The Lady for Ransom

by Alfred Duggan

  I soothed my poor lord by agreeing with everything he said. If he had lost heart he might as well end his days in a comfortable castle. But of course Messer Roussel was no longer a gallant knight; it is the hope of independence which makes gentlemen charge so fiercely that they cannot be withstood; a hireling who fights for pay is no better in the mêlée than a Roman trooper, and not so useful on campaign because his commander cannot trust him to obey orders.

  The Franks were still the most valuable band in Michael’s service, though most of them were unemployed mariners who would not be deemed good horsemen in the west; but an Italian sailor rides well enough to shine in a Roman army, and though they thought more of winning booty than of defeating Bryennius they could scatter horse-archers, or ride down Sclavonian foot, whenever they went on patrol. We might have finished the war before spring if Alexius had advanced and brought Bryennius to battle. But there was no money in the city, and after harvest the taxes would come in; we hung about because the Domestic had received a sound military training as the Romans conceive it, and would not lead out his men until he was assured of supplies and a well-filled paychest.

  These scientific Roman strategists forget that other things happen while two armies face one another in idleness. Some time in Lent a eunuch of the Domos rode in with an urgent message for the Domestic. We Balliols were lounging in the hall, listening to a stray jongleur who had sailed east to see the world, and walked from the city when he heard of a Frankish audience kicking their heels in Thrace; he was a second-rate performer, as one would expect so far from home, but some of his jokes were broad enough to make a mule blush, and he could dance upside-down; he was better than nothing, and much better than a family quarrel.

  Suddenly the Domestic entered, accompanied by half a dozen Varangians. Evidently this was an official call. He carried a despatch in his hand; as he spoke he occasionally glanced at it, to make sure he got his facts right, and I reflected how easy it must be to make an impressive and cogent speech if you can read without effort.

  ‘Lord Frankopole,’ he began formally, ‘tonight I must ride for the city, and the regular troops with me. You will carry on the war as you think fit, until I send more definite instructions. Nicephorus Botaniates has been proclaimed in Pontus; he has already defeated George Palaeologus, and the whole Army of Asia obeys him. Worse still, he has given the great town of Nicaea to the Turks in payment for their help. The Asiatics must hate Nicephoritzes more than the infidels. I have been summoned to defend the city. Just to settle any doubt, I shall fight for Michael Ducas; not perhaps to the death, but so long as he has a chance of victory. Tomorrow you will be a free agent, but I advise you to do the same. It is Michael who holds the Treasury. Don’t risk a battle; just keep on pushing back the rebels gently, and when we have enough money a great army will reinforce you. I trust you; don’t spoil my record as a judge of fidelity.’

  Alexius had probably intended to make a formal declaration that it was the duty of every soldier to support the reigning Emperor; but Messer Roussel was his intimate friend, and he could not keep back his own estimate of the political situation. In fact he passed on the hint that Botaniates would probably win; but no matter who held the city a captain who fought against Bryennius would be rewarded.

  When we were once more alone, a roomful of Franks who could discuss in our own language these confusing Roman politics, young Ralph was the first to offer advice. ‘Listen father,’ he called impudently, ‘St Michael has given us another chance, in spite of your failure at Amasia. Botaniates has let the Turks into Nicaea! That means that in the next few days he must conquer or yield, for he has no fortress behind him. Meanwhile Bryennius holds Europe, and we hold eastern Thrace. No Themes obey the city! Never mind who rules there; he will be provost of a wealthy market, less powerful than the Duke of Venice. Come on. Tomorrow we ride against Adrianople. May I be the first to salute Count Roussel of Thrace!’

  My lord was always calm in council; now he spoke without open rudeness. ‘Messer Ralph,’ he said quietly, ‘the times are disturbed, and you are my most trusted follower. I appoint you castellan. Until daybreak you should visit the sentinels every hour. You may begin your rounds at once. Report when you have inspected every post.’

  To a lad of that age the opportunity to inspect veteran sentinels and report them if they were idle was more attractive even than giving advice to his betters. Ralph went willingly.

  After he left we were a little nervous of my lord’s temper, and kept silence until Matilda spoke. ‘My dear, I know the boy’s a trial,’ she said. ‘I dare say you also were a nuisance at his age. But what he says is reasonable. Botaniates has sold the remnant of Asia for a chance to reign in the city, and if you open negotiations with Bryennius he will divide Europe with us.’

  ‘Of course he will, at this minute. It gives him the summer to collect the taxes of the west and hire a strong army. Alexius saw that, and he was warning me against it. Supposing next year Romania is divided among three rulers, Botaniates in the city, Bryennius in Thessalonica, and myself at Adrianople between them? How long do you think I would last, with two Romans intriguing against me? And where does Alexius come in? He could seize the Purple tomorrow. At present he is content to command in the city, but if he tried he could capture me again, and next time I would really be mutilated.’

  ‘Then you will draw pay and obey orders, like a common sergeant?’ answered Matilda. ‘I know you were beaten once, and unlike your sons I don’t think it was your fault. We none of us allowed for the energy of Alexius Comnenus. But it isn’t like you, or worthy of your blood, to give up just because the first attempt was unsuccessful.’

  ‘You haven’t been strapped down with the blinding-iron before your eyes. I knew it would be cold if Alexius kept his word, but that might have been a trick. It was very easy to imagine what it would feel like white-hot. I shall never risk that again. I shall say so publicly to the whole band, and those who wish to serve a more dashing leader may seek him elsewhere.

  Would you, madam, care to join Bryennius or Botaniates? I can offer you safe conduct this evening.’

  My lord strode restlessly up and down, his head averted, trying to keep back his tears. Joan began to cry, and the rest of us felt horribly embarrassed. When all values were collapsing after Manzikert my lord had shown himself the greatest captain in the east; now this great leader had declined into a faithful servant, broken by fear. Later we explained his conduct by saying he was loyal to Alexius who had granted him mercy; but at that moment the truth peeped out. Well, no one has ever put the iron to my eyes. But then I am not a knight of ancient descent; the son of a smith is expected to run away rather than go down fighting. It was because we thought Messer Roussel was different that every Frank in the east was proud to follow his banner.

  Matilda began to chatter, attempting to pass off an awkward situation, like a well-bred Roman lady. ‘Be careful of that embroidery, Joan. If you must cry don’t drop tears on the silk. Osbert, sit still. You’ll wear a hole in your chausses if you squirm like that. Now then, Roussel, the band will expect orders to march. If we do nothing half of them will desert to Botaniates, to be in at the sack of the city. Without the Domestic we are not strong enough to assault Adrianople. Where shall we go? Roger, you’ve been sitting in silence like a well-trained pedagogue; God knows you aren’t that, whatever you may be. What shall we do to keep the men busy?’

  As a rule when my lady turned to me suddenly I found myself tongue-tied, but on this occasion I had a bright idea. ‘That lazy eunuch of the Dromos took all day to cover twenty miles,’ I said at once. ‘It is important to know what passes in the city. I suggest we march south-west and occupy a better harbour. Then we shall hear the latest news from the ships in the Marmora.’

  ‘That’s sound. We don’t want to find ourselves fighting gallantly for Michael three days after he has been blinded,’ my lady said briskly. ‘I hate asking these Romans to explain a map, and I’m never any wiser when they do. Rous
sel, can you think of a handy seaport which we can capture without help from the Domestic? It must be in rebel hands, to make it obvious we are fighting in Michael’s cause when we march against it.’

  ‘Oh yes, Selymbria,’ my lord answered without hesitation. No matter how upset he felt he could always plan a campaign.

  ‘Then we march there tomorrow,’ said Matilda with decision. ‘Will you give orders tonight? Roger, go and tell the servants to prepare to move. I shall ride Swallow if his back is quite cool, but see they give him a fresh saddle-cloth. I shall need six reasonably honest sergeants to guard our baggage. Remember, Joan, to fold your dresses tonight; if you keep us waiting in the morning I shall marry you to an infidel Patzinak.’

  This last remark was intended to relieve the solemnity of the occasion. My lady was always giving orders, because she made up her mind more quickly than anyone else; then she would realise she was taking too much upon herself, and try to smooth things over by making some very unfunny joke.

  When we reached Selymbria the little garrison who held it for Bryennius embarked on local fishing-boats and sailed west. The Roman navy nearly always adheres to the ruler of the city; but their real job is to enforce the regulations of the Treasury and protect the sea from pirates; they never seek out Roman ships in the service of a usurper, and avoid fighting if they can. Though in theory Michael controlled the sea, the men of Bryennius could sail near the coast if they were not too ostentatious about it.

  Selymbria is a decayed fishing-port, without even a proper castle. The inhabitants own no cattle, and the only supplies we could seize were fish and cabbage. It was the middle of Lent, and of course such food should have sufficed. But the eastern church has so many fasts unknown to the west that Franks get into the habit of eating beef every day, just to show their independence. Our men demanded to be led against some other town where there would be a comfortable castle and better plunder.

  It was bad policy to move away from the city when great events might take us unawares; but our men were a poor lot of unemployed loafers, and they might desert, or worse still change sides, if we did not carry on the campaign as they wished. Twenty miles to the west lay the flourishing town of Heraclea-in-Thrace; it was the centre of a rich district, whence fat cattle were shipped to the city. We marched west along the shore, and once again the rebel garrison fled by sea and the burgesses opened their gates to us.

  We now occupied a district sixty miles long, whence all administration had vanished; the people brought their disputes to the Frankopole, in default of any other authority, and it seemed that we would found our county by accident. But Messer Roussel would not judge civil causes, or take any step except the routine hanging of thieves; he said it might give the Romans an excuse to charge him with disloyalty. We could all see that the war against Bryennius had been shelved while the greater struggle was decided; presently the Schools of the Guard, under whichever leader came out on top, would march west and restore order. I wondered that Bryennius did not collect what treasure he could and sail to Italy; but most Romans would rather be blind in the city than free anywhere else, and I suppose he thought he had a chance. Civil war can bring surprising results, and a great territory obeyed the court of Adrianople.

  By the harbour of Heraclea there was a Latin church, for Italian ships sometimes put in to wait for a fair wind; on Easter Sunday I persuaded my lord and his family to perform their duties. In Asia we had never bothered; for there were no Latin priests and it is very difficult to find out which of the Roman clergy have incurred excommunication by supporting a schismatic Patriarch and which adhere to the True Faith; even those who are unsuspended delight to tease a Frank by pretending they have never heard of the dispute, or of the Pope either. But here was a well-educated Italian priest, who kept the correct ritual; he had only left Apulia because his Bishop had caught him embezzling the vessels of the altar. It was too good an opportunity to miss. It is evident, when you consider what came after, that my lord was under the special protection of his patron St Michael. That was only fair, for he must have killed more infidels than any other knight of his generation.

  The castle of Heraclea is built on a hill, only to be reached by a stiff climb. So that fasting men should not have a tiring walk in the heat of the day my lady had breakfast prepared under an awning in the market-place. We had just taken our seats at the long tables when the lookout on the mole set fire to his beacon, so close that the wind drove smoke into our faces. That meant hostile ships heading for the port; though Bryennius had no fleet we were on the borders of the enemy, and my lord left nothing to chance. The men were ordered up the hill to arm, and a groom went to fetch my lord’s sword and shield; but the gentry strolled down to get a look at the attackers and estimate their numbers.

  There was a stiff breeze from the east, and the water was too choppy for galleys. All we could make out was a fast Roman despatch boat, with all sail set; she was reaching for the narrow mouth of the harbour at a very good speed, which would wreck her if the helmsman made a mistake. These fast two-masted boats are seldom used in battle, on account of their light construction; she might shoot off the famous Greek Fire; but although there was a strong wind the houses by the port were roofed with tiles, not thatch. We all cursed the nervous lookout who had spoiled our gala breakfast.

  I like watching a ship make harbour on a windy day. It is satisfying to see something difficult done well, and Roman seamen are nearly as skilful as Italians. As the boat gained shelter inside the mole her yards came down with a run, the sails were neatly furled, and the anchor splashed overboard. While she still had way on her the dinghy plumped into the water, and three men sculled hurriedly to shore. We felt a little flat; what had seemed a hostile assault was nothing more than an urgent message from the city.

  But the two men who climbed out of the dinghy (the third immediately sculled away) were not ordinary couriers of the Dromos. One wore gilded armour, crowned with an elaborate helm whose crest caught the wind and must have been a great nuisance to the wearer; he carried no shield, and his officer’s mace flashed with jewelled ornaments. The other was the biggest man I have ever seen, more than six foot tall and very fat indeed; that colossal paunch could only belong to a eunuch, but no courier would wear so many necklaces and bracelets. Between them they carried, very awkwardly, a small ironbound casket. I could think of only one explanation of this ostentatious display of wealth. ‘Be very careful, my lord,’ I called. ‘Bryennius, or maybe Botaniates, wishes it to be known that he is offering you a bribe, so that the Emperor will doubt your loyalty. Take anything they give you, but send half to the Treasury; and be public in all your dealings.’

  ‘All right, little Roger,’ he answered cheerfully. ‘I welcome bribes, but two men can’t carry enough to buy my honour. Ask these gentlemen if they are seeking the Frankopole. And since there are at present three Emperors in Romania it would not be indelicate to inquire whether they support one side more than another.’

  After all these years my lord spoke fluent Greek, but army regulations assume that the Frankopole will need a linguist, and he took advantage of that to make the strangers declare themselves in public.

  The eunuch drew himself up and spoke in the high-pitched voice which to Roman ears denotes a great servant of the state; you must remember that in this queer country he was accustomed to the deference of bearded men.

  ‘I am Nicephorus, Logothete of the Dromos, and my companion is the Hetairiarch David. Two days ago we were faithful servants of the Emperor Michael, but yesterday the little rat abandoned the Purple. Nicephorus Botaniates now reigns in the city, and I may as well tell you frankly, before you hear it from someone else, that he has offered a reward for my arrest.

  Luckily a tower by the harbour was held by Alans who spoke no Greek, and no one had remembered to tell them of the change of rulers. They opened their postern to the Hetairiarch and the master of that despatch boat was bribed to get us away. I am being open with you. We thought Heraclea was held fo
r Bryennius, but in any case the sailors would take us no farther. We have brought nothing but our own savings, and we had no thought of bribing you. But you also were in the service of Michael Ducas, and if we discuss the situation in private we ought to arrive at some profitable arrangement.’

  ‘That is honestly told,’ answered my lord, no longer bothering to keep up the pretence that he needed a linguist. ‘You may come to my hall for a private discussion, though I make no promises. What part was played by the Domestic, and which lord does he now serve? But we can go into that round the council-board.’

  By the time we climbed the hill the band were armed and standing to their horses. They had heard rumours, and were very excited. It looked as though they were in the position that every mercenary dreams of; the lord to whom they had sworn allegiance was out of the fight, and they were free to sell their swords; but there were still two rivals in the field, who must continue the bidding. Even if the worst had happened and the war was at an end, they might sack Heraclea without punishment. They wanted to fight someone, anyone, at once. To keep them busy my lord sent them down to the market-place, where they arrested prominent burgesses and held them to ransom until they had collected all the money and wine in the town. That is the best way to rob a place where you intend to remain; if individual sergeants are allowed to rummage by themselves they nearly always end by burning the houses, and then you must bivouac in the open.