Lionheart A Novel - By Sharon Kay Penman Page 0,124

Saracen harim, which is likely even worse than a Sicilian one. Moreover, I would die ere I let Isaac use us as weapons against my brother like that. It is unthinkable that Richard should have to choose between rescuing us and recovering the Holy City.”

“I agree,” Berengaria said resolutely, and Stephen gave the women a tight smile that was both admiring and grim, assuring them that his men would fight to the death in defense of the king’s sister and betrothed. But after they were left alone by the gunwale, Berengaria said softly, “What now, Joanna?”

“We do what Hugh de Neville did. We wait and we pray that Richard arrives ere Isaac does.”

JOANNA’S PRAYER was not to be answered. The next day, the men and women on the two busses spent hours staring out to sea, but no sails appeared on the distant horizon. In the afternoon, though, there was a sudden commotion on the beach. Riders were being greeted by the sentries, and so much deference was paid to a richly clad man on a spirited dun stallion that few doubted they were looking upon the self-proclaimed Emperor of Cyprus.

Hugh had rowed over to Stephen’s ship, and when they saw a small boat launched from the beach, he said bleakly, “Here is trouble on the way.”

It drew so close to the buss that some of the crossbowmen had itchy trigger fingers and exchanged looks of resignation and longing. As soon as it had dropped anchor, a man rose and made his way to the prow. His clothing and sword proclaimed him to be a person of rank, as did the fact that he addressed them in French. It was so heavily accented, though, that they did not find him easy to understand, and Stephen beckoned Petros to join them at the gunwale.

Delighted to be the center of attention again, Petros called out in Greek. The man looked both surprised and relieved, and the two engaged in a conversation that was utterly incomprehensible to those listening; the only words they could make out was the name “Isaakios Doukas Komnenos.”

Stepping back from the rail, Petros rolled his eyes. “What a pile of—” Remembering that the queen and queen-to-be were listening, he censored himself and said with a shake of his head, “He was amazed that there would be one amongst the barbarians who could speak Greek. He claims to be some highborn local lord, but I think he is one of Isaac’s lackeys, so I paid no heed to his name or title. This is his message from his august emperor; Christ keep me if he did not call Isaac Kosmokrator!” Seeing the blank looks, he said with a chuckle, “It means ‘master of the world.’ Anyway, Isaac wants us to believe that he knew nothing about the imprisonment and deaths of our men. He says he was greatly displeased to hear of it and will punish the culprits severely. I was hard put to keep a straight face at that point, God’s Truth!”

But when Stephen prompted him to relay the rest of the message, Petros lost his jaunty demeanor. “He wants you to come ashore, my lady,” he told Joanna. “You and the ‘Damsel of Navarre.’ He says he will put his palace at Limassol at your disposal and do all in his power to make your stay in Cyprus a pleasant one. It was like watching a wolf trying to coax lambs into his cave, but this wolf is not going away.”

“Tell him,” Joanna said, “that we are greatly honored by his kind invitation. But we are awaiting the arrival any day now of my brother the English king and his fleet. King Richard, known throughout Christendom as the Lionheart in recognition of his great prowess on the battlefield, will gladly accept the emperor’s hospitality once he reaches Cyprus. Whilst we wait, we wish to send some of our men ashore to replenish our water supply. As we are pilgrims on our way to the Holy Land, I am sure that one as celebrated for his Christian faith and generous spirit as the illustrious Emperor Isaac will gladly grant our small request.”

Petros had listened intently, committing her words to memory, and then nodded, giving her an approving grin. “Well said, my lady.” Leaning over the gunwale, he spoke at some length and with considerable animation. The other man’s face was grim by the time he was done speaking and his own response was terse. As his boat headed toward