THAT DAY, I called the town together in the church. I stood at the front, in the same bloody rags I had worn in the fight, holding the lance. I took a sweeping look around the room. The place was full-the miller, Odo, even people who never went to church.

Where have you been, Hugh? Georges stood up in his place. We've all been celebrating.

Yes, that lancemust be holy. Odo stood too. Since it found you, it's been hard to even buy you an ale.

Everyone laughed.

Don't blame Hugh, Father Leo put in. If such a pretty maiden were visiting me, I wouldn't waste my time drinking with you clowns, either.

If you had such a pretty maiden, we'd all be in church a lot more often, Odo roared.

Everyone laughed again. Even Emilie smiled from the back.

I do owe you an ale, I said, acknowledging Odo. I owe you all an ale, for your courage. We did a great thing the other day. But the ale must wait. We are not done.

Damn right we are not done. Marie, the miller's wife, stood up. I have an inn to run, and when that fat bailiff comes back, I intend to stuff him so full of squirrel droppings he pukes himself dead.

And I'll be happy to serve it to him. I smiled at Marie. But the inn... it has to wait too.

Suddenly everyone noticed the look on my face. The laughter settled into a hush.

I pray I have not drawn you in against your will, but we cannot stay here. Life will not return to what it was. Baldwin has made a promise to all of you, and he will keep it. We have to march.

March? Voices rang out, skeptical. To where?

To Treille, I answered. Baldwin will come at us with everything now. We must march againsthim.

The church went silent. Then, one by one, people shouted up to the front.

But this is our home, Jean Dueux, a farmer, protested. All we want is for things to go back to the way they were.

Things will never go back, Jean, I said. When Baldwin hears of this, he'll send his henchmen to ride down upon us with the full fury of his will. He will raze the town.

You talk of marching against Treille, Jocelyn, the tanner's wife, declared. Do you see any war horses or artillery? We're just farmers and widows.

No, you are not. I shook my head. You're fighters now. And in every town there are others, who have farmed and toiled their entire lives only to hand over what their liege demands.

An............