The Scribe (The Two Daggers - A 13th century drama) by Andersen Elizabeth R

Author:Andersen, Elizabeth R. [Andersen, Elizabeth R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Haeddre Press
Published: 2021-07-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

September 1290

Al-Hadiqa, Acre

“W hat do you mean the servants are unhappy?” Henri asked, incredulous. He sat at his table in the great hall eating a late meal after a full day of arguing with Genoese warehouse owners. After a frustrating day in the city, Henri had retreated to al-Hadiqa to nurse his injured pride and plan a new route of attack. The seeds of a plan were growing as he picked at a platter of venison roasted with pomegranate seeds when Ibrahim interrupted him.

“It is as I say, my lord,” Ibrahim repeated calmly. “There is considerable malcontent among the servants as of late.”

“Well, why?”

Ibrahim paused and chose his words carefully. “Your father had a different manner of interacting with them, my lord. He knew their names and their families. He protected them and often spent time with them.”

Henri glanced at the young serving girl standing in the corner, still and frightened as a rabbit. “I never noted my father doing anything particularly special. They are servants. They should be happy that they have paid work and are not kept as slaves.”

Ibrahim kept his face impassive. Turning to the girl, he smiled lightly. “Harra, would you please give Lord Maron and me some time to speak alone?”

She scurried from the room, and Ibrahim turned back to his new master. “Your father always took the complaints of the servants seriously, my lord, for without them, we would surely be unable to continue to live in Acre. Your family is unique. You do not have a large household of cousins and uncles and half-siblings here like they do in the other great houses, and your father sired no living bastards that we know of to take on as helpers. These servants keep the estate running.”

Henri snorted and returned to his meal. “I keep this estate running,” he declared, waving a jewel-handled silver spoon at Ibrahim. “And if they wish to leave, they are welcome to find another master who pays them as well as I. We can always hire new servants.”

“It is easy enough to hire servants, yes,” said Ibrahim with as much control as he could muster, “but it is not easy to train new servants. It is not easy to find people who will remain loyal to you.” He took a deep breath. “There is another problem. Your militia is saying that they will leave the estate this night.”

Henri was dumbstruck, still holding his spoon aloft. “Leave? All of them?! Where will they go?”

“Sir Parsiprestre says he will return to the Occitan, and three men are going with him, including the cellarer. Sir Itier and his brother have decided to join the household of Lord Vauquelin, and the others have not decided where they will travel.”

“Well, tell them they cannot leave!” Henri yelled. “Have they not sworn fealty to my father?”

“Yes, but not to you , my lord. You may yet be able to convince them to stay, but you will have to act fast.”

“What is it that they want?

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