Return to the Bishop

1206, Fall

The trip to Venosc and thence to Bourg-d'Oisans was without incident. The night spent there was pleasant enough, Helene being good company. Talk turned to news and unusual incidents in the area. The bandit activity which had been so bad in the spring had fallen off and the road was mostly clear to Grenoble. Helene speculated that the bandits had had a falling out, since some of the folk who inhabited the wood had reported finding a bandit's body off the road a few months ago. She mentioned that someone had apparently taken up residence in the ruins across the river, but that he didn't appear to be a bandit. She was hoping that her father would go and investigate when he returned in a few weeks.

Lilia had heard the brief outline of the trip to the ruins and contemplated telling Helene about it. She shrugged, making a mental note to ask Conrad to let Tonio know so he could make himself scarce or speak with Helene's father as it suited him.

"I've had some dealings with this man," Alain said. "In my travels during the summer. I believe he is no threat to anyone local. He is merely studying the ruins and the lands that surround them."

"Oh? That is good to know, then," said Helene. "We feared bandits might be again taking up residence there."

"No, I think you are safe from bandits there for a while. At least a season or two. However, I would be very interested in any news about past or future bandit activity in this area. Is there someone I might speak with while we are here who is in charge of this County's patrols?" Alain asked.

"That would be my father. He should be back in a few weeks," said Helene.

"Hmm... perhaps I will get a chance to speak with him on our return journey then."

Lilia said, "At least the bandits seem to be gone for the time being. I find that comforting, and I am sure your father will sort the remainder out."

She smiled brightly. "Now tell me of the local gossip -- have the Bishop and the Countess come to blows yet?"

"Not as yet. What *is* going on with you and the Bishop? My father tells me that he sold your land to the Bishop, but not why the Bishop wanted it," said Helene.

For a moment, Lilia was too surprised to speak. "The Bishop bought the land from your father? I do believe we have been maneuvered to the Bishop's cause. He has made veiled threats and overtures to me... us... holding our home as hostage. I had no doubt treachery was involved, but I must confess I am a little shocked at how well-planned it was. Enough of the dull bickering of landowners and their constituents. Tell me everything new with you."

Other than that news, Helene had nothing much of significance to add, only stories of friends and their marriages, children and so on.

Lilia happily passed the time in inconsequential patter, grateful for the lull before the storm.

The familiar route to Grenoble was traversed with no especial difficulty, and soon the trio was ensconced in their usual inn several days in advance of the day appointed for their meeting with the Bishop.

Alain spent some time just wandering the town. His excuse was to scout the horse market, but he was really just re-immersing himself in the feeling of civilization. For himself, he had only one goal for the trip. He wanted to find a new saddle, a riding saddle, for his mount. Given the extra time, he also looked about for books for sale and some inexpensive spices. His time in Constantinople had left him with several appetites.

"Inexpensive spices" he realized was very nearly an oxymoron, but he did find some that seemed not too outrageously priced. The saddle was easier to find and he was able to suggest a few customizations and fittings that could be done quickly.

The horse market was a little thin at the moment, he learned that a disease had struck horses to the northwest and so much of the stock had been recently purchased as replacements. Which is not to say that there wasn't some decent horseflesh to be found.

It would be rare indeed to find a book for sale, for such things were precious indeed. However, it occurred to him that the Bishop might have access to something through the scriptorium. Otherwise, he realized his best chance would be to find a scholar with similar interests and try to get a copy made of his books.

Lilia browsed the market distractedly. She was eager to get the meeting with the Bishop over and done with. She wanted to spend the time with Alain, but he seemed to have several errands to run.

Even with her distraction, she was able to arrange for some cloth and some luxuries to be sent to their lodging.

The Bishop was clearly expecting them, for when they presented themselves, they were conducted immediately into his presence. He rose graciously to greet them, bowing to Lila before inviting them to sit.

Lilia smiled and presented the Bishop with a small pouch, the amethyst brooch inside. "The effects of this may seem subtle to you, Excellency, but when you wear this stone, it will give you an added air of nobility. Those in your presence may feel influenced thusly and look more favourably on you."

"Indeed?" The Bishop opened the pouch and removed the brooch. "It is .." for the first time, he looked slightly uncertain, "... magical?"

"So they say," she replied with another smile. "Would you like someone else to try it first? So you can see how it works..." Lilia suspected the prospect of magic frightened the Bishop a little. As one might have a taster to assure no poisons were in the wine, so might having someone else demonstrate the power of the brooch put the Bishop at ease.

Lilia suspected the prospect of magic frightened the Bishop a little. As one might have a taster to assure no poisons were in the wine, so might having someone else demonstrate the power of the brooch put the Bishop at ease.

"A demonstration of its effects would be useful," he said, mastering himself. "After all, we are discussing your rent are we not? How much rent is such a thing worth?"

"This item is limited, as are most of its ilk. Its effect will only last until sunrise or sunset, whichever is next. It will only work fifty times and then it will remain a pretty bauble, but just a pretty bauble. I believe you are wise enough and judicious enough to get much benefit of it." She held the amethyst in the palm of her outstretched hand where it caught the light. "Shall we let Conrad demonstrate?"

"Yes, why not?" The guard was summoned and his role explained. He took the amulet and spoke the word of command. The change was subtle but immediate. When he began to speak, his voice was smoother and more commanding, and his suggestion that the object was more than adequate to the task at hand was taken to heart by the Bishop, who realized even as the spell affected him hoW useful it would be.

"Indeed," he said. "It seems very good. And yet not obvious. Fifty times you say? Now forty-nine? And how much rent do you think such a thing is worth?"

"I had hoped we could negotiate that, Excellency. I have little experience with rents, but Alain has travelled with me and can help me make a good decision. With your leave, I will consult with him while we negotiate. The piece took a full season to make and depleted resources in our community. That is only part of the basic, physical value. Part of the question has to be how much it is worth to you to have this political advantage."

"Indeed, I await your offer anxiously," he fondled and examined the piece from all sides.

Lilia and the Bishop, with occasional commentary from Alain began to spar back and forth about the rents. Two issues immediately came to the fore - how many years worth of rent was the enchanted amulet worth, and the Bishop's insistence that a Priest be installed in the village. The land was granted, he said, to the Bishopric and it would be wrong for it go without a spiritual guide.

Alain brought up the point that at many manors, the lord had the right to appoint his household priest. Lilia pounced on that and the Bishop seemed to be swayed. He would let the Lady Lilia appoint the Priest, "saving only that he be qualified and ordained."

Lilia and Alain decided to approach Antoine about the subject on their return.

After some further negotiation, it was agreed that the amulet would serve for five years rent, dating from Midsummer. In 1211, therefore, the Covenant would owe either another amulet, "or," added the Bishop, "some other item whose value could be negotiated at that time or before."

With the negotiations complete, the company prepared to return to Lakehome. They loaded their purchases and retraced the route to Bourg-d'Oisans.

When they arrived at Bourg-d'Oisans, they were met by both Helene and her father, Sir Rene. They were greeted courteously and shown to their lodgings. At dinner that evening, Alain had a chance to speak with Sir Rene.

"Sir Rene," Alain began. "Recently I had the chance to travel through your lands with some companions. Our journey was pleasant enough. We were in search of information concerning a site now in ruins. During our investigations, we heard tales of brigands using the site as a hiding place. I grew curious, as no two stories had the same sound. Since these are your lands, I thought it wisest to ask you of these brigands. What sorts of activities have you or your men observed? Are these lawless men still a problem to the area?"

Rene nodded sagely, accepting the questions as reasonable from one fighting man to another, for although he was well into his forties, he was still a knight and man of action. "The land hereabouts is wild," he said. "The mountains impassable to men on horseback in most places and full of terrain that an outlaw can dissappear into. Brigandage is always a problem. The road to Grenoble is long and for much of it's length isolated. There are always villians hiding in the mountains and sortieing down to strike at travellers." He paused to consider. "I know the ruins you speak of, a days ride off to the west, if that. On the south side of the river? Bandits sometimes hide there for a few days or weeks. From there they can raid over the river easily enough. I've ridden out there many times, but only once did we ever catch anyone there. Must have been, oh, fifteen years agone. They'd made a pretty raid and gotten a load of wine, a rare enough cargo through here. They were so drunk they didn't hear us coming. We killed four on the spot and hanged another three a few days later.

"If the brigands keep a watch, though, they can see us coming in plenty of time to escape. Many a time I've found the place empty with nothing but a warm firepit to show how narrowly we'd missed catching them. Sometimes we recovered some goods, but more often not. There was one, Le Croc Fonce. I recall how he used it a few times. He must have been killed, though. I haven't heard anything of him in years. Dead, and so much the better. He was a bad 'un." He shook his head, "where was I. Yes. This year has been quiet, though. I don't know why. There was some activity in the spring, and I thought it might come from the ruins, but then it stopped. There seems to be someone out there now, but Helene said you know of him? I had thought to go investigate but there seemed no urgency. Perhaps you would care to ride with me?"

"I know the man and he has traveled with me before. I would be happy to introduce you. He is trustworthy enough and I know he means no one any harm. He has stayed at the ruins there and will be there for a little while. Before we dwell upon him, allow me to ask if there has been any other attacks that might not be easily explained? Or perhaps someone having recently taken a malady of the mind and running wild?" Alain touched his forehead with hands drawn together. "Some one acting, as a priest might say, 'possessed of an evil spirit?'"

A few days after that they had returned safely to Lakehome.