The Heart of the Lion

by Виктория Холт

  ‘I think we have settled everything,’ answered Richard.

  Even he, however, was not entirely sure of Isaac. He told him he would have him lodged within the English lines and make sure that he was treated according to his rank.

  Isaac thanked him for his consideration.

  ‘It makes me happy,’ he said fervently, ‘that you and I are no longer enemies.’

  * * *

  Richard lay beside Berengaria in the silken tent which was part of the spoils he had taken from Isaac. He looked at her innocent face and felt suddenly tender towards her. He could be fond of her for she was gentle and undemanding. He supposed that, since he must have a wife, he could not have a better one.

  He thought of Philip and his Isabella. Philip had his son, young Louis, and was proud of the boy. Perhaps he would be proud of a boy, if there was one.

  There was nothing now to keep him in Cyprus and he could think of leaving very soon. Now that Isaac had made his terms and was ready to accompany him, he could be pleased with the manner in which everything was going. It was mid May – a long time since he had left England, but his mother might well be there by now and he need have no qualms for his realm. She would keep him informed of what was happening. And soon he would be at Acre. He would be with Philip. Together they would storm the place as they had always planned to. He would arrive richer than he had set out for he had treasure from Sicily and more from Cyprus. He had added another crown to that of England. It had been worth the delay.

  Berengaria stirred and his attention was drawn back to her. He had forgotten her in his contemplation of the battle to come.

  She would always be there in his life to come; he would have to think of her occasionally. It had been less onerous than he had feared it would. He could accept Berengaria. She need not take up too much of his time and he would do his duty now and then; they would have sons and his mother and the people would be satisfied.

  He rose and left his tent. It was early morning yet but he liked to be astir soon after dawn. He wanted to get on with his plans for departure for the weather was favourable and there was now no longer any reason why he should delay.

  He would go to Isaac’s tent and awaken him. He wanted to talk to him about an early departure. He felt sure that Isaac had little knowledge of what equipment he would need.

  He noticed that there was a deserted air about that part of the camp in which Isaac and his followers had been lodged so he went into Isaac’s tent. It was empty.

  While he stood looking around he saw that Isaac had left a message for him.

  Isaac had gone, the note told him. Surely Richard did not imagine that he could agree to the harsh terms that had been imposed. He had in any case changed his mind and was determined that he would keep no peace nor enter into any agreement with the English King.

  Richard’s fury was great. He had been deceived. Isaac was no doubt laughing at him now, but he would not laugh for long.

  There was no time now for wedding celebrations.

  * * *

  Richard marched across the island towards the capital Nicosia. He found the Greek style of fighting strange and it was not easy at first to adjust himself to it. They did not face him and fight; they sniped at the flanks of the army, and having shot their arrows fled. As he had led his army he could not at first see the enemy so he immediately placed himself at the rear where he could more easily detect the marauding bands and whenever he caught sight of them prepared to charge.

  It was unsatisfactory but in a way exhilarating as any new techniques in fighting must be to him.

  At one time he caught sight of Isaac. A small party of Greeks had come up from behind and suddenly becoming aware of them Richard had turned to see Isaac himself but a short distance away. Before he could act Isaac had shot two arrows at him. They missed by inches ... poisoned arrows which would most certainly have killed him. Exhilarated to be so near his enemy Richard immediately gave chase, but Isaac’s steed was especially fleet and he got away.

  A horse made for running away, commented Richard, but he was a little shaken that the enemy had been able to creep up on him in such a manner.

  He hurried on to Nicosia, the inhabitants of which surrendered immediately.

  This was victory. When his capital fell to Richard, Isaac must realise he was defeated. In fact only a fool would have attempted to hold out against such a superior foe.

  There was one thing which was troubling Richard. When he had started his advance he had felt the first signs of fever. It may well have been due to this that Isaac had almost succeeded in killing him with his poisoned arrows, for had he been as alert as he usually was, he would have been more prepared.

  He trusted that he was not going to have one of the old bouts of fever, but as the days passed it became more and more certain that this was exactly what was going to happen.

  To be ill at such a time could be disastrous.

  He asked Guy de Lusignan to come to his camp. There was something about the young man that he liked. His nature seemed to be as frank and open as that of Richard himself, and the King felt that they were two of a kind.

  Guy looked at him with real concern.

  ‘Why, Sire, what ails you?’ he asked.

  ‘I fear it is a return of an old complaint.’

  ‘You are often ill like this then?’

  Richard laughed grimly. ‘I know it seems incredible, but this fever has dogged me for years. It started through sleeping on damp earth when I was quite young. You know how it is. One is careless. One fancies one is above the common ailments of the body. Alas, it is not so.’

  ‘Will it soon pass?’

  ‘I doubt not it will be worse before it is better. That is why I have asked you to come to me. In a day I may not be able to leave my bed. The fever will run its course. I want you to take over command of the army.’

  Guy was astounded. He could not believe that the man on the bed, his face pallid, cold sweat on his brow was the great and glorious warrior who such a short time ago had been married to the Princess Berengaria.

  Guy said: ‘Should not the Queen be told? She will wish to look after you.’

  ‘Neither Queen must be told – my wife nor my sister. I do not wish them to pamper me as though I am a woman. I know this fever well. It comes and it goes. I must keep to my bed until it passes; but we cannot wait for that to subdue this island. So, my friend, I wish you to take over. The time has come to conquer the entire island. We must not be satisfied with Nicosia. We must show Isaac that he has lost everything.’

  ‘I will do exactly as you wish,’ answered Guy.

  ‘Then having taken possession of Nicosia we shall be lenient with those who thought they could stand out against us. There is only one order I give: All the men must shave off their beards. This I demand for it will show their humility. If any man defies me then he must lose not only his beard but his head with it. Make that clear. And once an order is given it must be obeyed. There must be no leniency. That is the secret of good rule. All must know that when the King speaks he means what he says.’

  Guy listened attentively. He would let the King’s command be known throughout Nicosia and then he would set out to subdue the rest of the island.

  Richard trusted him. He liked the man. Guy would serve him well not only because he was an honest man but because he needed Richard’s support against Conrad de Montferrat, the candidate for the crown of Jerusalem whom the King of France was supporting.

  * * *

  He lay on his bed, tossing this way and that, the fever taking possession of him. He was a little delirious. He thought that his father came to him and told him that he was a traitor.

  ‘That I never was,’ he murmured. ‘I spoke out truly and honestly. I fought against you because you tried to deprive me of my rights ... but I never deceived you with fair words ...’

  And as the waves of fear swept over him he asked himself why his father had always been against him. He seemed to hear the whispered n
ame: ‘Alice ... it was Alice ...’

  Alice! He thought he was married to Alice; she had become merged in his delirious imaginings with Berengaria. Alice, the child; Alice, seduced by his father in the schoolroom. An echoing voice seemed to fill the tent. ‘The devil’s brood. It comes from your Angevin ancestors. One was a witch. She went back to her master the devil but not before she had given Anjou several sons. From these you sprang. You ... your brothers Henry, Geoffrey, John ... all of them. There was no peace between them nor in the family.’

  It was as though Philip were speaking to him, mocking him.

  This accursed fever! Philip had said: ‘How will you be in the hot climates? Shall you be able to withstand the sun?’

  ‘As well as you will,’ he had answered.

  Philip had said: ‘I believe you have had bouts of this fever for years. It’s the life you have led.’

  But if he remained in his bed the violent sweating fits would pass and with them his delirium. His brain would be clear again. It was only a matter of time.

  There was good news from Guy. He had taken the castles of St Hilarion and Buffavento with very little trouble and in that of Kyrenia he had found Isaac’s young daughter. He was awaiting Richard’s instructions as to what should be done with her. Clearly she must not be allowed to go free, for she was Isaac’s heiress.

  All was well. He had been right to trust Guy. The fever was beginning to pass but he knew from experience that it would be folly to rise too soon from his bed.

  He had given instructions that the news of his sickness was not to be bruited abroad. He did not want his enemies to set in motion a rumour that he was a sick man which they would be only too happy to do.

  Soon he would rise from his bed; and if by that time Cyprus was completely subdued he would be able to set out on his journey to Acre.

  When one of his knights came in to tell him that Isaac Comnenus was without and begging to be received, he got up and sat in a chair.

  ‘Bring him in,’ commanded Richard.

  He remained seated so that Isaac should not see how weak he was.

  Isaac threw himself at Richard’s feet where he remained kneeling in abject humility.

  ‘Well, what brings you here?’ asked Richard.

  ‘I come to crave mercy and forgiveness.’

  ‘Dost think you deserve it?’

  ‘Nay, Sire. I know I do not. I have acted in great error.’

  ‘And bad faith,’ added Richard.

  ‘I come to offer my services. I would go with you to the Holy Land.’

  ‘I do not take with me servants whom I cannot trust,’ answered Richard tersely.

  ‘I swear ...’

  ‘You swear? You swore once before. Your swearing had little meaning.’

  ‘If you will forgive me ...’

  ‘The time for forgiving is past. I should be a fool to forget how you swore to recompense me for your misdeeds and then tried to kill me with poisoned arrows. I would never trust you again, Isaac Comnenus.’

  Isaac was terrified. If he had hoped to deceive Richard as he had before, he had misjudged the King. Having cheated once he would never be trusted again.

  All his bravado disappeared. ‘I entreat you to remember my rank.’

  ‘Ah, an emperor – self-styled! I call to mind how you felt yourself superior to a mere king.’

  ‘None could be superior to the King of England.’

  ‘You are a little late in learning that lesson.’

  ‘I beg of you, do not humiliate me by putting me in irons. Anything ... anything but that. Kill me now ... if you must, but do not treat me like a common felon.’

  ‘I will remember the high rank you once held.’

  ‘I thank you, my lord. All Cyprus is yours now. You know how to be merciful. Have I your word that you will not put me in irons?’

  ‘You have my word.’

  ‘And all know that the word of the English King is to be trusted.’

  ‘You shall not be put in irons,’ affirmed Richard. He called to his knights. ‘Take this man away. I have had enough of him.’

  When he had gone he sat their musing and, remembering how he had been deceived by Isaac, he laughed aloud.

  He called in two knights.

  He said: ‘I want Isaac Comnenus to be kept a prisoner until the end of his days. He can never be trusted while he is free. I have promised him that he shall not be put in irons. Nor shall he be. But he shall be chained nevertheless. See that he is made secure and that he is in chains. But the chains shall be of silver. Thus I shall keep my word to him. Chained not in irons but in silver.’

  Richard was amused and suddenly pictured himself telling the story of Isaac Comnenus to Philip of France.

  * * *

  No word from Richard. Where could he be? Why did he not send a message to them? Surely he knew how anxious they had been.

  Joanna tried to soothe Berengaria. He was engaged on a dangerous enterprise, she explained. It would need all his skill to subdue Cyprus. He knew they were safe and they must not expect him to be sending messages to them describing every twist and turn of the battle.

  They sat together in the gardens of the house where he had lodged them.

  ‘Here we are,’ said Joanna, ‘in this comfortable house. We can enjoy these lovely gardens. We should consider ourselves fortunate that he is so concerned for our well-being.’

  ‘I know,’ said Berengaria, ‘but I think of him constantly. I wonder if he thinks of me.’

  Joanna did not say that she believed that when Richard was engaged in battle, he thought of nothing but that battle. She had always guessed he would be a neglectful husband, but it was sad that Berengaria must discover this so soon.

  How could this girl so newly a wife be satisfied with anything but the undivided attention of the husband she adored?

  Joanna watched a green lizard dart across the grey stone wall and disappear within it. What peace there should be in this garden where there were bushes of brightly coloured flowers and the pomegranates grew in abundance among the ever present palms. So quiet it was and yet not far away there was bitter fighting. Isaac would not give in easily even though he must know that he could not stand out against Richard.

  ‘I heard a rumour last evening,’ said Berengaria.

  ‘What was this?’

  ‘That Isaac has a daughter who is the most beautiful girl on the Island. She is very young and she has been held as a hostage.’

  ‘It is inevitable that she should be.’

  ‘She will be ... with Richard?’

  Joanna looked astonished. Berengaria could not be jealous of Isaac’s daughter!

  ‘I doubt not that she will be well guarded.’

  ‘We have not heard from him for so long.’

  ‘Come, tell me what you have heard about Richard and Isaac’s daughter.’

  ‘That she enchants him. Joanna, can it be for this reason that we have heard nothing of him?’

  Joanna laughed. ‘My dear sister, do you imagine Richard sporting with this girl while the enemy is at the door?’

  ‘There must be some lulls in the fighting.’

  ‘You have much to learn,’ Joanna smiled. ‘Listen to me, Berengaria. Isaac’s daughter may be the most enchanting creature in the world, but I’ll swear Richard would hardly be aware of this.’

  ‘Surely any man would be.’

  ‘Not Richard.’

  ‘You seek to comfort me.’

  ‘So that is what has been ailing you. You have been jealous. You have listened to malicious gossip. I’d be ready to swear that Richard is aware only of Isaac’s daughter as a hostage.’

  ‘I wish I could believe that. But we have not heard for so long.’

  ‘Berengaria, now that you are married to Richard you will have to understand that there may be long periods when you hear nothing from him and have no idea where he is. He is a soldier ... the greatest living soldier ... and he will always be engaged in some conflict. Now it is the c
onquest of Cyprus. Later it will be an even greater enterprise. You will need much patience and loving understanding. You must realise that.’

  ‘I do. I do. But we have not heard and there is this girl. She is with him. People are talking.’

  ‘People will always talk. Heed them not. Love Richard, and most of all never question him. He would not like that. He must be free. If you would lose his regard the quickest way to do so is to make yourself a burden to him. He has put you ... indeed both of us ... in a safe place. That was his great concern. Be grateful that he is so anxious for our welfare. It is the measure of his affection for us. I would be ready to wager a great deal that there is nothing in this gossip. I know Richard ...’

  She stopped and looked at Berengaria rather sadly. What if she told Berengaria the real reason? What if she said: Richard is not like some men who think that women are part of a conquest. Richard is not very interested in women.

  No, she could not tell her that. All she could do was comfort her.

  ‘There is always gossip about royal people,’ she said. ‘We look at a man or a woman and people immediately decide to bed us. Remember this, Berengaria. Stop fretting. Richard is engaged in a bitter struggle. You will hear from him as soon as he is free to think of us.’

  ‘I had hoped he would be thinking of me constantly ... as I am thinking of him.’

  ‘My dear sister, he has a mighty war to fight. You have but to sit here with your embroidery. You must see the difference.’

  ‘Oh, I do,’ cried Berengaria. ‘I’m afraid I am foolish.’

  ‘You are inexperienced of the ways of the world and of men,’ said Joanna.

  ‘How grateful I am that you are with me. You teach me so much.’

  ‘I have been a wife and a widow, remember. These experiences tell.’

  And while they sat in the garden they heard the arrival of horsemen.

  Berengaria started up, her eyes alight with excitement.

  ‘It is messages from Richard at last.’

  They went out into the courtyard and there seated on a horse was a very young girl, a child merely. Her dark hair, thick and luxuriant, fell about her shoulders; her deep set eyes were dark, black-lashed and at that moment apprehensive.