< previous page page_373 next page >

Page 373
side houses. The King glanced at the barricade while he was washing and combing his hair, rinsed his mouth with wine, and spat over the side.
''Send me Roger de Hardicurt and William du Bois," he said, grinning nastily. "I think it only fitting that they be our heralds on this occasion."
Simon passed the order, also smiling. It seemed properly humorous to him that those Comnenus had despoiled should carry the message that would bring about his destruction. When the men came, Richard warned them that the letters they bore were not designed to induce calm in the self-styled Emperor.
"It would not matter, except that a beast who wars on women might well not respect a herald either," the King growled.
Both gentlemen set the danger at naught with one voice and eagerly accepted the commission, thanking Richard profusely for the favor. Hardicurt offered to spit in Comnenus' face and du Bois to pluck his beard in addition. The king laughed, but with hot eyes, and bade them do nothing to increase their peril since he wished to have the use of their strong arms in the coming battle. As an afterthought he bade them remember that they were gentlemen, even if Comnenus was not.
Then, while the heralds were rowed ashore and conducted to the palace, Richard's army made ready so that, when Hardicurt and du Bois returned with the expected defiance, the King had no more to say than, "Aux armes!"
The cry echoed from ship to ship. Men tumbled eagerly into small boats and barges. The tale of deceit, murder, pillage, and the cruel treatment of the King's ladies had been swiftly spread. For those who were not sufficiently spurred by these matters, there was the knowledge that Cyprus was rich and King Richard was angry. The combination meant freedom to loot and much booty to be garnered.

 
< previous page page_373 next page >