WE HAD LOST!
Alphonse hurled down his sword, unable to speak, as were so many others. Georges threw himself onto the ground, spent and drained. Father Leo did his best to comfort everyone, but his face was as desolate as any.
You men must not let down your guard, Daniel yelled. Stephen may send his horsemen to finish the job tonight.
His warning, however real, seemed a million miles away. Darkness was falling. Mercifully, as if its black cloak offered some reprieve. Our soldiers sat down around fires, exhausted, rubbing salve on their burns and other wounds. Some wept for their friends; others thanked God that they were still alive.
Did anyone see Odo? I looked around. I had known Odo since I was a boy. Alois and Georges merely shook their heads.
He's a wily sort, Georges finally said. If anyone could make it back, it's him.
Yes, Alphonse agreed, pretending to be optimistic. He was s-so close in, he probably just d-ducked behind the walls to steal a keg of Stephen's best mead.
Many died today. Daniel sighed, spreading out a map of Bord. We can't spend time on one more.
The chatelain is right. Ox nodded. Thirty of my men are dead, maybe more.
I looked in the Languedocian's eyes. Your men were brave to join us. But this is not your fight. I release you from your pledge. Go, take the rest home.
Ox stared back as if insulted. Who said anything about going home? He cracked a toothy smile through his beard. In Languedoc, we say a good fight doesn't even begin until some blood is on the floor. God gave us all two arms, but hell, one's just for scratching our balls, anyway.
Around the fire, we all started to laugh. Then the din subsided. Georges shrugged. So, what do we do now?
I looked at the men, face by face.
Continue the fight, Alphonse said. Stephen massacred our town. That's why we came here, no?
You've grown a lot of spunk, lad. Georges sniffed. But tomorrow it could be you who's left moaning out there.
Keep pounding the walls, Daniel insisted. By the river, they are not ............