Noctavya's Geisha Chamber

[Noctavya]

October 13, 1307 – the dawn that broke the Temple.



Lady Aliénor de Saint-Clair, Grand Master’s Marshal and the highest-ranking woman ever to wear the red cross, had ridden to the royal palace at dawn on what she believed was urgent summons from King Philip IV himself. She came alone, in full mantle, trusting the royal seal.



She never saw the sun rise twice.



At the palace gates the gates slammed shut behind her. A hundred royal sergeants poured from the shadows; halberds lowered, crossbows leveled. The king’s decree—sealed the night before—was read aloud: heresy, sodomy, idolatry. The Order was dissolved by papal bull before the ink was dry.

Aliénor fought until a mace cracked against her temple. When she woke, the white mantle was gone, replaced by filthy rags. Iron bit into her wrists and throat. They dragged her barefoot through the Paris mud, past silent crowds who once knelt for her blessing.



By torchlight she was marched beneath Notre-Dame into the labyrinthinevitable black arch of the Inquisition’s lower cells. The chain around her neck clinked with every forced step, the sound echoing like a death knell through the vaulted dark.



The last Templar lady vanished into the stone, proud violet eyes unbowed, white hair trailing like a fallen banner. The purge had begun, and the most dangerous heretic of all was the one who had never once knelt.

[jny008]

Great art ! Amazing!