The Jester

There was a deeper, knowing look in Emilie’s eyes. She put my hand on her breast and took a breath. I felt her heart beating like a doe’s. Her nipple grew tight and firm at my touch.

“Is my spot to your satisfaction?” I asked.

“That depends.” She gri

She kissed me, her tongue searching mine with an ardor I had not felt from her before. She climbed on my lap and I buried my head in the softness of her breasts. I was aching for her and I could see in her eyes that she felt the same for me.

I moved inside Emilie. Her breaths became heated and purposeful. Her eyes did not leave mine. I loved that. I felt as if every thrill and instance of her passion, each tremor and jolt shooting through me, narrowed into one enormous burst.

At the moment of climax, we cried out. Then we muffled each other and laughed.

Emilie rested with her head on my chest, the distant camp-fires lighting up the night. She sighed, so I knew she was happy, but then a shiver rippled across her shoulders. “What happens,” [314] she said warily, “once Baldwin is defeated? Things ca

“I have been thinking that too,” I said. “I have no wish to govern. Only to right this wrong. I was thinking I would write to the King. I have heard he is a fair man.”

“I have heard he is fair.” Emilie took a breath. “But is he also noble.”

I turned her face to me. “You said you know the King. You said your father was a member of his court.”

“Well, yes… I have met him, but…”

“Then you could intercede,” I said. “You could tell him we are only humble men who want to return to their lives and work in peace. We have no thought to stealing anyone’s title or territory. He will have to see.”

I felt Emilie nod, her chin upon my chest, but distantly, as if she was not convinced.

“Do not be so worried for me.” I held her tightly. “You have made me strong.”

“I do not worry just for you, but for all that will follow. For you, I have a secret charm.”

“And what is this charm that will protect me?” I laughed, stroking her hair.

“I’m coming along.”

“What?” I raised her up. “There is no way, Emilie. I can’t allow it.”

“There is every way,” she said, her eyes unwavering. “I am in this as deeply as you, Hugh De Luc. I told you, we are together, our fates entwined. I am going with you. That is all.”

I moved to argue, but she stopped me with a finger to my lips. Then she put her head back on my chest and held me as if she would never let go.

Chapter 106

DANIEL GUI BOLTED into the pla

“My lord, your jester’s army has been sighted. It lies half a day from the city, at the edge of the forest.”

“You mean the rabble.” Baldwin sniffed. His advisers, the bailiff and chamberlain, seemed delighted with the news.

“You must attack, then,” the bailiff wheezed. “I know these peasants. Their courage will crumble at the first sign of a fight. Their resolve is only as strong as their last ale.”

“It appears their resolve has stiffened,” Daniel observed. “This jester has given them hope. They outnumber us three to one.”

“But we have horses and crossbows,” Baldwin said. “They have only tools and wooden shields.”

“If we go after them in the woods,” Daniel said, “all our horses and crossbows would be reduced to nothing. Your men would be slaughtered just like Stephen’s. The jester has this lance. It emboldens them.”

“The chatelain is right, my lord,” said the chamberlain. “Even if you won, you would turn each carcass into a hero’s grave. You must hear their demands. Consider them, even disingenuously. Promise them the slightest gain if they return to their fields.”

“You are wise, chamberlain.” Baldwin gri

[316] The bailiff and the chamberlain puffed back their agreement.

“Do not forget, my lord,” Daniel cut in, “the jester has this lance. They believe it makes them right.”

“This lance will rest in Treille before the negotiation is done,” said Baldwin. “They will give it up for a bag of wheat. And they will give him up too. I will have the fool’s head upon his precious lance and place it before my bath.”

“I merely meant,” Daniel pressed on, “that you take a risk by inviting this siege.”

Baldwin slowly rose. He walked around the table and put his arm across Daniel’s shoulders. “Come,” Baldwin motioned him toward the fire. “A word with you, by the light.”

A lump grew in Daniel’s throat. Had he gone too far? Had he angered his liege, whom he was pledged to serve?

The duke wrapped his arm around Daniel tighter, drew him close to the flames, then smiled. “Do you for a moment think I have any intention of handing over even a cup of grain to this traitorous puke? I would be the laughingstock of France. I have contacted my cousin. He sends a thousand troops.

“Let the idiots begin their siege. We will eat meat while they boil roots. When the reinforcements arrive, we will open the gates and crush them. You and I, Daniel, we will make sure not a single gray-haired grandfather among this rabble leaves Treille alive.”

Baldwin brought Daniel’s hand so close to the flames that he had to restrain himself from crying out.

“No one threatens my rule, least of all these miserable spawn. So how does that plan sound, chatelain?”

Daniel’s heart pounded furiously. His mouth was dry as dust. He looked into his liege’s eyes and saw nothing but dark holes. “Most wise, my lord.”

Chapter 107

THE FOLLOWING NIGHT, outside the gates of Treille, a Hebrew merchant, carrying his sack of wares across his back, approached the gates as they began to close.

He wore the dark wool robe and the fringed shawl of the Sephardim, a skullcap upon his head, and held a rusted staff. With him was his young wife, dressed in modest clothes, her hair pi

“Move it along, Jews,” growled the guard. The checkpoint was ma

“From the south.” I peeked from under my hood. “Roussillon.”

“And what is in the sack?” He poked at it.

“Wares for the kitchen. Olive oil, pans, a new utensil called a fork. You stab your meat with it. Want to see?”

“What if we stab you with it, you little pests? You say you came from Roussillon? What have you seen? We’ve heard the forests are teeming with rebels.”

“In the east, perhaps, but in the south there are only squirrels. And Italians. Anyway, it’s no concern to us.”

“No, nothing’s a concern to your lot, except a fee. C’mon.” He pushed us roughly. “Get your tick-bitten asses in.”

Emilie and I hurried through the gates. Inside the thick [318] limestone walls heavy beams were braced against the ground to bolster the gates against assault. I glanced around. The towers and ramparts were ma

From under my hood, I flashed Emilie a wink. “Come.”

We climbed the hill leading to the center of town and Baldwin’s castle. Soldiers on horseback shot about, clattering over the rough stone. Carts dragged rocks and shields down to the outer walls. The defenses were being readied. The air was sharp with the sulfurous smell from vats of burning pitch.

“Here… this way,” I said. It was the market street. Stalls of bakers and butchers were still open for business, and swarming with flies. Others, which sold tin and tools and cloth, were closed for the night.