Guillaume d’Anjou unplugged…

I met Guillaume d’Anjou two years ago, when he arrived in Venice after searching for his half-brother, Guy of Gisborne. He was a quiet man, obviously worn down physically and mentally by the Third Crusade. But within the Gisborne house, he was nurtured by the family and presently became someone of great import in their daily existence.

Lately he has been sent to Lyon on behalf of Gisborne, to take up a position as the head of the merchant business of de Clochard, after the sad demise of its founder, Jehan de Clochard. Despite his retiring and dour manner, he appears to have courted trouble in his life and appears now to be courting it in Lyon.

He interests me and I asked him if he would allow me to interview him. He was surprised but decided it would be good for de Clochard’s friends, and their enemies to understand what he is like. He tells me that de Clochard was almost consumed by a not-so-accidental fire recently…

PB: Guillaume de Guisborne, we know you are from Anjou but you are something of an enigma. Perhaps you can divulge a little more for us. What kind of childhood did you have?

(Guillaume’s toe begins to tap the floor at this first question and he looks into the middle distance. I wait…)