Was Briand de Boisguillebert a heretic? Rebecca is the beautiful daughter of the Jew Isaac from the novel Ivanhoe

" The spiritual person's companion was a man tall, over forty years old, thin, strong andmuscular. His athletic figure, due to constant exercise, seemed to consist of nothing but bones, muscles and tendons; it was clear that he had endured many difficult trials and was ready to endure as many more. He was wearing a red fur-trimmed hat of the kind that the French call a mortier because its shape resembles a mortar turned upside down. His face clearly expressed his desire to evoke in everyone he met a feeling of fearful respect and fear. His very expressive, nervous face with large and sharp features, tanned under the rays of the tropical sun to blackness, in calm moments it seemed as if dozing off after an explosion of violent passions, but the puffy veins on his forehead and the twitching of his upper lip showed that the storm could break out again at any moment. In the look of his bold, dark, penetrating eyes one could read a whole story about the dangers experienced and overcome. He looked as if he wanted to provoke resistance to his desires - only in order to sweep the enemy out of the way, showing his will and courage. A deep scar above his eyebrows gave even greater severity to his face and an ominous expression to one eye, which was slightly hurt by the same blow and slightly squinted.

This horseman, like his companion, was dressed in a long monastic cloak, but the red color of this cloak showed that the rider did not belong to any of the four main monastic orders. A white cloth cross of a special shape was sewn on the right shoulder. Under the cloak one could see chain mail, incompatible with monastic rank, with sleeves and gloves made of small metal rings; it was made extremely skillfully and fit as tightly and elastically to the body as our sweatshirts, knitted from soft wool. As far as the folds of the cloak could be seen, his hips were protected by the same chain mail; the knees were covered with thin steel plates, and the calves were covered with metal chain mail stockings. Tucked into his belt was a large, double-edged dagger—the only weapon he had with him.

He rode on a strong road horse, apparently in order to conserve the strength of his noble war horse, which one of his squires led behind. The horse was fully armed; on one side of the saddle hung a short bridle with a rich damask notch, on the other - the owner’s helmet decorated with feathers, his chain mail cap and a long double-edged sword. Another squire was carrying, holding up, his master’s spear; at the tip of the spear fluttered a small flag with an image of the same cross that was sewn on the cloak. The same squire held a small triangular shield, wide at the top to cover the entire chest, and pointed at the bottom. The shield was in a case made of red cloth, and therefore it was impossible to see the motto inscribed on it."

On Sunday sad news came - the famous Soviet and Russian actor theater and cinema Boris Khimichev. Happy memory and thanks for the roles, among which I will highlight one - the Knight of the Order of the Temple, Briand de Boisguilbert. Yes, Boisguillebert was played by other actors I liked, in particular Sam Neill and Ciarán Hinds, but best performer Khimichev will always remain the role of the templar! Blessed memory, Boris Petrovich! Thank you for the roles, and especially for Boisguillebert!

The author repents, the author wrote based on the 1982 film, in which Boisguillebert/Rebecca is for him the main (if not the only) pleasant pairing. But very much loved.
And therefore - perhaps OOC. And definitely an AU regarding both canons (both the film and the book) - Briand did not ask permission to save him once again. And historical mistakes, thousands of them. Sorry, dear customer, the author couldn’t resist seeing the pairing.

551 words.

Briand de Boisguilbert, Knight Templar, commander of the famous order, could not even imagine that the day would come when Christianity would become an obstacle for him, and not a source of strength. It was much easier to carry the Word of God to the infidels at the tip of a spear in the Holy Land - no one expected real transformations, no one worried about the conversion of the Saracens to true faith. Boisguillebert was not a preacher, did not look like a missionary or an apostle - and until recently this worthy representative of his circle would have declared that he would be satisfied with the more modest talent of a political speaker.
But the habit of loud speeches is not enough to convince a person to change not the figure on the throne, but the light in his own soul, to break the principles from the past and force him to look at existence differently.
When Briand reads passages from the New Testament to her, Rebecca sits straight and impassive, almost as if at an ill-fated “trial”; except that he smiles occasionally, listening to particularly touching passages - but only a fool could take this as a victory. Only the Pentateuch, sacred to the Jews, resonates vividly in her heart, and her lovely face instantly changes; Rebecca is transformed so much that for the sake of her inspired bliss, Boisguillebert forgets about his goal and again and again steps on the shaky Old Testament soil.
He reads to Rebecca about Adam and Eve, oh paradise lost, which remained great dreams in their memory, about mistakes that deprived them of happiness, about punishment for persistence and distrust.
He took her away, he saved her from certain death, even if Rebecca did not ask for it - the beautiful proud woman would have preferred a fire, but Boisguillebert did not want to give her the right to stumble. On the distant shores of the island of fogs, Briand dreamed that the continent would become a new home for guests from England, in which they would find peace and joy; and now there is not even a dream left, paradise is lost - but perhaps not forever?
Walking on the edge lasts for a painfully long time, and Boisguillebert does not know what to do about it. The means and skills of a noble descendant of the Normans allow him not to vegetate, but to live in luxury - but Rebecca refuses to share his path. She acknowledges care - and that’s all; there is mercy and compassion in her, but there is no fire that can burn prejudices. One can only be surprised that the Jewish woman has not yet fled to her fellow tribesmen, scattered in large numbers throughout European cities; Rebecca is not afraid and does not shy away from the company of the knight, who no longer imposes on her anything bad for any young lady, and this inspires hope. If devotion to obsolete teachings could be as easily erased from memory as the bad scene at the castle of Front de Boeuf; Rebecca has forgiven everything, completely forgiven - Briand sees this every time he returns to his either captive or the Beautiful Lady. She is almost tender with him in those rare moments when Boisguillebert loses patience and he convulsively squeezes her hands, shudders, holding back angry tears. Rebecca no longer pushes him away - but he, too, has learned respect. Briand is afraid to even remember the obscenities that he once considered appropriate for the daughter of the Jewish people.
Now Boisguillebert can only repeat the request to change his faith, hoping that perseverance and devotion will bear fruit. Whoever Rebecca was before, does it matter? The only thing the Church needs is recognition of the truth Christian teaching. The only thing needed is to propose a union worthy of both of them, recognized by people and heaven.
Boisguillebert prays Holy Virgin about the granting of insight to God's faithless creation, about the return of the lost to the paradise they had lost, and Briand's heart aches when he hears Rebecca, humbly bowing her head, again whispering the prayers of her people.

Filmed by the BBC back in 1997. For a long, long time, Snorri walked around the shelf with this film, not daring to spend her hard-earned money on incomprehensible film products, but the love for the Middle Ages and historical film opuses still crushed the toad, which I am now happy about.

From the main storyline, as I believe, many are familiar with: the valiant knight Ivanhoe, who went to Palestine with Richard the Lionheart, was slandered by the Templar Briand de Boisguillebert, as a result of which he was forced to hide his real name. In addition to these joys, his father, Lord Cedric, is angry with his son because of his love for his pupil Rowenna, whom the old Saxon intends as a wife for the heir of Alfred the Great, Athelstan, who, to put it mildly, does not shine with either intelligence or other talents. In England, meanwhile, complete chaos reigns: in the absence of the king, his brother-regent creates lawlessness, along with other Norman invaders, oppressing the working Saxon people. Ivanhoe appears at one of the tournaments, where he kills all his opponents, but the enemy forces inflict an insidious blow on him, as a result of which Sir Wilfrid is out of action for some time. He is treated by Rebekah, the daughter of the Jew Isaac from York, with whom he falls in love, and mutually (which does not in the least contribute to their happiness, since national and religious differences have not evaporated). Meanwhile, Richard lands on the English coast and, unrecognized by anyone, meets with Robin's forestry brigade from Loxley. Having learned about the capture of Rowenna, Athelstan and Cedric, as well as Ivanhoe, Rebekah and Isaac by the evil Normans Frontebeuf, de Bracy and Boisguilbert, they rush to their aid. On the one hand, the insidious enemies want to marry de Bracy to Rowenna, thereby providing him with political weight (for the golden-haired maiden is by no means of peasant origin), and on the other hand, Boisguillebert takes revenge on Ivanhoe for his defeat in the tournament and for the fact that he is a walking reminder of him , to the templar, about the betrayal of the king. Robin Hood's men storm Frondebeuf's castle, free the captives, after which Ivanhoe reconciles with his father, reunites with Rowenna, and Athelstan, whose brains suddenly move, refuses the engagement. However, Boisguillebert, who has fallen in love with Rebekah, takes her to the commandery, where the Grand Master of the Order arrives. I've heard about such obscenity - a woman, and a Jew at that, in a men's (which is important) monastery! - the formidable Templar accuses her of witchcraft. The matter comes to God's court, at which Ivanhoe is called to defend the honor of Rebekah. He kills Boisguillebert, after which the king reveals his name to everyone and begins to do justice. Rebekah and Isaac leave for Spain, and Rowenna and Ivanhoe live a happy life.

Rebekah and Boisguillebert, who induces her to cohabitate

Frontebeuf and de Bracy; Robin Hood and his team

Cedric and Athelstan

I accidentally came across this online american film"Ivanhoe" 1982, stuck into it and watched it several times in a row. I liked it very much.

So it seems like nothing special or stunning. The film follows the book quite closely - at least, nothing was distorted there, only a number of episodes are missing, of which the plot is important - a feast in Cedric's castle, Robin Hood's performance at the tournament, the Black Knight's drinking session with his brother Tuk. But this is because the film is openly focused (and the narrator even states this behind the scenes) primarily on the love conflict between Ivanhoe and two girls, everything else is brought into the background as much as possible. However, it is brought out carefully and in moderation so that the story remains a story about a knight, and not about the suffering of two girls (or one).

Dialogues and individual moments of action are sloppy in some places, and there are a couple of holes. For example, it remains a mystery what exactly prompted Ivanhoe to challenge Boisguillebert to a mortal battle at the tournament, or what is so important between Richard and Ivanhoe that the king is so worried and concerned about the knight.

The costumes are funny at times - touching fake crowns, or Prince John's faux fur robe (there's a lot of faux fur in the film). The film gives the impression of being frankly low-budget. But you can not pay attention to these little things, just as we let them pass by our consciousness in our role playing games. Especially if there is something more important and interesting that you can and should look at.

The main thing is that in this film both the actors themselves (mostly British) and the director’s interpretation of the images are very good - so it delivers great pleasure read these images, looking at the little things.

Ivanhoe (Anthony Andrews) - here he is clearly a “book boy”, a romantic, a subtle nature; his father’s political intrigues are not close to him; he leaves native home to follow the "Knight King" Richard the Lionheart in crusade, he is faithful to the ideals of chivalry even in speeches and trifles, just as he is faithful to his love, despite the trials to which it has been subjected.

Short in stature, not particularly massive by nature, but overgrown with muscles and sinews, he is one of those who learns to fight in order, firstly, to prove to himself that he can, and secondly, to be able and able to win. These boys, if successful, turn out to be paladins of who knows what level, capable of demolishing any enemy in their path. With even greater luck, they manage to maintain their inner grace, nobility and sensitivity. Green's Gray is probably the most similar type in this sense.

(A funny, purely personal remark about the actor, and not even about the hero: I once had such a character in near-crossroads stories, road conductor Steve Andrews - in appearance almost identical to this Andrews, only red-haired).

Rowena - she is traditionally compared pejoratively with Rebekah: they say that she is stronger, and richer in spirit, and in general she is cool, but Rowena is nothing, which is what Ivanhoe found in her. Let's look at Rowena in this story (Lysette Anthony). She is very young, almost a teenager, she looks about 15-16 years old, no more. (By the way, she is underage, it says so here in clear text. When did a woman come of age in the 12th century, who can tell?)
Tender girl, clean butter raised under the wing of a loving uncle. This sweet, funny young lady, apparently, grew up under the eyes of Ivanhoe, who is 8 years older than her; It is precisely this kind of known, almost kindred love, like that of Rowena and Ivanhoe, that can be very strong, on the one hand, on the other hand, it is already familiar, glows with an even light without euphoria, and some new feeling has a chance test it for strength.
Rowena is pure, kind, noble, she just doesn’t know life at all yet; she knows how to act so that it is good and correct, she wants and tries to do just that - but, firstly, she does not always imagine how to do this practically, and secondly, she is limited in her capabilities, being under guardianship without the right to take even a step on his own (both moments are perfectly captured in the episode with the wounded Ivanhoe). Therefore, in difficult moments she naturally gets lost or simply cries.
All opportunities for Rowena to do anything are either passive resistance - “I won’t, I won’t, I won’t agree for anything!” - or influence her uncle (as in the scene on the forest road, where she finally openly put pressure on Cedric, who was tormented by anxiety and guilt; apparently, she, too, was already boiling).

This young lady clearly matures by the end of the film and becomes stronger. A beautiful, kind and wise lady, woman, queen visibly grows out of her.

The girl who plays Rowena is very beautiful and sweet. In my opinion, of course, she was smeared with too much makeup. Or blushing like that was actually quite authentic, who can tell? The same applies to the hairstyle: it seems to me that such a curl is too hairstyle for the 12th century (although I could be wrong). In my opinion, it was in vain that it was decorated in such a fashion according to the fashion of the 80s; without plaster and curling, she would have looked much more natural and prettier.

Rebekah (Olivia Hussey) is completely different. The first thing I want to say is that she is incredibly, inhumanly beautiful. I'll bet that this actress is an elven foundling in a human British family. Luthien, easily.

It's narrow triangular face, those eyes, eyebrows, mouth - unlike Rowena, who resembles a half-blown flower, Rebekah is graphic. There is nothing unformed or vague about her - neither in her features, nor in her speeches, nor in her actions. She expresses herself with extreme precision, acts decisively, and at any moment understands both her own motives and reasons, and the situation in which she finds herself. She is older, freer in her actions, knows life and people much better, knows a lot, is practical and educated; behind it, for a moment, stands the highest thousand-year-old Jewish culture and wisdom.

In such a context, it is no wonder that a Knight Templar, a Templar, fell for her - a man who is undoubtedly familiar with the life of the Spirit. That is, he knows how it should be, how it should be, he is able to recognize it, after all, he was also taught this! - and it is he who is drawn to this fire, as to a lost ideal - and this ideal, in the end, turns out to be stronger and burns him.

Rebekah, like an angel, attracts anyone to her - but this attraction is ethereal. Boisguillebert has already fallen so far from the Spirit that he is simply unable to conceive of this; on a conscious level, he understands the situation habitually, to the extent of depravity: I am attracted to a girl, which means I want to sleep with her. But he also feels that this fragile vessel of light cannot be taken by force, so he asks for her love. And his attitude towards her is full of contradictions - either he is ready to pray for her, or he is ready to destroy her - he is hurt by this light.

In the book, Boisguillebert is killed and cast into hell by himself. dark passions. This story turns out differently. He dies in body, but Rebekah and his love for her, which gradually and difficultly breaks through the dirt, lust, tossing and unawareness of true aspiration, his sacrifice is his ticket to heaven.

Again, it is clear why Ivanhoe is also sublimely infatuated with Rebekah - but this does not destroy his love for Rowena, although it gives rise to duality and some confusion. Ivanhoe's advantage is that he simply knows how to act, how he will act in any case; and for him there is no real temptation here, there is only regret that everything turned out this way, and any option will be sad in its own way.

Rowena and Rebekah - these two girls are from such different planes of the universe that it is impossible to imagine that one can replace the other in some way, and it is pointless to compare them. For the same Ivanhoe, Rowena is home, and Rebekah is heaven.

Unexpectedly, I liked the Norman instigators, the main villains of the original source, all three of them - Front de Boeuf (John Rhys-Davies), Boisguillebert (Sam Neil) and de Bracy (Stuart Wilson).

Reading a book (or watching an old movie), you think one thing about them: they are freaks, if only they could get a logical happy ending. They are villains, you don’t sympathize with them - well, maybe de Bracy a little, and only because the author repeatedly notes in plain text: he has not yet completely lost his human appearance and conscience (probably that’s why the author allowed him to survive).
Here is a fresh twist for me. Young men, boys, handsome, strong, full primarily of life, and not of murky evil. Looking at them, you don’t think - “they should have dealt with them quickly” - on the contrary: I wish I could kiss them, laugh with them, admire them, it’s a great pity that they moved down a slippery path, you sit and feel upset - well, what fools, well Why are they doing all this?..
That is, there is no feeling that these adult men clearly know what they want and what they are doing. They do what the left heel wants, they dangle like flowers in an ice hole, and that’s why they end sadly.

Front de Boeuf looks amazingly like the young Batyrshin, at least like his favorite role at the games, such a cunning, unprincipled, self-confident, cheerful lout. And at some moments he even resembles Eldarchik.

De Bracy and Boisguillebert were clearly associated with the Kazan feanorks of the old flood. Handsome, alpha males, full strength and charm, amazingly charming - but you look at them and you can see that they are already broken, have already stumbled, not now, before, and inside each of them his bomb is ticking faster and faster.

Prince John (Ronald Pickup), by the way, is also unusually not nasty. Yes, I started a game, well, I lost - that’s fate. As for the rest - wow, dude, with charm.

Richard the Lionheart (Julian Glover). His image is greatly reduced in comparison with the book, but at the same time he is somehow more similar to the historical Richard Plantagenet (and looks historical: tall, fair-haired). First of all, that madness in the eyes that peeks through the smiles, beautiful gestures and courteousness all the way. Everything seems to be very noble, but all the time you expect an explosion - and anything can happen there, and it’s not for nothing that the old wise Jew Isaac quickly leaves England, not relying on the favor of the ruler - this is an unreliable thing, the favor of the rulers, and especially this one: who knows what and at what moment will hit him in the head?

But in general, Richard is a deeply secondary character in this version, a kind of “king-ex-machina”, and appears exactly at difficult moments. "He will come and silently fix everything."

Cedric (Michael Nordern) is good - an old tyrant, obsessed with the idea of ​​revenge for the Saxons, an unbending warrior and proud man, a noble and deeply loving father and master.

Athelstan (Michael Gothard) is also unexpected - not a simple and cheerful good fellow, as in the book; here he is completely different. He is more subtle and somehow almost intelligent - the kind of punk intel pretending to be a dirty rag, we have seen such people in our lives.
He is undoubtedly disgusted with being a “wedding heir,” a chess piece in Cedric’s political ambitions, a breeding stallion prescribed by tradition for Rowena; he understands perfectly well that all of Cedric’s plans are pipe dreams, the world has long changed, nothing will ever happen, and the expression of disgust does not leave his face: fading." old world"The whole heap of Saxons lies on the shoulders of the last surviving descendant. He looks as if he constantly hurts inside and is squashed.

That's why he drinks and eats - this is not epicureanism, this is his form of escaping the reality that is boring to him, he is tightly locked in his defense. Until reality came to him in such a way that he couldn’t get away with it. And now we see something very good and actually strong man, who first presents his clear and firm position, then takes up the sword, and in the final makes decisions that regulate once and for all both Cedric’s political claims and the issue family happiness Ivanhoe and Rowena. Bam! - and the royal blood sparkled.

He cut the hardened knots and closed again. However, he swore allegiance to the king, and he is unlikely to allow him to drink for nothing - Richard needs soldiers at this moment more than ever.
By the way, I read about Gothard that he suffered from depression and died early - he committed suicide. It's a terrible pity. I suppose, however, that, apparently, the character and nature of the artist left their mark on the image of the character.
(Here is a whole selection of Michael Gothard in the role of Athelstan: http://michaelgothard.blog.ru/112690563.html)

Isaac (James Mason) is very touching and convincing.

The buffoon Wamba (George Innes) is also very touching, kind, kind, such a sweet guy, everyone’s nanny, he just brings tears to his eyes.

Robin Hood (David Robb), Friar Took (Tony Highgarth) and all the forest brothers are passable characters, which is no wonder, since this line was minimized in the film. And yes - I am hopelessly spoiled by Khmelnitsky in the role of Robin Hood, this is an imprint.

I sigh: pipe dream- see " full version" - that is, with the same actors, but without cuts, the entire book. It’s a pity that it’s impossible. And so the film is 2 hours 20 minutes, which is very good for 1982.

I am happy to add the film to my film library. I'll probably watch it again.

What happened, my love? You've been frowning ever since we met. I didn't please you with a girl to help?

Skye, combing her mistress's hair, froze.

No no. It’s impossible to find a better assistant,” Rebekah hastened to reassure the maid.

What then? Has the Countess of Surrey insulted you by accident or design, by word or deed, and you cannot forget? - It’s not for Rebekah to remind how persistent her templar can be.

It seems like a boring task for a man to watch the women's toilet. But not for Briand Boisguillebert. He, sitting a little further away on a wooden chair, did not just stare. He undressed with his gaze, caressed, took possession. It seemed that enough time had passed since she first saw the templar and heard his confessions, but his crazy, frantic passion still continued to frighten Rebekah.

Lady Isabella did not offend me in any way. On the contrary, she showed all the generosity of her soul and respect,” Rebekah unconsciously touched the water in a bowl with floating rose petals and wildflower heads with her fingertips. This was one of Briand’s ideas: to place such vessels around the room so that, emitting a fragrance, they would turn the modest room into the queen’s chambers. “She also wants me to remain a maid of honor in her retinue.”

Isabella de Warren is wise and not blind, but do not be sad, my treasure, I will no longer share you even with this noble lady. You will never go into service, no matter how easy and pleasant it may be. - Having inflamed himself with spying, Boisguillebert stood up. - Shoot! - the quiet roar was directed at the little maid. Instead of gratitude, the girl still felt fear of her savior. She flinched as if she was about to be hit, but moved only when she received permission from the mistress to leave.

It's not the Countess of Surrey's proposal that makes me sad. Even at the risk of being considered ungrateful, I refused him with a light heart.

Then what is your sadness? - Boisguillebert carefully touched the base of the neck, running over the shoulders and sliding down the collar of the kameez made of fine linen, embroidered with roses. Rebekah could hardly contain her trembling: his fingers seemed unusually cold to her. It was as if death was standing next to her.

In whom,” Rebekah corrected, covering his palms with her palms, as if trying to warm him. - In Briand de Boisguillebert, knight of Solomon's Temple.

And what did I do wrong, the strictest of judges? - perhaps the former templar would have liked to begin more frank caresses, but the gentle captivity of his beloved’s hands restrained him.

You answered yourself, responding to the name of the one who is considered dead.

Why such riddles? - He didn’t like the conversation, otherwise he wouldn’t have dared to squeeze her shoulder so much that in the morning he would kiss the dark marks left by his own fingers. - This name is what belongs to me from birth, it is fair that I want it back.

“You’re hurting me,” she said, and he pulled his hand back.

Briand would never hurt her on purpose. Physically, at least for sure. But their union began not with joy, but with pain. Rebekah was not ready to accept the templar’s ​​feelings, but he did not want to reconcile himself: he broke oaths, connections, foundations - not drop by drop, sharpening the stone, but by a stream sweeping away everything in its path. Which dam can withstand the elements? One small breach and disaster cannot be avoided. Rebekah could tell exactly when there was a gap in her defenses. In Templestowe, on a terrible evening after an unfair trial, when he, in despair at the fate ahead of her, even more than she, asked: “... I will renounce fame, and greatness, and power, although it is almost in my hands , - I’ll give up everything, if only you would say: “Boisguillebert, be my beloved.”

Rebekah didn’t believe him then, but when he really lost everything except his life, she agreed to follow him. And she lost her family, her name, her faith, but it was a voluntary choice. Now, in regaining what he had lost, he was going to deprive her of her pride, of herself. Reveka will disappear, she will remain fallen woman, another victory for the arrogant knight. The awareness of such a future cut like an invisible sharp dagger. This, and also fear, but not for yourself. The resurrection of Boisguillebert was too dangerous an undertaking. Too many influential people - both in the Order and outside it - would like a dead man to remain dead. Rebekah did not want to see the death of someone who was dear to her.

Sorry…

Your valor and my love? Isn't that enough to leave the past in the past? So that in distant lands, where we will not have to fear being recognized, we can start life anew?

We will soon leave this region, and I will give you new life, where there will be no need and sadness.

Well, she tried, but was not heard. Just as Boisguillebert prepared for triumphant return, Rebekah was preparing to escape, to disappear for him forever, no matter how the templar searched later.

“I won’t be in your new life.”

But they had one more night.

In the morning, as Boisguillebert expected, a messenger arrived from Prince John. The templar impatiently tore the envelope, ran his eyes over the letter and darkened his face: his lips pursed nervously, his eyes sparkled with rage.

Maybe you really are a witch? Well, be happy as long as everything works out your way.

He tore up the letter that brought bad news and threw the pieces into the fireplace. Then he called Hugo and reminded him about the training. Rebekah even felt sorry for the young man. It is likely that, even in a training battle, he will have to endure the wrath of his mentor, but reminding Briand to be careful will only anger him even more.

As soon as Rebekah was alone, she pulled out each scrap and folded them so she could read them.

“One lion will receive meat, the other will receive hunting grounds. It is unlikely that the old fox was offended. Even the raven nibbled off his piece. What do I get? You still owe me."

Rebekah never found out what Boisguillebert’s service to the prince was, but she guessed who he called a raven: her Briana, for the family coat of arms with this bird. And if she studied Boisguillebert well, then this stubborn man will remain in England and again try to wrest his freedom and name from the treacherous prince, although he could have fled, as she had suggested the day before.

Maybe it's better this way. Rebekah's father is here, and perhaps someday she will make herself known to him. I still didn’t want to just take and leave Skye, who had trusted her, at least until she was sure of her future. As for herself, she could not explain the lightness that she felt from the “bad” news.

It remains to say a few words about the secret mission of Briand de Boisguillebert. She left a mark on history, although not as bright. Everything could end with the division of the country. The Earl of Surrey honestly fulfilled his promise and conveyed the proposal of the Scottish king to the English king, but it was rejected. Apparently, Richard reasonably considered that this was the last thing to do - to sell the land. Wilhelm reacted surprisingly calmly to the refusal, who knows why. Maybe having received some guarantees, if not from the king himself, then from his brother. War has so far been avoided, but will a feat that the hero himself does not know about and about which laudatory odes will not be written feed his ambition?

The future is vague, and, not possessing the gift of foresight, Briand de Boisguilbert certainly did not imagine how many more such feats lay ahead of him.