The grey water of the river Thames laps at the little jetty in the Tower of London.

The barge beside it rocks and creeks on the ropes holding it in place.

Then there's a clatter and a thump as a team of rowers throw their oars

on board, followed by a thud as the men leap in and take their seats on the benches.

From inside the tower there comes the angry stamp of feet and a volley of impatient curses in French.

Moments later, Eleanor of Bravence, Queen of England,

sweeps onto the little jetty.

She's giving Kurt orders to the servant following behind her,

but she's also railing at life, the universe and everything.

Aoa reaches out a hand and helps the irate Queen on board the barge.

Then the gate opening out onto the jetty is shut and

bolted from inside the tower. Aboard, Eleanor goes and sits inside a canopy, decorated with the Royal Arms.

Then the crew push off from the jetty and out onto the river Thames, turning right and heading upriver.

Through the city of London, in the direction of Windsor,

just over 20 miles away. As they put their backs into their strokes,

the rowers relax for a moment.

But Eleanor keeps up her dire tribe.

There are a couple of targets of her complaints. First, she

curses her husband, Henry III, the weak-willed and hapless Plantagenet

king of England whom she's just left moping in the Tower of London.

Then she moves on to Simon de Montford, Henry's brother-in-law, who's become the King's biggest

political opponent and is right now riding around England whipping up a rebellion.

...