his visits to the vaults beneath Notre Dame Cathedral.

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Father Signoret was not the only hero who was being watched. It was quite some time before Norbert Thibeault realized that he seemed to be under observation. His first indication was a comment made by Guy de Bourges who asked if he knew that he was being followed. After that, he started noticing pairs of soberly dressed, foreign looking men. They weren’t always around or if they were he wasn’t always able to spot them. Sometimes he noticed the same pair and other times different gentlemen. They loitered in doorways and on street corners and he noticed them behind him on empty streets at night – or at least he noticed someone was behind him. He didn’t know why he was being followed, but it made him nervous. And unbeknownst Norbert, questions were being asked about who he was, where he lived, who he spoke to, and what he did.

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Father Signoret decided that he must return the Wolf Cage Lantern before Fitellus could arrange for it to be found in his possession, but he feared that if he went back to Notre Dame with the Lantern his watchers would warn Fitellus so that he could be intercepted and stopped. And if he was discovered with the Lantern he couldn’t predict what the consequences would be. 

Signoret asked his cousin Guy and his friend Gaston to help him outwit the Inquisitor and evade the watching familiars. They came up with a plan that should allow Signoret to return the artifact while simultaneously embarrassing Fitellus and his men. To throw off the watchers Guy, who was a master of disguise, donned the habit of a Jesuit priest, made himself up to look like his cousin, and adopted his gait to complete his act. With him he carried a wooden box just large enough to hold the Lantern then he took a circuitous route to Notre Dame. Once the watchers had been decoyed away, Father Signoret, who was dressed as a gentleman and not a priest, surreptitiously made his way with the real Lantern then he loitered in a doorway near Notre Dame to watch the next step in their plan.

Guy led his watchers to the steps of Notre Dame. There he saw Friar Fitellus with his bodyguard and the rest of his soldiers. As he walked up the steps of the Cathedral, the Inquisitor and his men surrounded him. But before they could act, they too were surrounded as seeming passerby in the crowd through off their concealing cloaks to reveal a squad of the Cardinal’s Guard led by Gaston in person. 

Fitellus said that he was there to arrest Father Signoret as a despoiler of artifacts and relics of the Church. Gaston officially insisted he identify who it was he intended to arrest and on what grounds he based that arrest. Fitellus pointed towards the man who he thought was Father Signoret and said that he had caught Father Gaetan Signoret, a priest of the Society of Jesus, red handed with a stolen church artifact. Gaston told him that he was mistaken, but Fitellus insisted that he was correct. 

Attracted by the noise and the uniforms a crowd was gathering. The Inquisitor’s bodyguard Ferrara drew his sword to threaten the supposed Jesuit priest into surrendering, but Gaston blocked the move with his own rapier. The Inquisition bodyguard was shocked. “How dare you?” Ferrara repeated the move, but again Gaston blocked him.

“Si, you’d be surprised what I would dare si  Inquisizione cazzo![i]” The Italian curse caused Ferrara to swing his broadsword at Gaston, who deflected the hasty blow. “Now I have you si cazzo. You just attacked a Cardinal’s Guard.” Over his should Gaston told his men, “Stand back and watch the friar. Don’t let that little weasel slink away.  

Gaston used the cathedral steps to his advantage to outmaneuver the heavily armored bodyguard. He forced Ferrara to follow him up the steps and then once he was at the top, Gaston quickly moved sideways and down. All the while he intentionally drew out the combat and used wide sweeping attacks which were designed solely to draw the crowd’s attention and that of the Inquisitor and his men. 

While they were focused on the duel between Gaston and Ferrara, Father Signoret quickly walked inside the church with his cloth wrapped parcel under his arm. Once inside, he went to the vaults and returned the Piège à Loup or Wolf Cage lantern to its proper place. Outside, Guy removed or altered just enough of his disguise so that he no longer looked like a priest then he continued to stand waiting and holding the decoy box.

The noise and the crowd attracted the attention of a patrol of the Archbishop’s ecclesiastical guards. They forced their way through the crowd and demanded to know what was going on. By this time Gaston had tripped and disarmed Ferrara, so he flamboyantly handed the Inquisition bodyguard’s sword to the sergeant of the guard as he announced himself as the Captain of the Cardinal’s Guard.  “Sergeant, I must apologize for my part in this altercation, but I was forced to prevent this man here from attacking for no reason a good catholic penitent on his way to our cathedral. Now I have no way of knowing why this foreigner and stranger to our city would choose to arm himself as if for war then attempt an assault on the very steps of our holy cathedral, but perhaps he can make some excuse for his rash and hostile actions.”

Fitellus spoke first. He pointed in Guy’s direction as he told the Archbishop’s guards that he and his bodyguard were in the process of apprehending a Jesuit priest and thief who had stolen a most holy relic from the cathedral. “Though he claims to be a priest, this man is known to the Inquisition as a most notorious stealer of relics.”

“What is the name of this so-called Jesuit priest-thief?” 

“You know who he is. His name is Father Gaetan Signoret and he is right over there,” this time when Fitellus pointed at Guy he noticed that Guy was no longer dressed as a priest nor did he wear a flat Jesuit hat. 

“Sadly, you are mistaken, good Friar. My name is Guy de Bourges, Chevalier de Sainte-Marie-du-Bois. I am a Knight of the Order of the Holy Ghost and member in good standing of the Bishop’s Club, as is our beloved Archbishop de Gondi. These are all things which I can easily prove.” Then he loudly addressed the crowd, “I fear that our strong French wines must have gone to the Friar’s head and he is so drunk that he sees priests everywhere he looks.” The crowd laughed at Guy’s jibe. 

“By Saint Dominic and Saint Caenus, whoever you are, you are in league with that Jesuit thief and you have the relic he stole right there in that box in your hands.”

“I regret to say, good Friar that the wine fumes are still obscuring your vision…and your reason. On my honor this is no stolen relic, but merely a gift I was bringing to the cathedral. Sergeant I must insist that as a noble of France and a good Catholic that I be allowed to go about my business without being harassed on the very steps of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris by this drunken Friar”

“No,” screamed Fitellus. “He must not be allowed to leave. He has the Wolf Cage in that box. It was stolen from the cathedral under your very noses. I demand the box be opened so you can all see the proof of what I say with your very own eyes.”

The Sergeant of the Archbishop’s guard apologized to Guy, but said that either they must all come with him to the For L’Eveque to straighten out this matter, which he admitted might take considerable time or perhaps the Chevalier would agree to open his box.

“Sergeant I see that you are a man who is only trying to do his duty in a most difficult situation with honesty and courtesy on one side and what seem to be the ravings of a drunken friar on the other. Let it not be said that Guy de Bourges would make life more difficult for an honest man who is doing his duty. I will agree to open the box, but I insist when this latest accusation is proved as false as the others, that I be allowed to go on my way in peace.”

The Sergeant agreed that was more than fair. Guy opened the box which contained several thick beeswax candles. “I brought these as a small offering for the cathedral and to request that prayers be said for the health of my poor, dear mother.”

“Noooo!”

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A report of the incident on the cathedral steps was given to Archbishop de Gondi which caused him to become hostile to Friar Fitellus. Gondi not only refused to support Fitellus’ petition to institute a French Inquisition, but he spoke out against the idea. This incident even caused him to have a more negative attitude towards the Dominicans, Friar Fitellus’ Order.

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[i] You Inquisition fuck!