PIF 9

Pawn in Frankincense - Chapter 9 - Gabès

Plot Summary

Earlier the same night Jerott had managed to escape from the burning house and was captured and taken to the castle where he is found by Lymond and Marthe. In spite of his suspicions, the Governor is finally persuaded that the party is innocent and provides an escort of Spanish soldiers part of the way to Djerba. Before they leave they discover from the silk-grower that his sister has left from Mehedia with Khaireddin aboard the “Peppercorn”. But as they reach Gabés they are ambushed and find themselves captured by the Aga Morat - an old enemy. Lymond strikes a deal and they are taken to Dragut Rais’s castle at Djerba where they find the Dauphiné and its crew impounded.

Dates

May/June 1553 - the same night and the following four days.

• a small barred window giving onto the night
• Jerott looked into that friendly face in the hal-light of dawn
• Tomorrow cf the Governor permits?
• It was three days before ... they took his carpet.. out to the patio

Fictional Characters

(including references to characters not present)

• Jerott Blyth
• Kedi
• Khaireddin (referenced)
• The silk farmer
• The Governor of Mehedia
• Gabriel (referenced)
• Francis Crawford of Lymond
• Marthe
• Donna Maria Mascarenhas
• The silk farmer's sister (referenced)
• Elizabeth, Jerott's betrothed (referenced)
• The Governor of Mehedia's Secretary
• Salablanca
• Georges Gaultier
• The Spanish Commander
• Oonagh O'Dwyer (referenced)
• Onophrion Zitwitz (referenced)
• Kiaya Khátún

Non-Fictional Characters

(including references to characters not present)

• Charles V (referenced)
• Leone Strozzi (referenced)
• Dragut Rais (referenced)
• Henri II (referenced)
• Suleiman the Magnificent (referenced)
• Aga Morat

Locations

(including references to other locations)

• The silk-farmer's sister's house
• The Dauphiné (referenced)
• Mehedia
• Mehedia Castle
• Malta (referenced)
• Rome(referenced)
• Barcelone (referenced)
• Madrid (referenced)
• Birgu (referenced)
• The Peppercorn (referenced)
• Capua (referenced)
• Djerba (referenced)
• Jerusalem (referenced)
• Scanderoon (referenced)
• Aleppo (referenced)
• Sfax
• Gabès
• Damascus (referenced)
• Tripoli (referenced)
• Tagiura (referenced)
• Algiers (referenced)
• France (referenced)
• Bône (referenced)
• Italy (referenced)
• Marseilles (referenced)

Literature

• Like the the unchaste virgins of the Campus Scleratus, he had been sealed alive with a light in a cave.
• They caught thee on the mountain and bred thee like a human being.
• I vow to God, to St. Mary, ever a virgin, Mother of God, to St. John the Baptist to render henceforth and forever, by the grace of God...
• Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.
• Qui nescit orare, discat navigare.
• Correct in faith, and the adversary of death.
• Permitte divis caetera.
• Meredoch, son of Hea, with his holy hands severs the knots.
• Sweet to be taken up, as medicine is by the lip; sweet as the swelling out of the new moons, and full.

Other References

• The unchaste virgins of the Campus Scleratus
• Spanish stuffed breeches
• Gothic desk
• The Order of St. John
• Special Envoy of France
• Langue of Birgu
• Bodice and farthingale
• Kissed .. English fashion, on the cheek
• Bey Efendi
• Lucca velvet
• Catamite
• Knight Hospitaller
• Bombyx

Quotes from Dunnett

• He is beautiful, and whole, and has learned to offer the world a humble and desperate obedience. You called him a pawn. He has begun to follow his trade.
• The Countess of Henneberge, when aged forty-two, gave birth to three hundred and sixty-five children on a single occasion. Thank God neither you or I ever happened to meet her.
• The human scene is well rid of both of us.
• Who are you, Marthe?
• All I know of myself. Too much. And nothing.

Controversies

• What were the terms of the deal between Lymond and the Aga Morat?

Previous/Next

PIF 8 / PIF 10

References

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