He prodded, very slightly, and the Kalksthorpe man swallowed. ?But be telling me now. Do I look, do I look in the least little bit, like a man who?d let you break his oath for him?? ?No,? the Kalksthorpe man whispered.

His eyes locked on Rudi?s like those of a rabbit on the very last wolf it ever saw. ?I promised these men quarter if they?d throw down, and throw down they did.? ?Sorry,? the Norrheimer muttered, as the sword withdrew. ?See to their wounds as you would those of your own folk, and then lock them up. Swear to it!? ?I swear. By Forsetti who hears oaths, and by my own honor in the sight of my kin.? ?Give them food and water too…? He turned to Abdou:?Wait, pork is geasa for you, am I right??

Abdou nodded, dazed as the pain started to push through the fading blaze of urgency; he bent to lift his son. ? Haraam, unclean, yes,? he said. ?Then give them something they can eat.? To his own followers: ?Move! We have work to do yet!? ?Are you sure they won?t harm those prisoners?? Father Ignatius said as they trotted southward. ?Reasonably, yes,? Rudi said grimly.?And I have a use for them, I think, too.?

Mathilda snorted something that was almost a chuckle. The Kalksthorpe folk were getting themselves organized with surprising speed, tending the hurt and putting out fires and scouring for enemy stragglers. He didn?t think any such left within the walls would survive the next quarter hour however hard they tried to surrender, except the ones he?d given quarter. ?You!? he called.

The man was in late middle age with dark silver-shot hair receding from a high forehead and even darker eyes; he threw another bucketful of water on a smoldering wall and turned. ?Yah?? he said, nodding in friendly wise. ?Is anyone down by your boats? If you can get men out, they might be able to seize those enemy ships, or at least one of them, before they?re crewed and away.? ?I?m Thorleif Heidhveigsson,? the man said, picking up a spear. ?I?ll see to it. Odinleif! Thorvin! Freyjadis! With me!?

Bodies lay thicker as they approached the gate. Thick enough to be worrisome; he?d sent Odard to do some flanking, not fight a major battle. Rudi hissed softly as he saw two of the Southsiders he?d sent with the young baron. They were the only ones still on their feet, and they were both badly wounded.

The hiss turned into a curse as he saw what they stood about. The most senior of them looked up, and went almost limp with relief. ?Rudi-man! Chief! They hits us hard. Too many!?

Mathilda gave a little sound, like a cat?s, then clamped her lips shut. She didn?t dash forward, but they all stopped around the figures on the ground, scattered where they?d fallen in the melee. Two near the end were in the armor of the Sword of the Prophet; another pair were the dark-faced corsairs. One of those was a near-giant, with his wiry black hair in long knotted locks and a great brass-bound club lying by his hand. His dark eyes were still open in a stare of astonishment, and one leg was slashed to the bone just below the hip with all his life?s blood spilled from the huge wound.

The fifth was Baron Odard Liu de Gervais. He lay limp, his head propped up against a sack of something someone had dropped, with two trails of blood leaking out of the corners of his mouth. Battered shield and broken sword were near his limp hands. He opened his slanted blue eyes as they approached and smiled slightly.

Father Ignatius went down on his knees beside the fallen man; Rudi signed quickly, and the others dragged the bodies aside and helped the Southsiders. For a moment he was chiefly aware of relief; he?d nearly sent Edain on this errand. That brought a stab of shame, and he moved forward to kneel. ?I need you, Father, but not for that,? Odard said, in a breathy whisper as the cleric started to reach for the latches of his armor.

The priest examined him through the gear instead; the injured man bit back a gasp at one gentle touch. Ignatius looked up at Rudi and Mathilda, and shook his head very slightly. Odard saw it and nodded a little. ?I can… feel the bones grating. The big one… caught me full-on. Please. Things to say… first. Taking off the hauberk would… do it quick. Got to… keep still.? ?No,? Mathilda whispered.?Not after we?ve come so far!? ?Dice… don?t fall sixes… forever. Had to be… someone,? Odard said.?Mathilda… I do love you. Didn?t at first. Then I really did. Sorry I ever lied… to you.?

She took one of his hands. Tears fell on it, but she raised it to her lips.?I love you like a brother, Odard. Like the brother I never had. I always will.?

Rudi could see how hard Odard tried not to laugh, and felt a sudden upwelling of emotion in himself he recognized as close to love indeed.

May I face the Huntsman as boldly, he thought. And to be sure I?ve never yet met a woman who understood why saying that drives men crazed.

Odard?s voice was light:?I don?t even feel mad at hearing that bit about being a… brother, Your High… Mathilda. So I must be… dying. Look… after my family.?

This one is not a perfect man, Rudi thought. Who is? Not myself! But he?s a man indeed.

She nodded and clasped the hand in both of hers.?I will. I?ll try my best for your mother. And I?ll take your brother and sister in ward myself; they?ll always have my protection and my favor. I promise it before God.? ?Tell them… I died… well??

Then she leaned closer and kissed him, very gently, on the lips. ?You are my knight, Sir Odard Liu, valiant and true as steel, with honor as golden as your spurs.? ?I… think I am, at last.?

His eyes turned to Mary and Ritva and Rudi.?Mother… wanted you dead. Because of my… dad. I… didn?t, not ever, really. Took a while to… see it.?

Rudi leaned forward and-very lightly-touched Odard?s shoulder. ?You?ve been a true friend, brother,? he said.?I?ll miss you. For yourself, and because you?d have been a right-hand man to me. One I could trust with my back.? ?To quote… your father… this… sucks,? Odard sighed, and then a sudden effort not to cough made sweat spring out on his face.

When he spoke again, there was a gurgle to it.?I would have followed you, Rudi. And I just get my… head straightened out and I die. Shit! Good-bye to… all of you. It?s been… fun.?

He moved one hand; Mathilda helped wrap his fingers around the hilt of his sword and move it, so that he could kiss the cross made by that and the stub of blade. ?Father?? he said, weak and breathy now.?We?d better get… started. There?s… a lot to… confess.?

They all moved back, and the priest leaned forward, opening the boiled-leather box across his back, taking out a long strip of cloth, kissing it and draping it about his neck. Rudi took another step backward when he heard Odard struggle to say: ?I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin… and to you, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly-?

Some things should be private. They all turned, making a wall between their friend and the world for a long set of moments. Nobody spoke as the murmured words sounded behind them. The twins looked the most stunned; they?d known Odard as long as he had, if not so well, and had always played a half-serious game of verbal feud with him. But even Virginia had been with him for most of a year now, and a damned intense one at that. Ingolf leaned close to Rudi and said very softly: ?I never liked him all that much. But by God, he?s game.?

Rudi nodded and murmured:?I thought the same.?

The priest?s voice rang a little louder behind them: ?-Paradisi portas aperiat, et ad gaudia sempiterna perducat. Amen.?

Odard?s Amen was thready, barely perceptible. ?Benedicat te omnipotens Deus, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus. Amen.? ?Amen.? ?Quickly, now, my friends,? Ignatius said.?The Death Angel comes.?

Odard?s face was very pale now; the oil gleamed on his eyelids as they fluttered. The eyes moved as those he?d known best knelt around him, a greeting and farewell. After a few labored breaths he smiled; it should have looked grotesque, with the blood on his teeth, but it didn?t. His face lit, looking past them somehow. ? So… beautiful!? he said, coughed blood and died.