Book 1. The Bloody Baphomet. Diary of a Templar Crusader

By Olga Kryuchkova

Medieval France. Count Raymond IV of Toulouse, ruler of the kingdom of Languedoc, brings from the Crusade a certain statuette depicting Baphomet. He annexes more and more new lands to the kingdom of Languedoc. The wealthy Kingdom of Languedoc causes the envy of France, weakened by constant military conflicts with England.
Five years after returning from a campaign, Count Raymond is overtaken by a mysterious death in the highland castle of Montsegur. His son Alphonse leaves his native Languedoc forever, going to the Holy Land, where he meets Hugues de Paynes, the first Grand Master of the Knights Templar. After that, the Templars begin to worship Baphomet.
A century later, the statuette falls into the hands of Chevalier Clermont de Montsegur, great-grandson of the Count of Toulouse. His life is full of unpredictable turns, and death becomes a mystery to posterity. France conquers the Languedoc. The King of France pursues the Knights Templar and tries to destroy them in order to take possession of the treasures of the Templars.
The next owner of Baphomet, Auguste de Cavallon (Templar and personal secretary of the Grand Master de Molay) transports the gold of the Knights Templar to Scotland. He experiences turbulent adventures, and then becomes the preceptor (manager of the castle and surrounding lands, keeper of ancient knowledge, mentor for the younger brothers of the Order; he can also execute judgment) of Inverness Castle, in which the spiritual and magical knowledge of Europe and the Near East is concentrated.
Warning: The book may contain descriptions of violent scenes. The behavior of the heroes of the book (both men and women) does not correspond to modern canons. For life and morality in the Middle Ages were very different from today. I want to note that women were highly dependent on men and were forced to obey their will.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olga Kryuchkova
• Release date: Jun 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215363041

Olga Kryuchkova

Olga Kryuchkova began her creative career in 2006. During this time, the author had more than 100 publications and reprints (historical novels, historical adventures, esotericism, art therapy, fantasy). A number of novels were co-written with Elena Kryuchkova.

Book preview

‘The Knights Templar and the Bloody Baphomet’ Book Series

Book 1

The Bloody Baphomet. Diary of a Templar Crusader.

Alternate History of the Templar Order

Cover: Images from Pixabay.

Nitimur in vetitum semper, cupimusque negata.

We always strive for the forbidden and desire the unlawful.

Latin saying

Prologue

59 year from the birth of Christ

The path meandered among the mountains in the most unpredictable way, then went down, then climbed up so steeply that a person had to climb on all fours. The military detachment, constantly at the risk of falling into a bottomless abyss, slowly moved towards its intended goal.

Rufus followed the guide. He mentally turned to Jupiter, Mars and other gods of the Roman Pantheon, promising to bring them generous gifts in case of a safe return from the expedition. In addition, his thoughts involuntarily turned directly to the culprit of this dangerous expedition — the Commander of the fourteenth legion, Cessius Lont. Rufus mentally unleashed all sorts of curses on the Commander's head.

Rufus looked back at his companions, wearily walking along the mountain path. They have already come to terms with the fact that any of them can fall into a bottomless abyss.

Great Jupiter, where is this accursed temple?! Rufus pleaded, losing strength from the long march that had been going on for three days now.

The mules bought from the village on the plain had to be abandoned almost immediately. It happened two days ago. A laden mule cannot go along such a path, except perhaps a mountain sheep, and even then with difficulty. After a day of hiking, Rufus felt almost like this animal, climbing along the path. He was afraid to stumble, to take even one wrong step. And then the wrong step was taken: one of Rufus's people fell into the abyss and no one even managed to lend a helping hand to him.

Rufus, realizing the mood of the squad, roared:

Forward! We will find the temple, or I am not Rufus Pliny! Or have you forgotten what reward awaits you in Rome?

All warriors perfectly remembered about the silver Roman sesterces (ancient Roman coins). The reward was promised to everyone who returned with a find, for the sake of which, in fact, the campaign was equipped. People stirred and began to slowly move forward. All of them were the guardsmen of the praetor's cohort, that is, they were the commander's guardsmen. They were brave, experienced veteran warriors, each of them participated in many battles and campaigns. Lorica hamatas (Roman chain mail) hid numerous battle scars on the bodies of warriors that could eloquently tell about the past.

So, three guardsmen survived from the detachment, not counting the guide. Rufus looked around and fixed his eyes on the seasoned veterans who knew no fear on the battlefield. But just not here…

The Legionnaire once again mentioned Cessius Lont with an unkind word: I suppose he is sitting in the shady gallery of his house on the banks of the Tiber and drinking grape wine! I wish him to choke on this wine!!! Rufus licked his lips, parched from excitement and exertion, uncorked the flask and took a sip of water. Who knows how much more to go, because the map of Cessius is not very accurate!

"If it weren’t for two thousand sesterces (it was this amount that was promised to Rufus as the leader of the detachment), I would never have gone to this land forgotten by Jupiter!"He thought, slowly stepping forward along the mountain path, and trying to distract himself from oppressive thoughts: Did Cessius not know exactly what this magical little thing was? And does it really exist? And the map he gave me is just a drawing, a scribble. How can you trust this map?

Rufus recalled how he personally recruited a detachment of six people, causing discontent with the Centurion Flavius, but you won’t go against the order of Cessius! And here they are, seduced by the promised sesterces, now crawling over the mountains to no one knows where!

***

Four months ago, Legion Commander Cessius Lont summoned Rufus to him. The Legion Commander trusted Rufus, they fought together since the time when Cessius was a centurion. But by the will of fate, or maybe the will of the gods, Rufus saved