"He was my friend." "He gave us this cathedral." "We planned and argued" "and dreamed." "It seems impossible that he is one." "He..." "Wllliam Hamleigh burned it down and murdered Tom." "He tried to burn me, too, but Alfred put out the flames." "He should hang for thisl" "Who will arrest him?" "There is no king." "There is no queen." "There Is no law in this land!" "There will be soon." "The war's over." "Maud and Gloucester have fled to France and Stephen is king again." "Oh, God!" "Oh, dear God!" "What?" "It was Maud who gave the lloense for the falrl" "It's over." "We're rulnedl There is nothing leftl" "Nothing?" "I need money for a horse and weaponsl" "All my gold went to Philip to pay Maud." "And all my wool went up in flamesl We are poor again, Rlohardl" "I need the money." "I can't buy weapons and pay men." "I can't..." "I can't fight for Stephenl" "What am I supposed to do?" "I can't support myselfl" "I have done everything I could dol I have done enoughl" "I want to replace him." "I'm a master builder." "Father gave me his tools." "I know the site and the plans." "You don't have the experience." "Neither did he when you hired him." "I have his ambition." "And I have his skill." "The men listen to me, and I'm willing to learn." "I need to pray on this, Alfred." "No, you need to think of the future." "I have." "Let me show you." "I want to vault the cathedral In stone." "That's impossible." "Tom said that wood is the only material..." "Wood is cheaper, yes, but it can burn." "That's how you lost the first cathedral." "Will the walls take the weight?" "Yeah, we oan relnforoe them." "I know more about stone than he ever did." "It will cost more and take longer." "But It will last forever." "That's the point, Isn't it?" "That why you're building this church." "God's mark on history." "I can do it cheaper than Da." "You can pay me less." "He wanted to tell me something." "Who?" "Tom Builder." "But he went away." "What do you think Heaven's like?" "High up." "What else?" "Who do you think Is there?" "My ma." "Yes." "Did Tom Builder go to see her?" "Yes." "Yes, he did." "He knew her?" "Tom Bullder had a secret." "He didn't think I suspeoted, but, his dauhter, Martha, confirmed it to me after he went away." "What secret?" "Tom loved your mother very, very much." "And he went to tell her what a wonderful boy you are." "And he went to build her a beautiful home." "And there will be a room In that home for you one day." "Although, you probably won't need it for a very long time." "All right, go to bed now." "Who are you writing to?" "The King." "There's talk of a crusade, and I want to volunteer." "As a knight?" "As a very poor one." "Oh, Alfred." "Come in." "Take a seat." "I've just been told I am to replaoe my father." "Congratulatlons." "He'd be proud." "I'll have a steady income." "Not as much as Da, but more than I made before." "So I've oome to ask for your hand In marriage." "Alfredl I saved your life." "And I appreciate that." "I love you, Aliena." "Yes, but I will never..." "I promise to take good care of you, to help rebuild your business and support your brother's knighthood and continuing quest for the Earldom of Shlring." "You'd have to sell your house to maintain his position." "I've saved enough to let you keep the house and cover his expenses as knight and future earl." "I'll leave you alone to talk." "Whatever your decision..." "I'll abide by it." "You promised Father." "I swear that I will not rest until Rlchard Is the Earl of Shirlng and lord of the land that you once ruled." "Welcome to my poor home, Lord Archblshop." "Still a ruin with a roof, I see." "Klnsbride needs the stone more than I do." "You'll never succeed me without a proper place to live." "Never mind going to Rome." "Sucoeeding you is farthest from my mind." "And Rome, just a dream." "I beg you once again, dear Lord, grant me your sweet favor." ""Lady Regan," ""as you well know, our political bets were entirely well-placed." ""Maud and Gloucester lost their battle" ""and were forced to flee to France," ""where they now lick their wounds." ""Meanwhile, ourdear King Stephen is back in power." ""You see, dear Lady, it was really wise" ""of you to have sided with me again." ""However, I'd like to remind you" ""that our alliance is based on certain conditions," ""which I clearly presented you with at the Lincoln Chapel. "" "I wish to be named Archbishop of Canterbury once Stephen regains his throne." "The current one will have to be removed, of course." ""My dear Lord Bishop," ""the surest way for me to sequester the Archbishop" ""is to bring him to Shiring on the pretext of performing some ceremony." ""Say, a marriage." ""I would need the King's permission for such a wedding," ""but I assume you have yet to give him my father's precious ring," ""else I would have heard from his gracious Majesty." ""You haven't spent it on your palace, have you?" ""His Majesty would be most unhappy to hear that. "" "Oh!" "Why so sad, William?" "Hmm?" "You've hardly left your bed since the battle at Klngsbrldge." "I'm going to Hell, Mother." "My sweet Willlam, I doubt that." "I killed a man." "I'll be haned and I'll burn forever." "But Blshop Waleran forgave you in advance, my dainty." "Besides, it was a war." "You've killed hundreds In war." "It's not a proper warl" "It's very proper." "It's your war." "To win the title of earl." "A lost war, a useless war." "We're penniless." "Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." "There was a young lady you were drawn to at Maud's court." "And now, with Stephen in power, her family are In dlsfavor." "They want a marriage to an ally of Stephen's." "And Bishop Waleran assures me we'll soon be back in the King's good graces." "They have, by the way, a lot of money." "Who is it?" "Is she pretty?" "You thought so." "Is she a virgin?" "She's only 13." "Now tell me, whom do you hate the most?" "Aliena." "She didn't die In the fire like I wanted her to." "And what would you do to her?" "Have my way with her again and again until she does die." "And so you shall." "And whom do you love the most?" "You." "And what would you do to me?" "Flght him, Eustace!" "My fingerl" "Where's your guts?" "Where's your noble blood?" "I don't like fightingl" "He's too much with his mother." "Mmm." "If it were up to women, there would be no wars." "Could you stomaoh that?" "Oh, never, Slre." "I feel so much better when I'm conquering an enemy." "I'm told it was your Idea to substitute the farm boy with Eustace, by the way." "Oh, I suppose I should be grateful." "God Inspired me, Your Majesty." "He speaks to me directly now." "He appeared to me In prison and told me in no unoertaln terms that the sinking of the White Ship was part of his plan." "It was a terrible tragedy, Slre, but it made you king." "God's plans twist at times but always end up in the greater good." "Qulte." "And in order to further that good, you might grant two small requests." "Lady Regan wants permission for her son to marry Elizabeth of Weymouth." "A generous fee will be paid to the Crown, of course." "I'll speak to God about it." "But I expect he'll say yes." "The seoond favor?" "The Arohblshop of Canterbury is failing, Sire." "You'll soon need to name a successor." "Good!" "I didn't know he was III." "Yeah!" "Now the right." "That's it, Henry." "Protect your mama from the evil Stephenl" "You let me win, Unole Robert." "No, Henry, on my word of honor." "Your mother's right." "Soon you too will be fihtin Stephen for our crown." "Today, on this third Sunday in July," "I announce the banns of marriage between Alfred, son of Tom Builder, and Aliena of Shirlng." "They're to be married In two weeks' time." "May God's blessings desoend upon them..." "No!" "She's mine." "You oannot take her." "You will not take her!" "Not here, Jack." "Aliena!" "Aliena!" "Nol Get off me!" "Don't make me chain you, Jackl" "I must keep you here, for your own good, until the marriage is performed." "Now, I hope you can use this time to decide on whether or not you wish to remain a monk." "It Is my path to God, but I see now that It might not be yours." "If you decide to leave, I understand." "But you will be banished from Kingsbridge forever." ""My dear Bishop, knowing of your interest in Jack Jackson," ""I write to inform you that he's being held in prison" ""due to an attachment he seems to have formed with Allena of Shiring." ""She's soon to be married to Alfred, and Jack Jackson, now a monk," ""has expressed displeasure in rather violent terms." ""He will be kept in our basement cell" ""until after the wedding ceremony. "" ""Brother Remigius," ""if what you say is true, God's wishes are clear." ""Jack Jackson's mother is a witch," ""and he's the Devil's offspring." ""His blasphemous stonework attests to that." ""For years, he has been an irritant to God's plan," ""and now God wants him stopped." ""Spice his dinner with the contents of the enclosed package," ""a pinch should suffice," ""and have it delivered to the prisoner by a monk he knows and trusts." ""Ego te absolvo." ""In the name of Jesus Christ. "" "You'll be free this time tomorrow." "You ought to be happy." "She'll be wed this time tomorrow, Johnny." "I will never be happy again." "I'll be seeing these on my wedding night, boys." "Hey?" "Hey, hey!" "Get your hands off, hey?" "You better get us some of thatl" "Oh, hey!" "Hey!" "Hey, boys!" "Hey, boysl" "On my wedding night, wait till she gets ahold of that." "Motherl Quiet." "The monks will hear you." "Who told you I was here?" "Young Martha sent word." "It broke her heart to hear you were Imprisoned." "I thlnk she's a little taken with you." "How did you get in here?" "The water channel runs under here." "It's how I visited your father and got pregnant with you." "My father?" "Yes, It was here." "The prior who accused him of stealing the chalice was the Prior of Kingsbride, Prlor James." "He died just before Philip took charge." "Philip was raised by Prlor James." "So that's why you mistrust him?" "But he had nothin to do with Father's death, did he?" "Your father was brought here after they found him." "It was my fault that he was found." "So I deolded to free him." "I left my convent and traveled here and bribed one of the monks, who revealed to me the secret entrance from the outside world." "I oouldn't free him." "He was chained." "And all I could do was love him." "The next week, he was taken to another cell." "I didn't lay eyes on him until the day he was burned." "I wanted him to see his son." "Why would Prior James accuse him falsely?" "He was acting under orders, I'm sure." "Under whose orders?" "Whoever wanted your father silenoed." "Whatever he knew, It died with him." "Unless it was somehow connected to his ring." "My ring that Alfred stole?" "Yes." "You love Aliena, don't you?" "She doesn't love me, Ma." "She said it was impossible." "Go to her." "Ask her why, then do what your father and I oould not." "Run away together." "Eat something." "You need your strength." "Eat." "I wish this nlht oould last forever." "I want to marry you." "Rlohard will hear." "We'll run away together." "I've lost my money, and you have nothing." "I've got my hands." "I can get work on any church in the world, I'm sure of it." "It's not enough." "I made an oath to my father that I would do everything to help Richard regain his title." "That might be never." "An oath's just words, Aliena." "It's nothing compared to this." "Come away." "I have to marry Alfred." "No." "No, I can't give you up again." "It's my duty, Jack." "No, your duty is to me." "What?" "What is it?" "Nothing." "It's you." "I will go away and you'll never see me again." "Is that what you want?" "Is It what you want?" "Jackl Jack!" "Drlnk this!" "It will et the poison out of you." "It was Alfred, wasn't It?" "He had one of the monks put somethin into your food." "Damn him!" "Wake up, William." "Wake upl" "Today is your special day." "Alfred, son of Tom Builder," "I take you as my husband and swear to be faithful, always." "William and Elizabeth, you are now married in the eyes of God." "Alfred and Aliena are now married In the eyes of God." "And may God's blessing..." "I curse this weddlngl" "I curse this marriage with sorrow." "I curse this marriage with Impotence!" "With hatred, with regret and bitterness." "Oh, God, you're lifeless!" "It's like making love to a corpse!" "What can I do?" "Enjoy it!" "Good morning, Archbishop." "Lady Reganl" "What a delight." "You're an early riser, too, I see." "I wanted to speak with you in private, if I may." "I have a rather troubling confession to make." "Well, I'm sorry." "Isn't Bishop Waleran your confessor?" "Yes." "But my sin is for the ears of the Archblshop of Canterbury himself." "I don't understand." "I have been asked to..." "I have been asked to commit a murder." "Oh, my dear." "By whom?" "Bishop Waleran." "Whlch is why I can't..." "Yes..." "I see." "He mustn't know that I've told you." "No, my dear." "My lips are sealed." "Whom does he wish you to murder?" "You." "So where will you go?" "I don't know." "Franoe, maybe." "Search for Father's family." "Jackl Jack!" "I want to come with youl" "No, Martha." "He must go alone." "Canterbury's a much nloer palace and already built." "What do you want now?" "My son's title." "I've cleared the path for your ascent, and Stephen still hasn't oonfirmed William as Shiring's earl." "You promised he would." "Promises take time." "I've been waiting months for my confirmation as Archblshop." "You've been waiting all your life, and I doubt it ends at Archbishop." "Patience is a virtue..." "I have been patient with you for 24 yearsl" "You'd burn for It, William." "Nonsense." "You forgave him all his crimes, remember?" "Sllt his throat." "I'll talk to the Klng Sunday next when he visits Klngsbridge." "What brings him there?" "May Day." "Phillp dedloates his cathedral." "It's finished?" "No, not nearly." "But It's been vaulted." "Thank you." "Hold it steadyl" "That's It!" "Please, Alfred mustn't know." "He hasn't noticed." "Oh, the light!" "Thank you." "Plenty of place to worship." "It's a miracle they finished It In time." "They rushed It." "They only took down the false work this morning." "Llke I said, It's a miracle." "Brother." "Is It too late to ask forgiveness?" "Kate." "Little sister." "You've prayed for this for a long time." "It's eating me away." "My life." "I want to serve God, like you." "The consecrated part of our cathedral is now, at last, vaulted." "We could not have oome this far without the divlnely-guided support of our good King Stephen, and our blessed Bishop Waleran, whose elevation to Archbishop of Canterbury we celebrate here today." "But equal honor is due to a man who Is not here." "Hls name Is Tom Builder, and his death casts a shadow on this day." "He would have been so very proud and happy." "Thank you, Prlor Phllip." "We have another honor to celebrate today." "I have been speaking with His Royal Highness, and he has given me permission to announce, with great pride and pleasure," "the confirmation of Wllllam Hamleigh as Earl of Shirlng." "Yes!" "Yes!" "It's the roof!" "My Lord, this wayl This way!" "Sweet Jesus!" "Why?" "She came to you for mercy, and this is your answer?" "I gave my life to youl" "Why did you kill my sister?" "Why Kate?" "Where's Allena?" "I don't know." "Aliena!" "Aliena!" "Brother Thomas..." "Help mel Somebody!" "Brother, help usl" "No." "Whore!" "How many died?" "Seventy-nlne." "And what caused It?" "No one knows." "It was Alfred Thomson's fault." "He took down the false work before the mortar had properly dried." "The Prior Philip order him to rush." "Don't blame Philip!" "The walls weren't strong enoughl" "There'll be an examination!" "Silencel Hmm?" "It Is clear, Prlor Phllip." "Bad deolslons were made." "And the ultimate responsibility for those decisions lies with you." "An investigation will be conducted, Eminence, and Its conclusions will be weighed by your successor, when he Is ohosen." "There will be no sucoessor." "King Stephen took today's misfortune as a sign from God." "He is reneging on his promise to name me Archbishop." "I am sorry." "Are you?" "Your pride betrays you, Phllip." "It's pride that orders a roof of stones and denies culpability when It collapses." "I order you to resign as Prior of Klngsbridge, effeotlve Immediately." "With all due humility, my Lord Bishop, that must be put to a vote." "May I be heard, Your Eminenoe?" "The vault may indeed have collapsed because it was improperly built and rushed." "But those are merely material causes." "There is a divine cause, too, as there is in all things." "Oh, get to the point, Remiglus." "The statue of St. Adolphus and the skull it carried were crushed." "Yes?" "Thls is my point, Your Emlnence." "The vault fell on Phillp's deception." "What are you talking about?" "I ask you, Phllip, did the skull belong to St. Adolphus or not?" "Of course It did." "Let the prior speak." "I lied." "The original relic was destroyed in the fire." "I substituted another skull from the crypt." "Without the relic, or something like that, people wouldn't come to worship and the cathedral oould not be built." ""Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit. "" "There haven't been miracles for nearly 50 years." "I dare say the other skull was false, too." "That's blasphemy, Prior Philip!" "How did you know about this, Remigius?" "Were you spying?" "Enough!" "Enoughl" "Philip has deceived us all." "Wasting thousands of pounds building a oathedral which should've been abandoned, and in the process, killing at least 79 people, including your sister, the whore." "She came to be shriven, Your Emlnenoe." "Not in good time." "She will be buried now in unholy ground, which means Phillp has sent her to Hell." "These are reasons enough, I thlnk, for your monks to vote you out of office." "Your cathedral Is done for." "Your ambition crushed." "This is what comes of arrogance, Phllip." "Get out!" "This is my housel" "It's mine now!" "You married mel" "Alfred, please, I have nowhere else to gol" "That is not my affair." "You slept with Jack Jacksonl" "Before we married." "When were you gonna tell me?" "Maklng love to Jack was the greatest sin I've ever committed." "And I ask God and you for forgiveness." "You are a whore and a liar and have made me a cuckold and a fooll" "It was also the only true good thing I have done In my entire life." "Ellen!" "I hear I have a grandson." "What happened?" "Alfred kicked me out." "You'll stay with me then." "Let me see him." "Well, there's no doubt he's Jack's." "He's small, but tough." "Tough like his grandmother." "May I?" "You have to find him, Allena." "My grandson needs his father." "Where did he go?" "Do you know?" "To seek his own father's family." "To France?" "How..." "How could I possibly find him there?" "Do you love him?" "Yes." "Then you'll find him." "Thank you." "Where is the Church of Salnt Denls?" "Follow the main road." "Thank you very much."