Chapter 19 Part 10
A new beginning?
Jean awoke with tears in his eyes. He raised his hands to his face. It was solid. He brought it down to wipe away the sweat from his clammy brow. I felt my hand now. I am sold. I’m not in a dream.
He got up and paced around the room. Savary, Maria, the Komnena, and Hughes. They had all been trying to tell him something. But what? He had seen so much. From so many places. And they hadn’t given him a clear answer. He needed to do this. He needed fresh air. Sitting in his bed and brooding all day would do him no good. “Save Alix and her children. Yes, I must do that.”
He washed up. “I just wish the Emperor congratulations on his new child.” He stopped himself from saying even if it is only a girl. Maria would not have liked that.
He donned his tunic and pants and walked downstairs. “Good morning your Grace”, an old man at arms who looked vaguely familiar, said stiffly. “A merry Christmas to you good man.” The soldier looked uncomfortable. Ordinarily Jean would not have paid the issue a second thought. “Did I say something to offend you, my good man?”
“No no. It's just. While I honor our lord and savior, of course, his birthday brings to mind painful memories. My wife she… she died on Christmas morning. Just around sunup in fact.”
“Ah. I see. I am sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you, your Grace. This year is especially hard. My son took an arrow at the siege you see.” He had mentioned something of the sort. “Yes. A brave man. Dead before his time. I am truly sorry for your loss.” To Jean’s great surprise he found that he meant it. Something about seeing the man in such an unguarded moment had moved his heart.
“Thank you, your Grace. I should count my blessings. I have two grandchildren.”
“They give you trouble do they not”, he said with a laugh and a smile. Something about this tiny part of the dream world bleeding into reality made him happy. It had been a cruel dream, but a beautiful one, and he had seen old friends again. He waved the concern aside. “Bah they’re young what do you expect. They’re good at heart and will grow out of it.”
“That is a good thing to hear.” He glanced at the table. “Why don’t you have a seat.”
“Before the King of Jerusalem? I would never dream.”
“Men like you are what made me a true King. Now come, sit, your back must be killing you.”
The old soldier looked surprised. “How did you know that, your grace?”
Jean smiled. “That’s my job now, to know things.” It sounded like the sort of wisdom someone wise would dispense.
“Well, I thank you. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, for this great honor.”
As Jean prepared to open the door the soldier called. “Oh, a cripple shambled up to the door last night, begging for shelter and the like. I asked him why none of the Churches or Hospitals would take him and he said they were packed.”
Yes, Jean had heard something about that problem. Amadee had been going on and on about the sick and the poor and the needy. “And what did you tell him?”
“I told him that you were not to be disturbed, and he should go bang on some other door.”
“And what happened after that?”
“He could not move any further and just kind of slumped against the side of the building. I took pity on the poor wretch and gave him some of my dinner. I think he’s still out there.”
Jean opened the door and looked out. Sure enough, a man with a brown scraggly bear and the dirtiest hair he had ever seen was slumped up against Jean’s residence.
“Well soldier, it would seem we will be having a guest for breakfast.”
“Are… you sure sir.” Jean got the feeling that the man expected him to be suggesting they have the man for breakfast. It would be a proposition as out of character as what Jean was doing right now.
Jean told him to come in.
“Thank you, my lord! Thank you! You are my salvation on this day. Why you are as great a Saint as goodman Hallel!”
Yesterday, Jean would have beheaded any man who made such a comparison.
With the beggar taken care of Jean left the house and headed out into the city. He found Halell where he was last night, handing out food to the poor near the Church of Saint John, at the crossroads of the city’s old Jewish and Armenian quarters. Somehow it seemed fitting.
“I would not take you for the charitable type”, Jean called out to his commander. Hallel flashed a hideous smile and bowed. “Majesty. It is an honor to greet you on this fine morning.”
“And you as well, my favorite infidel. What we have before us is a true miracle.”
He leaned in. “I confess, I did not plan to do this just out of the goodness of my heart. Being known as a savior has its advantages, but I think I just fell into the role. It feels good to ease the woes of others, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes, I would.”
He headed over to where Alphonse and the other commanders had been drinking. Approaching the guard at the gate he was halted. “Your grace”.
“Good sir, how fare our fine commanders this morning?”
The man, a younger fellow, glanced around as if waiting for someone, anyone to give him instructions. Alas, there was only him and the King of Jerusalem.
“Er, they are fine. Very fine. Fine sober men. But they gave me strict orders not to be disturbed.”
“Is that so?”
“It is, your grace.”
“And I don’t suppose that included turning away your King. Surely, they would understand disobedience in such circumstances?”
“Erh I. I only am doing what I am told.”
Jean smiled wickedly. It was good to be in charge of things again.
“Settle down, settle down. I understand your plight. I promise I’ll tell them it wasn’t your fault.” With that, he brushed the man aside and went in.
The men were stumbling around groggily, with the illustrious Count of Beirut still drunkenly comatose upon the bench.
“My lords”, Jean said with crisp formality.
The men spun to some approximation of attention. “Your grace. We apologize for our less than presentable condition”, Amadee said like a man carefully working his way through a fog of the mind.
Jean grinned and laughed. “Ah, you are forgiven. After all, I would expect nothing less on a night like the last. Do you gentlemen mind if I have a word with my good friend Alphonse, in private?”
They gave their assent and left the room, carrying the Count on their shoulders. Alphonse himself stood rigidly at attention.
“Alphonse.”
“Your Grace.”
“I wanted to see you after the mess I made of things last night and tell you how terribly sorry I am about well, what an ass I made of myself.”
“Have no fear sir, I am used to it.”
“But that’s just it. You shouldn’t have to be. You have been nothing but a good and loyal servant and have always given me wise and well intended council, and valor in battle. I, in turn, have shown you such disrespect and scorn.”
“Don’t make anything of it.”
“Well, I intend to make something of it. Starting today I promise to be a better to you, as both a king to his advisor and a friend to his friend.”
Alphonse smiled. “I thank you for your generosity, your Grace. I shall forever remain your friend and servant”
“Good. Good. That is very good to hear. Are you up for getting back to work? Or should I give you a day of rest?”
“I think we have too much undone to allow ourselves any of those.”
“Quite right. I had two matters to take care of, besides our impending visit to the Emperor. Since the first of these required the attention of the Count of Beirut, who is too inebriated to take any action…”
“He seemed bothered about something last night. He was trying to be charming, but I sensed something was off.”
Jean smirked. “Well, we know it wasn’t poison.”
“How did you..”
“Regardless, I will wait until the Chancellor has received to consult with him. In the meantime, we do have other tasks to attend to.”
He called the other commanders back into the room. After thanking them for their fidelity and courage in battle, he turned to Mayor Amadee. “I want you to send out parties of men to search for food in the countryside. If not, since you are such a charitable man, you could not doubt arrange for more to be brought in for cheap via the port of Acre.”
“Thank you, your grace.”
“I am merely doing what my wise councilors advised me to. But I will gladly accept your acclamations.”
“Alphonse, I want you to convey the city’s councilors and other notables. I have a proposition for them.”
A gaggle of councilors gathered in the Tower of David. Clerics representing the various Christan denominations, as well as a duo of a semi traumatized Rabbi and Imam.
“My esteemed men of Jerusalem. The suffering of your city has troubled me greatly. Have no fear. Your King is here to provide for you.”
“Will this mean the armies will cease eating us out of house and home?”, said an eager Armenian Cleric.
Jean restrained the urge to yet at the man. “Sadly no. But we are working to bring relief. And once the fighting begins, construction will begin on a more permanent solution to your woes.
With the Templars and Hospitallers looking to break with the Kingdom, it would be up to the crown to undertake some of their former duties. Even if they continue to man fortress or tend to the sick and care for pilgrims, that would give them power, and Jean did not want organizations so hostile to him to wield that kind of power.
By the time Jean had finished his meeting, the Chancellor had recovered from his hangover.
“I apologize for my undignified state earlier.”
“No need to Chancellor.” The pleasure Jean had derived from his rival’s disgraceful drunkenness was all the reward he needed. Still, he tried to keep his mind on the positives, on the people who needed help, and not his petty issues with Count Jean.
“I assume you had something you wanted to convey to me?”
“Yes. I have a matter most urgent. I know you might not think it anything of your concern, but it involves the Queen of Cyprus.”
“Hughes widow?”
“And your sister by law yes. My niece.”
“Oh, I assume they are in good health.” Jean did his best to wear his most smug expression.
Ibelin then proceeded to tell of the family’s travails. All the while Jean displayed no emotion. He merely motioned for Ibelin to continue.
“Now I know what you are going to say.”
“Do you?”, he said quietly, allowing Ibelin to talk over him.
“You’ll say that it wasn’t your fault that Hughes died. He was grasping and ambitious and should have known the costs his death would inflict upon his House. You will ask if I am implying that you are responsible for his death, which you will fiercely deny. And you will…”
“I will help them.” The look of complete bewilderment that came across Jean of Ibelin’s face was a veritable Christmas miracle. One Jean would treasure for some time. “Er yes um. Thank you, I am very grateful.”
Jean nodded gravely. “Yes. Those girls have been through enough. We need to take action to alleviate their plight. I can’t stand the thought of those little girls in danger, our poor Melisande languishing in Venetian captivity. We could even invite Alix and her husband to our court. It would make her so happy.” Ibelin’s jaw hung open like a raised portcullis. Jean had meant every word of what he said. And that fact made Ibelin’s bewilderment all the sweeter.
“I confess. This was not what I was expecting your Grace.”
“It is not what I would have done until very recently.”
“Oh?”
“Indeed.”
“My mother always said there was more to you than met the eye.”
“She was a very wise woman. She helped me more than you can ever know.”
“Something has changed about you your Grace if you don’t mind me being so blunt. You seem almost a different man from yesterday.”
“Let's just say that I had a visit from some very wise people and that they helped me realize some truths about myself and the world.”
“Oh?”
“Yes well. You should start making arrangements for your trip.”
“My trip?”
“Yes, your trip. I need someone to negotiate with the Venetians. And since you are my Chancellor and so close to the matter at hand..”
“I understand.”
“I thought you would. You will take ship from Acre at the first opportunity.” Even if he was doing good, he could still inconvenience Ibelin in the meantime.
But Ibelin himself seemed unbowed. “I look forward to carrying out such a noble task.” Jean could see the ghost of his mother in him.
After they concluded the meeting, Jean showed Ibelin to the door. The Chancellor looked back at him. “She spoke to you, didn’t she? Somehow someway this is her doing.”
“I neither confirm nor deny that.”
“Her last words were to tell me to cooperate with you. Did you know that?”
"No."
"I do not blame you for that. Her whole life was dedicated to duty. Whatever she told you. Please tell me she was at peace."
Jean thought back to the last moments he had spent with the Komninos Queen. Right as she wished her granddaughter goodbye and vanished.
"I think she was at peace in the end. She knew her job was done." Even if it had not been done as well as she had intended. Sometimes when one set out to a task, they just needed to get it done, even if the final result was imperfect.
"Thank you."
It felt surprisingly good to be good. He still had work to do. He needed to visit Hughes and write to Agnes and Isabelle. Soon the war would be over. And the task of rebuilding the Kingdom would fall to him. He would not fail. He could not. Now that he had the expectations of both the living and the dead weighing on him.
Jean awoke with tears in his eyes. He raised his hands to his face. It was solid. He brought it down to wipe away the sweat from his clammy brow. I felt my hand now. I am sold. I’m not in a dream.
He got up and paced around the room. Savary, Maria, the Komnena, and Hughes. They had all been trying to tell him something. But what? He had seen so much. From so many places. And they hadn’t given him a clear answer. He needed to do this. He needed fresh air. Sitting in his bed and brooding all day would do him no good. “Save Alix and her children. Yes, I must do that.”
He washed up. “I just wish the Emperor congratulations on his new child.” He stopped himself from saying even if it is only a girl. Maria would not have liked that.
He donned his tunic and pants and walked downstairs. “Good morning your Grace”, an old man at arms who looked vaguely familiar, said stiffly. “A merry Christmas to you good man.” The soldier looked uncomfortable. Ordinarily Jean would not have paid the issue a second thought. “Did I say something to offend you, my good man?”
“No no. It's just. While I honor our lord and savior, of course, his birthday brings to mind painful memories. My wife she… she died on Christmas morning. Just around sunup in fact.”
“Ah. I see. I am sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you, your Grace. This year is especially hard. My son took an arrow at the siege you see.” He had mentioned something of the sort. “Yes. A brave man. Dead before his time. I am truly sorry for your loss.” To Jean’s great surprise he found that he meant it. Something about seeing the man in such an unguarded moment had moved his heart.
“Thank you, your Grace. I should count my blessings. I have two grandchildren.”
“They give you trouble do they not”, he said with a laugh and a smile. Something about this tiny part of the dream world bleeding into reality made him happy. It had been a cruel dream, but a beautiful one, and he had seen old friends again. He waved the concern aside. “Bah they’re young what do you expect. They’re good at heart and will grow out of it.”
“That is a good thing to hear.” He glanced at the table. “Why don’t you have a seat.”
“Before the King of Jerusalem? I would never dream.”
“Men like you are what made me a true King. Now come, sit, your back must be killing you.”
The old soldier looked surprised. “How did you know that, your grace?”
Jean smiled. “That’s my job now, to know things.” It sounded like the sort of wisdom someone wise would dispense.
“Well, I thank you. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, for this great honor.”
As Jean prepared to open the door the soldier called. “Oh, a cripple shambled up to the door last night, begging for shelter and the like. I asked him why none of the Churches or Hospitals would take him and he said they were packed.”
Yes, Jean had heard something about that problem. Amadee had been going on and on about the sick and the poor and the needy. “And what did you tell him?”
“I told him that you were not to be disturbed, and he should go bang on some other door.”
“And what happened after that?”
“He could not move any further and just kind of slumped against the side of the building. I took pity on the poor wretch and gave him some of my dinner. I think he’s still out there.”
Jean opened the door and looked out. Sure enough, a man with a brown scraggly bear and the dirtiest hair he had ever seen was slumped up against Jean’s residence.
“Well soldier, it would seem we will be having a guest for breakfast.”
“Are… you sure sir.” Jean got the feeling that the man expected him to be suggesting they have the man for breakfast. It would be a proposition as out of character as what Jean was doing right now.
Jean told him to come in.
“Thank you, my lord! Thank you! You are my salvation on this day. Why you are as great a Saint as goodman Hallel!”
Yesterday, Jean would have beheaded any man who made such a comparison.
With the beggar taken care of Jean left the house and headed out into the city. He found Halell where he was last night, handing out food to the poor near the Church of Saint John, at the crossroads of the city’s old Jewish and Armenian quarters. Somehow it seemed fitting.
“I would not take you for the charitable type”, Jean called out to his commander. Hallel flashed a hideous smile and bowed. “Majesty. It is an honor to greet you on this fine morning.”
“And you as well, my favorite infidel. What we have before us is a true miracle.”
He leaned in. “I confess, I did not plan to do this just out of the goodness of my heart. Being known as a savior has its advantages, but I think I just fell into the role. It feels good to ease the woes of others, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes, I would.”
He headed over to where Alphonse and the other commanders had been drinking. Approaching the guard at the gate he was halted. “Your grace”.
“Good sir, how fare our fine commanders this morning?”
The man, a younger fellow, glanced around as if waiting for someone, anyone to give him instructions. Alas, there was only him and the King of Jerusalem.
“Er, they are fine. Very fine. Fine sober men. But they gave me strict orders not to be disturbed.”
“Is that so?”
“It is, your grace.”
“And I don’t suppose that included turning away your King. Surely, they would understand disobedience in such circumstances?”
“Erh I. I only am doing what I am told.”
Jean smiled wickedly. It was good to be in charge of things again.
“Settle down, settle down. I understand your plight. I promise I’ll tell them it wasn’t your fault.” With that, he brushed the man aside and went in.
The men were stumbling around groggily, with the illustrious Count of Beirut still drunkenly comatose upon the bench.
“My lords”, Jean said with crisp formality.
The men spun to some approximation of attention. “Your grace. We apologize for our less than presentable condition”, Amadee said like a man carefully working his way through a fog of the mind.
Jean grinned and laughed. “Ah, you are forgiven. After all, I would expect nothing less on a night like the last. Do you gentlemen mind if I have a word with my good friend Alphonse, in private?”
They gave their assent and left the room, carrying the Count on their shoulders. Alphonse himself stood rigidly at attention.
“Alphonse.”
“Your Grace.”
“I wanted to see you after the mess I made of things last night and tell you how terribly sorry I am about well, what an ass I made of myself.”
“Have no fear sir, I am used to it.”
“But that’s just it. You shouldn’t have to be. You have been nothing but a good and loyal servant and have always given me wise and well intended council, and valor in battle. I, in turn, have shown you such disrespect and scorn.”
“Don’t make anything of it.”
“Well, I intend to make something of it. Starting today I promise to be a better to you, as both a king to his advisor and a friend to his friend.”
Alphonse smiled. “I thank you for your generosity, your Grace. I shall forever remain your friend and servant”
“Good. Good. That is very good to hear. Are you up for getting back to work? Or should I give you a day of rest?”
“I think we have too much undone to allow ourselves any of those.”
“Quite right. I had two matters to take care of, besides our impending visit to the Emperor. Since the first of these required the attention of the Count of Beirut, who is too inebriated to take any action…”
“He seemed bothered about something last night. He was trying to be charming, but I sensed something was off.”
Jean smirked. “Well, we know it wasn’t poison.”
“How did you..”
“Regardless, I will wait until the Chancellor has received to consult with him. In the meantime, we do have other tasks to attend to.”
He called the other commanders back into the room. After thanking them for their fidelity and courage in battle, he turned to Mayor Amadee. “I want you to send out parties of men to search for food in the countryside. If not, since you are such a charitable man, you could not doubt arrange for more to be brought in for cheap via the port of Acre.”
“Thank you, your grace.”
“I am merely doing what my wise councilors advised me to. But I will gladly accept your acclamations.”
“Alphonse, I want you to convey the city’s councilors and other notables. I have a proposition for them.”
A gaggle of councilors gathered in the Tower of David. Clerics representing the various Christan denominations, as well as a duo of a semi traumatized Rabbi and Imam.
“My esteemed men of Jerusalem. The suffering of your city has troubled me greatly. Have no fear. Your King is here to provide for you.”
“Will this mean the armies will cease eating us out of house and home?”, said an eager Armenian Cleric.
Jean restrained the urge to yet at the man. “Sadly no. But we are working to bring relief. And once the fighting begins, construction will begin on a more permanent solution to your woes.
With the Templars and Hospitallers looking to break with the Kingdom, it would be up to the crown to undertake some of their former duties. Even if they continue to man fortress or tend to the sick and care for pilgrims, that would give them power, and Jean did not want organizations so hostile to him to wield that kind of power.
By the time Jean had finished his meeting, the Chancellor had recovered from his hangover.
“I apologize for my undignified state earlier.”
“No need to Chancellor.” The pleasure Jean had derived from his rival’s disgraceful drunkenness was all the reward he needed. Still, he tried to keep his mind on the positives, on the people who needed help, and not his petty issues with Count Jean.
“I assume you had something you wanted to convey to me?”
“Yes. I have a matter most urgent. I know you might not think it anything of your concern, but it involves the Queen of Cyprus.”
“Hughes widow?”
“And your sister by law yes. My niece.”
“Oh, I assume they are in good health.” Jean did his best to wear his most smug expression.
Ibelin then proceeded to tell of the family’s travails. All the while Jean displayed no emotion. He merely motioned for Ibelin to continue.
“Now I know what you are going to say.”
“Do you?”, he said quietly, allowing Ibelin to talk over him.
“You’ll say that it wasn’t your fault that Hughes died. He was grasping and ambitious and should have known the costs his death would inflict upon his House. You will ask if I am implying that you are responsible for his death, which you will fiercely deny. And you will…”
“I will help them.” The look of complete bewilderment that came across Jean of Ibelin’s face was a veritable Christmas miracle. One Jean would treasure for some time. “Er yes um. Thank you, I am very grateful.”
Jean nodded gravely. “Yes. Those girls have been through enough. We need to take action to alleviate their plight. I can’t stand the thought of those little girls in danger, our poor Melisande languishing in Venetian captivity. We could even invite Alix and her husband to our court. It would make her so happy.” Ibelin’s jaw hung open like a raised portcullis. Jean had meant every word of what he said. And that fact made Ibelin’s bewilderment all the sweeter.
“I confess. This was not what I was expecting your Grace.”
“It is not what I would have done until very recently.”
“Oh?”
“Indeed.”
“My mother always said there was more to you than met the eye.”
“She was a very wise woman. She helped me more than you can ever know.”
“Something has changed about you your Grace if you don’t mind me being so blunt. You seem almost a different man from yesterday.”
“Let's just say that I had a visit from some very wise people and that they helped me realize some truths about myself and the world.”
“Oh?”
“Yes well. You should start making arrangements for your trip.”
“My trip?”
“Yes, your trip. I need someone to negotiate with the Venetians. And since you are my Chancellor and so close to the matter at hand..”
“I understand.”
“I thought you would. You will take ship from Acre at the first opportunity.” Even if he was doing good, he could still inconvenience Ibelin in the meantime.
But Ibelin himself seemed unbowed. “I look forward to carrying out such a noble task.” Jean could see the ghost of his mother in him.
After they concluded the meeting, Jean showed Ibelin to the door. The Chancellor looked back at him. “She spoke to you, didn’t she? Somehow someway this is her doing.”
“I neither confirm nor deny that.”
“Her last words were to tell me to cooperate with you. Did you know that?”
"No."
"I do not blame you for that. Her whole life was dedicated to duty. Whatever she told you. Please tell me she was at peace."
Jean thought back to the last moments he had spent with the Komninos Queen. Right as she wished her granddaughter goodbye and vanished.
"I think she was at peace in the end. She knew her job was done." Even if it had not been done as well as she had intended. Sometimes when one set out to a task, they just needed to get it done, even if the final result was imperfect.
"Thank you."
It felt surprisingly good to be good. He still had work to do. He needed to visit Hughes and write to Agnes and Isabelle. Soon the war would be over. And the task of rebuilding the Kingdom would fall to him. He would not fail. He could not. Now that he had the expectations of both the living and the dead weighing on him.
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