15 Therefore the Lord God took man, and set him in (the) paradise of liking, that he should work and keep it.
16 And God commanded to him and said, Eat thou of each tree of paradise;
17 forsooth eat thou not of the tree of knowing of good and of evil; for in whatever day thou shalt eat thereof, thou shalt die by death.
-Genesis Chapter 2, Wycliffe Bible, published c. 1382
"I want him banished immediately! That's the most humane punishment there is, considering what he's done!"
"There has to be another way…we have to consider Sabina and her 'condition' in this decision."
"Banishment is the only option. Unless you would consider something worse. The legal precedent for adultery is there…"
"What are you suggesting, you old harpy? I'm not excusing what he did, but you can't call this adultery when the Princess wasn't married yet!"
"Please mind your language, Sir Edelhart, name calling won't make this process any easier. We're all as upset as you are."
"It should come as no surprise to you that this kind of thing would happen! I should have known that the apple wouldn't fall very far from the tree!"
"Dame Barbara, please. What I told Sir Edelhart goes double for you. I'm starting to lose my patience."
"But this is all his fault, your majesty! He's an insolent, spoiled brat! You've been lenient with him in the past, and look what's happened!"
More bickering echoed through the walls into the small room where Johan was being held. He had been moved from his cell to a small, locked room near the King's private chambers. It looked like an armory or storage room that had been hastily cleared out for its current purpose. Johan could tell his father's accent was thicker than normal, and he stumbled over words. He was very upset, and trying to hide it.
Peewit was with his friend, presumably to offer support while his fate was being decided, but there was little comfort to be had. The jester was also there as a way of making up for breaking his promise and telling the King everything. Johan forgave him, after all, Peewit had done the honorable thing and finally told the truth, and the last thing he wanted was for his dearest friend to get dragged down with him.
But in light of everything, it was still very awkward. Johan spent most of his time sitting on a folding wooden chair with his head in his hands. He looked as if he had been weeping, but of course the ever-stoic knight would never admit to that, not even now. The morning was grey and a storm seemed to be rolling in, chilling the air. The tension in the air was palatable. Even hearing Sir Edelhart call Dame Barbara all the things he wished he could didn't cheer Peewit up.
Judging by the youthful voice, the King also had Gerard in audience. Was Sabina there, too, since as Gerard had said, she would need to be taken into consideration? And why was the door locked, Peewit wondered? As if they would try and escape. A life on the run from justice away from Sabina and their child was just an unofficial form of banishment as far as he was concerned. Following procedure, he guessed. That was what all of this was about: following rules because they were rules, never mind the consequences for the humans involved.
"Well, what would you call it then, if it's not treason? 'Dynastic interference'? Whatever name we put on it, the facts remain. I just wish there was some other way around it."
"Banishment, then?"
"I'm afraid so."
"May I make an observation, as someone who'd been around courts longer than any of you here?" Maenad's voice. They allowed her there?
"What is she talking about? Sire, it was against my protests that you let Edelhart convince you to allow her in these proceedings, I fail to see how she…"
"Hush, Dame Barbara! What is it you have to say Lady Maenad? Keep in mind you are a possible accessory to this situation."
Edelhart asked Maenad to be there? Why? Both boys moved to the wall to hear the muffled conversation. Rain pattered on the tiled roof, and thunder rumbled in the distance.
"As I see things, the facts of all this as your Majesty sees them are this: the heir to your throne needs to be one of royal blood, sired by one of royal blood. The Princess has conceived an heir with one far below her station, is that correct?"
"Yes…that is correct." She made it sound like they were breeding hunting dogs, not the future King or Queen. But those were indeed the facts.
"However, I know from speaking to Sir Edelhart and his kin in the swamps that he was born a prince, he fought bravely to defend his land alongside his father the late King, and is therefore of royal blood, as is his son. Surely you can use that to rectify this situation without further scandal and embarrassment for your house?"
"He may have been royal, but he is no prince! His family was overthrown, and he came here penniless, looking for status like a hungry wolf!"
"So a prince who has been denied his throne by usurpers is no longer a true prince?" This time it was Gerard speaking, a note of pain and anger in his voice. Maenad looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Clearly a nerve had been struck.
"Well, obviously it was different for you, Your Majesty…Sir Edelhart's misfortune happened thirty years ago, the Normans are well-established now…" Barbara, realizing her misstep was trying desperately to save face.
"But if circumstances had been different, I might be here discussing things with one of Gerard's corrupt kinsmen. I see your point, Maenad, but still your argument is reaching, to say the least."
"Details. Do you want to have a scandal on your hands, or do you want to come to a realistic solution? Sir Johan may have overstepped his boundaries as a servant of the King, but he is otherwise an upstanding and loyal member of your court, and he does have royal blood. I've tasted it on Lothar, who was a hereditary prince, and I've tasted it on Johan."
"You…can taste royal blood?"
"I can. My grandmother was a Bactrian Princess. I know the flavor. Blood sings to blood, you know."
"What is she talking about, tasting blood? It sounds like witchcraft if you asked me! Her the granddaughter of a princess? With those manners? Impossible, and surely I'd have heard of this House of Bactria!" Barbara sputtered. Edelhart and Maenad stood behind her, Maenad smiling with satisfaction.
"Gerard, I think we should continue this conversation in private. We've heard enough," the King finally said, with Gerard nodding in agreement. they left the room, leaving Edelhart, Maenad, and Barbara to call each other all the names they wished.