members owned two or even three horses and had their own groomsmen. However, this did not bother Gerald in the slightest. He was perfectly satisfied with having just Troy and looking after him himself. This was the first time he had ever owned a horse, a fact that would have shocked his wealthy ancestors.
The room was crowded, the summer temperature creating a thirst that could only be satisfied by a mug of brown ale. Gerald insisted on paying for their two drinks, stilldetermined to repay, in some way, the price of the book.
They found two worm-ridden stools and sat down close to one another.
Gerald had been thinking about the word ‘duty’ and even before Jacques could enjoy that all-important first sip, he asked, ‘Can I make an observation and, pray, do not be offended?’
Jacques swallowed a mouthful of warm beer as he nodded his permission.
‘Well, it’s just that you said we are all doing our duty … but, you see, your country is not really under threat, is it? I mean, you have a Catholic king, one of the most powerful rulers in the world. He has plenty of money and a huge army.’
‘ Oui , this is so,’ conceded Jacques, concentrating mostly on his beer, making sure none of the house flies ended up swimming in it.
‘But, well, it’s just that … you are only here because Louis told you to be.’
Gerald had rushed out his last few words and seemed to expect an explosion of some sorts.
Slightly baffled, Jacques simply agreed, ‘Yes. I know that. You know that. What of it?’
Gerald paused, feeling slightly lost himself. What was the point he had wanted to make?
‘Look,’ said Jacques, ‘you told me why you are here, about your grandfather’s castle that was burned to the ground, about your mother that longs to be a great lady again, like her mother before her. You fight to win back the riches of your family, and I fight for Louis to hold onto his riches. Don’t pretend, my friend, there is a nobler reason for us to be here. Really, war is usually about the power and the money.’
He rewarded himself for his speech by draining his drink and then looking pointedly at that of Gerald, who was not as keen on the taste and, without thinking, swapped cups with his friend.
‘ Merci bien !’ muttered Jacques happily. ‘This is the life, no?’
The first beer had settled him in nicely and, with a contented sigh, Jacques took in their fellow drinkers. ‘Ah, see, there is Michael and Joseph.’
He waved at the other soldiers, saying: ‘Now, I do not much care for either of them but tonight let us all be merry. Yes?’
At long last, Jacques glanced at Gerald’s face and was perplexed at not seeing the usual friendly expression. However, just before he could investigate matters further, he was obliged to deal with Michael and Joseph, the two soldiers from Tallaght and Trim who had found a stool each and were pushing in beside them.
Michael glanced at Gerald and asked, ‘What’s wrong?’
When Gerald made no answer to this, Michael smirked as he said rather too loudly to Jacques, ‘Oh dear, I hope we’re not interrupting anything.’
The younger soldier, Joseph, had not noticed anything and had no idea what his friend was talking about and certainly was not prepared for Gerald’s furious bark.
‘How dare you!’
Jacques was mystified, looking from Gerald to the new arrivals and back again. ‘What? Who are you talking to?’
Gerald spat out his answer. ‘You, Jacques, you! You think it’s so easy, don’t you? You have met a girl you like so now you are perfectly happy. It doesn’t matter where you are, only that you can drink beer and chase girls. That’s all you care about!’
Michael was understandably thrilled with this. He had hardly expected a performance to go with his beer and certainly not one that involved the pompous Frenchie being made to look as sorry as he did.
Doing his best to ignore the eager audience, Jacques sought to calm his young friend. ‘I do not
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