A Reed in the Wind: Joanna Plantagenet, Queen of Sicily by Rachel Bard

Author:Rachel Bard
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Literary Network Press
Published: 2014-09-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 44

“That doesn’t look like much of a castle to me,” said Lady Marian. “More like a monstrous woodpile.”

Joanna and her party, having been liberated from Bagnara, were riding up to the palace from the harbor at Messina. King Philip and Sir Alan had met them at the pier. It was a cold, windless day, with lowering gray clouds and a biting chill in the air. In his long, black fur cloak, Philip looked like a figure announcing doom. His dark-bearded face was as hard to read as ever. But his manners were as impeccable as ever. He bowed over Joanna’s hand and said, “I bear greetings from King Richard, Queen Joanna. He was unable to be here so I shall do my best to make you welcome and conduct you to the palace.” He’d then taken his place at the head of the procession.

He heard Lady Marian’s words and reined in his horse to look where she was pointing. Joanna let down her hood and looked too. She saw a tall, square, ungainly structure that dwarfed the surrounding one-story houses and shops that crowded the hillside. So this was Richard’s Matagriffon. It seemed to have four walls but no roof. Though they could hear and see workmen busy with hammers and saws, it had not yet assumed any resemblance to any castle she had ever seen.

“You’re right, of course, Lady Marian,” said Philip. “I believe he calls it a castle in jest. But remember that it’s not a permanent structure. Richard must take it all apart when he leaves so he can rebuild it in Palestine. It will help us to besiege the cities we’ll need to take.”

While they surveyed the scene, a head of red-gold hair caught Joanna’s eye. Richard, towering above the workmen, was apparently discussing the placement of a huge timber that three men bore on their shoulders.

Sir Alan said, “He’s there every day, morning to night, urging them on and lending a hand. He’s set on finishing it in time for his Christmas banquet. Would you like to ride over for a closer look?”

She shivered and clutched her cloak about her. “Not now, thank you. Maybe tomorrow.”

“Very wise,” said Philip. “I believe it’s beginning to rain and I’m sure you’ve had a long hard day.”

She sent him a look of gratitude for his understanding, raised her hood and rode on. It had indeed been a long hard day. During the trip across the strait, their galley had been buffeted by winds that came now from one direction, now from another, so they bounced about like a puppet on a string. All Joanna wanted now was to get inside, get warm and lie down.

She didn’t inspect Matagriffon the next day or the next week, being confined to her bed with a fever, a cough and a feeling of general misery. Richard came to see her, but after he was assured that she wasn’t at death’s door and only needed time to recover, he pressed her hand

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