The Gourd and the Stars by Sarah Holz

Author:Sarah Holz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sarah Holz
Published: 2024-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

NEVER HAD I DREADED a meal more than the one I walked down to that Easter eve. I placed a drowsy Isabella with Bébé’s nurses and slowly changed into a fresh dress. My reluctance was rewarded by making me the last to arrive. As this was, for the court, a small gathering, several of the tables had been pushed together into a single large one for us to arrange ourselves around. Billa waved me over to an empty place beside her, so I took a deep breath and strode forward to join her. I made my obeisance to Baudouin, seated at the head of us, and he winked at me, appearing perfectly at ease.

As I took my place, I realized with a start that this was nearly the exact party of the evening meal from last Saturday, meant to welcome our guests to Jerusalem. Back when we believed them to be our guests, that is. Isabella had been present, of course, but otherwise it was identical, down to the Lenten fare set before us. As I helped myself to the vegetable stew beside me, I almost managed to smile, remembering Isabella’s chatter filling the air and wishing she was here to cover my discomfort.

Baudouin allowed everyone to eat at their ease for a while, though Aimery and I spent more time moving our food about in front of us than consuming it. Then he turned to his left to address Eschiva. “My lady, when tomorrow might we expect your father and the queen dowager?”

“If God is with them, Your Majesty, they hope to arrive for the prime hour’s Mass,” she replied.

He nodded and set aside his own largely untouched trencher. “Then I fear we have very little time to arrange an appropriate welcome for them.”

“Oh, they do not expect any particular welcome, Your Majesty,” Eschiva assured him. “It is Our Lord’s day, after all.”

“It is indeed, Eschiva,” he agreed. “That is why I beg to inquire of you whether they plan to depose me tomorrow, or will they wait until Monday?”

Any remaining murmur of conversation around the table ceased, and everyone stared at Baudouin and Eschiva, who’d gone noticeably white. “I beg your pardon, my lord?” she whispered.

Aimery put his hand on hers and curled his fingers around her wrist. “You will answer the king, wife.”

Eschiva wasn’t artful enough to stop her eyes from darting to Lord Balian, who sat stiffly across from her. His own complexion was wan, but when he spoke, his tone was steady. “It would depend on whether Your Majesty was open to arguments of reason on the matter.”

Count Joscelin rose to his feet abruptly. “How dare you speak your treason so boldly, Balian!”

Baudouin motioned calmly to him. “It is well, Uncle. Let us, as our lord of Ibelin asks, be reasonable.”

“I still don’t understand what on earth is going on,” Billa said, her head swiveling about the table.

“If I understand the matter properly, Billa,” her brother responded, his serenity smoothing some of the consternation of

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.