The Heart of the Lion - Plaidy Jean. Страница 11

As for John, she believed he was not actively ambitious. He would like to be King no doubt, but he would not want to fight for a crown. He really preferred drinking, gaming and the company of women. He could occupy himself in Ireland and with his vast estates. John would have enough to keep him busy.

So with the thought of a mission of her own Eleanor was less opposed to Richard’s departure.

Meanwhile Richard chafed against delay. The sale of posts throughout the country had naturally displeased some people; but not many were ready to raise their voices against a campaign to the Holy Land. Superstition was rife and there was a fear that to attempt to oppose the King’s desire to free Christendom from the Infidel might offend God.

People began to see or imagine they saw indications of Divine approval. At Dunstable it was said that a white banner appeared in the sky; someone else saw a crucifix there. Perhaps all that was needed was imagination and a certain cloud formation but people began assembling in market squares and announcing their intention to accompany the King on his crusade.

This was gratifying to Richard but there were delays. He chafed against them but he was a king and there was his mother to remind him of this. First the harvest had been disappointing, so much so that in some areas there was a threat of famine. Baldwin was critical of the King and did not hesitate to say so. Richard’s half-brother Geoffrey joined Baldwin against him, much to the fury of Eleanor who could never forget that Geoffrey was her husband’s illegitimate son.

Already there had arisen the recurring conflict between Church and State.

‘Sometimes,’ cried Richard, ‘I think they are determined to do all they can to stop my leaving. They never will.’

But in spite of his determination it was necessary to remain and give time and thought to this trouble in the Church.

The outcome was that he and Geoffrey patched up their quarrel and Geoffrey paid him three thousand pounds from his revenues to help finance the crusade, so it was not entirely wasted after all from Richard’s point of view.

By December he was able to leave for Normandy on his way to see the King of France to make their final preparations.

It was January before the two Kings met at Gue St Remi. It was an emotional meeting. Once there had been great amity between them. That had been at the time when Richard was at odds with his father and had been so angry and wounded because Henry had wanted to set him aside for the sake of John. Philip had been there to comfort him. He had sworn allegiance to Philip; he had been his constant companion; hunted with him, talked with him and shared his bed. There could be no greater intimacy and everyone had marvelled at the friendship between the King of France and the son of the King of England, none more than Henry the King of England who had been considerably discountenanced by it.

They had been happy days when they had been together, the more exciting perhaps because each had known they could not go on and were a little uncertain how deep their feelings for each other went.

Philip must ask himself: How much of this friendship is love for me, how much hatred of his father? How much the desire for my company, how much the knowledge that I more than anyone can help him make a stand against his father?

And Richard: This love for me, how much friendship is there in it, how much the need to flout my father, to mock him by keeping his son at his court?

How eager was the King of France to outwit the King of England? How could they be sure of each other? Yet it was there, the love which had flared up between them.

As King of England Richard could now meet Philip as an equal on one ground, but he still owed him allegiance as the Duke of Normandy.

Philip embraced Richard. ‘Welcome, my brother. It does my heart good to see you.’

Richard was less fulsome but the coldness had left his eyes and they glowed with an unusual warmth.

‘So you are now King of England. Our fears were groundless.’

All noted how the King of France would have no ceremony with the King of England. He slipped his arm through his and they walked together. It was said: They will live in amity as they did before. This augurs well for the crusade.

Philip took Richard into his camp that they might talk intimately together. Philip had aged a little. He was ten years younger than Richard but often appeared to be the more mature. He was more of a realist, completely lacking Richard’s idealism.

How like the old days it was! Philip lying back on his bunk, his head supported on his folded arms and Richard seated before him.

‘You are as handsome as you ever were,’ said Philip. ‘Though a little drawn. Are you in good health, my friend?’

‘I have had attacks of the quartan fever.’

‘So you still suffer from that malady? How do you think you will fare in the hot climate?’

‘That I shall discover.’

‘Richard, do you think your health will permit you to go?’

Richard laughed aloud. ‘Nothing will prevent me.’

‘Ah indeed, it seems strange to talk of weakness to you. You were ever the one who rode the fastest, played the most skilful game. You should have taken greater care of your health, for it is sheer carelessness which has made you a victim of this fever.’

‘A soldier cannot always sleep in a warm dry bed, brother.’

‘Nay, alas. Ah, but you are as strong as ever, I doubt not. You will overcome this fever . . . Do you realise that a dream of our youth is about to come true? Remember, Richard, how we would lie in my bed and plan our journey to the Holy Land . . . together. It had to be together. Otherwise it would have lost its pleasure for us both.’

‘I remember it well. I was always determined that it should come about.’

‘And now you have a kingdom to govern!’

‘You also.’

‘Two Kings who will leave their kingdoms for a dream! Together we must go, for if we did not . . .’ Philip laughed slyly . . . ‘How could the King of England go if the King of France did not go also?’

‘Indeed! How could the King of France leave his kingdom if the King of England did not also leave his?’

‘’Tis a fact, Richard, that these two so fear the other that they could not know what one would be about during the other’s absence. What a chance for the warlike fellow to take certain French castles he covets.’

‘And it has always been a whim of the kings of France to take Normandy from the Normans.’

‘Some of my ancestors believe it should never have been given to your ancestor Old Rollo. What a marauding pirate he was! He was not content with his lands of the North, he had to take a part of France as well. And you, my friend, are descended from those pirates. What of that?’

‘I am proud to remember it.’

‘As proud as I am doubtless of Charlemagne. I’ll tell you this, Richard, that one day when I sat gnawing a little green twig one of my barons told another that he would give him his best horse if he could know what the King was thinking. One over bold asked me and I answered him “I am thinking of whether God will grant unto me or one of my heirs grace to exalt France to the height which she was in the time of Charlemagne.”’

‘It is not possible,’ said Richard.

‘If I were to admit that I would be sounding the death knell to my hopes. Nothing was ever achieved by deciding it cannot be done.’

‘So you will begin by snatching the Holy City from Saladin.’

‘’Twill be a beginning.’

‘I long to be there,’ said Richard. ‘It is inconceivable that the Holy Land can remain in the hands of the Infidel.’

‘You long for military glory,’ said Philip. ‘You want your name to resound throughout the world. The greatest of our warriors! It is for this reason you go to the Holy Land?’