Chapter 9: Chosen?
The soup in the pottery jar had begun to turn white, the cabbage and onions became transparent, and the reddish-brown slices of meat tumbled, emitting a rich aroma. Caesar took out two large wooden cups, the kind people used for drinking beer, and poured a cup for Baldwin and one for himself.
Baldwin jumped up and rummaged through the vine chest, pulling out a bag of white bread. It was only slightly lighter in color than the dark bread commoners could use as weapons, and still contained a lot of bran.
Caesar drew his dagger, laid it on his knee, and sliced it. And so they sat, eating soup and bread. While Baldwin was looking for peas with his spoon, Caesar finished his “combat” and began to peel an apple.
“You’re still like this,” Baldwin said. “Some people say you’re definitely not a noble, maybe just a farmer, or even a slave,” he pointed to Caesar’s apple. “Because you don’t like drinking, you prefer water and milk, you cook vegetable soup, and eat fruit raw.”
That’s because most of the vitamins and enzymes in fruits are easily destroyed by high temperatures. If your stomach is fine, it’s best to eat them raw; the issue with alcohol was explained before.
As for cooking vegetable soup… it’s not that vegetables can’t be eaten raw, but in an era without pesticides and food safety concepts, Caesar could never be sure he wouldn’t ingest a frog or a worm with the leaves.
Nausea was secondary; parasitic diseases from frogs and worms could be fatal.
“But it’s delicious, isn’t it?” Caesar couldn’t explain to Baldwin concepts that would only form in hundreds of years. “The milk is sweet, the vegetables are soft, and the fruit is crisp.”
“It’s your good cooking.” Baldwin said this sincerely. Caesar often cooked for both of them over the fireplace. Boys in their growth phase are never full, and Caesar could make quite delicious food without using a lot of spices like a cook. He only needed a little salt and some failed wine, which was grape vinegar.
“Perhaps my father was a very talented cook,” Caesar said seriously. “He might be serving the Sultan or the Caliph now.”
Baldwin burst out laughing, then composed himself. “No,” he said. “Your father must be a knight, anxiously searching for you.” He put down his wooden cup and placed a hand on Caesar. “How can a lion be born from a jackal? The virtues and talents you possess must have a noble origin.”
He said earnestly, “One day you will be reunited under God’s gaze, and then I will beg my father to join the Crusaders and fight the Saracens, earning countless merits and glory.”
Caesar imagined his father, a great doctor, wearing armor, holding a lance, one hand on the reins, galloping across the dusty battlefield towards countless black-clad Saracens. He didn’t know whether to laugh or be embarrassed, but for a man at this time, becoming the King’s knight and fighting infidels was a great grace. He could only thank Baldwin for his generosity.
However, he was more curious about who “some people” were that Baldwin mentioned. After all, he had been inseparable from Baldwin for days, with only a few exceptions when Princess Sibylla, Baldwin’s sister, came to visit, and he retreated to another room.
Was it Sibylla?
Caesar had only seen Princess Sibylla occasionally from afar. She was always surrounded by a large group of handmaids and attendants. In the servants’ mouths, she was a noble lady of outstanding beauty and imposing presence.
He quickly dismissed the matter. After all, Caesar was never one to dwell on his origins or bloodline. He was more concerned about his afternoon lessons than whether his father was a cook or a knight.
——————————
Since Amalric I had said that Caesar would be treated as the son of a Grand Duke, as long as he maintained respect and loyalty towards Baldwin, Caesar would enjoy the same treatment as Abigail, David, and others had in the past, one of which was receiving the same education as Baldwin.
Baldwin’s education differed from the typical knightly education of the time. The latter did not place much value on cultural education; many lords could not read or write, let alone knights.
But starting with Baldwin I, perhaps influenced by the Saracens, even the Church had to admit that the Saracens surpassed the Germans, Celts, and Romans in accumulated knowledge and the spread of education. He did not want his heir to be a fool who couldn’t even read documents or contracts and needed a monk to write his signature. The education of his descendants was comprehensive from the very beginning.
The prince’s lessons were not only arranged thoroughly but also in a proper order. Except for Sundays, from Monday to Saturday, mornings were for literary studies and afternoons for martial arts. Literary subjects included grammar, rhetoric, dialectics, arithmetic, music, and astronomy; martial arts included lance, horsemanship, falconry, archery, and swordsmanship, as well as knightly conduct—that is, the proper demeanor, terminology, and etiquette for important occasions. It was said that Baldwin, at fourteen, would have more subjects added, which Caesar was unaware of.
After Baldwin contracted leprosy, these lessons were suspended for a period and resumed after some teachers were replaced.
Among the many subjects, some were familiar to Caesar, such as mathematics, while others were unfamiliar, such as falconry. For knights, falconry was not a game; it was a matter of ensuring their own sustenance and that of their attendants. Mistakes or hesitation during hunting would result in being struck with a sword scabbard or club, and even princes were not exempt.
Whether familiar or unfamiliar, Caesar was enthusiastic. Besides being naturally studious, he was also acutely aware that this would be his foundation for advancement, especially in an era where education was monopolized by the upper class. The opportunity he had was precious, unique, and fleeting.
But today, after they had both picked up their wax tablets, the rhetoric teacher, Heraclius, arrived late. Not only was he late, but he also didn’t bring the usual textbook for his lessons; instead, he held a Latin prayer book, which disappointed Caesar slightly.
If teachers in this era could be graded, Heraclius would undoubtedly be among the top tier, as most teachers were qualified to teach as long as they could read and copy a book.
Heraclius, however, was a scholar who had pursued theology and history at university for many years. His teaching materials included not only the usual collections of hymns, prayer books, and lives of saints, but also many precious ancient Greek and Roman texts, such as Caesar’s *Commentaries on the Gallic War*, Cato the Elder’s *On Agriculture*, and Byzantine Emperor Leo VI’s *Tactics*.
They had previously discussed Cato the Elder’s *Origins*, which was not a biblical text but a historical work detailing Rome from its founding to the end of the Second Punic War, as well as the histories of some other city-states. This book had been lost for centuries, but Heraclius possessed a complete set.
“Put away your wax tablets,” Heraclius said. “Children, today we will have the most important lesson.”
Caesar subconsciously looked at Baldwin. The prince had seemed to sense something when Heraclius entered and was now sitting bolt upright, his eyes shining.
Heraclius waited until both boys had put down their wax tablets and were sitting properly. He placed his hand on the prayer book, closed his eyes, and silently recited a passage of scripture before looking at them again and saying clearly:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and all that God made was perfect. None of His creations bore any blemish of sin, the patterns of aging, or defects of regret. They were, like God, perfect and flawless. This was the original form of all things in heaven and on earth. God saw it and was pleased, saying, ‘Good.'”
But the devils in the earth, seeing this, became envious and malicious. They sought to destroy all that was beautiful. So they crawled from the abyss to the earth. They dared not face God!
But they could bring darkness, sufficient to obscure the spirit, morality, thought, and faith! This darkness could cause stars to fall to the ground and prevent humans from seeing God’s light, making them submit to Satan’s scepter!
In such circumstances, humanity had no possibility of salvation. Having violated the covenant with God, even if He were to enact His judgment and condemn the world to eternal perdition, it would be justifiable!
But God has grace, boundless and immeasurable grace, far beyond what we mortals can comprehend. He sent His Son into the world to redeem us. That light is the true light, illuminating all who are born into this world—this is God’s mercy upon us, like the morning sun.
The angel told Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of the Most High would overshadow her, because she would give birth to the Savior of humankind.
What is man? Dust! Imperfect, weak, easily deceived, and prone to sin. So why would God give His only begotten Son to us? And let Him walk the earth in flesh and blood? This is because we have sinned and must atone for these transgressions. For God to save us, His Son had to take on a “mortal” body to atone for our sins.
But is God’s salvation limited to this? Christ, walking among us, is God and man. The bridge between God and man had been broken, and He repaired it.
He attended a wedding feast with others and, by touching the water, turned the jars full of water into fine wine. He shaped a bird from clay and said, “Fly,” and it flew away. A man who had been sick for thirty-eight years, He said, “Get up,” and the man immediately stood up and walked away.
People listened to Him preach in the wilderness. He blessed five loaves and two fish, feeding five thousand people. He stood before a tomb and said, “Open it.” People said the deceased had been dead for four days, but He said, “Open it,” and they opened it, and the dead man came out as if he were alive.
He then told His disciples, “Walk on the water,” and they believed Him and were able to walk on water.
Thus, more people came to believe in Him. All who believe in Him can be saved and have the right to be chosen—they have the light of the Holy Spirit, are blessed, and are empowered.”
Having said this, Heraclius lowered his head and looked sternly at the two boys, extending his hand to them. Baldwin unhesitatingly placed his hand in his, but Caesar hesitated for a moment. Some of his thoughts were taking shape… he looked uncertainly at the monk, who merely tightened his grip on his hand.
“You are of age—perhaps not quite, but the Holy Spirit has told me that you should undergo the Choosing ceremony.”
Baldwin couldn’t contain his excitement and glanced at Caesar.
“Children participating in the Choosing ceremony are generally between ten and fourteen years old,” Heraclius continued. That is, before officially coming of age. If Baldwin had not contracted leprosy, he would have undergone the Choosing on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple next year, along with attendants like Abigail and David.
“According to ‘customary law,’ which has not been written down, children chosen in the same place are ‘brothers bound under God’s gaze’ if they are fortunate enough to receive God’s grace. This relationship can sometimes become very strong, even stronger than true brothers,” Heraclius said. “I, His Majesty, Raymond, and Bohemond are such brothers.”
“In His Majesty’s original plan, I was supposed to continue the deep affection of our fathers with them,” Baldwin said with a hint of mockery. “Now that’s not necessary.”
“…” Caesar.
“The preciousness of a friend is not in their quantity,” Heraclius said gently. “You will be with Baldwin, won’t you?”
Caesar hesitated. “I will, but I don’t know if I possess this… possibility.” If those chosen were all virtuous, kind, or measured by courage, wisdom, or talent, Caesar would have had some hope. But if people like Witt were also chosen, he really had little confidence.
“But He does not differentiate by status, bloodline, or wealth. An abandoned child, if he is fortunate enough to receive permission and is chosen, can become a devout priest, rising out of the mire; a king, a bishop’s descendant, might leave the church empty-handed.” Heraclius said. “However, often children are favored like their fathers. Caesar, although we haven’t found your father yet, he would never have been an ordinary person.”
“And,” Baldwin said calmly, “whether you are chosen or not, as you said, you are an envoy sent to me by the Holy Spirit. You did not flee from me because of leprosy, so am I to expel you because you are not chosen?”
This left Caesar speechless, and both Baldwin and Heraclius laughed.
After a while, Baldwin continued to ask, “What is the Choosing ceremony like? Do we have to fight demons? Or practice asceticism or confession?”
“Each person faces a different trial,” this question was clearly asked on behalf of Caesar, and Heraclius answered in detail. “But to summarize, it is generally about following and serving a saint until he is called by God. I was fortunate enough to witness Saint Blaise of Armenia, listen to his teachings, and behold his glory. Therefore, I too can follow him and be a steadfast and compassionate person.”
“Your father witnessed Saint George, a valiant and pious knight,” he said to Baldwin. “That is why friends and enemies alike say that Amalric I alone was an army. He was indeed a great warrior, always advancing.”
Baldwin couldn’t help but show an eager expression. “Which saint will we witness?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Heraclius said. “No one can fathom God’s plan.” I only hope He is not so cruel as to take you away so soon.
