He kissed her hand and pulled the grey stallion back. She rode past him, a brave figure, slender and straight, fearless eyes fixed on the dusty road ahead—that road which led on to the sea and beyond to the fabled lands of Outremer, lands of magic and sorcery, of great deeds and wickedness, of romance and mystery, where the battered Empire of the Eastern Rome and the fringe of crusading states fought to keep back the onrushing Moslem waves that threatened to engulf all Christianity.
CHAPTER IV
THE JONGLEUR AND THE GREENWOOD MEN
"Ay, 'tis clerkly done, Hugh," approved Prior Thomas, as he conned the spotless rolls of parchment. "With these at my hand it will go hard an I do not keep your lands in as good order as when you were a witless babe."
He drew his chair closer to the brazier that warmed the room.
"One week more," he mused. "And then you, too, dear lad, will be gone hence, leaving only a memory in our hearts."
"I fear me there will be much for you to do," said Hugh.
"Nay, an the King leave us be—." The Prior shook his head. "Even King John will think twice ere he assails the protection of St. Cuthbert of Crowden."
"Small chance of that," agreed Hugh. "But Robin Fletcher grows old, and he must be watched in little things."
"Brother Henri, the keenest of our clerks, shall follow his affairs. But now, Hugh, tell me—hast planned the journey to Outremer?"