I am going to die._

Fear worse than he had ever felt turned his body to ice. So total was
its power over him that the fear became a greater enemy than death
itself, and he gathered his forces to put it down. After a moment of
struggle, though he still quaked inwardly, he began to take command of
himself.

De Gobignon was looking down at him, and his face was full of shock and
grief.

Someone else was standing over him. He saw a pair of leather leggings
tucked into heavy boots, archer's dress. His head fell back, and he was
looking up at Sordello. The bravo squatted down, bringing his face close
to Daoud's.

"I am glad to see you still alive, Messer David," he said in a soft,
grating voice. "So I can tell you that this repays you for teaching me
about paradise."

The pain felt as if rats had burrowed into his chest and were eating
their way out. He wanted to scream, but he managed to smile.

"Thank you, Sordello. You are sending me to the true paradise."

There was justice in it. He had forced Sordello to undergo the
Hashishiyya initiation. He had always felt that an evil thing to do. Now
he was repaid. Just as Sordello said.

_But when I die, God will welcome me._

A hand clamped on Sordello's shoulder and jerked him away.

"You filthy, stinking, cowardly bastard! You killed the best man on this
field."

Daoud could not see Sordello, but he could picture the expression that
went with the injured tone.

"Your Signory! I save your life and you call me a bastard? The point of
his sword right at your eyeball?"

"He was not going to kill me. I could see it in his face."

There was a wild, almost frightened note in Sordello's laughter. "Can
Your Signory read men's thoughts? I warrant you, if you had till the Day
of Judgment, you could not guess what this archfiend is thinking. You
have no idea what he has done."

Daoud almost managed to laugh. The fool Sordello, as usual speaking and
acting before he thought. One word more, and he would indeed hang
himself.

"Tell the count, Sordello. Tell him what I have done."

_God, I will forgive You for making me suffer so, if You will let me see
Sordello's face just now._

And God granted Daoud's wish. Sordello crouched again over Daoud, his
color maroon, his bloodshot eyes popping. It was wonderful, and Daoud
breathed a prayer of thanks.

After a moment Sordello got control of himself enough to speak. "You
know what you have done. You killed the Tartars."