“When you left Poitiers, how did you get to Orléans, and who went with you?”
“We left from Blois near Poitiers on 27 April. Jeanne de Metz and Poulengy were with me. You may remember they had first accompanied me from Vaucouleurs to Chinon when I was unknown. They were faithful friends and comrades-at-arms. My brothers, Pierre and Jean, also came with me. Funny that. Remember how Father had told them to drown me if I ever went off with soldiers? Nice twist, don’t you think? There they were, soldiers with me.
“There were also some very well-known captains with me. Saint Sévère, de Rais, Louis de Culen, Ambroise de Loré and La Hire. They’re all just names now—except for de Rais. He became quite famous later, or should I say infamous. He was the legendary Bluebeard, although we knew none of
