you catch
him unready." He finished with a vigorous nod of his head. "I recommend
it."

Daoud felt a new and unexpected warmth toward Barth. The landgrave was
not such a dull-witted old soldier after all.

The Sons of the Falcon had finished their archery exercise. In four
ranks, fifty mounted men abreast, they drew up at the base of the hill
and saluted Manfred, two hundred scimitars flashing in the afternoon
sun.

Manfred stepped forward to the crest of the hill and raised his hands
above his head. "_May God bless your arms!_" he shouted in Arabic.

The wild, high-pitched ululations of his Muslim warriors echoed against
the surrounding hills as Manfred, smiling, returned to his companions.

He said, "In three months' time, then. No more than four. The weather
will decide. I will call in my barons one by one and tell them to
prepare. We must keep this a secret for as long as possible."

Daoud, Lorenzo, and Barth all bowed in assent. Daoud felt a surge of
joy. He had succeeded in persuading Manfred to strike at Charles.
Manfred's reasons for not wanting to move were sound ones, he knew. He
had spent long hours considering them himself, but he was certain that
if Manfred did nothing, he was surely doomed. At this moment Manfred and
Charles were nearly evenly matched, Manfred a little stronger, Charles
growing in strength. To a great extent it would be luck--or the will of
God--that determined the outcome. Daoud could not control luck or God.
But he could make the best possible plan and give his all to it.

Suddenly, he badly wanted to get back to Sophia in Lucera. Usually he
enjoyed being out with the troops, overseeing their training. Today he
begrudged the time. Every moment seemed precious. Three months would be
gone before he and Sophia realized it. Then he would be riding with
Manfred's army, perhaps never to see her again.

He must make sure she would be safe no matter what happened. Perhaps
Ugolini or Tilia could help. Sophia would want to travel with the
army--with him--north. She was not a woman to pine at home while men
marched away. He must discourage her; it was too dangerous.

But to discourage her would probably be impossible.

* * * * *

Simon listened to the drumming hooves behind him on the dirt road and
thought, _I will be hearing this sound all day long every day for
months_. He supposed that after a while he would no longer notice it,
but today, the day afte