**_“In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti,”_** the priest intoned, his voice echoing through the vaulted ceilings as he offered the final blessing. The congregants murmured their amens, crossing themselves before rising to their feet, their whispers mingling with the solemn chant of the choir.

Edmund stood slowly, glancing at Gautier with a mix of irritation and expectation. “This place commands respect,” he muttered. “You could at least pretend to show some.”

Gautier shrugged, his lips curling in a lazy smile. “Respect is in the heart, not the posture, my friend.” He gestured to the statue of Saint George near the altar, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Besides, I’m not here to impress a statue.”

Edmund sighed but said nothing, choosing instead to clasp his hands together, his gaze fixed on the altar. “The Crusade,” he said, almost to himself. “A call from God to reclaim the holy lands.”

Gautier raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he watched Edmund with something between curiosity and bemusement. “The Crusade,” he echoed, drawing out the word. “Or a chance for every penniless knight and second-born son in Christendom to carve out a fortune in the East.”

Edmund shot him a hard look, his jaw tightening. “You think it’s only about wealth?”

“For some, yes,” Gautier replied easily, his tone dismissive. “Not everyone shares your noble ideals, Sir Edmund. Some see the Crusade as a means to escape debt, to gain land, to forge alliances that would otherwise be beyond their reach.” He paused, watching Edmund’s reaction with a glint of challenge in his eyes. “Surely you’ve seen how easily holy words can be twisted to suit ambitions.”

Edmund’s expression hardened. “I’ve seen men go to war for far less,” he said quietly, his tone edged with conviction. “But this—this is different. This is for Jerusalem, for the place where our Lord was crucified.”

Gautier let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “And that, my friend, is precisely why so many will march.” He leaned in, his voice low, almost conspiratorial. “Because they believe that dying for Jerusalem will grant them salvation. Because they think that in the East, they will find purpose, forgiveness, perhaps even redemption.”

Edmund clenched his fists, feeling the familiar surge of frustration rise within him. Gautier’s cynicism was as aggravating as it was unshakable, and yet, in some ways, it was the kind of skepticism that many others shared. He knew well that not every knight marching to the Levant would carry the Crusader’s purity of heart, but he also believed, with every fiber of his being, that this was a cause worth fighting for.

“And you?” Edmund asked, his voice softer, more thoughtful. “What does the Crusade mean to you?”

The cathedral was filled with a soft, golden glow, the morning sunlight streaming through the stained glass and casting colors across the stone floors. Canterbury Cathedral stood as a place of reverence, its towering columns and intricate carvings a reminder of the faith that bound England’s Christians to the call of God. For Sir Edmund Godwinson, kneeling in the pews with his head bowed, it was a sacred space, a respite from the worldly struggles that had plagued him for years.

Beside him, Gautier d’Aulnay knelt as well, though with considerably less reverence. His fingers drummed lightly against his thigh as he waited for the service to end, his gaze flicking to the flickering candles and ornate statues with a look of faint amusement. He was familiar with faith, yes, but he saw it as a means to an end, not the driving purpose of his life.

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In the Shadows of the Mountains - Chapter Six: In the Halls of Canterbury

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Big thanks to everyone who joined my challenge! 

I’m so grateful for all the incredible artwork submitted, not so much for the one I have to reject. But the result was an amazing experience, and that's what we want.

New Challenge and a New One
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