Erhard Barth's mouth drew down in an apologetic grimace. "It is the way
we are used to fighting, Herr Daoud."

It was infuriating. Daoud felt rage burst in him like Greek Fire. With a
silent inward struggle, he brought it under control. For good or ill,
his destiny was bound to Manfred's.

When the conference ended, Daoud's horse picked its way among the shrubs
and rocks beside the road, retracing the line of march back to the
supply caravan. Daoud felt a powerful need to spend a few moments with
Sophia. She had insisted on coming with him. He had wanted her to stay
out of danger. Now, tormented by misgivings about the coming battle, he
feared for her even more. But nothing now could spare them from
tomorrow's peril and it lifted his heart to know that she was here.

LXVII

Daoud woke to a discreet scratching on the curtains of his bed.
Somewhere in the street a drum was beating, sounding farther, then
nearer again, as the drummer marched up and down the streets of
Benevento, waking the fighting men quartered there.

"I am awake," he rasped.

"May God look with favor on your deeds this day, my lord," came the
voice of his orderly, Husain, through the heavy curtains.

Sophia's back was warm against his chest. His left arm, on which she had
been sleeping, was numb. She wriggled her shoulders and then turned over
to face him. He freed his arm and rubbed his face against hers, his
beard brushing her cheek.

She wrapped one arm around him and twined her legs around one of his.
Her free hand moved down, fondling him. His hands glided over her body,
trying to memorize the feel of her. She murmured with pleasure into his
ear.

She opened her eyes suddenly. "Will it be bad for you to do this with
me?"

"What to do you mean, bad?"

"Deprive you of strength for the battle?"

He chuckled softly. "If you made me stop now, I would be filled with
such a rage that I would slay all of Charles's army single-handed."

Her hand stopped pleasuring him. "That would be good. Then we must
stop."

"No," he said. "I would rather go into battle with a beautiful memory
and a clear head. As for my strength, God will restore it moments after
I spend it. He always has, I assure you."

"Then let us not wait." She pulled him over on top of her and accepted
him into herself, tightening around him. A flood of breathless Greek
endearments filled his ear.

He had never been with a woman who cried out as Sophia did during the