The Heart of the Lion

by Виктория Холт

  ‘So,’ she said, ‘we are to leave here.’

  ‘The news has come in advance of me?’

  ‘It is customary, my lord, to hear news of you not from your lips but those of others.’

  He shrugged his shoulders. ‘There is so much to occupy me.’

  ‘That I know well and the company of others is preferable to that of your wife.’

  He looked astonished. ‘Why say you so?’ he asked.

  ‘Indeed why, since it is truly unnecessary to voice such an obvious fact,’ she replied. Then she burst out passionately: ‘How think you I endure the pity of those around me?’

  ‘Pity, Madam?’ he said in surprise. ‘Should you be pitied ... here in this comfortable palace? I and my soldiers should be the ones who are given that ... marching in the heat or the mud, tormented by noisome insects ...’

  ‘And your friend Blondel de Nesle?’ she asked. ‘Does he suffer so?’

  ‘The minstrels accompany the army. They have their work as do the others.’

  ‘I trust this Blondel is happy with his work.’

  ‘He would seem so.’

  ‘So much enjoying the favour of his master.’

  He pretended not to understand. He said: ‘Music is an essential part of our army. A minstrel’s songs can lighten the spirit and put heart into weary men.’

  She shrugged her shoulders impatiently.

  ‘I am no wife to you,’ she said.

  ‘Is that your wish?’ he asked, almost eagerly.

  ‘If it be yours,’ she answered.

  ‘This seems to me a fruitless conversation,’ he said. ‘You are the Queen. I am the King. We are married whether we call it so or not. I am much pressed for time. I wished to see you and my sister that I might arrange for our departure.’

  ‘We shall not, of course, travel with you?’ She could not look at him. She fixed her eyes on the glittering belt he wore about his waist. She had seen it before for it was a favourite of his. It was an object of startling beauty, set with unusual gems.

  ‘It is wiser not,’ he said.

  She laughed bitterly. ‘For our comfort or yours?’

  He looked surprised, wilfully misunderstanding her. ‘For yours of a certainty.’ He looked at her coldly. ‘I think you are unaware of what is happening in my kingdom. My mother writes to me that traitors plot against me. I must go back by a quicker route and that may be a dangerous one. You and my sister will travel with the fleet to protect you. I am putting you in charge of my faithful knight Stephen of Turnham whom I would trust with my life.’

  ‘It is good of you,’ she said, ‘to take such care of me.’

  He bowed his head and answered: ‘I would speak with my sister. There are many plans to be made.’

  She went to her chamber and there lay on her bed.

  The Cypriot Princess crept silently into her room and knelt by her bed. She took her hand and held it.

  The little Princess saw that the tears were on Berengaria’s cheeks.

  * * *

  On the first day of October the fleet with the two queens and the Cypriot princess set sail. Richard remained for nine more days. He said he must wait for those days to regain fully his strength for the journey.

  He stood on the prow of the small ship which was carrying him and a few of his attendants away from Jerusalem.

  A great sadness possessed him. He had failed to achieve that which he had come so near to winning.

  Leaning on the rail he cried: ‘Oh Holy Land, I commend thee to God. May He, of his mercy grant me such space of life that I may one day bring thee aid. For it is my hope and determination, by God’s goodwill, to return.’

  Only with the belief that one day he would come back and win Jerusalem could he be at peace with himself.

  The land faded from sight. The crusade was over. He would not brood on the number of lives which had been lost, the amount of blood that had been shed, the torture and agonies which had been inflicted on myriads.

  He must think now of what was happening at home; he must make plans for defeating the traitors. But first of all there was the hazardous journey ahead of him.

  Chapter XIII

  THE ROYAL FUGITIVE

  The journey to Corfu was uneventful. During it Richard fully regained his health and had time to assess his situation.

  The crusade had failed in its purpose. He might have left with Philip for he had gained very little by staying. Had he gone back to England then, he could have prevented whatever trouble was brewing with John, and he could have planned a greater crusade in the light of what he had learned from the last one.

  He had emerged with but little gain: merely the three years truce during which time Christians could visit Jerusalem. But his reputation as a soldier had grown to spectacular magnitude. Richard the Lion-hearted was known throughout the Christian world; minstrels sang of his prowess and his courage in battle. He was the greatest soldier of his age and yet he had not been able to vanquish Saladin. Perhaps in his heart he had not wanted to, and he believed that Saladin had not wished to destroy him. Saladin would have preferred to make him his hostage. He knew that, because there had been several attempts to take him when he was in a vulnerable position, perhaps in some lonely spot with but a few of his knights. He could visualise such a situation. The courteous treatment, the honours, the conversation, the growing friendship. It would have been as it had in those long ago days when he had been a hostage of Philip of France. He would not have believed it possible then that Philip who had loved him so dearly in those days should now be plotting against him.

  He had many enemies. This journey of his could be full of dangers. If he were to be washed up on some alien coast defenceless, many willing hands would seize him, and not in order to honour him. The French hated him. They had never agreed during their sojourn in the Holy Land. How often they had shown their enmity. And the Germans disliked him. Henry the Emperor would not forgive him for making an ally of Tancred and Leopold had a personal grudge against him.

  He must get back quickly, and to do so he must go as far as possible by land, for who could tell when the sea was going to make progress impossible. At any time ships could be driven on to a coast if they were lucky and kept there for months waiting for favourable winds.

  Time was important. His mother had made it clear that urgency was needed; and even after receiving her warning he had delayed.

  He would make the journey by land and as it was going to be a dangerous one it would be folly to let it be known that the traveller was Richard of England. He must disguise himself; it was not easy for a king. He could wear the clothes of a beggar but somehow the arrogance, the dignity, the kingly air would seep through and betray him.

  Such were his thoughts as he sailed away from the Holy Land and a month after leaving he reached the Island of Corfu.

  * * *

  Two days out from Corfu Richard sighted two vessels on the horizon.

  He shouted to his friends to come and see.

  ‘By God’s eyes,’ he cried, ‘I know not to which country they belong. They would seem to be pirates.’

  ‘Better pirates, Sire,’ said one of his friends, ‘than French or German.’

  ‘Be ready,’ cried Richard. ‘We may have to fight them.’

  One of the ships came alongside. It was well armed and Richard regretted that his fleet was not with him. He would have made short work of the impudent fellows if it had been there.

  The sailors were ready with arrows and stones but Richard did not give the order to attack. He said that first he would try to parley with the pirates.

  Using his trumpet he did this. It was not easy. They spoke a variation of Turkish and Arabic; but the stay in Palestine had helped him to understand something of this language and it was just possible to make himself understood.

  The vessels were indeed pirates, looking for booty.

  Richard had an idea. He cried: ‘If you attempt to board my ship I will have the blood of every man of you.
But there is a way in which you could gain a great deal of money without fighting for it.’

  The pirate leader was interested and Richard said that he would board the larger of their vessels to parley with him, accompanied by only two of his knights.

  The pirate leader was astonished that he could so trust them, and said so.

  ‘Why, fellow,’ said Richard, ‘if you attempted treachery we would sink your two ships and your men with them. Have no doubt of that. But you have given me your word and I have given you mine. Wise men know that it is never good policy to betray a trust. If you wish to fight and take the spoils of my ship, then I will return to it and we shall battle together. But you are not so foolish.’

  ‘You are a great lord,’ said the pirate. ‘What is your will?’

  ‘I wish you to take me on board and convey me and a few of my followers to a spot I shall choose on the Adriatic coast. If you will do this you will be amply paid. If you fail you will surely die with all your sins on you – and a pirate could scarcely pursue his trade without indulging in a goodly number.’

  ‘You are a brave man,’ said the pirate.

  ‘It has been said of me.’

  ‘There is about you a manner different from that of other men. I would say that only great lords and kings have such manners.’

  ‘Then perhaps you are a discerning man.’

  ‘There is news around,’ said the pirate, ‘that a great king is on his way back to England.’

  ‘You hear news then.’

  ‘We pick it up here and there. It is said that many great lords are looking for the King of England.’

  ‘For what purpose think you?’

  ‘That which would brook no good to him, I trow,’ said the pirate with a laugh.

  ‘And if they were to find him, I trow that would brook no good to them.’

  ‘He is a mighty man. One ’twould be good not to cross.’

  Richard nodded and the pirate smiled slyly.

  ‘We will do your bidding, my lord,’ he said. ‘We will take you and some of your friends to the spot you choose and if you wish to reward poor men for the trouble they have had, they will be grateful.’

  ‘You shall be rewarded,’ said Richard. He looked down at the clothes he had adopted soon after leaving Corfu. They were those of a Templar. ‘You see me thus garbed.’

  ‘My lord, it does not become you as other garbs might.’

  ‘Then mayhap I should change it. I shall come to your ship as a palmer. Would that fit me better?’

  The pirate shook his head. ‘Mayhap ’twill pass but I see you in shining armour, my lord, with a red cross on your breast.’

  ‘And I see you are a man of insight,’ said Richard, ‘which if it is tempered with discretion should serve you well.’

  Thus Richard, in the garb of a humble pilgrim, and a few of his most trusted men boarded the pirate ship. His own he sent off to join his fleet if possible; if not to return to England.

  * * *

  The pirates treated him with a respect which grew during his voyage with them. That he was a man of great courage was obvious to them, that he was Richard the Lion-Heart was almost equally so. They knew they could trust him to reward them if they landed him safely for his honesty was as renowned as his courage. He was a guileless man in many ways; he gave a straight answer and he had so often been deluded because he had trusted others to be as frank as himself. Richard Yea and Nay was a man whose word was his bond.

  When one of the ships ran into trouble and was forced on to the island of Lacroma he worked with the men during the violent storm in the hope of saving the ship. As this was impossible he with the other members of the crew transferred to the remaining ship and he travelled in that to Ragusa. There he took his leave of the pirates after paying them as he had promised and still dressed as a pilgrim, accompanied by a band of followers and with rich garments, jewels and money on pack mules, he began his journey across the land.

  It was ill luck which had brought him to Ragusa, for the governor of that land was related to Conrad de Montferrat who had been murdered by the Old Man of the Mountains just as he had been declared King of Jerusalem.

  When he landed Richard found a lodging which was not very grand, explaining that he was a merchant who was returning from pilgrimage. There he called his followers together and decided what must be done.

  ‘First, my friends, we must conceal our identity. Our party must consist of Sir Baldwin de Bethune and his retinue. I shall not be of that retinue for it seems to me that if I attempted to ape a servant I should fail in some way. For myself I shall take the role of a wealthy merchant from Damascus who had joined your party for company. My name shall be Hugo ... Hugo of Damascus.’

  ‘Where shall we go from here, my lord?’ asked Baldwin.

  ‘We must make our way to the coast, avoiding French territory, for I should not care to fall into the hands of the King of France.’

  ‘Nor those of Leopold of Austria, my lord,’ said Baldwin.

  ‘I liked him not,’ said Richard. ‘An arrogant fellow who came to the crusade in no humble spirit. He sought only gain. Do you remember how he flew his flag on the walls of Acre and refused to help us rebuild the walls of the cities?’

  ‘Aye, Sire, I remember it well,’ answered Baldwin, ‘and doubtless he does.’

  Their host chatted with them as they sat at his table. He had been told he would not regret his hospitality.

  Richard asked if they had many pilgrims passing through the land.

  ‘Nay,’ was the answer, ‘they do not often come this way.’

  ‘Any Christian country would allow pilgrims to pass through unmolested, I believe,’ said Richard.

  ‘Nay, Master Hugo, that is not so. Those who wish us ill could so easily hide their identity behind the pilgrim’s robe and palm.’

  ‘’Tis true enough,’ said Richard, ‘and it may be that the most honest of merchants would be suspected.’

  It was so difficult for him to deceive. He was not meant to play any role but that of a king. His manners would have betrayed him again and again to any who was suspicious.

  ‘We are watchful,’ said their host. ‘I shall be obliged to let it be known that a party of pilgrims has passed this way. Did you know that King Richard has left Palestine?’

  ‘Is that so?’ said Baldwin before Richard could speak.

  ‘He has to return to his kingdom where his brother is causing trouble and it seems that he made many enemies when he was in Palestine.’

  ‘It is difficult not to,’ began Richard.

  Baldwin interrupted: ‘There will always be rumours. It is well not to believe them all.’ Even as he spoke he threw an apologetic look at Richard for interrupting him. It was not only impossible for Richard to disguise himself; it was almost equally so for his men.

  ‘I have heard it said often that the king of France and the Emperor of Germany are against him, as well as Duke Leopold of Austria. My own Governor had reason to hate him.’

  ‘What reasons are these?’ demanded Richard hotly.

  ‘My Governor is Count Meinhard of Goritz, nephew of the Marquis Conrad de Montferrat, who was murdered on the orders of Richard of England.’

  ‘That is not true,’ cried Richard indignantly.

  Again Baldwin had the temerity to interrupt. ‘Who says this?’ he asked mildly.

  ‘All say it. The Marquis was to be King of Jerusalem. Richard of England did not wish this, wanting the crown to go to his own man, Guy de Lusignan; but it was Conrad who had the right. The King of England finally relented and gave his consent to the appointment. It is said that he did this because he was planning to despatch the Count.’

  ‘It was not the King of England who murdered him,’ said Richard. ‘I swear it, on my pilgrim’s palm.’

  ‘Ah, my dear merchant, what can we know of these matters? Very soon after Conrad’s election he was returning home after dining with a friend when he was set upon by assassins and stabbed to death.’<
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  ‘These assassins were in the employ of the Old Man of the Mountains.’

  ‘Rumours have come from the mountains that it was Richard of England who ordered the murder of the Count.’

  ‘Then the Old Man lies.’

  Their host looked furtive. Then he said: ‘I must beg of you not to speak ill of the Old Man at my table.’

  ‘So you fear him,’ cried Richard.

  ‘All wise men fear the Old Man, sir. It is said that he never forgets a slight. I would not care to be set upon by one of his men. Nay, I speak well of the Old Man. I but wish to warn you that as pilgrims it will be necessary for you to have safe conduct from the Governor.’

  ‘This Count ...’ began Richard.

  ‘Count Meinhard of Goritz, nephew of the Count Conrad de Montferrat.’

  ‘Very well,’ said Richard. ‘We will ask his permission to pass safely through his land.’

  * * *

  In the room assigned to them they talked in whispers.

  ‘Think you he knew who I was?’ asked Richard.

  ‘It is certain, Sire, that he knew you were no ordinary merchant.’

  ‘Do not call me Sire. People listen. Call me Hugo. Now, Baldwin, we shall have to ask permission to cross the country. Do you think this fellow is suspicious of us?’

  ‘It might well be so, Sire ... Hugo.’

  ‘I will send the Count a gift – a ring I have. I will tell the messenger that I bought it from a Pisan merchant at a bargain price. I would wish him to have it to show our gratitude for giving us free passage through his land.’

  ‘My lord ... Hugo,’ said Baldwin, ‘that ring is a very fine one.’

  ‘Nay,’ said Richard, ‘but a bauble. Let us send it without delay, for I am eager to proceed with the journey. Now we must get a night’s sleep and in the morning be ready to continue our journey.’

  He lay down on the pallet his host had provided. One of the men lay across the door, while the others placed themselves in strategic positions.