Hey everyone! Chapter 14 is here, finally! Hope that you'll have some fun!
(I am not a native English speaker so please excuse my mistakes.)
„To Lady Ravenna de Neapolim from her admirer." syllabized Nadine the label of the package resting by the entrance door of the baroness's chambers.
She heard someone knocking a minute ago, hurried to the door, but as she opened it no one was in sight, only a box wrapped around with a red ribbon.
The maid picked it up and placed it on the table of the living room, then started off to notify her mistress.
The baroness lay motionless between her pillows, the half of her left leg hanging over the edge of the bed.
Nadine carefully pulled the door back.
„I am awake, Nadine…" the lady spoke up with a sleepy voice. „I just do not possess enough spiritual strength to get out of bed."
She was quite exhausted because of the happening of the previous day, but yawned a huge and set up in her bed.
„Who was here? I heard the entrance door closing."
„I did not see anyone, but a present appeared in front of the door."
„A present?" she excitedly threw the blanket to the end of the bed. „From whom?"
„From an unnamed person, who admires you."
Ravenna's eyes widened. „Where did you put that gift?"
„It is on the table of the living room."
„Holy God, we must get rid of it immediately." she jumped to her feet.
„Is there any problem, my mistress?" Nadine asked confused.
The baroness hastened out of her bedroom followed by her maid.
„Put it out to the balcony! Fast!"
„As you wish, my lady." Nadine nodded, sending puzzled looks one time towards the box then towards her mistress.
She started off towards the table with quick but calm steps.
„Is my worry baseless?" thought Ravenna. „Maybe it is a real present from someone who sympathizes with me but is too shy or does not want the whole court to know about it. Good souls exist everywhere, even here."
„My lady!" Nadine stopped suddenly and took one step back.
„What has happened?" the baroness ran to her.
„My lady…" the maid mumbled this time with fear and pulled Ravenna back by grabbing her arm.
„What is going o…" the lady's words failed when she beheld the top of the box moving.
It rose up slightly and slowly. The two woman watched it speechless, rooted in place. The ribbon loosened and the moving ceased. A brief moment of stillness followed which was interrupted by an odd, hissing voice and a long, narrow tongue that reached out from the rift between the top and the wall of the package.
„Holy God, there is a snake inside!" the baroness shouted.
„Flee, my lady!" Nadine cried.
Ravenna hastily picked the rug up from the floor. „Grab his Nadine!" she handed one part of it to the maid who blankly obeyed.
Tha lady ran to the other side of the table, holding the rug above the box. „Lift it down, now, strong!" Ravenna called.
The carpet pressed down the top of the package.
„Guards!" the baroness shouted as loud as she could.
Meanwhile in the waiting room of the royal chambers
„I must talk with His Highness as a moment's notice!" Constance Sautreau declared to the guard standing in front of her.
„I am sorry to disappoint you, madame, but His Majesty is busy at the moment. You may wait some time." the man sighed wearily and took a step backward.
„What I have to tell him cannot wait! Just tell him that it is Madame Sautreau who wishes to see him."
„The king, His Highness is not in his chambers. You may wait." murmured the guard not even looking at Constance.
„Dilletant beau…" she grumbled huffily and left the room with nimble steps. The most logical thing to would have been looking up Ravenna and tell her first, but the physician didn't know where her suite was.
„Good Heavens! How did it end up here?!" a distinct glimpse of a deep voice ran along the corridors.
„Madame Sautreau…" the baroness took a few steps towards Constance, hurrying to her, even forgetting to bow.
„What has happened here, my lady?" the medicine woman assessed the restless guards running in and out of Ravenna's apartment and the lady herself still wearing her nightgown with her hazelnut locks braided for the night.
„Well…someone wished to surprise me with a pet." the lady stated with sarcasm.
Constance gave her a puzzled look.
„Are you in adept in snakes, Madame Sautreau?"
„Snakes?!"
„Yes." she nodded.
„A bit…"
„Then would you follow me?" Ravenna strolled inside her chambers, still a bit distracted.
„Dear Heavens!" Constance recoiled when she beheld the beheaded reptile laying on the ground. „This is a saw-scaled viper." she continued after composing herself in a brief moment. „One of the most venomous and dangerous snakes of the Middle East. It is quite aggressive, attacks suddenly and bites its prey several times to inject as much poison as it is possible."
The baroness's grew bigger.
„Nobody was bitten?" inquired the doctor.
„As far as I know, fortunately, no."
Constance vacillated for a second whether she shall ask about how the aim of the person who sent the snake, but decided it's her business, so continued with what she had to say.
„I have good news, too, my lady. Your maid gained back her knowledge of French."
„Really?" a huge smile jumped to Ravenna's lips. „How did it happen?."
„She suddenly started understanding and speaking the language. Maybe, because I spoke a lot to her in French. It indicates that there is genuine chance that in the course of time her memory will return."
„ Wonderous! Can I speak with her?"
„Of course, but please, do not tell her anything disturbing. It took me half an hour to make her believe her sickness due to Oleander was only a rare side effect of the sedative I gave her before the surgery."
„Alright." the baroness nodded. „Does His Highness know about this?"
„No, I tried talking to him, but he was busy."
„Yes, he must be at the council."
„May I extract the venom of the viper?" Constance inquired. „I can prepare first-class blood thinners from it.
„Feel free."
It didn't take Ravenna more than 20 minutes to get dressed. She hastily paced along the corridors followed by Nadine.
„Déjà vu." thought the baroness as she felt reproving glances on her back. „It seems that I will never be able to walk through this damned palace without causing this scene." She looked along the crowd around her. „Which ruthless pair of eyes is disappointed to see me alive despite investing a fortune in purchasing a viper and organizing its delivery?"
„Lady de Neapolim?" Alisha set up in her bed.
„Good morning, Alisha! How do you feel?" the lady walked inside smiling.
„My leg hurts a bit, but besides that good."
„I am glad to hear that! Would you like to have something to drink or eat?"
„No, thank you, I have just had breakfast."
Ravenna nodded and walked to the window which was strictly closed since the ominous yesterday evening. She opened it to let some morning air inside. She unwillingly looked down at the wall. The third floor didn't seem to be so high as she thought and the decoration of the windowsill looked perfect for fix a rope ladder.
„Why are you so kind to me, my lady?" Alisha's words put the baroness off.
„Why would I not? I like you, you were a good friend of mine before your accident and it did not alter after it either." she walked back to her ex-maid's bed.
„So we were friends." the other woman nodded and looked down as is she had accepted that fact, but glanced back to Ravenna a second after shaking her head baffled. „If we were friends, then I suppose I lied to you or deceived you."
„Why do you think that?" the lady felt her heart beating faster but tried to hold her nerves.
„I do not know… I am not sure, but I fell as if something would make me feel ashamed each time I see you."
„You feel guilty about something you committed against me in the past?"
„Yes, I suppose…maybe."
„Shall I try to make her remember her guilt?" the baroness hesitated. „That would make her upset, no doubt, and Madame Sautrau told me not to thrill her. But on the other hand, chances are that she could gain some of her memory back if we would continue this conversation."
„Do you know about anything I committed?"Alisha interrupted her train of thoughts.
„Well…" Ravenna glanced into her eyes. „I am not sure, but maybe you did not tell me the truth about who you are."
The Arabic woman stared before herself, then shook her head.
„I do not remember, sorry. It is possible that you are right. If you are, please forgive me." Alisha glanced back at Ravenna, her eyes almost gleaming with tears.
„Of course, you are forgiven." the baroness sat on the side of her bed and tenderly hugged the other woman to comfort her. „You have nothing to worry about." Ravenna continued after she let go. „Just rest and recover, alright?"
„Yes." nodded Alisha with a slight smile.
„I will let you rest now. Call me, if you think you have something to tell me." the lady stood up and paced to the door almost colliding with Constance, hastening inside.
„Oh, I am sorry, Lady de Neapolim." she took one step back and curtseyed. „Have you finished your conversation with Alisha?"
„Yes, I have, I was just about to leave."
„I am coming from His Majesty. I told him about what happened with the patient."
Ravenna nodded.
„He wishes to see you at your earliest convenience, my lady."
„Alright, thank you." the baroness nodded once more smiling and took one more step outwards. „Madame Sautreau, would you be so kind to close the window, it is getting hot outside." she turned back.
„As a matter of course." replied Constance, attendingly closing the latch.
Meanwhile at the king's chambers
„ If someone had told me 36 hours ago that one and a half days later I will be sitting here and sipping wine with the facts in my head that are actually true by now, I would have sent that person to the loony bin." Baldwin thought while placing his empty pot on his writing desk. This was a quite bitter-sweet statement.
He sighed. The batches of documents waiting for him cast a shadow on his face. „I have sent for her about 10 minutes ago. She could be here any moment, but I must set about filling the parchments if I wish to finish before midnight." He neatly put the cup on the right corner of the desk to make sure it won't disturb him while writing. „Alright, I will count to three, if she does not arrive, I start working. One, two…" he hesitated for a moment staring at the door. „You loafer rascal, it is three." He reached out for a document on the top when knocking sounded from the door. „Typical." he nodded with some relief.
„My king, Lady de Neapolim wishes to see you."
„Let her in."
Ravenna excitedly hurried in, almost running.
„Most blessed morning, my lady!" the king stood up and spread his arm smiling.
„Same to you, my lord! I have so many things to tell you!" she declared, pressing the „so".
„Great, I also have a lot to tell you."
Ravenna started actually running with so huge elan, that she almost made Baldwin fall backward to his chair while hugging him.
„Sorry, I have missed you terribly!" she rubbed her forehead against his chest.
„During the previous 11 hours that you spent mostly sleeping?" Baldwin chuckled.
„Yes." the baroness took a step back to be able to see his face. „Have you not missed me?"
„To tell the truth, I did, so awfully that I delayed my work to make sure I can see you before noon."
„Oh, that is quite flattering." she giggled with sarcasm. „So now you will have to work until dawn?"
„I am afraid, but it is worth it." he drew her a bit closer.
„Then I guess, l shall help you again." Ravenna gave him a half smile.
„Those decrees have never been sealed so professional since." the king returned her smile.
„Then, I will beat you at chess."
Baldwin chuckled. „Your plan seemed to be feasible until now."
„I will not rest until I defeat you." she declared with sarcasm hidden behind her seriousness.
„Then I had better let you win once." came the answer in the same style.
„No, no, I almost made it the last time as well!" she protested.
„I suppose you had better get to the 'so many things' you wished me to know. We will have time to argue later as well." chuckled the king.
„Well, today morning I was still in bed when my maid announced that she found a present before the entrance door from one of my unnamed admirers."
„She left it out and called the guards, did she not?" Baldwin's smile ceased.
„She placed in the living room."
„Damn…"the muscles of his face tightened with anger. "They told me she was the most qualified maid in the city…But you are alright, are you not?" he ran his eyes along Ravenna with concern.
„Yes, fortunately."
„What was inside?"
„A viper. One of the most venomous and dangerous ones, as Madame Sautreau said."
„Holy God…" Baldwin whispered felling his eyes. „Well, welcome to court, my lady!" he continued with bitter sarcasm. „Your significance is directly proportional to the number of people that wish you to bite the dust. Tell your maid that she shall never receive things of unknown origin."
„I will." she nodded. „Then I visited my ex-maid, Alisha."
„Yes, Madame Sautreau told me that she gained back her French knowledge."
„Indeed. I had a few words with her when she said she feels guilty when I am around. I tried to indicate the cause of that feeling, but she remembered nothing else. Then I let the topic go because the madame told me not to make her antsy."
„This sounds promising. Considering that only one and a half days have passed after her accident, she regains her memory relatively fast."
„With God's will, we will get every informtion she possessed in a few days or weeks. So we will know some fasts even if we will not manage to get anything out of del Guerrero."
„We will definitely not." Baldwin shook his head.
„What do you mean by that?"
„Del Guerrero committed suicide in the prison yesterday evening."
Ravenna stared at him speechless for a moment, her mouth opened with bewilderment. „How?" she uttered finally.
„He ate Oleander."
„And he did not get noticed?!"
„The warden told me that del Guerrero did not make any sound, and only realized his death when he checked the prisoners."
„Is this possible? I mean to die from Oleander silently?"
„Madame Sautreau said that it is unlikely but feasible."
„This is a huge pity. I suppose, del Guerrero was a lord of great authority."
„What makes you think that?"
„When he got captured he shouted that he advised to execute me. That supposedly means that he had a personal contact with his potentate. They were probably on familiar terms because del Guerrero's opinion must have been asked, if not accepted."
„I see."
„But…" Ravenna looked down doubtfully. „… if he was such an important person why did the mysterious Lord send him out on a mission of this kind?! Where he has a great chance to get unveiled and captured."
„Maybe this was his wish. He wanted to get rid off del Guerrero."
„But this is such a risky way to carry this out… What if he does not manage to kill himself and tell us everything?"
„That is a good question, dear lady. Chances are, del Guerrero had a finished story in his head that he is the spy of the Sultan and would have tried to hasten the war."
„But if it was his plan B, why did he commit suicide?" the baroness looked back to him, her eyes full off confusion.
„This 'Lord' is one step ahead of us." the king sighed. „This is what annoys me the most."
„What about the council?"
„It is absolutely divided. One half –with Conrad de Montferrat's leadership- approves the idea of associating with the rebellious Arabs, but the other –directed by Roger de Moulins- opposes it."
„Do you think this lineup has anything to do with the fact that de Montferrat and de Moulins cannot stand each other?"
„Certainly, but there are enough pros and cons on each side."
„What was de Moulins's biggest argument?"
„The obvious statement that we must not trust the Seljuks."
Ravenna nodded, Baldwin continued.
„And he is right. If we allied with them, it would be a relationship of convenience, a quite unstable one."
„And de Montferrat?"
„He said, we have no chance to survive if we cannot benefit from this revolt."
„So, it is dangerous to cooperate with the 'Lord', but if we do not make use of this option, we will be destroyed. That means, we must try the former to get a chance to avoid the latter." she said confidently.
„But we shall remember that this movement would scandalize the whole Christian world. If we allied with the infidels, it would prove that we are fighting for land and position."
„But we would use them only as a tool …" Ravenna asserted, upset.
„Maybe we would, but I doubt that the European monarchs and His Holiness would accept this. They would immediately withdraw their support." Baldwin added calmly.
„This is terrible!" she slapped the table with one hand. „Tens of thousands of people will die or be plundered because of baseless principles.
„And I have to be the person who puts his name on it." he sighed.
„What in blue blazes shall we do?!" Ravenna cried out.
„First, you shall calm down." he soothed her.
„We still do not have any news from Miahamba?" she looked up.
„I would have told you earlier if we had."
Knocking sounded from the door.
„My king, your majestic sister wishes to see you."
Ravenna grabbed the mask resting on Baldwin's writing desk and put it to its place by reflex.
„She may come in."
Sybilla strutted inside her smile growing even wider when she beheld the baroness.
„I wish you the most delighted morning, dear bother and to Lady Ravenna, too!"
„Thank you, my Princess, I wish you the same!" Ravenna curtseyed.
„How nice to see you, dearest sister. What brings you here?"
„Beyond the pleasure of seeing you, I wished to announce that I organize a feast tomorrow night." she smiled cheerfully. „I am so glad that Lady Ravenna is also here, so I will not have to look her up separately."
„Thank you for the invitation." the baroness nodded, forcing a smile on her lips, but her mind was still occupied by the gloomy thoughts of the previous topic.
„I hope you will be able to take part, too, brother." Sybilla went on. „I am always happy to see you, and I am even more joyous when I see you together with Lady Ravenna."
A moment of silence fell on the room.
„Thank you, dear sister, we both hope to be able to participate." Baldwin broke the awkward silence.
„Now I have to go, I still have a lot to do. I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow evening!" Sybilla smiled once more and left the room after saying and receiving goodbye from the two other aristocrats.
The door closed. Ravenna and Baldwin looked at each other at the same time.
„Did you tell Sybilla anything?" he inquired incredulously.
„I have not." she shook her head. „But she has always behaved in a manner like this. I mean, she has always behaved as if she had approved our relationship…"
„For example?"
„For example, she sent me that chronicle volume." said Ravenna but regretted her words as they left her mouth. „Shall I tell him about this? Sybilla asked me to keep it in secret, but this incident can be important…"
„Chronicle volume?" Baldwin tipped his head to the side.
„I suppose I should not be telling you this, but when I traveled back to Nablus after bringing Madame Sautreau here, I was sent a package by your sister, which contained a book written by Lord William de Tyre. One which included some pictures of you."
„Sybilla stole a chronicle from my library and sent it to you to make sure you can see those pictures of me, in order to make you easier bearing our separation?" he asked incredulously.
„I suppose, yes."
„Holy God!" the king couldn't help but laugh out.
„What is the purpose behind her acts?"
„Well…" Baldwin composed himself. „I fear it is much less sublime and kindhearted than the one you have on your mind."
Ravenna glanced on him questioningly.
„What do you know about the love issues of my sister?"
„She is in love with Lord Baldwin de Ibelin who is in captivity currently."
„Yes. Now imagine that de Ibelin is released. What will Sybilla's intention be?"
„To marry him?"
„Indeed. Now compare that couple with us, what is the thing the two relationships have in common?"
Ravenna hesitated, not because she didn't know the answer, she just didn't want to pronounce it. For her saying it equaled admitting it. She took a deep breath and said what she should. „None of us can marry our beloved one."
Baldwin didn't say a word but nodded. „Sybilla wants to bring me in a situation like her. She thinks that if I experience what it is like to love someone without the slightest chance to marry her, I will break and merry you besides letting her merry de Ibelin because if I have done something, I must let her do it as well."
The baroness stared at the ground. Not sure what she should say or react, staying silent seemed to be a plausible option for her. She felt gloved fingers tenderly caressing her face and softly indicating it to look up by her chin.
„I know this was cruel, but people in positions like us must face the truth. Always." he pulled her into a hug. „But, this will not alter the fact that I love you and will do so until I live.
On the following afternoon
A woman trudged along the bustling streets of Jerusalem. She wore a dusty brown cloak hiding her head inside its hood. Judging by her limping, dirtiness and loud gasping she seemed to be an average beggar woman. The only thing that could have unsettled an open-eyed passer-by was the torn hem of her expensive silk dress peeping from beneath the cloak from time to time.
„Great, I am almost there…" she murmured while stopping for a moment to get some air in her lungs.
It was a hot October day, but she didn't dare to put off her cloak, this was the only way for her to stay unnoticed.
She precisely knew where she was going, though it had been 20 years since she crossed those streets so dear to her heart the previous time.
„Stop!" a middle-aged guard walked to her. „Who are you and with what intention do you wish to enter the royal palace?"
„I am Lady Joséphine de Bellême." she wheezed. „I escaped from the captivity of Lord Bashar al-Walid."
The guard stared speechless at her for a moment not sure what he should do. Lady de Bellême unloosed her cloak and threw it on the ground.
The soldier's mouth fell open. A crimson silk dress lurked under the gown. Her neck was surrounded by elegant gold chains and her ragged hair hid hairpins decorated by amber.
„I wish to see my father, Lord Eustache de Bellême."
„Lord de Bellême was my commander last year." the man spoke up but stayed quiet after uttering that sentence.
„Is he well? Is he healthy?" Joséphine inquired with a hopeful smile.
„You must be exhausted, my lady, would you came in?" continued the guard ignoring her words.
„Is he ill?" she stared at him concerned.
„I will announce your arrival, esteemed lady."
„Why are you not answering me?!" Joséphine stopped, gasping for air.
„You will have time to deal with these things after you rested enough."
„I do not want to rest! I want to see my father! I must see him now!"
„Unfortunately, you cannot, my lady. You need to rest."
„Do not say that he died…" Lady de Bellême grabbed the guard's arm to hold him back. „Do not tell me…" she stuttered.
The soldier stayed silent and couldn't help but gave her a sympathetic look.
Josephine opened her mouth and moved her lips to say something but collapsed the next moment so much all of a sudden that the guard standing next to her didn't manage to catch her. Her slim body hit the ground with a muffled thud.
„Good Heavens!" a female sound sounded behind their backs.
Constance sprinted to the woman laying on the ground unconscious. She checked her pulse and the injury on her face she suffered by fainting.
„Why did you not catch her when she was about to pass out?!" the physician looked up to the soldier standing baffled beside her.
„I… She did not seem to lose her consciousness…" he offered apology raising one arm in a defensive posture.
„Lame excuse, sir…" Constance rumbled. „Who is she?"
„She said, she is the daughter of the late Lord Eustache de Bellême."
„Does she have a suite?"
„No, I have not announced her arrival yet. And I do not know why I am telling you everything." he added the second sentence quietly.
„Then would you please lift her and follow me?" the medicine woman started off with nimble steps.
„May I ask who she is?" Alisha inquired when Constance and the guard carrying Joséphine entered the apartment.
„She is poor, exhausted girl, Alisha. She will rest in my bed until she gets a private chamber." the doctor replied and hurried to the lady to examine her.
„This wound will mend in a few weeks." she whispered while cleaning it up. „She will recover physically in a few days, she just has to rest."
The soldier stood at the doorstep and keenly watched Constance's movements.
„Are you still here?!" the physician turned to him a bit fiercely. „I thought you should announce her. She cannot stay here for the night."
„Ohh, yes, I do apologize"! he came around. „I will be back in a minute." he hastened out, clutching at his head ashamed when he was sure Constance could not see him, then chuckled. „What a fierce woman…"
Meanwhile 50 miles northwest from Jerusalem
„Is there any news?"
„The girl has arrived in Jerusalem yesterday evening." replied the envoy kneeling on the stilted Persian rug of his mistress. „I dare to hope that we will be able to provide information by tomorrow."
She nodded. „Well, Delvaux, you surely can understand that I cannot afford to miss information of this great importance for a long time."
„To the fullest extent, my mistress." he bowed with his upper body.
A slight, lofty smile appeared on her lips.
„Now Delvaux, you get up and leave my chambers. A harnessed horse is waiting for you in the courtyard. You gallop back to Jerusalem and by tomorrow's evening you will be kneeling here and telling me the answers to my questions. If not, soon you will be the forage of fishes swimming in the Levantine Sea."
The envoy nodded and jumped on his feet.
„Hope to see you tomorrow evening, dear Delvaux." the mistress gave him a slight, ironic smile.
The man bowed deeply and left.
She contentedly sat back in her armchair as if she had been sitting on a throne.
„Your Majesty, a letter arrived from Jerusalem." an envoy stepped inside as Lord Delvaux left.
„Let me see it." she reached her arm.
The message was brief and written with obscure handwriting, probably due to hustle.
Your esteemed Majesty,
I am ineffably sorry for not conveying any information for days. My position is getting more difficult. As I became aware of her arrival I hurried to her but did not manage to have a longer conversation. She mentioned the letter that I forwarded to you –as we agreed- about two weeks ago. She thinks that it has been stolen and I suppose, was very upset, I did not manage to appease her suspicion. I will look her up tomorrow as well and will try to do my best.
„Blunt-witted wench…" sighed the lady then continued reading.
What I wrote so far is not the actual purpose of my letter, Your Highness. I have just heard a rumor that must be conveyed to you without any delay!
It is said that some servants heard and witnessed that a medicine woman -considered to be a witch- arrived in Jerusale, who is able to cure your majestic son's illness. Rumor has it, she started healing him and succeeded, now he gained back his sense of touch and is no longer infectious.
I do not dare to guess to what extent is this gossip genuine, but I felt it was my responsibility to narrate it.
Your faithful servant,
J. d' L.
Agnes de Courtenay let out a short whistle. „Hmm, then I shall start the negotiations with the Capetians."
Huhh, guys, I'm sorry for neglecting the story for one and a half months, but I literally didn't have a moment of free time… Actually, it's quite pathetic that I apologize at the and of each chapter for working slow, but at least I try to be conscientious. :D
Now, exams are over, thank's Goodness, so I will have more time, maybe for boosting my English as well.
Last but not least, I would like to thank everybody who gave me any kind of feedback! I'm always the most eager to hear your remarks!
Hope to see you soon! :)