TSotF - The Sculptor's Capture

The Sculptor's Capture
'Outside the city, on horseback, the Great Khan was in an expansive mood, inclined to speak honestly about William of Paris. The Princess was riding alone, lost in thought..'

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The Khan's Version
'You must wonder how a countryman of yours happened to be here,' he said. 'Like you, he came East of his own free will. My cousin Batu, as you must know, conquered much of Europe fifteen years ago. My royal grandfather's finest troops had arrived at the court of the King of Hungary and found it crammed with marvellous works of art.

'Naturally, he wanted to bring as much back as he could. But the King or Duke or whoever it was said to him that they could do even better than that, if he would but spare their meagre lives!

'They brought forth the artist William, and offered him up to Batu. Instead of capturing or killing him, Batu asked him a question: would he like to make art for an empire that deserved it? And be richly rewarded? Of course he did! And so he travelled with Batu as one of his trusted friends. Here he remains.'

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