Lionheart A Novel - By Sharon Kay Penman Page 0,244

that the other men burst out laughing. “Surely he was joking!”

Al-’Ᾱdil glanced toward his scribe, indicating that he should be the one to answer. “It is not always easy to tell with him, my lord, for he has a bantering manner, often speaking half seriously, half in jest. But I do not think this was a joke.”

“If so, it is a remarkably detailed joke,” al-’Ᾱdil commented. “The Lady Joanna would be crowned Queen of Jerusalem, which would become the capital of our realm. My brother would give me the lands between the River Jordan and the sea, making me its king, and Richard would give his sister the coastal cities of Acre, Jaffa, and Ascalon as her dowry. Jerusalem would have no Christian garrison, just priests and monks, but Christians would be free to visit or dwell there. The villages would be given to the Templars and the Hospitallers, and my wife and I would hold all the castles. Our new kingdom would still remain part of the sultan’s dominions. Their holy cross would be returned to them, and there would be an exchange of prisoners on both sides. And after the peace treaty was signed, Richard and the Franks from beyond the sea would return to their own lands. Presumably, then, we would all live in peace.”

Bahā’ al-Dīn found himself agreeing with al-Ᾱdil; this was exceptionally explicit for a joke. Surely it was not a serious offer, though. So what did the English king hope to gain by it? Was this a test of their will to continue the war? Or something more sinister? Were the Franks seeking to drive a wedge between the sultan and his brother? Seeing that al-’Ᾱdil was waiting for his response, he equivocated, saying with a smile, “But would you be willing to wed an infidel, my lord?”

“Well, this infidel is said to be quite beautiful,” al-’Ᾱdil said with a smile of his own. “And the Qur’an does allow a man to wed a chaste woman amongst the People of the Book, though a Muslim woman cannot marry out of her faith, of course. I do not know if the Christians’ holy book permits such marriages. I would be surprised if so. But all of this comes as a surprise, no? Say what you will of the English king, he is far more interesting than most of the infidels. Can you imagine Guy de Lusignan or Conrad of Montferrat making such an outrageous proposal?”

“They may not have available sisters conveniently at hand,” Bahā ’ al-Dīn pointed out, and they all laughed. He was not misled, though, by al-’Ādil’s wry, mocking tone. The sultan’s brother was a shrewd player in that most dangerous of games, the pursuit and acquisition of power, deftly balancing his own ambitions against his loyalty to Salah al-Dīn. He was not a man to be easily outwitted or beguiled, and was naturally suspicious of this extraordinary offer. But Bahā’ al-Dīn could see that he was intrigued, too, possibly even tempted by it, and why not? What man would not want a crown of his own?

“What is your wish, my lord?” he asked cautiously. “Should this be passed on to the sultan?”

“We have no choice. Even if we could be sure it was a ruse, we’d still have to inform my brother, for if nothing else, it is a revealing glimpse into the English king’s mind. I have summoned Alam al-Dīn Sulaymān ibn Jandar, Sābiq al-Dīn, and several other emirs to join us after the noon prayers so we may discuss it. Then I want you to go to the sultan and tell him this—that if he approves of the proposal, I will agree to it. But if he rejects it, say that the peace talks have reached this final point and he is the one who thinks they should not be pursued further.”

“I understand, my lord,” Bahā’ al-Dīn said, for indeed he did. Al-’Ādil was treading with care, as well he should. He was the sultan’s most trusted adviser. But he was also a potential threat, for he was far more capable than any of Salah al-Dīn’s sons, and despite the deep abiding affection between them, the sultan must occasionally wonder if his brother’s loyalties would be as steadfast after his death. “I understand,” he repeated, thinking that this infidel English king was more subtle than they’d realized and, therefore, more dangerous.

“YOU DID WHAT???”

“Joanna, will you let me explain? And for God’s sake, lower your voice.” It was not easy to