[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.You, Pierre?""I have a cousin here, and her father—d'Ybert; you've met him—has just been made a vidame, so he is generous with his favors to the Church.""Generosity is not how I should describe it,” the messenger said.“You could be better employed.” As he said this, he was not entirely certain it was true, for he saw deep lines of fatigue in le Duc's face, and noticed that the man was thinner than before, his eyes dark and feverish."Amen to that.Every time I have returned here, I have vowed it would be the last, but then something happens and we are back here to fix the doors or keep watch for demons.It's a dreadful way for a good fighter to have to spend his days.” Pierre made an exaggerated sigh.“My men.You knew Ivo, didn't you? He has said that if he comes back here, he'll rape a few of the women and say that the demon impelled him.He does not like being away from his leman for so long a time, and there is nothing to do here that would interest him.One of the villagers, from Saunt-Vitre, that little hamlet you came through to get here, asked Ivo if he would help catch his pigs that had escaped.And Ivo, if you can picture it, was so hungry for something to keep him busy, agreed.He killed one of the pigs, but the man did not object.We've been eating it for the last three days.” He stopped and gave Jean a long look.“And you? What are you here for? And in that tabard?""My father is one of the new vidames, and he, too, is generous with the Church.You do not know what it is to have a family brought back from the brink in that way.Two of the old fiefs are gone to ruin since the Plague was there.Now there is a chance to save them, but it means that those of us who are able must give our service to the Pope.I'd rather be fighting Romans, but this is what they have given me to do, so—” He opened his hands in acceptance of his predicament."Do you think it will come to that? That we will fight the Romans instead of this eternal spying and bickering?” Pierre spoke with animation, but Jean sensed that there was a more frantic need for battle than mere boredom."It might,” he said.“My father heard one of the Cardinals say that he favored a war.God would defend the true Pope and there would be no more of this nonsense.But there are not enough men to mount a real campaign, not yet.If the English had not been so busy in the north, then we might have been able to do something before now.Oh, I think it may drag on another three or four years until both sides are more prepared.It cannot go on indefinitely.""Three or four years is too long as it is,” Pierre declared.“But that's a Churchman for you—take more time and make it all much worse.They cannot see when a single, powerful blow can do more than all the prayers in the world.""True enough.” Jean stopped, then said in another tone, “You do not approve of Évêque Amalrie, then? If you find priests slow to act, this man—""That man does not act, not in any way I would think worthy of a man of honor.He is one of those who likes to see men flogged, and so much the better if he can flog women.It is not such punishment as any sensible man must mete out from time to time, but that other, reckless sort of beating that brings pain and dread.” He hooked his thumbs in his belt.“That Captain in Lyon—do you remember the man, with the yellow hair and dark eyes?—he used to have his men flogged that way, so that they howled and gibbered.This Évêque Amalrie is the same sort.""I recall that man.Strange, that a man with such a bent should want to be a priest.” Jean lowered his chin.“He isn't a second son.It's not as if his family sent him here.He is said to have a vocation.” He began to walk again, motioning for Pierre to keep up with him.“Évêque Amalrie has been recalled to Avignon, by order of the Pope, and you will be required to escort him.""What? Why should I let my men be lackeys to that miserable—""Be calm, Pierre,” Jean said with a grin.“If you escort him, it may be that you will be able to appeal to the Pope to send others here next time, and you will then be free to return to your estates or to prepare for battle with Rome, whichever is more to your liking.""That's possible,” Pierre said slowly, as if he could not entirely make sense of what he had heard.“But so far, d'Ybert has insisted that I be the one to speak to his daughter Aungelique, who is a nun here."Jean reached the door into the courtyard, but he did not go out at once.A reminiscent smile touched his hard, square mouth.“Aungelique.Is that the one that keeps running off to Un Noveautie? The one Comtesse Orienne calls ma Frèrée? No wonder that d'Ybert wants you to be here.Any other man would make short work of that girl.” He chuckled as he opened the door.Hot sunlight met them, making both men squint and shade their eyes."That is part of Michau d'Ybert's reason.He also desired to impress the Cardinal so that eventually he will regain the lands that are currently disputed by him and Courtenay.""That will continue until the Last Judgment.It is three generations already and there is no sign of an end,” Jean said, pleased to have something so remote to discuss.“But you.You are not bound to d'Ybert for that, are you?""By Heaven, no.Courtenay's son is one of my men-at-arms and I will not be asked to arm for d'Ybert should they ever come to battle over the land.” He stared around the courtyard.“When are we to take this precious burden to Avignon? Do you know?""You would do well to leave in two days.The Cardinal wishes to have the man back where he can reach him before the Cardinals meet to discuss the new vidamies that are being awarded.There is no saying what the nobility will expect, but there are lords holding out for vidamies before they will prepare for war.It is not a great consolation, their dedication is predicated on what we can provide them in land and revenues.” He gazed at the wall of the hospice.“Would there be room for me with your men? I don't relish passing the night in such a place as that one, not if the nuns are as Frère Renaut described them [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

zanotowane.pl

doc.pisz.pl

pdf.pisz.pl

listy-do-eda.opx.pl