Chapter LXXVII
I went back to es-Sid's house where I found only Trudy and Fatima at home, for the other squires were out taking parties of pilgrims to this place or that. Trudy came running to meet me and took me by the arm and would not let go, but conducted me up into es-Sid's apparment where I sat beside her and told her of all that had taken place.
"Now I should leave at once," I told Trudy when I had finished. "I only came to fetch fresh clothes and some food. I must go back and tell your father what has happened here in Jerusalem."
Trudy shook her head. "As to what happened here, do you think the Cistercians have lost their tongues? They will go and carry the story of how they were received as fast as you could do so yourself."
I stood up. "Still, it is my duty to go. I am your father's squire."
Trudy grabbed my hand and pulled me down beside her again. "Listen, Fuad. At the end of the week I am invited to a party in Sibylla's house - a friend of a friend. I'm sure to hear some news there; you know what women are like for gossip. Then you'll have something to take to my father, for I warrant you that Sibylla is at the heart of all these conspiracies. She is, after all, the king's closest relative."
What could I say? It made sense, for I could not ride to Tiberias and return in time for the party. I did hurry away and find the Cistercians and gave them a message to es-Sid, bidding them say to him that his squire Fuad was detained in Jerusalem for good reason and would return to him early next week. I said nothing of the key, however, for it was not a matter to be spoken of lightly.
By God, the news was greater than I could have imagined, for the party was suddenly cancelled and instead Trudy was invited to the coronation of Queen Sibylla. Although the other squires had returned and all pilgrimages were halted so that everyone could witness this event, Trudy chose me as her squire to accompany her to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but at the door only she was admitted and I had to wait without with a vast crowd of pilgrims and inhabitants of Jerusalem, listening to the sound of chanting from inside the church and at one point a great shout of aclamation.
"That's the crowning," a man beside me said to his companion.
After a time there was a second shout, not as loud as the first, and the companion asked, "What was that, then?" but the man beside me could give no explanation.
More time went by and eventually the guards on the church doors stepped outside and began to push the crowd back so that the great ones within could emerge. I pressed my way forwards through the crowd so that I might see Trudy as soon as she came out, but the first ones through the door were the new queen and king, for both Sibylla and her husband Guy came out wearing crowns and the foolish crowd around me shouted for joy.
After them came the Patriarch Heraclius and the clergy, and behind them came nobles, most of whom walked in decorous silence as befits those who have witnessed great things. The exception was Gerard de Ridefort, Master of the Temple. As soon as he was outside the church he raised both his hands above his head, in the manner of one who has gained a great victory, and he shouted out, "Now, Raymond! I am avenged on you!"
There was much noise in the courtyard and most did not hear his words or, if they heard the shout, could not understand it, but by then I was very close to the door and I heard and bear witness that those were the words spoken by the Master of the Temple and by God and by the Prophet, I truly believe that all that happened afterwards and even the destruction of the kingdom sprang from the hatred of that one man, for I think that de Ridefort, may God avenge my master on him, would rather see the whole of Outremer destroyed and given over to the Sultan than that Raymond should gain credit or honour or advantage in any way.
All those in the church followed the great ones and it seemed like an age went by before I saw Trudy's red hair and was able to push my way to her side. She looked relieved to see me and at once grasped my arm.
"Take me home," she gasped in my ear.
"Are you not going to the banquet?" I asked in surprise.
Trudy simply shook her head and said nothing until we were well away from the church and then all she said was, "I have news, Fuad. You'll have to leave today."
When we got home Trudy took me up to her father's appartment and we sat in the window seat. Even Fatima was not allowed to join us but had to stay on the other side of the room while Trudy spoke quietly in my ear.
"Tell my father," she whispered, "that today Sibylla has been crowned queen of Outremer by the Patriarch Heraclius, but that he refused to crown her husband Guy. There was some argument there in front of the altar and eventually Sibylla herself picked up the crown and placed it on her husband's head. This means that the court party is split and that Sibylla, rather than Guy, holds the power. Raymond may find it easier to swear fealty to Sibylla than to Guy."
There were many other details that she told me but which were of no importance, such as the clothing that each person wore and the order in which they came to swear fealty to the new rulers. Knowing, however, that es-Sid attached great importance to many small matters I endeavoured to remember it all and as I rode in haste out of al-Quds that afternoon I repeated as much as I could recall over and over to myself.
I travelled by the shortest route and journeyed long into the night and again early in the morning, but it was early morning of the second day after these events that I came again to the hills overlooking the lake and rode briskly down to Tiberias.
I went straight to the house where es-Sid was staying and reported to him all that had been said and done, especially this matter of the key and of the crowning. I told him also of the words that Gerard de Ridefort had spoken and he shook his head and said that it was a bad business.
After that he took me to the castle and told all these matters to Count Raymond, except that he said nothing of de Ridefort's words. Raymond cried aloud on the folly of des Moulins, the Master of the Hospital, in throwing the key out of the window, but Guy told him that it was likely that if the key had remained in his keeping, the conspirators would have broken open the chest, so that the foolishness of the Master of the Hospital made no difference in the end.
In my presence Raymond spoke to Humphrey of Toron, who was the husband of Princess Isabella, another of the king's sisters, urging him to claim the throne and promising to support him but Humphrey begged leave to consider the matter and went out and rode his horse along the shore to the north, the better to think. While he was gone Raymond summoned all the nobles and members of the council and endeavoured to persuade them in this matter of Humphrey and Isabella.
By evening, however, Humphrey had not returned and we all had to go out to search for him for fear that he had met with some accident. Men searched all through the night but when morning came and we could follow the tracks of Humphrey's horse it became clear that he had ridden in a great circle around Tiberias and gone south and five days later came the news that he had reached Jerusalem and sworn fealty to Queen Sibylla - though not to King Guy!
At that those who supported Count Raymond were thrown into confusion and gradually began to slip away to care for their own estates and consider what they should do. Es-Sid, although he supported neither Raymond nor Guy but only the kingdom, went to Raymond in the castle and bade him farewell, offering to carry any messages he might wish to King Guy and pledging himself to work for peace between the two men. Raymond thanked him and we departed for al-Quds, arriving there nearly a month after the coronation.
It is said that after we left Count Raymond wrote to the Sultan, may God prosper him, and asked for his support in becoming king. Truly I do not know what to think of this, for I cannot believe that Raymond would be so foolish as to involve the enemy of Outremer in its affairs nor do I think that he was so ambitious that he would risk civil war over such a matter. Nonetheless it is true that Count Raymond wrote to the Sultan and made peace for himself, but I believe that he was in fear lest de Ridefort persuade Guy and Sibylla to come against him - as, indeed they did.
