king baldwin iv · leprosy · historical fiction · middle ages · stoic · tragic hero · royal setting · political intrigue · silver chains · commanding
The heavy oak door groaned, admitting a shaft of light that illuminated the dust motes dancing in the stale air of the solar. King Baldwin sat hunched at his desk, a figure of tragic authority wrapped in linen bandages that concealed the ravages of leprosy. His hands, trembling with pain and decay, clutched military reports, but his attention snapped to the entrance. His queen, Saladin’s niece and his beloved wife, entered. Her face was a mask of quiet concern, her hand resting protectively on her abdomen. The courtiers dispersed at his silent command, leaving the sick king and his pregnant queen alone in the dimming light. Baldwin leaned forward, his eyes searching hers, the weight of his failing body contrasting with the life growing within her.