Free Widow of Jerusalem: A Medieval Mystery by Alan Gordon

kind.”
    “Why should he find out?” inquired Conrad. “Didn’t you conceal your identity?”
    “I did,” I said. “But the captain of your patrol who met us knew what we were up to. So, I should guess, do many others around here. I’m sure that Richard will have word from his spies within the week. So, I need papers. I plan to lie low here for a while.”
    Conrad snapped his fingers, and a clerk drew up the document. The marquis added his signature and seal. He held it toward me, then snatched it back as I reached for it.
    “Ten bezants,” he said, grinning.
    “What?” I exclaimed.
    “Your original price did not include any documents,” he said. “The price of occupancy inside the walls is at a premium right now.”
    Scarlet began to laugh, and after a bit of feigned chagrin, I joined him.
    “Here, milord,” I said, handing him half of my new fortune. “I hope to be of service to you again.”
    “You are most welcome in Tyre, Droignon,” said Conrad. “Pray, leave me with my little friend so that I might catch up on the latest news from Acre.”
    I retreated to the front of the hall and made myself useful by entertaining the stalled line of petitioners as well as the guards. Scarlet was perched on the arm of the throne, having a hushed conversation with Conrad. Finally, the marquis let my colleague go.
    “I had to bring him up to date on the negotiations with Saladin,” he said as he rejoined me. “Not to mention as much gossip as I could gather while I was in Acre.”
    “Doesn’t he have other people with Saladin? I never saw you when I was there.”
    “No, you didn’t,” he said. “But I saw you. Where did you learn your Arabic, by the way? It’s excellent.”
    “In Alexandria when I was younger,” I said. “How come you never contacted me before Acre?”
    “I couldn’t risk being seen with a secret envoy from King Philip when I was an equally secret envoy from Conrad. Even two fools working toward the same goal can end up at cross-purposes.”
    “I wonder whom Saladin will make the deal with. If he decides to deal at all.”
    “I think he will,” said Scarlet. “The war has gone on too long, and his troops don’t want to fight year round. For now, he’ll play Richard and Conrad against each other while he consolidates his gains. Maybe we’ll have a truce by winter. Or maybe Richard will give up and go back to his kingdom before he loses control of it.”
    “In the meantime, what are we doing right now?”
    “I am going to give you the tour of the castellum and an introduction to the key people around here. You met Conrad and you saw the Bishop of Beauvais. I cannot believe you pulled that stunt over the money.”
    “I thought it would be in character. Besides, I made ten bezants. Tell me about the bishop.”
    “He’s been around a few years,” said Scarlet as we left the hall and walked a series of corridors and staircases. “He was an active participant in persuading the Papal Legate to annul Isabelle’s first marriage, practically procuring for Maria Comnena. When Conrad married Isabelle, Beauvais performed the ceremony, blessing the hypocrisy with everything he had.”
    “Was he a friend of Conrad’s before this?”
    “Not to my knowledge. I think he saw an opportunity for power and influence in an ever-decreasing sphere. He’s been away from Beauvais a long time, and he’s wondering now what he’s going to get to show for it.”
    “It doesn’t sound like he’s getting much from Conrad today.”
    “He should get a little more. I put a word in for him.”
    “You did?” I exclaimed. “Since when do we help out the Church?”
    “Beauvais is at least a neutral party as far as the various splits between England and France and between Pisa and Genoa. We need him on Conrad’s side, because Conrad has no natural constituency of his own, just a lot of sycophants and soldiers of fortune.”
    “And the Queen of Jerusalem.”
    “And the Queen,” he agreed.
    He