“For a night,” Rolfeteased.
“Then you will make her happy for the next,” Niall agreedeasily.
“Do not provoke me in this,” Amaury retorted, his eyes flashing bluefire.
“You can all stay away from my sister, as well,” Quinnadded.
“Then we shall have no place to sleep,” Niall complained in goodtemper.
“I say we visit both Sayerne and Montvieux and confirm the beauty of these ladies,” Rolfe said. Niallchuckled.
“I say you will sleep in the stables if you cross my borders,” Amaury said and Quinnagreed.
“The fact remains that not all of us have a destination where we will be welcomed,” Thierrynoted.
“We have need of a company of heiresses,” Lothair declared. “Beauties, every one, burdened with wealth and property and ripe for theplucking.”
“So long as you do not dream of too much good fortune,” Rolfe said to muchlaughter.
“Now there is a fantasy worthy of a tale!” Thierry said with a laugh. “Keeper! We shall have more wine, if youplease.”
“I say we shall make our fortunes at home,” Bayard argued, raising his voice over the merriment to sound a more somber note. “Outremer has been divided and allotted. There are few futures to be made here now and, indeed, I fear the Latin Kingdoms will not remain stable for long.” He shook his head. “There are few prospects for ushere.”
“It was a blow indeed that Godfroi died last summer,” Lothair contributed with a shake of his head. “There are few leaders hisequal.”
“Though his brother promises to do well as king,” Quinnsaid.
There was another grunt although it was harder to determine whether the greater mood was skepticism oragreement.
“Here is a suggestion,” Quinn said. “Let us leave Outremer. As Bayard notes, there is little opportunity for good here and more for peril. Let us ride home together. My holding might be besieged, seeing as it is without a lord. I might have need of your expertise.” He fixed a stern gaze upon Rolfe and Niall. “You are all welcome to visit Sayerne, so long as you pledge to leave my sister and other women at Sayerneuntouched.”
Niall and Rolfe agreed with a show of reluctance, for they knew it was a generous offer and one they welcomed—they would both tease Quinn about his sister, though Rolfe knew Niall would also keep hispledge.
“So, we have a destination,” Luc said withsatisfaction.
“And must choose a route,” Thierry added, turning to Quinn. “Where isSayerne?”
“North of the Alps, west of Martigny. We rode south through the great Beauvoir Pass with Robert Courteheuse, then down to Brindisi, sailed to Greece, then rode through Byzantium to Constantinople.” He shook his head. “We will reach the pass in winter, though, if we depart now. I would suggest Godfroi de Bouillon’s route, through Byzantium and into the Holy Roman Empire, then approach Sayerne from the north in thespring.”
Thierry, who remember a map of all the world, shook his head. “I would ride for Acre and sail for Venice, avoiding these newly arrived crusaders and whatever trouble they would make. It would bequicker...”
“But still you will reach the Alps in winter,” Quinn said. “I will not undertake that rideagain.”
“We could linger in Venice,” Lucsuggested.
“Too expensive,” came a chorus of protest. The Venetians were reputed to charge visitorsrichly.
“But if we do not depart soon, we might be swept into this new battle, the fight of fools,” Rolfe noted. “I, for one, would be glad to reach home for theYule.”
Marcus, the keeper, arrived with another pitcher of wine as there was a chorus of agreement. He glanced around at the knights as Quinn’s squire Michel took the pitcher to fill the knights’ cups. “Is there some cause for celebration?” he askedpolitely.
“Perhaps for you,” Lothair said with a smile. “For you will finally be rid ofus.”
“Say it is not so!” the keeper protested, and Rolfe knew the man had come to rely upon their regular custom. When the knights insisted it would be, he raised his hands in surrender. “I have long feared that this day would come, so I have prepared gifts for youall.”
“Marcus, there is no need,” Quinn began toprotest.
“You have defended my home,” Marcus said to Quinn and Bayard, recalling an incident in which they waylaid a thief. “You have given me coin to build an olive press,” he said to Amaury who nodded acknowledgment of that. “You have aided in the healing of my son,” he said to Lothair, who knew more of herbs than any man Rolfe had ever known. “You have broughtFranjito my door who had need of hospitality, and you have ensured that they paid,” he said to Luc and Thierry. They hadn’t all been from France, but the occupants of Outremer called all the crusadersFranji. Marcus smiled as he turned to Rolfe and Niall. “And you have left my daughters untouched.” He bowed as the knights laughed together at his jest. “I will thank youall.”
