NO REPLY CAME from the King, and day by day, the ranks grew more tired and impatient. These were not soldiers, prepared to occupy a city like Treille. They were farmers, tradesmen, husbands, and fathers. They longed to go home.

Lookouts were scattered along the road to the north, but each day, no answer came.

Why? If Emilie had contacted him? If she was able. And what if she was not?

Then one day the lookouts did spot a party traveling south toward the castle. I was in the great room. Alphonse burst in. H-Hugh, a party of riders is approaching. It looks like it could be from the King!

We rushed to the city walls as fast as our legs would carry us. I climbed the ramparts and watched the party approach, my heart racing. From the north, six riders at full gallop. Knights, carrying a banner, but not in the purple and gold of the royal flag.

But with a cross upon it. Knights pledged to the Church.

They escorted a rider in the center of their group, in the dark robes of a cleric.

We drew open the outer gates, and the party rode into the courtyard. A crowd gathered in the square. All of us-Odo, Georges, the Morrisaey men. Many grinned optimistically.

Is this good or bad? Alphonse asked.

I think it's good, Father Leo said. The King wouldn't send a priest to rebuke us. You'll see.

The gaunt, clear-eyed priest slowly dismounted. He wasted no time and faced the crowd. I am Father Julian, emissary to his eminence Bishop Barthelme. I bear an urgent decree.

I am Hugh, I said. I bowed and made the sign of the cross to show respect.

My message is for all to hear, the priest said, passing his eyes right over me. He removed a folded document from his robe and held it aloft.

`Occupiers of Treille,' the cleric began in a loud, clear voice. `Farmers, woodsmen, tradesmen, bondmen and free, all followers of the man known as Hugh De Luc... adeserter from the Army of the Cross, which still valiantly fights to free the Holy Land...'

A flash of worry chilled my blood. The crowd grew still.

`His eminence the Bishop Barthelme Abreau rebukes you for your false rebellion and urges you, this day, the seventeenth of October, 1098, to disband at once, to renounce all claims and territory seized from Duke Baldwin of Treille, and to return to your villages at once or face............