Saint-Germain 24: An Embarrassment of Riches: A Novel of the Count Saint-Germain

by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

  He took her hands, opened them, and kissed her palms. “It is my profound wish that nothing from this gives you unhappiness.” Staring into her hazel eyes, he saw her youth and trust; he tried to banish the misgiving that burgeoned within him.

  She pressed her hands together as if to keep the kisses within them. “So do I.” Then she resumed dressing, asking questions about the jewels he had ready while she did, striving to regain her composure and the stated purpose of her visit, and all the while her joy was like thistledown within her.

  * * *

  Text of a letter from Episcopus Fauvinel in Praha to Konig Bela of Hungary, written on vellum in his own hand and carried by Church courier; delivered forty days after it was written.

  To the most puissant Konig, Bela of Hungary, the greeting of Episcopus Fauvinel of Praha and the Konige’s Court, on this, the 29th day of November in the 1269th Year of Grace,

  Esteemed Konig,

  I have the honor and obligation to tell you that your granddaughter and her daughters are well and preparing for the joyous time of the Nativity. It is unfortunate that relations between Hungary and Bohemia have not improved and thus you will not be in a position to come to Praha to see these promising girls. Let me tell you that they are modest, pious children, and the Konige sets them a fine example. With the Konig and his Court victorious in Carniola, the occasion is likely to be a grand one here for all it may cause dissatisfaction to you. The Konige, of course, is less merry, for the losses you have sustained.

  The first gifts of the season have been presented, six of them from your nobleman, the Comes Santu-Germaniu, including a golden reliquary studded with amethysts and tourmalines which he presented to me as the representative of the Church for the relics of Sant Iacopus which were brought from the Holy Land a century ago; it is of fine workmanship and the quality of the gems is beyond any I have seen, so fine and so well-polished that they seem to hold the light of the stars within them. For the Konig, the Comes had made a pectoral in the form of a crown augmented with diamonds; for the Konige, he presented a topaz the size of a pigeon’s egg hung on a golden chain and a brooch worked in silver of the Virgin surrounded by birds with bodies and wings of rubies, emeralds, peridots, and aquamarines. For the dear Little Royals he gave Kunigunde of Bohemia a chain-collar of gold with white sapphires in the links; for infant Agnethe, he made a bauble of what is called a tiger’s-eye and suspended it from a gilded cord. He also presented an anniversary gift for dear Little Royal Kunigunde to be offered to her in January to commemorate her birth.

  All of this is said to be in accord with the terms of his exile, and if that is the whole of it, I will say nothing more once I complete this account to you, but for a man in exile, he has wealth beyond all the richest of Bohemians; his is an embarrassment of riches, which inspires envy and avarice in many, surely the result of the Devil at play, as an instigation to covetousness at the least, and less Christian thoughts. My man within his household tells me that the Comes regularly makes more jewels, which smacks of suborning virtue to me, and possible diabolism, although the man in his household thinks not, for he has seen no direct sign of diabolic purpose in these jewels the Comes makes. I admit I am troubled, for, as we know, the Devil and his minions are everywhere seeking to devour the souls of Christians. Yet if you are content that his alchemy is free of any touch of Deviltry, I will defer to your judgment, for you are the one who ordered him here, and decided upon the conditions he would have to uphold. If, however, you have doubts about the Comes, I implore you, for the sake of your soul and the souls of your granddaughter and her children, to impart those doubts to me so that I may take whatever action would protect your family from the threat of damnation that may lurk in his gifts.

  It also concerns me that the Comes has, along with his alchemical skills, a professed knowledge of poisons. He provided a substance to the Counselors of Praha to kill rats which has proven most efficacious, and that has caused me much dismay, for surely a man with such skills may well employ them in ways that could be most evil. I have no desire to accuse him of such acts, but I believe there is a danger when any man has the skill to poison another that the man with the skill may not always be governed by charity, nor the righteousness Christians should observe. Yet if you are satisfied that the Comes will do no evil deeds with his poisons, I will declare myself content to bow to your judgment.

  May Heaven guide and keep you, Konig Bela, so far as there is no dishonor to Bohemia in those blessings, may your life continue without pain or illness, and may you find Grace in all that you do,

  In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

  Fauvinel, Episcopus at Praha

  PART III

  IMBOLYA OF HEVES

  Text of a letter from Notay Tibor of Kaposvar at Kaposvar to Przemysl Otakar II at Praha, dictated to Frater Deodor and delivered by him twenty-nine days after it was written.

  To the most excellent Konig, Przemysl Otakar II of Bohemia, the most respectful greetings of Notay Tibor of Kaposvar, on the 15th day of January, in the 1270th year of Grace, in accordance with the wishes of the dear Royal.

  Most exalted Konig of all Bohemia, Moravia, Austria, Styria, Carinthia, and Carinola,

  When you sent me back to my estates last autumn and ordered my wife, Rozsa of Borsod, to return here from your Konige’s Court, I was afraid this would mean dismissal from your Court for me and from the Konige’s for my wife, given the state of affairs between Hungary and Bohemia. But at that time you assured me that once Rozsa became pregnant and the pregnancy was verified by a capable midwife, my wife might return to the Konige’s Court until her delivery is less than two months away, at which time she is to return here for the sake of our child, so that it may be born here at Kaposvar, or so you assured me would be the case. This will provide you what intelligence you may need to put into place the fulfillment of your pledge so that with your approval of these arrangements, I will be permitted to rejoin you on campaign.

  As you will recall from our discussion on this point, I believe that Rozsa of Borsod will be far safer in your Konige’s Court than here once I am gone from here, at least until her delivery is near, when she will be able to command the company of her cousins and her brother for her guards, and the attention of Sorer Sagitta of Santa-Trava, who will receive Rozsa of Borsod into the convent to await the birth. Too many of my relatives are eager to make a claim on my estates, and if they can control my wife and make a hostage of my child, they will then seek to gain complete hold over Kaposvar and the fiefs within its limits, a development that I fear would bode ill for us all. It is true that Bohemia and Hungary are not truly at peace, but both you and Konig Bela are united against Rudolph von Hapsburg, Comes of Austria, and so I am convinced that Rozsa of Borsod, while she is once again in the Konige’s Court, will help ensure that continuing cause to contain von Hapsburg is not allowed to falter, to the benefit of both you and Konig Bela.

  Therefore I rejoice to tell you that according to Matra Novea, the midwife for Kaposvar, my wife is two months pregnant and the pregnancy is well-settled. With your permission, I will inform my wife that she may come to Konige Kunigunde’s Court from April until Mid-Summer, where she may once again serve the Konige for the honor of Hungary and the protection of our child. She has told me that she is looking forward to seeing the other ladies-in-waiting, and will, if you give your permission, travel with the two new women commanded to serve Konige Kunigunde in Praha. I believe my wife will add to the Konige’s comfort and will provide a cushion against intrigue as one who will lessen the degree of mistrust among the ladies-in-waiting as well as give an example of Christian conduct and piety.

  To that point I will say that it is a pity about Erzebet of Arad, but her family has always been treacherous, so it may be just as well that she took so deadly a fever and died of it, for then she had no chance to cause harm to the dear Royal or her children, as some of us feared she might. Had she been well for all her days at the Konige’s Court, sh
e would have proven to be as disruptive there as she has been in Buda-Pest. I praise God for keeping Erzebet from bringing misfortune to the Konige and her children, for the Hungarian and Bohemian Crowns. I myself have instructed my wife to be vigilant against all efforts to compromise the Konige’s Court and the honor of Bohemia; you may rely on her good-will implicitly, for as a Hungarian in Bohemia, she knows that she must consider both kingdoms in all she does. May God send more such worthy women to serve the Konige this time.

  My scribe, Frater Deodor, has expressed my thoughts for me with true elegance and accuracy, far better than I, myself, would do, if I had the knowledge of letters he does. Through his service to Kaposvar he has earned my trust and my high regard, for he is a man of many God-given gifts, all of which are useful to our shared interests. For his talents as a scribe and his abilities as a recorder, I ask that you permit him to travel with my wife to the Konige’s Court so that I may be kept informed of the progress of her pregnancy.

  In all fealty and devotion to you as the Konig of Bohemia and the champion of many, many Christians, I submit this petition for your consideration, and I pray that you will grant my pleas to you in every particular. May God show you His Mercy and His Protection, may your kingdom flourish and become the Empire you so ardently seek, may the mantel of the Holy Roman Empire fall upon your shoulders, may the riches with which God has blessed you be the source of prosperity and strength for your House for generations to come, and for all Bohemia; for as long as the Moltava flows may Praha be a beacon of prosperity for all the world.

  With the pledge of my duty and honor,

  Notay Tibor of Kaposvar

  by the hand of Frater Deodor, Redemptionist monk

  1

  During a break in the chain of snowstorms that had belabored Praha for more than a week, the brilliant sun brought people out of doors to revel in the light and to join in efforts to clear away the snow that blocked the streets. Even the Konig participated, ordering his knights and his German Guards into the streets with shovels to open the way from Vaclav Castle to the Council Court Square. As the snow was shoved aside, others came behind them to pack the snow firmly so that it would not simply fall back into the road. At Mansion Belcrady, Rakoczy came out of his gate with an offering of small, double-wheeled hand-carts as his contribution to the endeavor.

  “Load them up and push them to the gates,” he said to Rytir Guilhelm Leuzay in German. “There will be less to clean up when it all melts.”

  The German knight looked at the line of four hand-carts. “I’ve heard about these things,” he said, regarding them carefully, distrusting their unfamiliarity. “Can you spare a man for each of them? My servants and slaves are all busy.”

  “Of course,” he said. “They brought them here and they await my summons. Two are from the stable and two are stokers in the back-house and bath-house, all used to hard work, and all use these hand-carts in their work.” He signaled to his men, who were standing around a small fire in the middle of the forecourt. “Illes, Megar, Estephe, Kornemon. To your tasks.” He stepped aside so that his servants could take hold of the cart-handles and trundle them out onto the newly cleared paving-stones. “When your work is done there will be venison, beer, cheese, and bread waiting for you, and the bath-house will be heated.”

  Illes spoke for them all. “As you wish, Comes.” His Bohemian was a bit clumsy, but everyone understood him.

  “If you need more from this household, Rytir Guilhelm, send word and we will do what we can to accommodate you.” Rakoczy peered up into the cerulean sky. “It will stay clear so long as the wind is calm, but when it picks up again, the storms will return.”

  “The Episcopus said that the storms will not return until the Feast of the Departure of the Konigs.” Rytir Guilhelm crossed himself with his gloved hand, an act that would have earned him a stern rebuke from any clergyman.

  “That will be in eleven days, will it not?” Rakoczy inquired politely, although he knew that in Bohemia, the Feast of the Departure of the Konigs was celebrated on the twenty-third day of January.

  “That is what the Episcopus has said,” Rytir Guilhelm said. “It would be wrong to doubt him.”

  Rakoczy did not argue the point. “All the same, keep aware of the wind,” he recommended as he prepared to ease the gate closed.

  “Where is your warder?” Rytir Guilhelm asked, looking up at the top of the gate-house.

  “Minek is in his bed with a hard cough.” Rakoczy glanced up. “While it was snowing, I saw no need to keep the gate-house manned, but now that the streets are being cleared, it may be wise to post a guard. My thanks for your timely warning.” He swung the gate as the knight moved on, shouting orders to Rakoczy’s servants.

  Barnon was waiting in the door. “Ambroz has his men clearing the stable courtyard, and they will move to the side-court when the rest is done.” He paused, then said, “Those wheeled hand-carts are more useful than I thought they would be. We have restocked all the wood-boxes in the manse and the out-buildings; the hand-carts made it easier than using double-sling hods.” He looked about uneasily. “Will the Rytir bring back the ones you’ve provided, do you think?”

  “If he does not, I will order more made.”

  “Yes,” Barnon said, nodding several times. “It’s a good thing you brought them.”

  “They seemed useful to me,” said Rakoczy, who had used them often at his fief.

  “In the summer they did ease the work of shifting apples and turnips to the root-cellar, but I didn’t see the possibilities for winter, for the cart is so new to Praha that it was a novelty that might bring as many problems as those it solved,” Barnon burbled on. “It seemed to me that there wouldn’t be much use for them once the frosts came. But now I understand how they—”

  Rakoczy held up his hand. “I am glad you approve of them. What is it you are trying to avoid telling me?”

  “I?” He wriggled his shoulders to make a dismissive shrug. “Nothing, Comes.”

  Rakoczy fixed his dark eyes on Barnon. “I do not like to accuse you of lying, but I am sure you are avoiding something that troubles you.” His expression softened a little. “Why not tell me what it is so I will not have to bother the rest of the household making inquiries.”

  “It will displease you,” Barnon said.

  “Then better to do it quickly, and get it behind you. Delay can only make it worse.”

  Barnon swallowed hard. “Minek wants a priest. For Last Rites.”

  “Send for one. You do not need my permission for that,” said Rakoczy in his calmest voice.

  “It’s not so simple,” Barnon said, fretting. “He wants Pader Tomasek, from the Church of the Apostles. That’s well down the hill and it’s likely to be hard going to reach the place. If we went to Sante-Radmille, the priest would be here much sooner, but they are Trinitarians.”

  Rakoczy resisted the impulse to dismiss the matter, for he realized that many of these various Orders were as competitory in sacraments as companies of armed knights were in combat. “Are there difficulties between the Redemptionists and the Trinitarians?”

  “There are difficulties between the Apostles and Sante-Radmille.”

  “Would it be a problem for Minek to receive Last Rites from a Trinitarian?” Rakoczy stepped into the entry hall.

  “He is certain there would be,” said Barnon. “I don’t know what to tell him.”

  “Offer him the choice of a Trinitarian before mid-day or a Redemptionist by mid-afternoon,” said Rakoczy, wondering if the warder’s condition had deteriorated so greatly since the previous night. “Be sure he understands that most of the streets are not clear of snow, and it will be some time before Pader Tomasek can come here.”

  Barnon scowled. “But how can he be sure of God’s Will in this? The cough may have disordered his thoughts. The Devil may be hoping to deny him a good death, so Hell can claim his soul.”

  “It is possible, I suppose, but the decision about who is to shrive him should
lie with Minek. It is his soul, after all.” Rakoczy read alarm in Barnon’s eyes. “It would not be fitting for you, or for me, to decide for Minek.”

  “If you are certain…” Barnon said dubiously.

  “Would you like me to ask him myself?” Rakoczy did his best not to make his question a challenge. He went into the main hall, hearing Barnon’s hesitant steps behind him.

  “You may be touched by the cough’s miasma if you go to him,” said Barnon after a short silence.

  Rakoczy regarded Barnon thoughtfully. “If there is a miasma, it has touched me already, and if there is not, what have I to fear?”

  Barnon considered this. “Put your trust in God and His Mercy.”

  “As you must do,” said Rakoczy, “when you go to him.” He saw a flicker in Barnon’s eyes. “You do go to him, do you not?”

  “I … go to the door to the room where he has been taken,” Barnon said. After a moment he added, in a tone of ill-usage, “If you had slaves, I would assign one to care for him.”

  “I see,” said Rakoczy quietly. “Then it must be a good thing that I have no slaves.” He motioned to Barnon. “Go to the door of his room and find out which Order he prefers for Last Rites. Then dispatch one of the housemen to bring the priest. You may tell him that I will attend to him shortly.”

  “Yes, Comes,” said Barnon, ducking his head and shifting his gaze away from Rakoczy toward the blaze in the central fireplace.

  Very gently, Rakoczy said, “Do it now, Barnon.”

  The steward paled and rushed out of the room.

  Left to himself, Rakoczy went along to the kitchen and ordered Pacar to prepare a broth with many crushed herbs in it; he selected the herbs to be used from the hanging bundles of dried herbs. “Use these and no others. Heat the broth slowly with the herbs, then put it in an earthenware bowl and carry it to Minek.”