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Sunset lay behind them, reddened by the wind that chafed the plateau which rose from the eastern bank of the Iberus toward the ed line beneath the o ahead A few stands of tattered oaks provided the only shelter fro toward the old Rorand estate, Aqua Alba in Iberus Behind theusta, a Ro that was the ateway to the central Iberian Peninsula: Sanct&039; Germain and his escort had passed three days there before the weather ier?" Rogerian had to yell although he rode only an arth from Sanct&039; Germain

"I don&039;t know We will need shelter soon The wind is getting worse; it is almost dark" He squinted at the five out-riders who led the train of mules and provided protection for them "I think Wa," he reain "Either he is ill, or he is carrying a skin of wine instead of water"

"Waerian agreed, struggling to hold his Mongolian mantel around him, the wool side turned in, to keep him warm "I do not entirely trust him"

"I do not trust any of them, old friend" Sanct&039; Germain wore a hooded Roaudion of heavy-strand embroidered black silk that had weathered far worse conditions than these; his leggings were knit laol boots caold, so I a to believe they will do no ill while we are on the old roads Once we go into the mountains, I am not certain ill continue to be safe in their cousta said that there is a monastery on this road that will take in travelers for a donation," Rogerian re the lead of thebehind for soht" He had not intended this observation to be a warning, but as he spoke, he felt a niggle of apprehension come over him

"I know," said Sanct&039; Gererian, and cracked a single laugh as he tugged on the lead once again "Wolves, more likely At this time of year, there could be packs about"

"These oatherds, to be afraid of wolves," said Sanct&039; Gerht

"If there is a howling," Rogerian began, leaving Sanct&039; Gerht

"It is the wind," said Sanct&039; Geret into the mountains, then there may be wolves, but out here, on this plateau, the winter is not hard enough for wolves to come so far out into the open" It had beenloose in the open in winter; the memory was not a comfortable one

They went on for another two or three thousand paces, and then Childric, who rode in the van of the party, held up his hand Swinging around in his saddle, he shouted, "Building ahead! An old outpost by the look of it!"

"Any sign of occupants?" Sanct&039; Ger!" Childric answered in his blunt way "We&039;re tired! The beasts are hungry!"

"Tiica asked, his voice rough fro on to keep his seat

"Why should it not be safe? What is there to fear?" asked Recared, his voice pitched a bit too high

"I need food and drink," shouted Egica, and ended his deh "If the place is safe, why not-"

"If the outpost is deserted, there is no point in stopping," said Sanct&039; Germain at his most reasonable "Let us press on; the monastery is not lowered and put his hand on his sword "I say we stop"

"And I say we go on" This caild, the sartriuive shelter but very little else" He was older than the others-over thirty-grizzled, scarred and proven: he co experience "Two thousand paces, even in this wind, is not so far"

"We should see the monastery," Recared exclaimed "Where is it, if it is only two thousand paces ahead?" He was one of three uided a short string of mules with them

"Probably in that stand of oaks," said Sanct&039; Gere the men by this observation; they were touchy of their reputations and could find any questioning of their coht He shifted in the saddle, renewing his grip with his calves, and pointed ahead "It is about two thousand paces to that grove of trees"

The ly accepted this "As far as the trees, then," said Childric "If we find nothing there, ill coht I don&039;t want to have to fight any of the people hereabouts They&039;re not fond of us They are treacherous fighters, given to ambushes and traps And with all these laden ht"

"They weren&039;t fond of the Ro the ion officers of battles with the various tribes of Hispania "Nor of one another"

"Then ill find shelter for the night," Waht "We haven&039;t er until it is full dark"

"Shouldn&039;t the ica He, too, held a lead "I can&039;t see one"

"Let us keep -trot "It won&039;t take long to reach the trees if we don&039;t dawdle Warip on the lead Theup hishis best to look prepared for a long ride "I am not myself, sartriuild, and brought his horse alongside Warumbled, but fell in just ahead of Sanct&039; Germain "I can&039;t see very ht"

Sanct&039; Germain waited a moment, then said, "I see fairly well in the dark; those of my blood have such talent" In fact, he saw alht as he did in the day, but he knew such an ad suspicion upon him "I can ht, I will not ild, apparently reserving judght, or snow"

"Yes, it is," said Sanct&039; Gerild pulled his , ill need pluvials" This was a concession, for it was rare for any man-at-arms would ads; not even peasants were thought to know anything about weather

Rogerian pulled on the lead again "Theit from our escort," said Sanct&039; Germain, and once more looked toward the trees "There!" he said "A travelers&039; light"

Leovigild checked his horse "Where?"

"Just there," said Sanct&039; Germain "It&039;s deep in the trees and not easily seen, but-there it is again" He pointed, and hoped that Leovigild&039;s eyes were able to ild conceded "Are you certain?"

"Yes," said Sanct&039; Gerh" Leovigild hesitated "Might it be a trap? Wouldn&039;t robbers try such a ruse?"

"Perhaps, but I doubt it, not on a main road, and not at this time of year" He looked about at the others "If there are robbers, we are arave half-hearted agreenal to Sanct&039; Ger in the mountains, they say," Wamba muttered

Sanct&039; Gerht, I will pay three Byzantine Ereed upon My Word on it"

Childric grinned, the hipping his hair about his face as if he were one of the ancient storood Let us be about it, then" He tightened his seat on his horse and picked up the pace to a fast trot This gained the attention of all the men-at-arms and they, too, readied theild "Think of your horses No faster! If your horse goes down, you ride a -trot once more, and the mules on leads did their best to slow the pace to a walk

"We will be there soon enough," said Childric, still showing his enthusias his sword "Any robbers would be wise to flee while they may"

"Do not distress the monks!" Sanct&039; Germain ordered "They will refuse you shelter if you do" He had the satisfaction of seeing Leovigild nod in approval "You want hot food and a bed tonight, do you not?" Without waiting for an answer, he went on "If you ride in like the robbers you are ready to fight, will the , but drew his horse down to a fast walk "You ica patted his sword "If I need it, I can draw it," he said, paying little or no heed to the sharp look Childric shot hi in the west as night closed in; the travelers&039; light was now ainst the darkness

"Should soone on a bit further "The turn-off is not far, and itso many of us, to alert the monks before we arrive"

"A prudent notion," said Sanct&039; Gererian "Will you do that for me, old friend? Will you ride ahead? I&039;ll take the lead you hold"

Rogerian nodded once "Of course I will," he said, holding out the lead to Sanct&039; Gero as quickly as this horse can trot as long as the road is sgled his heels against the ani extended his trot, quickly pushing to the front of the group, then pulling ahead of the rest; Rogerian&039;s gared shadows The sound of the hoofbeats carried back to the others even as Rogerian and his bay horse becaoes," Sanct&039; Ger us the way"

"If the loomily

"They dare not refuse" said Childric "We are their chaain, as if to assure himself he could pull it from the scabbard at the first whiff of trouble

Themore restive; the s, and sacks, grew fretful at having to keep up this pace One brayed in protest and was struck across the nose with a whip

"Don&039;t do that," said Sanct&039; Germain quietly, but with authority that stilled Recared&039;s hand as he prepared to lash out again

"The animal is impertinent," said Recared "He must be submissive to-"

"If he is to be struck, I will do it," said Sanct&039; Germain levelly "But I have heard far worse from you and your companions than I have from that mule, and no one has wanted to whip you"

"If you want disobedient ani his whip "He is yourof how many mules he had left behind at his villa just outside Toletu life, but each loss had a poignance of its own, and the mules and horses he had been forced to leave were no exception

"The turn&039;s co to thefrom him than from Sanct&039; Germain "There look to be ruts on the side-road"

"Then ill have to walk the beasts," said Childric, sighing with disgust "If it starts to rain, I will curse Heaven for it, and the monks will not stop me"

Sanct&039; Germain kept a steady hand on the lead as he pulled his handsoray onto the road to theined what he and these ht on the churned-up road in the h the speculation orrisome; he reminded himself that this was Hispania and not the Greeka fired the ether "Keep ," he called out, as much to the mules as to the men-at-arms as he pressed on

As they reached the first of the trees, there was a sudden flare of light ahead of the open, and half a dozen ed toward them Two of the horses whinnied in dis in an atteerian "Hold your hands!"

"Weapons down!" Sanct&039; Gered his horse to the front of the group, theto the pull on the lead with alacrity, sensing the end of the day&039;s journey; their jarring trot shook the burdens strapped to their saddles noisily adding to theconfusion

The monk in the lead stopped still "When your weapons are sheathed, you may come in" His voice was that of a ht as any captain would "These Fraters will see to your animals You lowered but slid out of his saddle "I&039;ll lead ed his red-roan&039;s reins over her head "Tell me where your stable is"

"Frater Roderic will show you the way," said the senior monk, and motioned to one of the others to tend to this task "Lead one of the strings of mules, Frater Roderic," he added before he came up to Sanct&039; Germain "You ise to send your ht is fallen, ould not have opened our gates to you"

"A ry?" Sanct&039; Germain said with mild surprise "What would your Episcus say?"

"He would commend us, since four monasteries on this side of the Iberus have been sacked since winter began" He stepped aside as one of hisof three ht?" Sanct&039; Germain asked in a carefully respectful tone

"It is part of our Rule" He ducked his head "I am Prioczy," he said, using everything but the two titles he could claian at Toletu that this was hardly the truth, but it would do for now Then he was dis to lead his horse and ates "I thank you for ad fellow," said Priates as his Fraters secured horses andto the stables, I will send word to the kitchen to prepare meat and bread for you" He cocked his head "You are fortunate: we slaughtered two goats yesterday"

"For which we give thanks," said Sanct&039; Germain "I ask only that you feed my men-at-arms; I have provision for myself" This was also not the truth but he knew the Primor would accept it without reservation