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."Luckily, the Saxon objected."To run it over would be admitting I didn't take it the first time.It would smirch my status, and could make the King appoint someone else as Champion.Then I'd have to go back to the fields."Scot didn't answer.He saw that more than the warrior's pride was at stake, and that made it harder.Somewhere around midnight, by the rotation of the stars, a person emerged from the house with a stone lamp.By the wavering light Scot saw it was a young but hefty woman."Want a blanket, Fred?"Fred? Well, a Saxon warrior could have any name he chose!"Bitsy, you know the code.Not unless he takes one."Hospitality? No—merely equality.Honor forbade the Saxon's taking advantage of such a comfort alone; it would be construed as a prejudicial weakness.Scot was coming to appreciate the Saxon code more and more.It threw the burden of decision on the person most strongly motivated.The one in the right.The girl came to Scot."Blanket?"Why not? The Saxon could probably withstand the cold better than Scot could."Thank you."She gave it to him, then went for another."Wife?" Scot inquired when they were alone again."Sister." Then, as if appreciating the small comfort that had been allowed, the Saxon amplified, "Nice kid.Never done wrong in her life.Our folks MT'd, but she had a man who couldn't, so she stayed.Then it broke up, and she was stuck.I've been seeing after her.""I know how it is," Scot agreed."My fiancée MT'd without me.But later I found a better woman.Your sister should have no trouble.""She's big, like me—some say fat.But it's not fat, it's a big frame and muscle.She's twenty now, in her prime.I could make somebody take her, but she won't have it that way.Oh, if I lost her as spoils of war she'd go—but she won't take it as charity.She's near as stubborn as I am.So she cooks for me, and washes.Good at it, too.""I'm sure," Scot agreed politely."The pretty ones always go somewhere else, always get a man, even if they can't do a thing.""That's for sure!" the Saxon said emphatically."Lot more to a woman 'n looks! Bitsy can carry a dressed hog.Where's the pretty girl can do that?"Scot visualized the increasingly large wild pigs that roamed the countryside.Many would weigh over a hundred pounds, slaughtered and dressed.Brand had brought a couple down with the good bow they had traded from another neighbor, as well as a few of the migrating wild bovines."Mine could, maybe," he said."She's a small girl, but she's got chest muscle you wouldn't believe.""I believe," the Saxon said."I saw her.But who else?""Not many."127The man grunted affirmatively, and there was another long round of silence.Morning came, and still they sat.Scot felt the need to relieve himself, but of course could not.The Saxon looked uncomfortable, and now Scot realized that his own lack of a big meal and drink was a net advantage.He fought off waves of sleepiness, determined not to relent.The Saxon camp came alive, ignoring them.The Druid passed by and nodded affirmatively."There is an easier route," he said."If you would agree that some justice lies on either side, and exchange tokens of compromise, this becomes unnecessary.""We must be free," Scot insisted."You can be free—within reasonable limits.Deliver the pinch of incense to the altar of Baal—I speak figuratively, of course; Baal is no Celtic God—swear fealty as vassal to the King—and perhaps he will be disposed to return you to your farm.You would pay seasonal tribute to him in return for his protection from the Huns.Is that unreasonable?""It's one way of doing it," Scot said."And you," the Druid said persuasively to the Saxon."Could you not spare some token as a sign of amity? This man has challenged you honorably, and he bears the Cross of the Holy Order of Vision—brothers in spirit to we Druids.128 You would sacrifice no honor in this gesture—""I never sacrificed any honor!"The Druid returned to Scot."I can virtually guarantee that the King would accept your vassalship.129 I have reasoned with him, pointing out the significance of your association with the Order of Vision.We want no quarrel with them.""They don't quarrel," Scot said."Their whole philosophy—""Ah, but the King does not realize that."It was too smooth, too ingenious.Scot distrusted it.This man spoke of religion, but he lacked Brother Paul's fundamental integrity.Scot remained sitting, though his tongue ached for water."I will not practice deceit," he said."One must accede to the times [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]