kingdom of nations

Chapter 33: The Templar Geoffrey's Invitation and Gift (Part )

The only good thing about Count Etienne's suffering was that he could spend several subsequent festivals in the Fort of the Holy Cross, and his monks and knights had plenty of time to purchase the goods they wanted. As expected, Amalric I paid the Count all the promised bounties and compensated them as much as possible for some of the losses they suffered during the disaster, such as horses and horse harnesses, clothes, swords and armor, so that everyone was satisfied enough.

But from that day on, Count Etienne never met César again. People said that it was just a whim of the Count. Some people thought that he must have received a separate reward from the Count, so those servants and retainers who had always been very cold to César suddenly became enthusiastic.

They would either complain to Cesar that they had accidentally lost, damaged or defiled some precious sacred object and needed compensation, otherwise they would be whipped and expelled from the castle; or they would tell Cesar in a very mysterious way that a beautiful courtesan had come from somewhere with superb skills and a plump figure, and that she charged a very high price, but if she saw a cute child like Cesar, she might not charge a penny.

Or they would first praise Cesar's luck and complain about how bad luck they had been having at the gambling table recently - they would ask Cesar to bless their dice, and then ask Cesar to roll a few times for them, swearing that if Cesar won, all the money would belong to Cesar, and if he lost, they would be responsible for the debt.

If Cesar still ignored them when they got here, these people would deliberately look for omissions in Cesar's actions - in theory, Cesar rarely left the left tower, and they could hardly find any mistakes in him, but as long as they were determined, there was always a way - once they "found it", they would hypocritically tell Cesar that they could shut up for a little money.

If the soul in this body had not reached adulthood, he would have stepped into one of these traps.

Baldwin knew that Count Etienne had indeed given César a reward, so he did not ask too many questions. However, he was also worried that César had been cheated out of his money. So starting from the first Sunday of Advent (the Sunday closest to December 12st), he kept César closely by his side, and no one dared to play tricks in front of the prince.

But there are some people whom Baldwin cannot refuse.

On the day before the Feast of Saint John of Gandy (December 12), the Templar Geoffrey Fuller had his servant give César a letter early in the morning, asking him to meet him at the drawbridge around midday (around 23: to : p.m.).

Cesar couldn't possibly not go to such a great man, whether because of his previous care or his current favor. However, Baldwin was worried: "If it were the Templars of fifty years ago, I would not stop you. Not only would I not stop you, I would even encourage you. The Templars of that time were, as they swore, believers, pilgrims, and knights. They were always ready to shed blood in the service of God. They were steadfast, humble, and obedient. I am sure that every Templar of that time is now sitting beside the saint.

But as a philosopher once said, once a tree becomes tall, it will inevitably have broken branches and fallen leaves.

Because the original Knights Templar had indeed fulfilled their oath, people saw this and loved them, respected them, and trusted them. They regarded them as knights of God. They treated the Knights Templar as they would any church or monastery, paying taxes, making offerings, and donating cloth, food, money, and even land to support the Knights Templar's eastward expansion.

In just a few decades, the Knights Templar's assets had spread throughout the Holy Land and half of Europe, and they had changed too.

Although they still claimed to be knights, they lent money like an Isaac money merchant, built ships like a Genoese shipowner, and collected land taxes and tolls like a French lord.

They also collected commissions from slaughterhouses and textile workshops, and the use of mills and ovens. They leased out vineyards and sold fishing rights on the rivers, while their lands produced wheat and vegetables day and night, enough to feed the entire Holy Land.

It's impossible for such a huge organization not to be corrupted - I have heard some very unfavorable legends about them, and so has my father. He once warned the Knights Templar, but the result is as it is now. The Knights Templar hate my father and think that he intends to seize their assets and power.

I've heard of Geoffrey, and he might not be the worst. But if," he shook César's hand and said cautiously, "if he asked you to abandon me and join the Knights Templar—believe me, it's not that I don't want you to have a good future, but the Knights Templar is definitely not one of them."

He said earnestly: "If you want to leave me, just tell me. Even if you can't go to Tripoli or Antioch, I can send you to Lower Lorraine (the original tomb keeper of Alasarus was the Duke of Lower Lorraine, Count of Bouillon, that is, Godfrey of Bouillon), or anywhere you want to go."

"Will you let me go?" Cesar held Baldwin's hand. Baldwin always wore gloves and would not take them off unless Cesar asked him to. The symptoms of leprosy had already begun to appear. His fingers had begun to swell and turn red. Cesar gave him a bath and massage, which would make him feel better. But they all knew that Baldwin's condition was getting worse. It was no wonder that Amalric I was unwilling to wait until Baldwin's birthday (February 2), and held the "selection ceremony" directly in the first month of the new year.

No leper had ever held a "selection ceremony" before, after all, it was a sacrament, but most people clung to the hope that if Baldwin was chosen, he would be cured or at least his condition would be alleviated.

"I have thought about this question over and over again, especially after I rashly agreed to your request and asked you to go out and find Count Etienne on my behalf for Abigail's sin..."

Baldwin showed a thoughtful look. "You see, I once wanted to abandon all worldly things and enter a monastery, but my father promised me that I would still be his heir, still the prince of Alazarus. He brought you to me, Cesar. When I saw you at that time, I thought that someone with your appearance really shouldn't serve a leper. But then I thought, maybe this isn't such a bad thing."

He stood up and said, “I was willing to keep you then, thinking I was only keeping a small bird with beautiful feathers but fragile. If not, you would have been destroyed by the torrential rain and strong winds and died early.

But now, I see that what stays by my side isn't a lark, but a fledgling hawk. Though still immature, it will one day soar across the blue sky. So, if I still keep you by my side, it wouldn't be out of love, but selfishness."

He smiled bitterly, "Especially because I discovered that I, who always thought I was calm and wise, was actually still a child. I sent you away just for a little illusory honor. Although Geoffrey's letter didn't say much, I knew at a glance that you had suffered a lot, endured a lot of pain, and even nearly died.

If something like this happens again, I won’t be able to forgive myself.”

César could only sigh inwardly after hearing this. Count Etienne offered to intercede with King Amalric I on his behalf to redeem him, and for a moment, he was tempted. It wasn't that he was afraid of Baldwin's leprosy; he had been with him for several months and was basically certain he wasn't susceptible.

Besides, Baldwin has always been very careful. Even if he said so, Baldwin still often wore a veil and gloves in the room, and never let Cesar do anything that might come into contact with body fluids or secretions. Since a group of servants were hanged, the new servants have been much more respectful and docile.

It could also be that none of the servants had contracted leprosy to this day, and in any case they were clearly more attentive in their service to Baldwin.

But he still refused. Count Etienne's question still lingered in his ears, but César did not think he was worthy of praise. Although he was grateful to Amalric I, it was far less than what he felt towards Baldwin, because the favors he received from Amalric I were partly the result of his calculations and risking his life, and partly out of Amalric I's selfishness.

He just didn't expect to meet a kid like Baldwin here.

This era and this region are full of dangers and surrounded by wolves. Although it is called a holy land, it is actually a bloody human meat grinder.

He had never experienced war, but he had seen a lot of life and death, and knew that in the face of death, few people could maintain their former composure and composure. Not to mention that although leprosy would not kill people all at once, it could last for several years. More than ten years of illness and a hopeless future could cause a person to suffer a mental breakdown and lose control.

When Amalric I told him to serve Baldwin, he was prepared to face a mad, violent cub, hysterical and aggressive because of his fear of the future.

In fact, he was well prepared at that time. If that were the case, he would not be so stupid as to continue to stay beside the prince and become a bloody target.

It was not difficult for him to do this, although he was facing Amalric I, but he was not a real child.

But Baldwin was such a person that he couldn't say the word "give up". He was only nine years old, a minor in any world, and he had experienced great changes, but he was still able to maintain a clean and noble heart.

When he saw a peer who was more beautiful and healthier than him, he never felt jealous, nor did he tease or torture him because of the difference in status; he kept Cesar by his side as a weak person, but when he found that he could have a better future, even though he only had this one friend by his side, he was still willing to support him and let him fly high instead of locking him in a cage.

"I have already refused Count Étienne," said César, "and I will refuse Geoffrey."

Baldwin's eyes widened behind the veil. He guessed that Geoffrey might be interested in César, but he didn't expect that Count Etienne had the same idea. Now he felt a little jealous.

"There's nothing good about Count Étienne," he remarked tartly. "His estate is small and poor, and he's a widower. If you go to his castle, there's no mistress to look after you."

"I have refused."

"A wise move," Baldwin said bitterly. "In short, these two guys are not suitable. They are a pair of idiots."

"They would fight you if they heard you," said César cheerfully. "They are not bad men, at least not Count Étienne."

He only told Baldwin about the gold coins, but he did not mention any of the passes. It was not that he intended to conceal it - mainly because this matter was exactly the same as his behavior of requesting the map of the temple through the Gerard family - what Count Etienne provided him was almost saying that Amalric I or Baldwin could not provide him with the protection he deserved.

Count Etienne has already suffered a lot for refusing the marriage proposal, so there should be no more trouble while he is still in the Castle of Sainte-Croix.

So Cesar solemnly asked for leave from Baldwin and obtained permission from the castle governor. When he walked out of the corridor of the city gate, Baldwin was watching him on the bridgehead.

Cesar looked up at him and remembered that when they said goodbye, Baldwin was still chattering at him. Although the person he was going to meet was a Knight Templar, the Knight Templar had sworn to chastity, which meant that it was best not to see or touch women, so the Pope allowed them to build a private chapel (to avoid women).

If a married man wanted to join the Knights Templar, he had to separate from his wife and could only become a sergeant wearing a brown robe or a black robe.

The Knights Templar were also forbidden from hunting, keeping dogs or falcons. The only animals they could hunt were lions in the Holy Land, and they were even forbidden from associating with hunters.

They were not allowed to enjoy various entertainments such as chess, gambling, jesters and minstrels. They had to eat in groups - every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, the Knights provided enough meat - unless they fasted. They could drink alcohol, but they were not allowed to get drunk.

So the things that Baldwin was most worried about basically would not happen. If it were another adult knight, he would have to be careful that the guy would take Cesar to prostitutes and gambling tables, or go hunting (hunting was very dangerous at that time), or get him drunk and unconscious.

Baldwin saw Geoffrey, who did not enter the castle and dressed majestically. To be honest, if Baldwin had a choice, he would rather follow a brave knight than a sinful patient, but he was willing to believe Cesar.

He watched César cross the drawbridge on his pony, Castor, clattering after the Templar's horse.

Soon after they crossed the suspension bridge, a dark and thin shadow followed them. Baldwin was about to call for help when he saw him bowing to him from a distance, then waving the spear in his hand and leaving quickly before the guards could become alert.

The prince then remembered that when Cesar was doing the penance of "cleansing the Holy Sepulchre", there was indeed a wandering knight who followed him and served as his guard.

(End of this chapter)