ou from Viterbo just so you could accompany me from
Ostia to Rome, Simon. You saw what my routiers--as you called them--are
like. And when I am inside the city I will be in much greater danger
from that Roman canaille than I was in the field today. I need a good
leader with me whom I can trust. I want you to stay here in Rome with
me."

Simon's chest ached as if chains were wrapped around it.

"How long?"

"At least two months. By then Sire Adam Fourre, my chief vassal from
Anjou, will be here with seventy knights and three hundred men. A small
force, but one I can depend on. I will feel more in control of these
brigands then."

"But who will guard the Tartars while I am here?" he asked, desperately
trying to think of an excuse that would get him back to Sophia.

Charles shrugged. "De Verceuil can look after them."

For over a year now he had been guarding the Tartars with his life, at
Charles's request. Now Charles hardly seemed concerned about them. It
was bewildering.

_And when will I see Sophia again?_ he cried inwardly.

He could simply refuse to stay in Italy a moment longer. He could just
get up right now and leave, go to Viterbo and find Sophia.

No, he could not do that. He had come to Italy to _redeem_ the name of
the house of Gobignon, not besmirch it further. What a scandal if the
king's brother were to charge that Simon de Gobignon turned his back on
him when he was in peril. What would the king and the nobles say of him
then in France? He must see this through, at least until Charles was
securely established in Rome.

But pray God Charles did not ask him to stay with him beyond that.

"You do not need to go back to the Tartars at all," Charles said. "It
seems to me that phase of things is settled. I think it would be more
important for you to go home, this summer, to Gobignon."

Simon's heart leapt with amazement and joy as the words sank in. "Yes!
Yes--I want to--very much," he blurted out. "I want that more than
anything else."

_If I can take Sophia with me._

Charles came around the table and laid a heavy hand on Simon's shoulder.
Simon, still seated, had to twist his neck to look up at him.

"Do you remember when we first spoke of your guarding the Tartars I
promised even greater opportunities for glory? I said that you would
ride in triumph through fallen cities."

"Yes," said Simon after hesitating a moment. He knew where Charles was
leading this, and felt a hollow of dread grow