Sword and Scimitar

‘What does La Cerda want from us?’ asked Thomas.

‘Sir?’

‘I presume that he would not have you risk your life by crossing the harbour in daylight just to report on conditions in the fort. What else did he say? What does he want?’

Medrano lowered his gaze momentarily. ‘La Cerda asks for permission to evacuate the fort. He says that the wounded can be loaded into boats sent over from this side of the harbour after nightfall. After that he will gradually thin out the men behind the wall. Any weapons and equipment that ca

‘I see.’ La Valette nodded. ‘And when does La Cerda intend to plan to abandon the fort?’

‘Tonight, sir - if you give the order.’

‘Out of the question! There will be no evacuation. You will tell La Cerda that when you return to the fort. He still has over six hundred men under arms. It is unthinkable that he should abandon his position so early in the siege. It is a shameful request. Shameful! Do you hear?’

‘Yes, sir.’ Medrano bowed his head. He hesitated a moment before he added, ‘I agree.’

La Valette stared at him and then spoke in a gentle tone. ‘Thank you, Captain. That is the kind of resolve that is needed. Tell me, in your opinion what can we do to help St Elmo hold out as long as possible?’

Medrano considered for a moment before he replied. ‘Fresh men, sir. To steady the nerves of the garrison and to show them that they have not been abandoned. Send them some coin and wine too. There’s nothing that soldiers like more than the feel of coins in their purses. There’s an empty storeroom where a few gaming tables can be set up, and wine can be sold. That will help to divert thoughts of their predicament.’

‘Very well, I shall see that it is done.’

Colonel Mas leaned forward. ‘There are other measures we can take to ensure the fort holds out as long as possible. Certain weapons that we have been holding back for the defence of Birgu. It might be better to surprise the enemy with them now, sir.’

‘You mean the fire hoops and the naphtha throwers?’

‘ Yes, sir. If we add those to the incendiaries that La Cerda has at his disposal I am sure we can make the enemy pay a high price for St Elmo, and hold them off for longer than La Cerda’s estimate.’ The Grand Master folded his hands together and weighed up the suggestion. At length he nodded. ‘Very well, see to it that the fort is supplied. As for men, we will send another hundred and fifty of the mercenaries across. There is one other matter. La Cerda is clearly not fit to retain command. We need to replace him with someone equal to the task that lies ahead. In the meantime I appoint you, Captain Medrano, as commander of the fort. I will have your orders drafted at once so that you can take them with you.’ He paused a moment. ‘Juan de La Cerda has served the Order faithfully in the past and is a good knight. Relieved of the burden of command

I am confident that he will fight well. I will not add to his humiliation u

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Very well, you may leave us. Wait outside while my clerk drafts your orders. Then return to St Elmo at once, before La Cerda undermines the courage of those he commands any further.’

Medrano rose from his chair and left the room. La Valette briefly dictated the details of the new arrangement to his clerk, then signed the order before the clerk left the room to hand the document to the waiting captain.

La Valette sighed. ‘I need to find the right man for St Elmo. One who knows he is going to a certain death and does so without hesitation. He must also be determined to make the enemy pay as dearly as possible. He must not be a hothead but a man of cold reason. Not another La Riviere. He must also be a man whom others will follow with the same sense of duty and inevitability about the outcome.’

‘Such men are rare, sir,’ said Mas. ‘I do not count myself among their number, but if you wish it, I will take up the command.’

‘I expected no less of you, Colonel. But for now you best serve the interests of the Order on this side of the harbour. Once St Elmo falls, as it must, it will take every effort of the best of us to hold the line here.’

‘What about Sir Thomas?’ asked Stokely. ‘He has the necessary military experience, and he has proved that he has steady enough nerves by capturing that Turkish officer and leading La Riviere’s men safely back to Birgu.’

La Valette looked at Thomas questioningly. ‘Well? Do you volunteer?’

Thomas shot a bitter glance at Stokely before he faced the Grand Master. There was no question about his response, but he needed a moment to accept the implications. He would never see Maria again. Never make his peace with her and perhaps more. And he might doom Richard’s mission to failure, even if his squire was spared the fate of accompanying him to St Elmo. If what he had been told about the document was true, the consequences of failure would be dreadful back in England. There were so many sound reasons to refuse La Valette, and only one reason to accept. One that was all that was ever asked of a knight.

‘I would be honoured to volunteer, sir.’

La Valette met his gaze for a moment and then smiled. ‘You passed the test, Sir Thomas. Yet I must decline your offer, despite the cogent arguments of Sir Oliver. I have no doubt about your ability to take up the command but for now I need you here. The command must go to another. I will think on it. Captain Medrano will suffice for a few days. He is a good man, but not quite the ruthless martyr that is needed. Now, there is work to be done here in Birgu. I call this meeting to an end.’

‘Sir, there is one other matter,’ Stokely intervened. ‘As we discussed earlier.’

A pained expression briefly crossed the Grand Master’s face before he nodded. ‘Of course. Thank you for reminding me, Sir Oliver.’

La Valette clicked his fingers and in an instant Apollo and Achilles had leaped to their feet and were nuzzling his fingers, tails wagging. He smiled fondly as he caressed their muzzles and then he drew a heavy breath.

‘It’s the dogs, they never stop barking at the guns. It is wearing the nerves of those in Birgu and Senglea. Sir Oliver believes it would be best if they were silenced.’

Colonel Mas’s brow creased. ‘Silenced?’

‘Besides disrupting our people’s sleep they are consuming rations,’ said Stokely. ‘It will go hard on those affected but there may come a time when we will have to dispose of them anyway. Better now, and save food that we may need later.’

‘It will go hard indeed,’ La Valette said gently as he stroked his hounds.

‘Of course there is no need to include your dogs, sir,’ Stokely cut in quickly. ‘Or at least these two, your favourites. It will make litde difference if they are spared.’

‘Perhaps.’ La Valette ran his gnarled fingers across the ears of the nearest hound.

Thomas was watching the Grand Master closely. This was an opportunity to open the route to the chest where a document vital to the safety of England was stored. He cleared his throat and shook his head sadly. ‘Sir, it will make a great deal of difference if these two are spared. At present the knights and the people stand side by side. We share the same dangers and privations. That is our strength. That is what binds us. We should not jeopardise that common feeling by being exempted from those edicts the Grand Master imposes upon the generality. If their dogs are to be silenced, then all dogs must share the same fate. Even these two, who are your favourites.’

‘Yes, they are . . .’ La Valette said quietly.

The beasts sensed that they were being praised and their tails wagged as they looked up at their master with adoring eyes. La Valette tore his gaze away and clasped his hands together under his chin.