Виктория Холт - The Heart of the Lion

The Archbishop sent one of the minstrels to attempt to soothe her with his music. Blondel de Nesle crept silently in and seating himself in a corner started to play.

She listened, charmed by music as she ever was.

‘It was beautiful,’ she said. ‘Who composed it?’

‘My lord the King and I together,’ answered Blondel.

‘You harmonised well I believe.’

‘He said so,’ replied Blondel. ‘There is another song we made together. We have never sung it except when we were alone. He said that was how he wished it. It was our song.’

Eleanor nodded. ‘I grieve for him, Blondel. How I grieve for him.’

‘Can nothing be done, my lady?’

‘We do not know where he is. His captors will not tell us. Until we know how can we do anything to save him?’

‘It is said he is in Austria.’

‘It is said so. Would we could prove it. His Queen Berengaria saw a jewelled belt for sale in Rome and she knew it for his.’

‘How could it have been in Rome, my lady?’

‘He might have given it to someone who travelled there.’

‘Surely that person would have treasured a gift from the King?’

‘It could have been stolen from him. Oh, Blondel, my child, we cannot know what has become of him. I am filled with foreboding.’

‘If someone could but find him, my lady ...’

‘I would go and seek him ... were it not for the state of the Kingdom.’

‘His captors would be aware of you, my lady. It would seem to me that one should go who would not be recognised.’

‘You are a wise boy, I see. Come, play to me. Play Richard’s song.’

And as he strummed Blondel thought of the King and his many kindnesses towards his minstrel; and he yearned to see his face again.

The next day when the Queen asked that Blondel come to her to soothe her with his music, Blondel could not be found.

* * *

It had been a long journey to Austria. Blondel had sung his way across the continent. He had stood in the market places of many towns and so sweet was his voice that people had paused to listen and drop a coin into his hat. He was so handsome that many took pity on him. Often some mother would be reminded of her son and bring him in to her cottage and make him cut wood or perform some such service for his supper and a place to sleep under her roof.

He asked questions about the castles and those who lived in them and whether it was possible that if he called and asked to sing for them he would be allowed to do so.

He invariably was. A minstrel was always welcome, especially one with as fine a voice as Blondel’s.

Arriving at a castle he would humbly ask that he might rest a while and play his lute for the company. He would be taken to the great hall and there would invariably be many who were eager to hear the songs of a wandering minstrel.

He would make a point of being friendly with those of the kitchen. They would give him titbits to eat and smile at what they thought was his cunning. Cunning it was, but his motives were not what they thought.

‘The youth has not seen a good meal for many a long day, I’ll trow,’ said the cooks. ‘’Tis small wonder he wants to fill up while he be here.’

But it was gossip he wanted. He would sit by the great fires turning the spits and singing as he did so. In the kitchen they would know perhaps if there was a stranger in the castle whose presence was not generally known. Such a stranger would have to eat and the cooks must be aware of it. There would be a certain ceremony about a king’s meals surely.

He asked searching questions and every time it seemed he came away disappointed.

There must be a castle somewhere which was an impregnable fortress. Perhaps on a hill, its thick grey walls a challenge to any invader, it would be formidable. A fortress, thought Blondel, and a prison.

When he came to Dürenstein he went into the square to talk to the traders and sing for his supper and a bed.

There was one woman who had brought her eggs to market and because he thought she had a kindly face – his adventure had made him quick to assess character at a glance – he took his stand near her and sang for her. Tears filled her eyes and she begged for more and as he sang she thought how young he was.

She beckoned him to come nearer and this he did singing and attracting customers with his songs and helping her to sell her produce.

‘You are travelling alone?’ she asked.

He told her that he was.

‘And you sing for your living. Where will you sleep tonight?’

‘In the forest, beneath a hedge ... I will find somewhere to sleep.’

‘My son has recently married a wife. He no longer lives with me. You may have his bed if you will sing again for me and mayhap come to market with me one other fine day.’

It seemed that she was suggesting he stay for a while and he answered that he was a wanderer, but he would gladly accept her offer for the night and would be willing to do any work for her providing it was not beyond his powers.

He went home with the woman and as they sat at table he asked her who lived at the grand castle on the hill and what was the name of it.

‘It is Dürenstein,’ she told him. ‘It belongs to our Duke Leopold.’

Blondel remembered him at Acre and wondered how he would have behaved if by some chance he was Richard’s jailer.

‘A very important officer is now the custodian. They say he is of high rank. He came to the castle some time ago. We see him riding in the town now and them.’

‘I shall ask if I may sing for them. Do you think I may?’

‘I know not. You can but try. And if they will have none of you, you may rest here for a while.’

Blondel thanked her. He did not go to the castle the next morning but waited until later in the afternoon. That was the time when men and women were more mellow. They had generally eaten well and often dozed at such an hour. It was then and at night that music sounded sweeter.

He presented himself at the castle gate.

‘I am a wandering minstrel,’ he told the serving men. ‘I would I might sing in the great hall tonight.’

The men exchanged glances.

‘Do you think ... ?’

One shook his head. ‘Our master would not care for minstrels.’

‘Who is your master, kind sir?’

‘He is Hadamar von Kuenring and very important. The Duke himself comes frequently to the castle since ...’

‘Since when?’ asked Blondel.

‘Since it has been in our master’s hands.’

‘What think you?’ asked one of the men. ‘Wouldn’t you come into the kitchens and sing for us?’

He would indeed, with the greatest pleasure. He chose gentle songs, songs of love to bring tears to the eyes of the women.

They gave him cold venison and half a loaf with ale to wash it down.

‘I sing better when my throat has been moistened,’ declared Blondel.

He sang some more and then he asked if he might stroll round the castle, for he had thought it quite the most impressive castle he had ever seen.

One of the serving men said he would take him round. He had quite clearly taken a great fancy to Blondel, and as they went Blondel sang.

All the time he was alert; he looked for windows – narrow slips with bars of iron across, the window of a prison. There high in the castle was one of them. A great feeling of excitement possessed him; he broke into song suddenly; he let his voice soar up throwing it with all his might towards that barred window; and then his heart seemed to stop beating, for someone was singing up there, singing in answer to Blondel’s song. Blondel continued to sing and the voice answered him.

‘I have never heard that song before,’ said the serving man.

‘Someone in the castle has. Who was that singing with me?’

‘I know not,’ said the man. ‘I have heard the voice but I know not whence it comes.’

‘Come,’ said Blondel, ‘let us return to the castle hall. Think you your master and mistress will allow me to sing to them tonight?’

‘I know not, but it will please us of the kitchens if you do.’

What did it matter? thought Blondel. His one thought was to get back to England.

He had discovered Richard’s whereabouts, for that was Richard’s voice he had heard and the song they had sung was that one which they had composed together and which Richard had decreed should be sung by no one but themselves.

With as much speed as he could muster Blondel made his way back to England and sought out Queen Eleanor without delay.

She was astounded when she heard his story and gave way to relief and joy. Richard was alive, albeit a prisoner, and she knew where. He must be brought home; his kingdom must be set in order, his enemies scattered.

‘And you, Blondel, have done us this great service,’ she cried. ‘Rest assured you shall be rewarded.’

‘All I ask,’ replied Blondel, ‘is to see my lord home safe and well.’

Eleanor lost no time. She sent for the Archbishop of Rouen and they called ministers and barons together at Oxford where they discussed what should be done. The news had seeped out. Richard alive and well was a prisoner of Leopold of Austria and the Emperor of Germany in the castle of Dürenstein. It was a scandal that the great hero of the Crusade should be treated so.

The news was spreading all over the country. The story of the discovery of the minstrel was like a romance of which minstrels sang. It appealed to the people. They were in love with their King.

Those who had murmured against his absence and supported John now asked themselves how they could ever have been so false. Richard was a hero. He was the greatest soldier of the times. He was a legend. They wanted Richard back. There was wild talk of going to war with Germany with an army, of scouring the country, putting it to fire and sword out of vengeance for this treatment of the Lion-Heart. They planned grand processions through the land with Richard at their head while they proclaimed to the world the sort of treatment which would be given to those who dared insult their great King.

All dreams, of course, for how could England invade Germany? But it was good for the people to feel thus, reasoned Eleanor, and they should be encouraged in it.

John was furious. He wished he had cut out Blondel’s tongue before he had gone off singing round the castles of Europe. He gave vent to his rage in the usual manner but chewed rushes were small consolation for power.

With her usual energy Eleanor set about taking action. An embassy should be sent without delay, not to Leopold of Austria but to his overlord the Emperor of Germany. Terms for Richard’s release would no doubt be suggested. They must consider them and if the only way of freeing him was by paying a ransom then that ransom must be paid.

The Emperor received the embassy courteously. It was indeed true that Richard was a prisoner of his vassal Leopold, and when it was pointed out that he could command Leopold to release Richard he agreed that this was so but added that there were charges against Richard which must first be answered.

Like most rulers Henry was in need of money and he believed that the English would be ready to pay a high ransom for their King. Moreover he had a personal grudge against Richard. Henry’s wife Constancia was the sister of the late King of Sicily and in Henry’s opinion the rightful heiress to that island. Richard had supported Tancred the usurper, made agreements with him and promised his nephew Arthur to his daughter. Richard would have to pay for that. But he promised the embassy he would take action.

He ordered that a strong guard be sent to Dürenstein and that Richard should be brought to Haguenau where he would summon an assembly of States and there certain charges should be brought against him.

Richard, delighted to be free of Dürenstein and aware now that the fact of his imprisonment was well known and his enemies could no longer let it be presumed that he was dead, was in high spirits. His stay in Dürenstein had not been uncomfortable, merely restricting; and his health had improved a little. There had been no attack of the recurring fever which had so sapped his strength and from which it took time to recover. He was therefore in excellent health.

Arrived at Haguenau he was permitted by Henry to meet members of the embassy from England.

He plied them with questions. The answers were not very comforting.