James Patterson - The Jester

Everyone spun their heads to see.

“Where?” Father Leo said. “I don’t see anyone.”

When the priest turned back, I handed him his prayer beads, which I had lifted out of his robe. His eyes widened with surprise. Emilie smiled. Everyone started to laugh.

“I’m a jester. You don’t think I would go in there without a trick or two?”

Odo grunted skeptically. “Your tricks may be artful enough here, but if you drop the ball in there, the rest of us are left plowing the north field with our God-given hoe, if you catch my drift. Send someone else.”

“I don’t see another way.” I shrugged. “Except to surround the castle with our shovels and picks and storm Baldwin’s army in one massive charge.”

Odo and Georges swallowed uneasily at each other, considering that unseemly prospect.

The smith glanced around, weighing my suggestion, then slapped me on the back. “So, Hugh, when do you go?”

THAT NIGHT, I LAY with Emilie by a fire. I felt her nervousness as I wrapped my arm tightly around her.

“Don’t be worried for me,” I said.

“How could I not? You are walking into a lion’s den… And there are other things on my mind.”

“What things? The stars are out. We are here. I can feel the beating of your heart…”

“Please, do not mock me, Hugh.” Emilie turned in my arms. “I cannot help myself. My mind has been returning to Borée.”

“Borée…?”

“Anne.” Emilie rose up on an elbow. “Stephen’s wrath will be great now that his men have failed. He’ll want this lance more than ever. I am worried for her.”

“I don’t share your concern.”

“I know you have no love for her.” She stroked my face. “But Anne is a prisoner too, just as surely as if she were behind bars. You must understand that. I am pledged to her, Hugh. It is a bond I simply cannot run away from and break.”

“You are pledged to me now.” I tickled Emilie’s ribs. “Can you break that one?”

“No.” She sighed and kissed me on the forehead. “That I will never break.”

I leaned down to her and kissed her. She opened her mouth [313] to me, but showed a little hesitation. A thousand other people were about. Her breasts came to life at my touch, hard and willing through her robe. I felt my cock spring alive too.

“Come with me,” I said.

“Come where? We are in the forest.”

“A country boy knows.” I winked a bit mischievously. “I have a spot. Just for us.”

I pulled her up, and in the dark of night, with the glimmer of campfires and the forms of sleeping men all around, we sneaked off.

“How can you be so impressively aroused,” Emilie asked, pretending to pull away from me, “with what lies before you in the morning?”

In a small clearing, we threw ourselves into each other’s arms, cushioned by a small bed of leaves. Without speaking, we lifted our clothing and felt our bodies warm to the touch of each other-still new, a gift I could not believe was mine.

There was a deeper, knowing look in Emilie’s eyes. She put my hand on her breast and took a breath. I felt her heart beating like a doe’s. Her nipple grew tight and firm at my touch.

“Is my spot to your satisfaction?” I asked.

“That depends.” She grinned. “Just which spot is that?”

She kissed me, her tongue searching mine with an ardor I had not felt from her before. She climbed on my lap and I buried my head in the softness of her breasts. I was aching for her and I could see in her eyes that she felt the same for me.

I moved inside Emilie. Her breaths became heated and purposeful. Her eyes did not leave mine. I loved that. I felt as if every thrill and instance of her passion, each tremor and jolt shooting through me, narrowed into one enormous burst.

At the moment of climax, we cried out. Then we muffled each other and laughed.

Emilie rested with her head on my chest, the distant camp-fires lighting up the night. She sighed, so I knew she was happy, but then a shiver rippled across her shoulders. “What happens,” [314] she said warily, “once Baldwin is defeated? Things cannot just go back. These lands have been in his family for generations.”

“I have been thinking that too,” I said. “I have no wish to govern. Only to right this wrong. I was thinking I would write to the King. I have heard he is a fair man.”

“I have heard he is fair.” Emilie took a breath. “But is he also noble.”

I turned her face to me. “You said you know the King. You said your father was a member of his court.”

“Well, yes… I have met him, but…”

“Then you could intercede,” I said. “You could tell him we are only humble men who want to return to their lives and work in peace. We have no thought to stealing anyone’s title or territory. He will have to see.”

I felt Emilie nod, her chin upon my chest, but distantly, as if she was not convinced.

“Do not be so worried for me.” I held her tightly. “You have made me strong.”

“I do not worry just for you, but for all that will follow. For you, I have a secret charm.”

“And what is this charm that will protect me?” I laughed, stroking her hair.

“I’m coming along.”

“What?” I raised her up. “There is no way, Emilie. I can’t allow it.”

“There is every way,” she said, her eyes unwavering. “I am in this as deeply as you, Hugh De Luc. I told you, we are together, our fates entwined. I am going with you. That is all.”

I moved to argue, but she stopped me with a finger to my lips. Then she put her head back on my chest and held me as if she would never let go.

DANIEL GUI BOLTED into the planning room.

“My lord, your jester’s army has been sighted. It lies half a day from the city, at the edge of the forest.”

“You mean the rabble.” Baldwin sniffed. His advisers, the bailiff and chamberlain, seemed delighted with the news.

“You must attack, then,” the bailiff wheezed. “I know these peasants. Their courage will crumble at the first sign of a fight. Their resolve is only as strong as their last ale.”

“It appears their resolve has stiffened,” Daniel observed. “This jester has given them hope. They outnumber us three to one.”

“But we have horses and crossbows,” Baldwin said. “They have only tools and wooden shields.”

“If we go after them in the woods,” Daniel said, “all our horses and crossbows would be reduced to nothing. Your men would be slaughtered just like Stephen’s. The jester has this lance. It emboldens them.”

“The chatelain is right, my lord,” said the chamberlain. “Even if you won, you would turn each carcass into a hero’s grave. You must hear their demands. Consider them, even disingenuously. Promise them the slightest gain if they return to their fields.”

“You are wise, chamberlain.” Baldwin grinned. “These peasants have no means for a long siege. They will grow bored and tired as soon as their bellies start to ache.”

[316] The bailiff and the chamberlain puffed back their agreement.

“Do not forget, my lord,” Daniel cut in, “the jester has this lance. They believe it makes them right.”

“This lance will rest in Treille before the negotiation is done,” said Baldwin. “They will give it up for a bag of wheat. And they will give him up too. I will have the fool’s head upon his precious lance and place it before my bath.”

“I merely meant,” Daniel pressed on, “that you take a risk by inviting this siege.”

Baldwin slowly rose. He walked around the table and put his arm across Daniel’s shoulders. “Come,” Baldwin motioned him toward the fire. “A word with you, by the light.”