HOW TO CAUSE THE CAPTAIN TO MAKE THE ONLY ONE, GOOD CHOICE?
We stayed at the farm for the rest of the day. It was early afternoon when I already got bored of the company of these stupid girls. Oh, what I'd give for a big mug of beer in the tavern. I also dreamed of something to eat. Only Phoebus was lucky to get a dinner. Well, he was at his fiancé's so it was obvious. But, even though I was the only soldier that got an order to stay, I didn't get even a glass of wine! I lost my patience, and asked Châteaupers for permission to leave for two hours.
"I'm starving, can't you let me go for a while. It's not far to Ville from here. I should be back within two hours." I asked through clinched teeth.
"Alright, alright. Go, you lazy…"
"A, a, watch it. You're among ladies." I grinned and left the house. Before I turned back, so I was facing the door, I saw Phoebus' grimace. I thought I will laugh there outright. He looked so funny, that if it would be at La Fête de Fues, he'd be their pope for sure! Next time when we'll get drunk in tavern I'll tell him bout it. Right now, however, as soon as I was on the road, I made my way to La Cour des miracles. I hoped Esmeralda will already be there, so she might save my stomach. Well, if her crazy husband didn't eat everything. I even liked Pierre Gringoire, we had much in common, especially the philosophy for the life. He also preferred the friendship over love. Pretty interesting guy, a poet and troubadour, well, at least he says so. "I'm Gringoire the poet. I'm the prince of streets of Paris" He says… Funny, I always thought that Clopin Trouillefou was the king of all the outcasts, and only he could give the titles to his people, but oh well, I didn't care that much. As long as I could enter his territory without any harm done on my body. At least I could always count on something to eat. Of course, most of my money for last few weeks were spent for gifts for Fleur-de-Lys and Esmeralda. I was paying for something that was said to be from Phoebus. But, come on, I had a dept of gratefulness to pay!
"Camille!" I heard the voice of Gringoire behind me. "Glad to see you. Where have you been for last two days? Esmeralda and I started to be worried."
"Oh, there's nothing to be worried about, monsieur Gringoire. I was in barracks with the rest of soldiers. Captain de Châteaupers sent me for the night guard, and then in the morning I had to go with him and his men to the house of his fiancé. I hate this stupid girl. But, never mind. How you've been doing recently?"
"Good, thank you. I started my new poem."
"Great. So, I can't wait till it be finished, so I can read it." I know, I'm a hypocrite. The truth is, Pierre's poems were so boring that even a mass was more interesting. But, he was the one who gave me a place to stay at the Court of Miracles, so I didn't want to disappoint him.
"Captain de Châteaupers… I hear a lot about him for last few days… Of course, if we're talking about captain Phoebus de Châteaupers."
"No one else, monsieur Gringoire. The same old lady's man and drunker. Yes."
"I thought you were his friend…"
"F-R-I-E-N-D. True, but it's not what you think. Well, because I don't have any better comparison, lets take you and Esmeralda. You're married, but she loves Phoebus, and you're alright with that, cause you prefer the platonic relationships. In my case, captain de Châteaupers is my boss, I have to follow his orders, but when we're not on duty we spend long hours in tavern drinking lots of wine. Sometimes with Jehan Frollo, but he doesn't have money that often, so I'm a better company. Often Phoebus gets on my nerves, but oh well, at least I have money thanks to him."
"Materialist! But, I like you anyway."
"Merci, monsieur Gringoire."
Soon we were at our destination. Esmeralda's chamber wasn't big but as for her and the goat, Djali, it was enough.
"Hey, Esmeralda. How are ya?" I asked entering the room behind Gringoire. "My boss asks if you got his gift." Don't tell me this again, I know, I'm a terrible liar.
"Oh yes." This strange sight she was always making when thinking of Phoebus was strange the least. "Please, if you happen to see him, tell him that I'm very grateful for his kindness."
"I will, don't worry. He'll know it even today. I have to be at my duty in an hour, so…"
"Oh how lucky you are. You can spend so much time by his side…"
"Pshaw! Not so much of a luck as you think. At least for me. He's my boss. But, if we're still at his topic, he'd like to meet you again. And luckily I have a small house behind the walls of Paris… I think I can let you two meet there… tonight…" I looked at Gringoire. "Sorry, I know it's not a pleasure for you to listen to this, but oh come one, we both know very well that you love Djali more."
"Hey! You're smarter than I expected." Was it another compliant from a man? Hey, cool, I'm getting popular. The more friends the better. Yes, I am very self concentrated, but who wouldn't be after four years of being the closest worker and friend of someone who loves himself as much as Phoebus de Châteaupers does.
"Anyway. Esmeralda, if you want to see your sun, or however you use to call this freak, come with me now, so I'll show you where this house is. And you'll wait there until Phoebus come, okay?" Now I turned to the poet again. "Whoa! Leave me at least one peace of this bread! I haven't eaten since yesterday's morning!"
"Maybe you'd like some beer too?" He asked with some dose of sarcasm.
"Worth-while."
"Sorry, there's only some old wine and couple wrinkled apples left."
"No beacon, no bread? Just apples and wine? No, you still have this crazy manner of eating everything that is in front of you on the table?!?"
"Yes, he eats really a lot." Commented Esmeralda.
"Wonderful. So, will it be any problem if I'd have one apple and this 'old' wine?" I asked with faith in my voice.
"You can take 'em all. Oh, and in the cupboard you should find some bread. It might be bit dry already, because it was for Djali, but I think one or two peaces won't make her any difference."
"Thanks! Phoebus is right you're an angel. Forgive me for not calling you ange noir de ma vie, but well, firstly I'm not Châteaupers to say such crazy things, and secondly I prefer men."
It passed maybe a quarter and Esmeralda was walking hand in hand with me, as we were going to a small house I owned. I didn't like to live there, because it was rather far form the city, and the night guard never came there, so I just didn't feel safe, plus what was more important it'd take me half an hour to get to the barracks for my job. But when I had few days free, for last year it wasn't too often, cause Phoebus was sending me for the guard. Well, I was old enough to even have my own group to keep the night guard on streets of Paris. I was pretty good soldier, and the captain trusted me, so I had a high position in the army. Even though I had no rank. Well, often the respect is more important than even the highest rank. But, coming back to the story line. I let Esmeralda into the house I already mentioned. It wasn't a typical hut near the city. It was sorta alchemist's workshop. Lots of different herbs, books and other stuff. For last couple months I was working on traveling in time, but we all know it is impossible. Of course, our wise Dom Cloude Frollo often says that in a way we're traveling in time everyday, when we see the old walls of Notre Dame, or when we try to read old notes of Flamel, and the others. Not mentioning the poems of Homer, who describes for us the times of Ancient Greek. But physically we cannot go back in time, to change some of our decisions, nor to the future, to skip few years for example.
"Okay, so you stay here, and I'll let the captain know that you're waiting for him. He'll come don't worry. That's my job to make him come." With that said I went to the door, but I turned to the Gypsy girl. "Oh, but better don't try any of these herbs. I'm still not sure of most of them. But, in this chest you're sitting on you should find some wine. 1470 Burgundy, I guess. Maybe not the best year as for the wine, but oh well, if there's nothing else even this is good."
"When Phoebus will come?"
"Not sure, but lets say I'll bring him at sun set, alright?"
"Uhm…" She made this, so characteristically for her, grimace on her pretty face. Often I had impression that she's only a child. In fact she was only four years younger than me. A Gypsy dancer, but with her beauty she already casted the spell on four men. Well, okay, three. The problem was, I was serving under one of them.
I will not describe the following events, because they're too obvious. They can be told in one or two lines. Of course, I went back to where Châteaupers was, and using the moment when I could talk to him in privacy, or at least in company of only animals less intelligent than a goat.
"Alright, hope these roosters aren't so clever as Djali… Phoebus, I presume you don't have the night guard tonight? Or if you do, you'll send me instead of yourself?"
"What you have on your mind this time?" He asked like he was riding my mind.
"Well, I just have enough of this tricks I have to invent to make you make the decision, so… knowing you better than I know myself, you have a rendez-vous with your Gypsy lover tonight." I grinned. "She's waiting in a place where no one will find you. I'll take you there as soon, as you'll be free from Fleur-de-Lys."
"You said me with Esmeralda for tonight?!?" He yelled.
"Shut up, you stupid! They'll hear ya. Of course, I did. You think that I will bear you being torn apart between Esmeralda and this stupid bitch? Please, for Goodness sake, don't be rational this one time in your life, and just follow your feelings. I know very well that somewhere deep in your heart you love this Gypsy! You think I don't know who you're calling at night when you're drunk? Of course I know, cause I'm just behind the wall in my room, just in case you'd get sick. Well, often you do, so someone has to be there, so you won't get chocked with your own vomit! Yes, I am vulgar now, but you're no better. So, say farewell to Fleur, and we're off."