"That could be dangerous," I suggested, "if there really are so many evil sorcerers around - and even more, so many evil knights."
"Most dangerous indeed, and 'tis quite possible we shall lose our lives in the attempt." His jaw firmed and his eyes flashed. "Yet 'tis for us to seek to ward the godly, unheeding of the peril-and if we die, we die. Spending our lives in so worthy a cause, we shall surely not linger long in Purgatory, and it may be that we shall even be accorded the crown of martyrdom."
I winced; I wondered how many people had been lured into unnecessary suffering and early death by that promise.
" 'Tis not death we should fear," the commander said, "but that we might fail in the attempt - for we must bring that family out right quickly, ere they despair and are subverted and dishonored, or slain."
"Should fear," I said softly. "But what you really do fear is the evil that you have heard is in that land. Right?"
"We should be fools if we did not." His whole body tightened so much that I knew it was closer to terror than fear. Privately, I gave him credit for being either a hero, a saint, or a fool. I didn't think he could really qualify as a saint, since he was using a sword-so, all things considered, I strongly favored the last option: a fool. Not that I was about to say so, of course.
So I accepted their hospitality for the night, helped with the camp chores, and joined in the sing-along on the less-religious songs - I always did like "Amazing Grace," but I wasn't too good on the Gregorian stuff. I was a devoutly agnostic Protestant, and the God I didn't believe in was Calvin's, so I didn't do too well on the Latin - only one year in high school, and it didn't sound much like theirs. Different dialect, no doubt.
Then I bedded down at their fire, helped with the morning chores, hauled a bucket of water to help douse the fire - and held up an open hand in salute. "Well, it's been fun. Thanks a lot for your hospitality, Sir Monk - but I gotta be going now."
"Assuredly you will not ride alone!" He seemed to be genuinely dismayed. "You are not yet past the reach of Queen Suettay. Wizard or not a lone man is a marked man; you will be easy prey for whatever evil forces she may send against you!"
"I've managed okay so far," I objected.
He sighed. "You have indeed - yet you slept among armed monks last night. How many other nights have you spent in Allustria?" I swallowed thickly, remembering what superstition claimed about nighttime. "None," I admitted. "Only one day."
"Even so." He scowled. "And in that day, you did work magic?"
"Well, I wouldn't have said so, but . . ." He chopped off my comment with a sideways sweep of his hand.
"What you would say matters little; what you did, is all. Be assured that Suettay knows of your presence - or that her underlings do." That, I could believe, whether or not magic really did work here. Sobaka's boss was bound to notice she was missing, sooner or later - and if she were at all efficient, it would be sooner. First thing I knew, I might have bloodhounds on my track, and I had a notion that in this world, the emphasis was on the blood. "I'll be okay," I protested.
"You mean, 'well enough,' " he interpreted, "and in Allustria, there is no such state. You are either holy enough to withstand the assaults of the satanic, or you will succumb to their temptations and become yourself an ally of evil."
"No way!" I glared up at him. "I don't buy it, Captain! You don't have to be either a saint or a devil - you can just be yourself, human and humane. A man can stand alone, and I intend to! I refuse to commit myself!"
"Mayhap that is true in the land from which you came, but it is not, in Allustria." He clapped and beckoned. The knights and squires looked up in surprise, and he pointed at Gilbert, the guy I'd wrestled yesterday, then beckoned. The kid dropped his horse's reins and came over.
"This foolish wizard seeks to ride alone, still within Queen Suettay's reach," the commander explained.
The kid went wide-eyed, staring at me as if I had just volunteered to be the main course at a state dinner.
"It's not really that bad," I protested.
"Nay, it is!" he said. "You will be corrupted or slain ere you see another dawn! " My stomach sank, but I stood up a little straighter and said, "Look, I'm not the superstitious kind, but I'm no fool, either. if I see trouble coming, I'll hide, and if it won't pass by, I'll fight."
" 'Tis praise worthy to die fighting," Gilbert admitted, "yet foolish to spend your life needlessly."
The commander nodded. "Buy some advance in grace, at least, if you must give up your life. Nay, I cannot let you ride fully unguarded. Gilbert, do you ride with him, as his shield and buckler." The kid stared at him as if he'd been wounded.
"But, my general! To lose my chance for glory in our quest-"
"Is what I require of you." The commander's tone was iron.
Gilbert flushed, then slowly bowed his head, but his back was ramrod-stiff.
" 'Tis not so vile as it may seem." The commander's tone softened. "I have had a dream that has shown me that this man is a hinge - upon him will turn great events, and if he can be held to the path of goodness, I doubt not he will aid greatly in the overthrow of the evil queen, and the establishment of the reign of goodness in Allustria."
Gilbert looked startled, then glanced at me.
"Don't look over here," I said. "It's news to me, too."
"A stalwart man with a rugged face did speak to me as I lay sleeping," the commander said. "He wore kingly robes, and a cap with leaden images of saints all about its rim. He told me that this man Saul will be the lever that topples the throne of Allustria, even as the disciple Paul was transformed from the sword that slew the early Christians, to the share that plowed the field of Gentiles." He turned to me. "You are fortunately named."
I wasn't about to disagree with him, but I did think his metaphors were a little odd. "Who was this saint you saw in your dream?"
But the commander shook his head. "Some holy man of Allustria's age of virtue, belike, who lived in humble obscurity and died unknown; not all the saints were famed, or even known. He was none of whom I have ever heard. Yet his face did not shine, so he may be a blessed one, not a saint."
I frowned. "How do you know he isn't a devil masquerading in disguise? " Everybody in hearing range looked up with a gasp, and the commander stared, offended. "Why, for that I am in a state of grace!"
"Uh, sorry." I swallowed and forced a smile. "But even in a state of grace, you could be tempted."
"Mayhap," he said slowly, "but a devil would not wear saints' medals on his hat."
I gave it up. He was so certain about it that he couldn't even consider being wrong. "But look - I really don't need an escort. This young man has important work to do."
"My work is what my captain commands," the kid assured me, "and if he says that accompanying you is of greater import than our quest, he must be right."
That grated. Faith is all well and good, but so is skepticism. But the commander was nodding. "Import there is, and the danger will be no less - mayhap greater. Nay, there will be great chance of gaining glory in this mission - and, win or lose, you will gain your spurs."