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I am teaching him a profession-starting today, Emilie replied.
But not for here, I hope. We are overemployed with hangers-on as it is.
No, not for here, my lady. Once he learns what I have to teach, he will be on
his way. He has a wife to find. He loves her dearly.
Chapter 34
I RESTED FOR THREE MORE DAYS, until most of my wounds had healed.
Then Emilie knocked on the door, seeming excited. She inquired as to my
health. Are you able to walk?
Yes, of course. I hopped out of bed to show her, though still a bit impaired.
That'll do. She seemed pleased. Then come along with me.
She marched to the door and I hurried, with a slight limp, to keep up with
her. She led me through the halls, wide and arched and adorned with beautiful
tapestries, then down a steep flight of stone stairs.
Where are we going? I asked, pushing to keep up. It felt good to be out of my
sickroom.
To view your new pretext, I hope, she said.
We traveled to a different part of the castle. I had never been so close to
the abode of royals before.
On the main floor there were large rooms, with long rows of tables and huge
hearths, guarded by uniformed soldiers at every door. Knights milled about in
their casual tunics, trading stories and rolling dice. Mounted torches lit the
halls.
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Then we passed the kitchen, with an inviting smell of garlic in the air, maids
and porters shuffling around, casks of wine and ale.
Still we traveled, down a narrow corridor leading beneath the ground. Here the
walls were of coarsely laid stone. The air grew stale and damp. We were in
some sort of keep now. In the womb of the castle. Where was Emilie taking me?
What did she mean by my new pretext?
Finally, when the halls were so ill-lit and dank that the only living thing
must be some slumbering beast, Emilie stopped in front of a large wooden door.
My new pretext is a mole, I said with a laugh.
Do not be rude, she said, and knocked.
Come in, groaned a voice from deep inside. Come, come. Hurry before I change
my mind.
Curious, I followed Emilie as we stepped into a cool room. It was more of a
cell, or a dungeon, but large and candlelit; on the walls were shelves filled
with what I took to be toys and props.
In the rear, on an ornately carved chair, sat a hunched man in a red tunic,
green tights, and a patchwork skirt.
He lowered a yellowy eye toward Emilie. Come in, auntie. May I have a lick?
Just a lick would do...
Oh,shut up , Norbert, Emilie retorted, though not crossly. This is the man I
spoke of. His name is Hugh. Hugh, this is Norbert, the lord's fool.
Egad. Norbert leaped out of his chair. He was squat and gnomelike, yet he
moved with startling speed. He sprang up to me, almost smothering my red hair
with his huge eyes, placing a hand on my head, then swiftly pulling it back.
Do you intend to burn me, ma'am? What is he, torch or man?
What he is, is no fool, Norbert, Emilie cautioned. I think you'll have your
work cut out for you.
I looked at Emilie with consternation. Mypretext is a jester, my lady?
And why not? Emilie replied. You say you have a knack for amusing people. What
better role? Norbert informs me that the jester at Treille is as old as
vinegar.
And his wit even more sour, the jester croaked.
And that he has lost the favor of your liege there, Baldwin. It should be no
great feat for a youthful up-and-comer like yourself to gain his ear. Easier,
I would think, than storming his castle in a fit of rage.
I started to stammer. I had just come back from the war, where I had fought as
bravely as any man. I was looking to avenge a misery that cut to my core. I
did not think of myself as a hero. But ajester? I can't dispute your
reasoning, lady, but...I am no fool.
Oh, you think it's a natural thing to act this way? The gnomelike man hopped
up to me. Unpracticed, not learned... ? You think, carrot-top -he stroked my
face with his rough hands and batted his wide eyes- that I was never as young
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and fair as you?
He sprang back, narrowing his gaze. Just because you play the fool, boy,
doesn't mean you must be thick inside. The lady's plan is well-conceived.If
you have the knack to carry it out.
Nothing motivates me more than the will to find my wife, I insisted.
I didn't say thewill , boy. I said theknack. The lady says you have a way
about yourself. That you fancy yourself a jongleur.Jongleurs... oh, they can
soften the blood of blushing maidens and patrons drunk on ale. But the real
trick is, can you walk into a room filled with scoundrels and schemers and
make an ill-tempered king smile?
I looked at Emilie. She was right. I did need some way to gain access to
Baldwin's castle. Sophie, if she was alive, wouldn't be dressed up in the
royal court, would she? I needed to snoop around, gain some trust....
Perhaps I can learn, I replied.
Chapter 35
LEARN... Norbert shook his head and bellowed laughter. Learning would take
years. How would you learn in a short time to do this?
The gnome took a lit candle, waved his bare hand through the flame, not once
crying out, then snapped his fingers, and the flame was snuffed as if by
magic. It's what comes natural that I need to know. So tell me,whaddaya do ?
Do... ? I muttered.
Do, the jester snapped. What kind of student have you brought me, auntie? Has
a rock hit his head?What do you do? Juggle, tumble, fall down?
I looked around. I spotted a staff leaning against a table, roughly the same
size as mine. I winked at Norbert. I can do this. I placed one end of the
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