Walter looked at her, shocked by his own revelation. Peter de Lohr was leaking information to the king’s cause. He clapped his hands together sharply.
“Quickly,” he said. “Tell the servants to bring my horse around. I must ride to Lonsdale immediately.”
“Can I come?” Agnes begged.
Walter shook his head. “Nay, Daughter,” he said. “You remain here. I will tell Hereford personally that his son is a traitor and I do not need you present. I will tell him that I will not inform the rest of the warlords of his son’s betrayal if he will immediately consent to a betrothal. After all, I would never betray family. Truly, this is perfect. Young Peter has done our work for us.”
Agnes squealed with delight and dashed off, shouting to the servants to have her father’s horse prepared. Walter could hear the commotion in the house as he went to collect his cloak. As he’d said, the situation was perfect. Now he had a bargaining chip to use against de Lohr when it came to the betrothal that Hereford was so keen to dodge. If Walter threatened to tell the rebel warlords that Peter was a traitor to their cause, then surely de Lohr would do anything to save his son.
Even marry him to Agnes de Quincy.
Truly… he couldn’t have planned it better. Walter was quite happy to gloat about it when a nervous servant brought him a missive that had just been delivered. Annoyed at the interruption, he was about to toss it aside when he saw Pembroke’s seal.
William Marshal.
Quickly, Walter broke the seal and read the contents. He read it twice. Tossing the missive aside, he went shouting for his horse even though the servants were already preparing it. In less than ten minutes’ time, Walter was tearing from the small yard of the townhome, riding out to the countryside east of London.
The Marshal’s missive had him heading straight for the de Lohr stronghold of Lonsdale.
CHAPTER TEN
Peter didn’t even know where to start.
He and Alexander had just entered the hallowed halls of the Great Synagogue, an enormous building with stone walls and, from what they could see, a great wooden ceiling supported by massive wooden beams in the sanctuary beyond the entry. There was a hard-packed, earthen floor and a riser somewhere in the middle of it. It smelled of dirt and another strange smell which Peter assumed to be incense.
They were standing in a small entry, not particularly well lit, but they could see men moving around inside the sanctuary itself. Before them were four big pillars, reaching to the ceiling, and some kind of symbolic table in the center. They took a few steps towards it, mostly because Peter wanted to get the attention of someone in the sanctuary so he could ask for Rabbi Judah, but as they moved they noticed there was a second sanctuary to their right, long and narrow. They took one more step and, abruptly, a man wearing a shawl and a hood appeared before them.
“My lords,” he said, speaking with an accent. “You are not permitted here.”
Peter looked at the man, small and meek, who was rather brave facing two much larger, armed men. “I know,” he said. “Forgive us, but I seek Rabbi Judah. Is he here?”
The man looked at him curiously. “Rabbi Judah?”
“Aye.”
“You know him?”
“I know of him,” Peter said. “Is he here?”
The man nodded. “Aye, he is here,” he said. “Shacharit is finished now. But why do you wish to see him?”
“That is my business,” he said, wondering what Shacharit was but he was too impatient to ask. “I can promise you that our intention is purely peaceful, however. Will you send him to me? I will wait outside the door if it is more appropriate.”
With that, he and Alexander turned for the door, stepping outside to wait. Peter was more focused on the doorway and what was going on inside, hearing the man who had greeted them shouting something in a language he didn’t understand. As he stood near the door and listened, Alexander scanned the area, looking for any threats, or worse, someone they knew. They were on a street called Jewry, which was the center of the Jewish neighborhood in London. The synagogue was the center of the district and he stepped down onto the street, looking up at the building, thinking on the synagogues he had seen when he was in The Levant.
“There was a massive synagogue in Jerusalem,” he said, looking up. “It is called the Great Temple or the Temple of Solomon, though some called it the Temple Mount. When the crusaders captured the city, the temple was given over to a group calling themselves the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon. They became known as the Templars.”
Peter looked at him. “I remember that story,” he said. “You were in The Levant, Sherry. You must have seen many Jewish temples.”
Alexander nodded. “Many,” he said. “And I spent time at the Temple Mount. A great and mysterious place. In fact, all of Jerusalem is a great and mysterious place. It is full of ghosts.”
“Indeed, it is.”
The voice came from the entry and they both turned to see a rabbi who didn’t look much like a rabbi. He was young, with curly brown hair, and a gap-toothed smile. He had a shawl on his shoulders and wore the traditional hood that the Jewish rabbis wore at this time, and he looked at Peter and Alexander in a manner that was both curious and friendly.
“I’m Judah,” he said. “I understand you wish to speak with me?”
Peter nodded, suddenly a little tongue-tied. Now that he was faced with a man with answers to his all of his religion-related questions, he didn’t quite know what to say. It occurred to him that the situation with Liora had just become real. Until this minute, it had been only talk. Everything had only been sweet talk and implications. But now… now, this was the turning point.
The speculation of a Jewish bride was becoming a reality.
Everything was happening so fast.
“I came to seek you, Father… I mean, Rabbi.” He paused, chuckling. “How should I address you?”
Judah chuckled along with him. “Rabbi is acceptable,” he said. “Or Judah. Most rabbis are quite formal, but I am not. Children find the title intimidating sometimes and I do like to speak to the children in a way that will not frighten them. But, please – call me whatever you feel comfortable with. I must say that I am surprised to see two Christian knights on my doorstep, asking for me by name. Did someone send you?”
“Not exactly,” Peter said. He opened his mouth to continue, but realized he hadn’t introduced himself. “I apologize for my bad manners. My name is Peter de Lohr. This is my sister’s husband, Alexander de Sherrington.”
Judah looked at Alexander. “I heard you speaking of the Templars,” he said. “You were in The Levant?”
Alexander nodded. “I was with King Richard’s army.”
Judah grinned that gap-toothed smile. “Ah,” he said. “The Great Quest. How long were you there?”
“Three years,” Alexander said. “But I spent another eight years after that wandering before I came home to England.”
“Lost?”
Alexander snorted. “Not literally, but spiritually,” he said. “I saw a great deal in The Levant that made me question life in general.”
Judah’s smile faded. “I am sure your intentions were noble,” he said. “But I think many men lost their way during the Great Quest. Battle and corruption has a way of changing a man’s heart.”
Alexander studied the young rabbi a moment. “That is quite true,” Alexander said. “You sound as if you know. But you were too young to be present when I was there.”
Judah smiled weakly. “My grandfather was in Jerusalem when the Christians took possession of it,” he said. “He both admired and feared them. I heard you speaking of the Temple Mount and I heard my grandfather speak of it, too. It is a most definitely a mysterious place and quite haunted.”
“You believe in spirits?”
“Absolutely,” Judah said emphatically. “That is something we can all agree on, I think.”
Alexander rather liked the young rabbi who was surprisingly frie
ndly. He looked at Peter, who seemed to still be working up the nerve to ask his questions. He hadn’t been able to bring them forth yet, so Alexander took pity on him.
“Indeed, we can,” he said. “But I am sure you are a busy man, Rabbi, so I will take no more of your time speaking of spirits and mystery. Let us come to the point. No one sent us, but someone who… who admires you gave us your name. We hope you are a man who can help clear up some confusion.”
“Oh?” Judah looked between the knights curiously. “What confusion?”
Alexander lowered his voice because what they were about to discuss more than likely should have been done in private, but the rabbi hadn’t invited them inside the synagogue for such a discussion, so they were going to have it out on the street.
“As you realize, we were raised in the Catholic faith,” her said. “We know nothing of the Jewish religion other than what we have been told, but a situation has arisen that requires answers.”
“I will tell you what I can.”
“How does the Jewish religion view a marriage between a Jew and a Christian?”
It was apparent that Judah hadn’t been expecting that question. He appeared surprised at first, but that expression turned thoughtful very quickly.
“Intermarriage?” he said. “That is certainly a serious topic. Why do you ask? You don’t have a Jewish sweetheart, do you?”
Peter nearly choked. He started coughing as Alexander covered for him. “Nay, I do not,” he said. “I am a married man. But a… a friend has. He has met a fine woman who happens to be Jewish.”
“A fellow knight,” Peter put in helpfully.
Alexander eyed the man who couldn’t seem to find his tongue. “Aye,” he said. “A fellow knight. This man is fond of a Jewess and is considering marrying her. What would have to happen in order to make a marriage recognized by the Jewish religion?”
Judah stroked his chin. “I think this is a question with a complex answer,” he said. “There is no simple way to address it.”
“It is truly such a difficult question?” Peter asked. “What I mean to say is that a marriage, if consent is given on both sides, should be able to take place, shouldn’t it? Can’t a Christian man marry a Jewish woman?”
Judah turned his attention to Peter. “In days past, such a thing was forbidden under the penalty of death.”
“Is that still the case?”
Judah shook his head. “No longer,” he said. “That was mostly in the days of old, when Romans occupied Jerusalem. Today, we consider ourselves more understanding and civilized. But the Talmud declares that any marriage between a Jew and non-Jew is invalid. The Christian Bible also cautions against a marriage between a Jew and a Christian. A passage in the Book of Ezra, I believe, discourages it. So, it is not simply one religion declaring that such a marriage is discouraged. It is both.”
Peter knew that was going to be the answer, but he still needed to hear it. “But what if one person converts to the other’s religion?”
Judah shrugged. “Then, it is possible,” he said. “But only if the Christian converts to Judaism. If the Jewish person converts to Christianity, then the marriage shall not be recognized under Jewish law. The family would be shamed, mayhap even forbidden to worship in the temple.”
Peter folded his big arms over his chest, looking up to the synagogue as he pondered what he’d been told. “Is there no exception where a Christian and a Jew can marry and have the marriage accepted by both religions?”
Judah shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “There is no such thing. It is one or the other, Sir Peter. Either your friend and his sweetheart are all Jewish or they are all Christian.”
Peter drew in a long, thoughtful breath. “Have you ever known any Jewish and Christian marriages?”
Judah shook his head. “I’ve not known any,” he said. “You must understand that our religion is very old, Sir Peter. Older than the Christians. It goes back thousands of years and our laws have been created over those years to protect our people and ensure our survival. We come from the land of Jesus, older than even England and those who walked her shores before the Normans came. Any man, or woman, who breaks faith with us breaks faith with God. Their soul will be lost.”
Peter was growing increasingly depressed as he realized there was no gray area, no rules to bend. It was one way or the other, as strict as the natural laws of night and day.
“I do not understand,” he said. “We worship the same God, do we not?”
“We do.”
“Then why are there different rules for the Christians and different rules for the Jews?”
“Because our origins are different,” Judah said. “Our land, our language, our spiritual needs. They are different from Christians, so the laws are different.”
“Men make the laws,” Peter muttered. When Judah looked at him, surprised, he didn’t back off. “The Bible was written by disciples and prophets. Christ did not write the Books of the Bible and I’m certain he did not write the pages of the Talmud. Those were not written by angels, but by men. Men make the rules.”
“With God’s guidance,” Judah said pointedly. “The men who wrote the laws were vessels for God. They did not write them down to suit their own purposes.”
“You are saying those men didn’t add a law or two because they wanted to?”
Judah smiled, lopsided. “Mayhap,” he said. “But if God is watching over your shoulder, are you truly going to write something down that he does not like?”
He made a good case, as a rabbi should. But Peter didn’t want to get into a philosophical argument with him. In fact, he’d already said too much. He’d received answers he had already suspected were the truth of the situation and he wasn’t happy because of it.
The situation was growing as dire as he thought it would be.
“But what about love and harmony?” he said. “What if the Christian and the Jew love one another? Does that even matter?”
Judah paused thoughtfully before shaking his head. “Marriage is about more than love,” he said. “You understand that marriages are made for financial gain or property, to produce children to populate the earth. Love is not a consideration, or at least not a large consideration.”
Peter frowned as Alexander reached out to grasp his arm. “I think we’ve taken enough of Rabbi Judah’s time,” he said. “We will take this information back to our friend, Rabbi. You’ve been very tolerant of two non-Jews.”
Peter nodded, but it was obvious that he was unhappy. “Of course,” he said, forcing a smile at the young rabbi. “You have been very helpful, Rabbi. It means a great deal that you’ve taken the time to speak with us.”
Judah smiled. “I am very happy to do it,” he said. “If you have further questions, I am honored to answer them if I can.”
Peter’s smile turned genuine. “That is kind of you,” he said. He paused before continuing. “I will tell you a secret – I have never met a rabbi before.”
Judah laughed softly. “And I have never spoken to a Christian knight before,” he said. “At least, not like this. I see them come in and out of the city with their big swords and big horses, and they look like death personified, so to speak to two knights who are intelligent and kind… I have learned something today.”
“What is that?”
“Never to judge a man by his vocation.”
“Then that makes two of us.”
As they snorted, Alexander held up a hand. “Three of us,” he said. “You’ve been very accommodating, Rabbi. We shall not forget it. Should you ever need the service of a Christian knight, send word to Lonsdale House. We are in your debt.”
Judah simply nodded, waving at them as they turned for their horses. Mounting up, they headed down the street without a hind glance to the rabbi, still standing there, watching them go.
“He knew it was me,” Peter muttered. “He knew I was asking for me.”
Alexander tightened up his reins. “If he did, he was gracious not to call y
ou out,” he said. “Well? Did you learn what you wanted to know?”
“Unfortunately, I did.”
“What are you going to do?”
Peter shook his head. “I do not know yet,” he said. “I will return home and think on it for the rest of the day and then I shall see Liora tomorrow and tell her of the conversation.”
Alexander looked at him. “Peter, far be it from me to say anything about this situation, but you hardly know the woman,” he said. “You have only just met her.”
Peter looked at him. “How long did you know my sister before you knew she was the woman you wanted to marry?”
The only reply Alexander had would make him look like a fool. He looked away.
“Days.”
“And do you regret that you did not court her for years before you made the decision to marry her?”
“Never. She was the best decision I have ever made.”
Peter could understand that. More and more, he was feeling like that when it came to Liora. “Sometimes… you just know,” he said. “And with Liora, I just know, Sherry. I cannot explain it better than that.”
Alexander had no argument for that. He was finished trying to talk Peter out of anything. “Well,” he said after a moment. “Not that I blame you. She is astonishingly beautiful.”
Peter grinned. “Isn’t she?”
Alexander nodded sincerely. “Other than my wife and her mother, I’ve never seen finer.”
Peter laughed softly. Leave it to Alexander to be tactful when speaking of another woman’s beauty. But Peter hoped that, now, he at least had an ally in Alexander when it came to the pursuit of Liora ben Thad.
He was going to need it.
After stopping by The Farmer’s Prick to pay for several months’ worth of food for Saul’s Army, they headed back to Lonsdale in silence. However, as they both knew, Peter would be back in London tomorrow.
Back to see his blue-eyed beauty.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Lonsdale
The Splendid Hour: The Executioner Knights Book 7 Page 15
