Barry Unsworth - The Ruby In Her Navel

I said. "I am Thurstan."

"Nesrin," she said, without returning the smile, and she touched herself at the base of the throat. Then she turned to her companions, who had gathered close behind, and she pointed and named them, one by one. He who played the drum and sang was Ozgur, the dulcimer-player was Temel, the two women were Yildiz and Havva. Then Ozgur, smiling broadly, pointed at the drum and said, "Davul," and Temel named the Dulcimer for me, "Kemanche". All five of them were smiling now, as people do when they are named. But there was an uncertainty in the pause that followed, as often happens when there is this naming, especially when there is some obstacle of language to overcome, and I think the girl felt this – she was quick in her sensing of things, as I was to learn – because she laughed suddenly and made a gesture to include the captive birds, whose cages occupied most of the deck, raising a hand and slackening the wrist and letting the fingers dangle loosely down. I saw after a moment that this was in imitation of the long crest-plumes of the herons, which in the wretchedness of captivity drooped down along their backs.

After rage there comes some feeling of sorrow, at least so it is with me. I looked at the birds, at these limp crests of theirs, grown for their time of mating, useless now that their courtship had been cut short. God had made them this gift in the dawn of creation, He had endowed them with this plume to wear for their marriage. And now they were penned and could only shuffle their wings and wail, and they would never mount or be mounted.

I could not see cause for laughter in this, and I let none show on my face. Nesrin, as I have said, was quick in her sensing of things. She was equally quick in her defiance, and this too I was to learn. She showed it now, deliberately prolonging both gesture and laughter, looking directly at me all the while, as if to say, you do not govern my laughter, and I looked back steadily at her and my look said, you are no more than a savage, why should I laugh at your bidding? So something was exchanged between us without words, and when we looked away from each other it was like a truce, but not of the kind where pledges are made or weapons laid aside. I was glad I had not yielded, for immediate personal reasons, and then because, as is well known, small things lead to great, and when I returned to Palermo, I would be responsible for their appearance before the King, they would need to give heed to my words, from the very beginning they would have to understand that I was not one of them, to laugh at their jokes, but a person in authority, moving on a higher plane, the provider of rewards and the source of benefits: in short, the King's Purveyor.

In spite of this excellent reasoning, I was already beginning to feel some compunction. I know not why it is, but I can never stay self-contented for very long. I see a settled state of self-content on some faces, see how they can bask in the sunshine of it, but with me some shadow always intrudes. The girl had felt grateful for my defence of her. That she was mistaken in her gratitude was not the point at issue. She had tried to show her good will by jesting, and I had rebuffed her. I would have said something, even now, in an attempt to repair matters, but she turned away from me, raising her hands to her head and gathering it at the nape so as to tie it, and the loose sleeves fell back from her arms, which were beautiful – but indeed it is a beautiful movement in women, whether they be young or old.

I saw now that the master had come on deck and I remembered I had intended to speak to him, before the altercation with Sigismond had put it out of my mind. Only then, as I gave him his instructions and informed him that I would not be returning with the ship, did it occur to me to wonder why Mario had made no appearance, why he had left it to the men of the crew to restrain his fellow and lead him away. Sigismond was standing at the prow, well away from the dancers, but there was no sign of Mario. He was not below either, so the master told me. He was nowhere to be seen on the ship or on the quay. I realised now that I had not seen him since the people had come down with the birds. But I would not have noticed him anyway, probably, distracted as I had been by those singing voices and that pretence of bargaining.

It was disagreeable to me to address Sigismond so soon after what had happened between us, but I had little choice. He answered me with his usual gruffness, but readily enough and without truculence. His hair was wet, as if he had thrown water over it and he had tied a rag of cotton round his neck to cover the bruise. Mario had said he was going for a piss and he had not come back, this while I was purchasing the herons.

He, Sigismond, had said nothing about this absence, supposing Mario would return before the ship sailed.

"Your first loyalty should have been to me, not to him," I said. "Two fine guards they gave me, one is away drinking when he should be at my shoulder, the other disappears at the time he is most needed."

Sigismond surprised me now: I had expected no more than a shrug, but he looked me doggedly in the face and said, "Lord, forgive this ignorant man that I am, no better than a beast. I thought the girl gave me a look. Then I felt a fool. I have a wife and children in Palermo. Have pity for them, let me keep my place."

This might have been the longest speech he had ever made in his life.

Some grace had descended on him and I could not do less than share in it. Besides, whether by accident or design, he had given me my title, acknowledged my birth. "You can keep your place," I said. "I will not make mention of this in my report, but you must take better care in the future." At this he ducked his head and made a shuffling bow, and I again noticed the poor scrap of cloth round his neck and felt sorry for what had happened. I smiled at him and said, "The girl belongs to the King now, no matter which way she glances. It is easy to make mistakes about the look in a girl's eyes. And then, it is always our fault, no?"

He returned my smile with one of his own, as broad as any I have seen on a human face, and the first I had ever seen on his. He turned away without more words, but I felt I had healed the hurt to his pride if not that to his neck, and perhaps gained his goodwill, something which I think I had not had before.

Mario was still nowhere to be seen but we could not delay longer. I waited at the quayside while the ship put off. As she pulled away from the wharf and passed beyond the harbour wall, the sun caught the birds in their cages and for some moments the deck of the ship flashed along all its length.

I had now to make my preparations for the continuing journey. I would have to secure a horse in good enough condition. But first I retraced my steps to the inn. I had changed my mind in the matter of the mules, I had been too tame with that foul innkeeper. Why should I leave three mules as the King's gift to him? I was more at my ease now, not harassed by conflicting claims as I had been the night before.

The innkeeper showed no pleasure at seeing me. "I have decided to sell these mules to you," I said to him in the manner of one conferring favours.

He was inclined to sneer at first, having set me down as a soft fellow.

But when I threatened to lead the beasts away there and then and sell them to the first who made me a fair offer, he saw his advantage slipping away. In the end I recovered four ducats and sixty kharruba from the six I had given. "Life is not always kind," I said to him in parting, "otherwise a man of noble birth would not be haggling about mules with a scoundrel. But I hope at least I will be spared the sight of your ugly face again." I had prepared this insult in advance, but even as I spoke the disagreeable suspicion came to my mind that I was destined to be Filippo's successor, that this annual purchasing of herons for the royal falconry would henceforth be one of my settled duties.