[Fools' Guild 08] - The Parisian Prodigal by Alan Gordon Read Free Book Online Page A

your lessons each morning. In the afternoons, I will be here to show you around town, starting tomorrow. Your man may go to the stalls at the square to buy food.”
    “Are we captives, then?” asked Baudoin once Hue had translated the soldier’s speech.
    “Yesterday, you were in a hole deeper than a grave,” I replied. “Today, you have sunlight and air. Count your blessings, and bless your count. And what are you?”
    “I am a fool,” he said in langue d’oe.
    “Well done,” I said. “I will see you in the morning.” Sancho and I walked out together.
    “I didn’t know you gave language lessons,” he said.
    “I didn’t know you gave tours,” I replied. “We have both come down in the world.”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” he said. “At least I’ll be out in the fresh air and sunshine. Do me more good than standing outside someone’s chambers all night.”
    “I take it the count wants me to report.”
    “Right. I was going to tell you that part next.”
    “Was it his idea to house them over the stables?”
    “Actually, that was mine,” said Sancho. “Thought I might take a little initiative.”
    “You’ll go far,” I said.
    The count and his coterie were still having their luncheon when I walked in. My irritation must have been written across my whiteface, for he took one look at my expression and started to chuckle.
    “I am supposed to be supplying jokes, not becoming one myself,” I said.
    “Forgive me, Fool,” he said. “If it’s any consolation, it amuses me terribly.”
    “You chose me as his instructor as a deliberate insult to him,” I said.
    “Of course,” said the count. “I am not going to waste the talents of one of my men on such as he. It would show that I am taking him too seriously. What better way to show my contempt than to send him my fool to teach him our tongue?”
    “What does it say about Toulouse when its best teacher is a fool?” I replied.
    “When you have calmed down, you will find I have put some thought into this,” he said. “Use your talents for observation and conversation to pierce that cloak and find out what lies underneath.”
    “He lies underneath, so I must go underneath the lies,” I said. “I may have to tunnel deep.”
    “Use something sharp,” said Bernard.
----

    “ A language instructor ,” snickered Claudia. “You poor thing!”
    “I am tempted to teach him a completely different language and let him try to survive,” I said. “Dalmatian would do nicely.”
    “You should let Pelardit teach him,” said Claudia. “He speaks more eloquently than any of us without saying a word.” Pelardit made an elaborate gesture of thanks.
    “And Baudoin is still a prisoner, despite the luxury of the prison,” she said. “The count did not plan this well. I would leave them unhindered, and have them followed wherever he goes.”
    “It may come to that,” I said. “But until then, I shall be conjugating verbs with a middle-aged simpleton.”
    “I have always enjoyed it when you conjugate,” she whispered in my ear. “Tonight, we should have a conjugal visit.”
    “I heard that,” said Helga. “I know what she means by it, too.”
    “Then you know enough to keep your sharp ears behind a closed door and not bother us,” I said.
    “Don’t I always?”
    “You are the best pretend daughter in the world,” said Claudia.
----

    T he next morning , I walked to the lodgings of my new student with a renewed vigor. The conjugation of the night before had been sweet and loving. I hoped that meant I had returned to her good graces, at least for the near future.
    It was the not-so-distant future that concerned me. Mark, her oldest child, would be turning fifteen in August. Although titular Duke of Orsino, his powers were currently vested in the regent, his aunt Olivia. I tried to remember at what age Orsinians reached the age of majority. I hoped it was eighteen. I needed time to figure out some way to get my wife back there once Mark had