Tent of Annalisa

[Mary The Quene]

On the northern side of the Crusader's camp, one would immediately notice the presence of the Italian host who serve under the daughter of count Roger Borsa, Annalisa Di Salernii. Here is where she resides for the moment and the place to meet her when granted access. Some 1720 Italian troops accompany her along the crusade.

[Mors Vigilia]

Footsteps could be heard coming closer to Annalisa’s tent, and they brought with them the unmistakable fresh smell of roses and other fragrant flowers as Thomas passed by…

[Mary The Quene]

Footsteps could be heard coming closer to Annalisa’s tent, and they brought with them the unmistakable fresh smell of roses and other fragrant flowers as Thomas passed by…

While Thomas passed by, lady Annalisa was sleeping, but the footsteps of the peasant made her awake and she went outside the tent taking a glass of wine in the late evening, suddenly she saw a man walking away and she had send her guards to seize the man, perhaps this man was a spy?, when the man had been seized he was ready to be brought before the young lady. much to her surprise she knew the man already, he had insulted her some time ago.

'It seems you have been washed, an overall improvement to our last meeting. Why did u not notice me of your presence? Some might have mistaken your footsteps for a turk or Saracen trying to spy, now that you're here you better say something useful because you've awoke me during my sleep!

Taking a nipple of her glass wine she would patiently listen to Thomas.

[Mors Vigilia]

Thomas was really contemplating his decision to spend time amongst the army outside of Constantinople, he couldn’t go anywhere without being seized or dragged off somewhere to be washed. It had been a long day…

His feelings quickly evaporated though when he say the lady Annalisa before him.

“My lady!”

Thomas’ mouth gaped open and closed a few times as he scoured his mind for something to say

“I did not think that you would wish to know of my comings and goings - I was only on my way to where the Scots are camped – but if that is your wish then I will surely let you know in the future. I am so sorry to have woken you, of course! These new boots are hard in the heel as I’m afraid they do make some noise…”

[Mary The Quene]

The lady looked to the guards and they came in the tent

'Unchain him' she said.

Twice we've meet each other now, i believe this can't be coincidence. Tell me, why does a peasant join a crusade?

She stared to the man

Money, wives, prestige, freedom ? Do you desire such things that makes you join the crusade?

[Mors Vigilia]

Thomas’ eyes darkened as he was being unchained, thinking of his late family.

“I desire salvation. As do many in my position.”

Many men had joined with him during his long walk to Constantinople – women too – each one reluctant to talk of their past.

[Mary The Quene]

'Salvation'

She looked bored, she would expect a male peasant to have atleast some ambitions.

'Most men who have said 'salvation' have something to hide. I believe you have done something wrong in the past that makes you want to join the crusade in order to find salvation, am i not right?'

She offered a seat, something he could ofcourse not refuse

[Mors Vigilia]

Thomas sat, but with much hesitation. He was genuinely puzzled why his lady showed much fascination in him, yet her look was obviously one of boredom. Was she just playing with him as a cat would a mouse?

“The truth of the matter is that I believe I am cursed.”

There, it was out.

“My wife died in childbirth, and my daughter soon after. An echo of my mother’s own death… I hope that in Jerusalem I will find an answer and break this unfortunate affliction.”

[Mary The Quene]

Clearly that was not an answer that she had expected

'I do not know if you're cursed or not, only the holy ones are to judge you about that. Certainly i should not judge about such things'

Atleast now she felt some compassion with the man.

'To lose your wife must be hard. I can not imagine me what a husband could do without me, life would be boring without me. I do not have children so i can not imagine me the miss of them but that must be hard, yes?

[Mors Vigilia]

"I am blessed to have had them."

Thomas wrung his hands in nervousness.

"Is your husband with the crusade, my lady?"

[Mary The Quene]

Drinking from her almost empty glass she addressed Thomas

'I do not have a husband, Thomas. I have not encountered anyone of worth to marry, i am not going to marry to someone i do not feel love for, maybe i may go for an important noble to my liking. My father would have married me to an old fat general but i could avoid it luckily'

[Mors Vigilia]

Nothing but generals in this crusade, Thomas thought, though he could not speak for their girths. He was becoming curious, not in any small part due to the fact that he was sitting with a young noble lady within her own tent. However he still thought that he should not ask any more questions for fear of insulting her. Some awkward time passed, with Thomas stilling wringing his hands and looking nervously around the tent before he opened his mouth again.

"Please, if I may, my lady... why am I of interest to you?"

[Mary The Quene]

She smacked Thomas in the face, not that it really did hurt Thomas. Out of nothing she wanted to punish Thomas for his insult long ago,

I have no love for you at all, you're a mere peasant so do not see this as kindness. i have already said to much. Frankly you're only of interest to me because you might be useful later, maybe i will reward you when you do things i ask you when i deem it necessary. I want you from time to time do some dirty workd to do for me when such things are needed

[Mors Vigilia]

Thomas quickly got to his feet in shock, a cold fire of anger in his eyes flashing quickly before it was replaced by a pleading desperation. He fell to his knees and clasped his hands together again.

"I apologise! I am sorry! I did not mean to offend the lady!"

That last was directed to the guards who he now feared would surely dispatch him.

[Mary The Quene]

Clearly drunk, the lady was quite agressive, some would say the way of southern types and other would blame it on arrogance. The guards would stand next to her in order to protect her from a possible revenge strike

you gonna working for me? i offer you work and more if you do it well peasant, so i wanna answer.

[Mors Vigilia]

"What do you require, my lady? If I can, I will!"

With any luck tomorrow morning's hangover would erase her memory of ever meeting Thomas.

[Mary The Quene]

'I require you to delivers letters to other lords, to deliver messages to battlefield commanders when needed, you shall prepare my horse and equipment and you shall inform me when matters concern me. If you do your well i will pay you according to your rank.'

[Mors Vigilia]

A small smile appeared on Thomas' lips.

"My lady, you are not the first to wish this of me today, and even though I do not believe I have even touched a horse before I think that I shall accept Sir Malcolm's offer... But if you and your soldiers and marching alongside the Scots then I believe I can find time to cater for the both of you..."

[Mary The Quene]

She was dissapointed in Thomas' answer, a clear fire was seen in her eye's, refusing such an offer from such a beautiful lady was unknown to her, it was the first time in her life she had been openly refused, though most did not dare to refuse her out of fear for vengeance.

' I can not hide the fact that i'm dissapointed, what does Malcom offers what i do not have? How can you choose him over me? A refusal to her was considered as humiliating as most things in her life went according to her will.

The guards approached the man and stood nect to him to carry him away when he had answered to the lady.

[Mors Vigilia]

She was dissapointed in Thomas' answer, a clear fire was seen in her eye's, refusing such an offer from such a beautiful lady was unknown to her, it was the first time in her life she had been openly refused, though most did not dare to refuse her out of fear for vengeance.

' I can not hide the fact that i'm dissapointed, what does Malcom offers what i do not have? How can you choose him over me? A refusal to her was considered as humiliating as most things in her life went according to her will.

The guards approached the man and stood nect to him to carry him away when he had answered to the lady.

Thomas spread his arms apologetically - as far as the guards by him would allow.

"He was the first to ask, my lady. And a man in my position must take what work comes his way. I mean no offence to you, and for what it's worth I give you my word that if I am available and able to assist you at any time then I shall, so long as it does not conflict with my existing work for another."