A RAT CAUSED IT ALL

A morning like many other at the French countryside, near Paris. But, no, something's different today. Why on earth the soldiers are searching the house of Fleur-de-Lys, their captain's fiancé? I'm just someone who helps the captain, you can call me a squire, but on the other hand… well, okay, I'm not a typical squire, cause I'm a girl. I'm just twenty. True, for my times, which is the end of Middle Ages, I'm rather old, but I don't care. At least I have interesting life, and my job keeps the bread on my table anyways. Right now I was standing next to my captain, Phoebus de Châteaupers. The backyard of the house we were in front of, was pretty big, and full of animals. Chickens, dogs, cats, I've even seen a rat running to the basement.

"Captain, why we're here?" I asked.

Phoebus played with his mustache cut in the Burgundy manner, and gave me that look telling that it's not my business.

"If you have to know, mademoiselle de Gondelaurier asked me if we could check her house, because at night she heard a noise in her basement. Personally I think she's just too soft, and any sound might fright her." Châteaupers was often making me surprised. One minute Phoebus was speaking in rather harsh way to me, even though we liked each other, and when we were alone, or when he thought so, he treated me like his friend. It was just to keep in appearances. Well, never the less, he was my boss. I was to serve under his command.

"Well, if my opinion might be any help for you, I saw a rat that ran into the basement only few minutes ago…"

However, we had to end our conversation, because the soldiers just exited the house with a young Gypsy among them. She had her hands tithed on her back, and with a sad face she let the men lead her outside and then through the backyard, and, probably to Paris.

"Make sure she's at least a hundred yards from this house, then you can let her go!" Yelled Phoebus.

"I knew it!" I laughed.

"What?"

"Talk to your sweet fiancé, at first. She's just coming. I won't disturb you." I added and made few steps towards the gate. For a while I was observing my boss talking to a young girl, way younger than me! Well, okay she was pretty. With blond long curly hair, and blue eyes, that looked like two shining turquoises. No, it's not my comparison, Phoebus often uses it. And because I spent most of the time in his company, I already started to speak the way he does. Together with his horrible cursing! What's funny, he treats me like I was a boy. When we're not on our duty, we spend long hours in tavern and having lots of wine and beer. I guess I can call myself captain's friend. For last four years I've been his assistant and mate.

"Okay, Camille, I'm done with this popinjay. So, what you wanted to tell me bout the basement?" Asked the captain as he approached to me at the gate.

"That there's a rat, and it might make this noise that your Fleur heard." I grinned and slapped man's back. "But now, if we're at the topic of women. I mean, your women. What ya wanna do bout Esmeralda, hah?"

"Well…"

"You don't know, do you? Uhm… did Fleur-de-Lys thank you for a little gift from you?" Another big playful grin came across my face.

"No! You didn't buy her this soap!"

"Who else?!? Of course I! A lily soap for Fleur-de-Lys and lavender one for Esmeralda."

"You're insane!" He laughed and returned the slap on my back. "But why lily and lavender, anyway?"

"Well, Fleur-de-Lys means lily, right? And why lavender? Just because that's Esmeralda's favorite flower."

"How you got know that?!?"

I didn't have much time for replay, because of these stupid girls from retinue of Fleur-de-Lys choke Phoebus' attention off. It took a longer while before he turned to me again. Of course he had to flirt with this stupid girl. Not that I'm jealous, I don't care bout the captain as for a man. I'm more of a platonic kind of a person. For me friendship is something much more than love. Cause love might end, but friendship never does. Maybe it's ridicules, but I think I know Phoebus better than his fiancé herself.

"This popularity…" In captain's voice was big doze of satisfaction. "So, going back to our conversation…" Now we went out the farm, and stood at the bank of the nearby river. "You said lavender is Esmeralda's favorite flower… How you know that?"

"You know, escaping from home has its good points. I know I have a warm room, and as much food as I want only thanks to you. But, I was curious how the Court of Miracles looks like, and so I did. Now I'm one of them, so I have news from this second world."

"You're incredible! Hah, you're my best soldier I've ever had under command."

"I'd like to remind you, that I'm also you friend!"

Phoebus laughed and pushed me towards the river, but I cached my balance, so I didn't fall down. Yeah, definitely, Châteaupers was feeling like with his mate in my company. I guess that besides Esmeralda I was the only woman he really liked, true in different way, but still he liked me. Of course, now we also didn't have much time for talking, because another girl wanted to get captain's attention. I just rolled my eyes, and went off, to be back to the backyard of Fleur-de-Lys. And that was my luck, she noticed me and came over with this disguised grimace on her face.

"What were you doing there with my husband-to-be?" She asked harshly.

"Mademoiselle, there's nothing you have to be worried about. We had to discuss the details of our new orders, that's all."

"Why is it? A woman who serves in the army? Disgusting." I hated this stupid girl, she was often this mean to me, but I had to be polite no matter what.

"Permit me, it is my way of earning the money. You should be proud of captain de Châteaupers, only thanks to him I have this job. If he wouldn't find me four years ago on the Place de Grève, I'd probably die of hunger and cold, but he took me in and gave a job. At first just for food and roof over my head, but after short lessons I was ready to work for the Archers of the king."

"So, you are a common outcast?"

"Rather an evader. I was born in wealthy family from Normandy. My name is Camille de Bernasack."

Fleur-de-Lys was slowly turning red on her face. She knew very well that I was from a better family than she was. She hated my friendship with her husband-to-be, and now when she got know that I'm actually under his care, she started to hate me even more.

"And now, if you will agree, let me check your basement once again. I think I know what made this noise at night, and I can assure you it was not a Gypsy girl we found."

And of course, as usual, I was right. After maybe five minutes I went out with a rat in a small linen bag. I went to the river, where the crazy captain was still talking to a brown-haired girl. Well, at least this one had some intelligence…

"Morning, mademoiselle de Christeuil. How are you?" I asked as I stood at the bank of the river.

"I'm alright, thank you. We were just talking about you, Camille. The captain told me about your clever idea about…

"About a rat?" I asked playfully, showing the bag I was still holding, in hope that the animal won't escape me before drowning it. "I was right. I have it here." I grinned.

"As usual, ready to prove your rights. That's what I taught you."

Yeah, again I earned a commendation from the captain in front of a noble lady. I love my job. And to think that a rat caused it all.