Play@YSDC

Gui nodded and carefully wiped his mouth, indicating that he was ready for the tour to start.

“You are right, Diego. Most men are gentlemen. It is only the wasteful bloodshed over petty squabbles that I find sad.” Elizabeth stands up and curtsies to the head of the table,
“Your Grace, thank you for a wonderful luncheon.” She joins the others going on the tour.

"This way, please," said Henri once the guests had assembled, leading the way down the hall at the rear of the banquet hall. Most of the guests accompanied them on the tour. The hall was decorated with high-quality paintings in elaborate frames on the walls on both sides, a mixture of portraits and landscapes. Tapestries hung from the ceiling, and marble busts stood on stands in alcoves. Gui had seen these earlier. "This is His Grace's collection of works of art from various sources. Though he does not yet have one of yours, Master Leonardo."

"Perhaps a commission could be arranged," said Leonardo.

Jacques:

Jacques looks for any portraits he can identify of famous military figures or battle scenes he recognises.

There were a few paintings of a martial nature that Jacques could see. One portrait was of the paladin Roland, and there was also a landscape of the Battle of Castillon, the final battle in which France finally won the Hundred Years' War in 1453.

Jacques:

Jacques sees the paintings and lets out a happy grunt. He turns to Elizabeth. "Miss Elizabeth, I hope you know of the stories of Roland even in distant Scotland and Narnia? Surely, he was a depiction of chivalrous virtue that even you could not fault?"

Elizabeth stops next to Jaques and looks at the painting.
“Childe Roland.” She murmurs, “To the dark tower came. Yes I know of him. For some reason I grew up thinking he was Irish whereas he was actually the nephew of Charlemagne.
He became a great and heroic knight. Was it he who entered fairyland? In the stories, I mean- not in real life, of course.”

"They do not make men like him any more," said the Comte.

"A pity," said Bianca. "I have read Orlando Innamorato. I wish a man would fight for me like he fought for Angelica."

Jacques:

Jacques gazes at the picture, studying it. "The stories of Roland and the other tales of chivalry are an inspiration for me. They always have been."

"Mme Bianca, I suspect many men would fight like lions for you." He grins cheerfully.

Then Jacques turns to Elizabeth. "And yes, Miss Elizabeth, Roland was Charlemagne's nephew. But I do not know the story you refer to, it must be a story that has not yet travelled to France."

"I know 'childe' is an ancient word for the title 'squire'."

Gui tried to stifle a yawn. Books were only worth paying attention to if they were valuable or if there was no other paper available in the chiottes…

“I can’t get over how vibrant all the colours are!” Remarks Elizabeth, then she glances at Gui.
“Henri, please continue the tour.”

"Certainly, Mademoiselle," said Henri. "This way, please." He walked backwards down the hall, seemingly knowing exactly how far he had gone without even looking behind him, pointing out this or that work of art as they passed. Soon the art gallery ended at a T-intersection, where another corridor branched off to the left and right. Down both branches were regular alcoves in most of which stood suits of armor in various styles and armed with a variety of weapons. Straight ahead, opposite the hall from which they had come, was a massive ironbound oak door with a strong-looking lock. "Behind this door is the Duc's armory. It contains our supplies of gunpowder and shot, as well as cannonballs, and more traditional arms. Down the hall to the left and right we have various suits of armor on display with selected weapons, though some have been removed to the armory for routine cleaning and polishing."

”Does the tour include the armoury?” asked Gui, who was genuinely interested and not, for once, merely interested in its monetary value…

"I'm afraid not, Monsieur," said Henri. "The armory is kept under lock and key."

”That is a shame,” replied Gui. ”My father fought against the Spanish in the Azores. He told me many tales of his adventures and I have a lasting interest in militaria as a result.”

”But I digress. Please continue with our tour.”

Jacques:

"L'Argot, I had no idea you were interested in soldiery. Why, any time you should wish for some practice with the sword, please allow me to be your fencing master. I should take it as a personal honour."

"Meantime, it is lucky your interest can be well fed by the many suits of armour you can see here, outside the locked room."

Gui laughed dryly. ”I fear that your personal honour would be at stake were I to take you up on your offer, monsieur,” he replied. ”But I wouldn’t want to burden you with the responsibility of my ‘accidental’ death should you get carried away…”

He looked to the ladies and rolled his eyes.

Jacques:

"I had more in mind wooden swords and no deaths. My offer stands. You never know, you might like an honest life." With that, Jacques moves on to see more of the chateaux.

Elizabeth grins. There would be little point in these two taking up real weapons against each other; the parry and thrust of their verbal duelling was much more bloody. And amusing.

Gui saw Elizabeth’s grin. Clearly she was impressed by his sharp wit and repartee! He puffed up his chest and winked at her…