CHAPTER FORTY TWO
“Young King Alexander the Second has been a more than useful ally to you, your Highness.”
Louis the Dauphin wrinkled his forehead in obvious disagreement as he also sought to place his hand over his wine bowl preventing the servitor from refilling it. He glared almost fiercely at the speaker who was none other than Barissa the dark Moor from the Scots party. The intelligent young woman had been sent by the Ard Righ King of Scots to discuss further requirements from the French allies.
“Apart from irritating old King John, I fail to see what your young Lord has achieved, young lady.”
“You are too harsh, noble Lord” demurred Barissa “the King is young and impetuous but he shows great promise. Mark my words but he will become a great monarch in time.”
“Time is something that we only have in very short supply” snapped Louis “Still your little fox cub is a useful distraction. I must admit that he has added to the troubles of the English, albeit not greatly.”
“My Lord Prince is too kind” beamed Barissa but received only a cold smile from the pious Dauphin.
“No matter, child. Anyway I have consultations with my officers it would be seemly if you left me now.”
“Child?” enquired Barissa “I am hardly that!”
“Whatever” snapped Louis waving the Moor away with a brusque gesture. “Now please leave me.”
“As you wish” responded Barissa twisting her face into a mock frown “Not many men would regard my company with so little interest.”
The beautiful dark young woman swung away walking with fierce, passionate pride into the main concourse of the camp. This was not a very profitable encounter, still life was like that, and Louis was a dull pious, somewhat uxorious individual, not much fun at all to be sure.
“Barissa!”
The
young Moor was shaken out of her reverie at this mention of her name.
What was happening now? Who desired her attention?
“A
quick word with you. Don’t you remember me from
Barissa
looked closely at the nondescript individual before her. Could it indeed be the
brave young knight that she had negotiated with those several long months ago
in
“Yes my brave young sir “ smiled the dark statuesque lady “can I be of service to a bold warrior such as you? I feel that you are of a kind that would appreciate my abilities and other attributes.”
“Is there somewhere that we can talk?” demanded Guy urgently.
Barissa smiled sweetly and motioned Guy to follow her. The former squire wrapped a moth-eaten cloak round his shoulders and imitating a shambling walk hobbled alongside the Moor. A short journey past disinterested groups of soldiery ended with Barissa pointing Guy to the entrance to her tent.
“I am treated well here” beamed the dark young woman. “An emissary of some standing no doubt? Whatever you might think of the French and their allies they know how to treat people.”
“A matter of opinion!” snorted Guy.
“Oh my dear young knight” sighed Barissa. “Such cynicism ill-befits you. Enough of this, however, lets talk about more serious priorities.”
“Fair enough” responded Guy “I take it you have heard murmurs of my defection. Well let’s face it my loyalty to Princess Eleanor as the rightful monarch in this land of ours.”
“I have heard stories” mused Barissa. “So you thought to establish the Pearl of Brittany as Queen? Not a totally unsatisfactory decision I must admit. Still we must face realities and live in the World as it is not as we would wish it to be. Sadly Henry, young and inexperienced as he is, is the only candidate likely to be accepted.”
“Yes you are right” sighed de Buissant. “But for a moment it did seem that we might get our way. It was after all through acting quickly that King Stephen seized the crown ahead of his rival the Empress Maud some 80 years back. I thought that we might have the element of surprise on our side.”
“All this is interesting but what is it to do with me?” enquired Barissa.
“You carry some influence especially with Hubert de Burgh. If I can gather useful information or at least achieve something for the new King’s party will you add your voice on my behalf. I might even be able to help in a more direct fashion, I have some reputation as a soldier.”
“Indeed you do Sir Guy” smiled Barissa. “Here take my hand you have my word that I will be firm in your support.”
“Thank God for that” replied Guy “You are a generous woman, my Moorish princess.”
“No princess I” laughed the Moor “But I do have heavenly charms that many would suggest are on a par with the best at Court. Still enough of talk show me how you reward me for my friendship.”
The young woman quickly disrobed and flinging her arms round Guy bore him fiercely to the ground. De Buissant felt his head reel but snatching feverishly at his own clothes he responded in kind to the frenetic urgings of Barissa. The lovely spy had the body of a Goddess allied to the vibrancy of a Greek athlete from the Olympic games. It was as if Guy no longer had responses of his own as he reacted instinctively, it seemed, to the urgings of his new lover. He gasped with sheer exultation as Barissa and himself rolled over and over in a vibrant collusion of flesh, flesh and more flesh. God in Heaven was this real? The stars clashed together in some form of eclipse and moved out into a new dimension.
“Tell
the
Barissa grinned roguishly at this statement from the knight. Was this some form of self-justification?
“Get your breeches on first my lad before you start philosophising” advised the Moor winking mischievously at Guy.
“I did what I thought was right” mused de Buissant. “And it was all for the Princess.”
“I have no doubt about that” smiled Barissa “you are a fine defender of this Nation of ours.”
De
Buissant looked a trifle coyly and somewhat absent-mindedly stroked his
thick smooth hair.
“Come on my boy” grinned Barissa. “You’re not getting ethical compunctions about our little tête à tête just now. A roll in the tent is not like surrendering your mind. You can give your body without giving away your spirit and your soul. No-one has ever penetrated my innermost being, my mind and personality, whatever else they may have penetrated.”
“Quite” muttered the Knight.
“Oh for God’s sake put a smile on your face, we have only had a saucy tumble together.”
“Of course, of course” smiled de Buissant albeit slightly sheepishly. “Enough of self-recrimination on my part, after all Eleanor is free enough with a number of beaux, that’s the advantage of royal birth doubtless.”
“A fine intelligent woman that one” commented Barissa nodding appreciatively.
“The very best. God what an opportunity the Realm has lost not having her as its Queen.”
“Yes my bold young paladin but where does your duty lie now?” queried the dark-skinned beauty.
“With Eleanor, of course” responded Guy. “But since she now follows her young cousin Henry, then I am as loyal a servant to the new King as he will ever have.”
“Good, good” smiled Barissa. “That was the sensible, pragmatic answer I was expecting from a wise young man such as you. Play whatever game you want here, I’ll respect your tactical acumen, in the meantime I return to Alexander to keep a watch on that promising young monarch.”
“Best wishes in that enterprise dear lady” grinned Guy “I trust that our paths may cross in the future?”
“Who
knows?” laughed Barissa “Today has provided me with an interesting experience
shall we say?”
Go to Chapter 43 | Back
to Chapter 41 | Index
Front Page | Home
Page for individuals
| Business Services Index |
Site contents & internal links |
Email the Author