Chapter 156: Chapter 156: The Envoys Depart
Palermo - April 3rd, 1181
The soft golden light of a Sicilian morning bathed Palermo’s harbors in a warm glow, the masts of moored ships swaying gently against the clear horizon. It had been two weeks since Constance of Sicily had made her decision — a decision that had sent quiet ripples through both the Norman court and the royal council of Jerusalem. Since then, Palermo had been a hive of private meetings, written exchanges, and calculated preparations, as the agreed-upon concessions and ceremonial arrangements took shape on parchment and in plan.
In the upper chambers of the Palazzo dei Normanni, Balian of Ibelin and Brother Gerard de Ridefort were meeting with King William II and Princess Constance for what would likely be the last formal audience before the envoys returned to the Holy Land. The atmosphere was one of finality — the long deliberations were over, and now the matter turned to execution.
The great audience hall smelled faintly of polished wood and burning incense. The high, painted ceilings above depicted the Norman kings in scenes of conquest and governance, their gaze fixed eternally on those who stood below. William sat on a richly carved throne of ivory and gold, with Constance at his right, dressed in a gown of deep blue silk embroidered with golden thread in intricate Byzantine patterns. Her face was serene, but there was a subtle tension in her hands — fingers clasped tightly together, betraying the enormity of what was now set in motion.
Balian and Gerard entered together, both wearing the formal attire expected of emissaries in the Sicilian court. Balian, with his measured confidence, bowed low, while Gerard’s bow was sharper and almost military in its precision.
William gestured for them to rise."You have been patient guests in my court these past weeks," the king began, his voice warm but edged with formality. "I trust you have been satisfied with the progress we have made toward securing the marriage alliance between my cousin and your king."
Balian inclined his head. "Your Majesty, the progress has been most satisfactory. We have received from Princess Constance her terms, which King Baldwin finds reasonable and fitting for her station. His Majesty agrees that they are to be incorporated into the formal marriage agreement without contest."
Constance’s eyes met Balian’s, steady and searching. "And you will convey to your king that I accept not merely because of political necessity, but because I believe our two realms may stand stronger together than apart," she said. Her tone was calm, but there was a gravity to her words — a reminder that for all the parchment and signatures, this was still her life that was being shaped.
Brother Gerard stepped forward, holding a rolled parchment bound with crimson ribbon. "Your Highness, King Baldwin will send his own formal letter confirming his assent to every concession you have requested — the dower lands with full revenues for your maintenance, the expansion of trading privileges for Sicilian merchants in Acre, Tyre, and Jaffa, and your right to sit in the royal council and serve as regent should there be an heir and His Majesty pass before the child comes of age. It will bear his seal, and be sent by trusted courier the moment we return to Jerusalem."
William leaned back slightly in his chair, his sharp eyes flicking between the two envoys. "And what of the dowry? It must be no less grand than what Sicily gave to the late Queen Joanna when she wed your King’s father. We will have it clear, and agreed upon, before my cousin sets foot on a ship."
Balian nodded. "His Majesty has instructed us to negotiate the full extent of the dowry upon our return, with envoys from your court traveling to Jerusalem to meet with his treasurer and chancellor. The agreements we have reached here in Palermo will serve as the foundation, but the final sums, ceremonial gifts, and schedules of payment must be worked out in concert."
William turned to Constance. "Cousin, do you consent to this? That the details will be fixed in Jerusalem, but the essentials you require are already secured?"
Constance hesitated for a heartbeat — not out of uncertainty, but from the weight of the moment. Then she nodded once. "Yes. I have prayed, I have consulted, and I have spoken my mind. Now, the time for hesitation is past. Let us move forward."
The air in the hall seemed to shift slightly — as though the invisible burden of decision-making had finally settled into something solid.
Later that day
In the sunlit gardens of the palace, Balian and Gerard walked side by side, their pace slow but purposeful. The soft rustle of palm fronds overhead was accompanied by the scent of orange blossoms drifting in the warm breeze. The time for departure had come; their ship was already being prepared in the harbor.
"We’ve accomplished what we came for," Gerard said quietly, his eyes scanning the tiled pathways. "But I must admit, I didn’t expect the princess to press for such strong terms. She is... formidable."
Balian allowed himself a small smile. "Formidable is precisely what the Kingdom of Jerusalem needs in a queen. Baldwin knows it too. These terms will strengthen her position — and by extension, strengthen his."
Gerard gave a slight nod, though his gaze was more calculating. "Strength can be a double-edged sword. If there is no heir, and Baldwin’s health fails..." He let the thought hang in the air, unspoken yet clear.
Balian glanced toward the distant walls of Palermo. "Then she will still have the wealth, the influence, and the political ties to Sicily. That alone may prevent our enemies from daring to fracture the kingdom after Baldwin’s passing."
They reached the arched gate that opened onto the royal stables, where the horses stood ready for their short ride to the harbor. The scent of hay and leather mingled with the sharper smell of the sea on the wind.
"You will return directly to Jerusalem?" asked William, who had come down to see them off, his retinue standing a respectful distance behind.
"We will sail at dawn," Balian replied. "With favorable winds, we should be in the Holy Land within three weeks. King Baldwin will be informed of every detail, and he will send word to arrange for your envoys’ reception."
Constance was not far behind the king, her blue gown replaced with a lighter traveling dress — though she was not traveling, her attire suggested a readiness for change. She approached the two knights with a poise that had become familiar in their weeks at court.
"I trust," she said softly, "that when you tell your king of our agreement, you will also tell him that I expect truth from him in all matters — as I have been truthful with you. My trust is not given lightly."
Balian bowed his head. "Your Highness, you will have from him the same honesty you have shown us."
Gerard inclined his head as well, though his tone was more formal. "And I will see to it that the precautions you discussed are observed in every detail."
Constance studied them for a moment longer before stepping back, her gaze fixed on the harbor where the ships rocked gently in the tide.
By evening, the last crates were being loaded aboard the ship that would carry the envoys eastward. Fine gifts from William for Baldwin — bolts of Sicilian silk, casks of wine, and a chest of gold coins — were stowed alongside the envoys’ personal belongings. Lanterns flickered in the harbor, casting golden reflections on the water as the sun dipped low.
Balian stood at the edge of the dock, watching the men work, his mind already turning toward the long voyage ahead and the reception in Jerusalem. Gerard was beside him, scanning the rigging and sails with the sharp eye of a man who preferred not to leave anything to chance.
"We sail at first light," Gerard murmured.
"Yes," Balian said, his voice quiet but certain. "And when we arrive, the king will have his answer. Then, the real work begins."
Far above, in the palace that now glowed with torchlight, Constance of Sicily stood at a balcony, watching the preparations from afar. The decision had been made, the course set — and though the horizon was still uncertain, she felt the wind of fate beginning to rise.