Part 21 (1/2)
And I had come across like a lunatic prophet of doom' I couldn't have done worse if I'd been carrying a sign proclaiming the end of the world. I was in a black mood when I learned that the Krakowski brothers had arrived with a pack train loaded with my bra.s.s mill fittings. City folk didn't pay much attention to most of the country holidays. When there was work to be had, they worked. The collars were so big that they had to be slung between two mules each, like sedan chairs.
I called Vitold, Ilya, and Angelo away from a sort of soccer game and introduced them to the Krakowski brothers. We discussed our mutual needs: the fittings for the dry mill, tubs for was.h.i.+ng and dyeing, axles and bus.h.i.+ngs for wheelbarrows. Fortunately, the Krakowski brothers understood my technical drawings, and I had a thick stack of parchment for them to take back.
It took Vitold a long time to grasp what a wheelbarrow was all about, but he agreed to make a gross as soon as the sawmill was done. They would help in getting in the harvest.
Then there were the clay crocks for Ilya's steelmaking. The brothers agreed to make them but insisted on understanding the cementation process. They already had the clay and the charcoal and the ovens. They were impressed by Ilya's axes and wanted to get into the cementation business themselves. I gave them my blessing.
They had the idea of casting bra.s.s into molded clay forms and a hint from me about stacking up small clay forms and casting many objects at once. They were already selling belt buckles and door hinges by the gross. I called over Piotr Kulczynski and swore him to fealty before the group. It took a while to make the brothers understand that Piotr was not their boss-they could run their business as they saw fit but they were expected to keep him informed on all financial transactions, and he would be reporting to me. It was understood that Piotr was to live in my room at the inn and keep the inn's books as well. I gave him a letter to the innkeeper confirming this. Finally, Thom Krakowski brought up a delicate subject. Despite the fact that they were working for me, I had agreed that they should get one-twelfth of the profits of their work. He therefore felt that I should buy the present fittings and the order I had just placed, just to get it on the books so that they could figure up their bonus. I would get much of this back as my profits for owners.h.i.+p.
I had to agree that this was fair but stipulated that they would be paid from the surplus from the inn. This was agreed on.
Their bill came to 19,500 pence.
It was growing dark, so I invited all present to a quick meal in the count's kitchen. We were halfway through the meal when Lambert came in. ”Sir Conrad! Where the devil have you been?
There was a high place for you at supper that stood empty!”
”I'm sorry, my lord. I didn't know that I was invited. The bra.s.s mill fittings came in, and there was much to discuss.”
”I saw the bra.s.s. I've never seen so much bra.s.s in one place in my life! You paid for all this?”
”Well, yes, my lord. When I left for Cieszyn, you were distracted with the planting, so I thought it best to take my own money along.” ”But you agree that the mills are mine?”
”Of course, my lord.”
”Then I owe you your expenses. What were they?”
”The present fittings, plus those for the dry mill, the tubs for the factory and the dye, the mules, and the Florentine came to ... uh ... about twenty-three thousand pence.”
”Twenty-three ... Come talk with me in my chambers, Sir Conrad.” When we got there, he said, ”Twenty-three thousand pence is a huge amount of money, Sir Conrad.”
”Yes, my lord.”
”Hmm. You wouldn't wager on your chess playing. Would you wager on your mill? I would bet you that your wet mill doesn't work. Double or nothing. Do you agree?” ”If you wish, my lord. But I'm stealing your money. The mill will work.” ”We shall see. For now, come to the hall. People want to meet you. I should mention that throughout supper Sir Stefan and his father, Baron Jaraslav, have been d.a.m.ning you to all and sundry for a warlock and a witch! I believe they've called you everything but a Christian.”
”Sir Stefan? But why isn't he on guard duty?”
”One of his father's other knights is doing his stint so he can be there to blacken your name. I don't like my va.s.sals acting this way. I know it's not your fault, except had you been there they wouldn't have been so blatant about it. What the duke thinks is anybody's guess.”
As we entered, Lambert whispered, ”Here we go. Keep your temper!” As we walked into the hall, conversation was suddenly muted. People had been drinking and socializing after a feast. Now half of them were staring at me, and the rest were obviously trying not to.
Bluff it through! I thought, shouting to myself. You can do it, you can do it-I think I can, I think I can, I think I can ... Head high, smiling, I swaggered in at Lambert's side, almost convincing myself that I wasn't. scared. Sir Vladimir saved me. Cutting through the crowd, he said, ”Sir Conrad, what's this I hear about your attacking six thugs from the wh.o.r.emasters guild and killing the lot of them?”
”Just lies, Sir Vladimir. There were only three of them, and I believe two lived.”
A knight I hadn't met said, ”You were completely unarmed when you attacked?” ”Well, yes.
You see, there wasn't much time. A friend was in trouble, and had I gone back for my sword, well, who could tell what would have happened?” ”A friend of the wh.o.r.emasters guild? Was she pretty?” a third knight said. ”Hardly. It was a he. The innkeeper of the Pink Dragon, although his wife was also being abused.”
”But how was it possible for one unarmed man to defeat three with knives?” the second knight persisted. An interested crowd was gathering. Except for Lambert's ladies, this was an all-male group. They were all professional fighters, so by their standards anybody talking about bloodshed and mayhem had to be all right. I was winning!
”It wasn't three at once,” I said. ”I was able to get them one at a time.”
”But even one man is hard to believe.”
”Okay. Hang up your cloak and I'll show you.” As I've mentioned, I'm no black belt, but I did learn a few simple throws in the service. With the sheath on his knife, we went through a few judo throws in slow motion. I didn't actually reenact my fight in the hall of the Pink Dragon. I wasn't sure how these knights would react to kneeing someone in the groin, and I wanted to play the good guy. The first time you find yourself lifted into the air in judo is a memorable event, and it looks impressive. Three or four of them lined up to try me. The others were watching and drinking. I was becoming socially acceptable.
”You see,” I said to a fellow in blue who was lying at my feet. ”Had I thrown you down hard, you would be momentarily stunned. I could do all sorts of things to you. I could stamp on your chest, for example.”
”Try me,” a voice said from behind me.
I turned to find myself facing Duke Henryk the. Bearded. ”My lord it ... it doesn't seem fitting,”
I stammered. Good G.o.d. He was my boss's boss, and he looked to be seventy years old. Not your usual judo partner! ”Try me,” he repeated, holding his knife high with his right hand. ”Yes, my lord.” Taking it slow and watching carefully to see that I didn't hurt him, I started through the same throw that I'd shown the others. ”Hold!” he said. I froze.
I felt a sharp p.r.i.c.k at my ribs. Looking down, I saw that the duke held a dagger in his left hand.
Where it had come from, I didn't know. ”What do you think now, Sir Conrad?”
”My lord, I think that had I met you in that dark hallway, I would be a dead man.”
The room exploded in laughter, but it was laughter of a friendly sort. It was no dishonor to be bested by one's superior.
Contented, the duke sheathed his knives-one in his boot-and walked away. The evening went well, I thought. Sir Stefan stayed to one comer of the room with his father and a half dozen knights.
Sir Vladimir told me that they were the baron's liegemen. No hope of support there! I avoided them and circulated. Conversation that evening centered most ly on hunting and hawking, so I didn't have much to contribute. Krystyana was a perfect hostess, and a lot of her newfound poise was rubbing off on the other girls, especially Janina, Natalia, Annastas.h.i.+a, and Yawalda. They were treated cordially, but they got a lot of side glances.
Later I found myself standing with Lambert and the duke.
”It's an interesting thought you've brought up, Sir Conrad,” the duke said.
”That it is possible for an unarmed man to defeat one who is armed.” ”My lord, please understand that I am not a master of unarmed combat. I'm hardly an apprentice. I certainly believe that in a fight one is much better off armed. It is just that a warrior should remain a warrior even if he's naked.”
”Interesting. You say you believe the obvious. Is there anyone who doesn't?” ”I've met one, my lord. He insisted that weaponry was unimportant compared to mental att.i.tude and training. He was a master of the martial arts, a black belt from j.a.pan.”
”Ali, yes. It is said that you have traveled widely.”
”Yes, my lord. Perhaps more widely than you can imagine. But I made a vow--” ”I know, son, and I won't push you. Still, a man must think. You, Lambert. Where do you think our Sir Conrad has come from?”
”My lord, I had not intended to speak on this, but since you ask, I must answer. Know that I have been watching this man carefully since Christmas. I have pondered long as to his origins, and I am confident that my guess is the right one.”
”Then what is it?” the duke asked.
”I think that he is an emissary from Prester John, the Christian king of that most distant and fabulous empire.”
Naturally, I was astounded by this. I'm not sure that I kept my jaw from sagging. Prester John!
”Remarkable,” the duke said.
”Think about it, my lord. We have here a deadly knight who is distressed by the sight of blood.