LORD STEPHEN PROPPED HIMSELF UP AGAINST HIS saddlebag, but Sir William preferred to stand because he finds it difficult to sit. I knelt on my mattress, and Serle lay on his stomach with his chin in his hands.
“What I don’t understand is how we can attack other Christians if we’re soldiers of God,” I said.
“No one’s said anything about attacking them,” replied Lord Stephen.
“One day, Arthur,” said Serle, “you’re going to trip up on your own conscience.”
“Either your conscience or your tongue,” added Sir William. “One or the other, they’ll do for you.”
“No,” said Lord Stephen. “Arthur has a point. I’ve heard today that several knights are talking of breaking their vows and turning for home.”
“Well, then,” Serle said nastily, “Arthur can go with them.”
“Take your choice!” Sir William said. “Either we sail to Zara or this whole bloody crusade disbands.”
“The Doge did say it was his right to recapture Zara before we sailed against the Saracens,” I said.
“That may be true,” Lord Stephen replied. “But recruiting us all to help him? I don’t know about that. In any case, he wasn’t even coming with us until the day before yesterday.”
“Are the Venetians just out for themselves, then?” Serle asked.
“Everyone is!” my father retorted. “Let’s get on with it. All the foot soldiers, and Turold and Rhys, do you think they give an owl’s hoot about where we’re going or whom we’re fighting?”
“It’s a job for them,” I replied. “It’s a cause for us.”
“What I think,” said Serle, “is all this talking makes things worse.”
“No!” I said. “It makes things clearer.” I turned to Lord Stephen. “Do you accept the agreement, sir?”
Lord Stephen screwed up his face and sighed. “What I think is that not being able to pay for the ships, and our great quest, together justify this…this solution. I don’t like it, but I can accept it.”
“Where is Zara?” asked Serle.
“Across the Adriatic,” Lord Stephen said. “Away down the coast.”
“What will happen when we get there?” I asked.
Lord Stephen gave me a thin smile. “And before we get there,” he said. “I hear we’ll be stopping at the port of Pirano to exercise our horses and to replenish our supply of fresh water.”
“What if the people of Zara resist?” I asked.
“Believe me, boy!” my father said. “When they see the size of our fleet, they’ll speak at both ends!”
Lord Stephen licked his lips and rubbed his mouth with the back of his right hand. “This sand!” he said irritably. “It’s getting into everything. The wind’s in our face again.”
“And God’s behind us!” Sir William barked. “Sweet Jesus! Cheer up!”