De Gobignon was looking down at him, and his face was full of shock and grief.
Someone else was standing over him. He saw a pair of leather leggings tucked into heavy boots, archer's dress. His head fell back, and he was looking up at Sordello. The bravo squatted down, bringing his face close to Daoud's.
"I am glad to see you still alive, Messer David," he said in a soft, grating voice. "So I can tell you that this repays you for teaching me about paradise."
The pain felt as if rats had burrowed into his chest and were eating their way out. He wanted to scream, but he managed to smile.
"Thank you, Sordello. You are sending me to the true paradise."
There was justice in it. He had forced Sordello to undergo the Hashishiyya initiation. He had always felt that an evil thing to do. Now he was repaid. Just as Sordello said.
But when I die, God will welcome me.
A hand clamped on Sordello's shoulder and jerked him away.
"You filthy, stinking, cowardly bastard! You killed the best man on this field."
Daoud could not see Sordello, but he could picture the expression that went with the injured tone.