Charles shook his head, then quickly reached up to steady the heavy crown. "I do not understand you. But that province is too valuable for me to press it on someone who does not want it. I can use it to reward others who have served me, not as well as you have, but well enough."
"I hoped you might see it that way."
"But think, since I asked you to guard the Tartars—it has been nearly three years—you have taken part in great affairs and you have added to your reputation and restored luster to your family name. You have led your Gobignon vassals to a victory that has brought them glory and riches. You have, I tell you again, won my lifelong gratitude. Why separate yourself from all that now? By what you did yesterday you wiped out the stain on your family name. Your father betrayed his king and his crusader comrades, but now you have won a victory for a crusade and saved the life of a king."
Yes, but how different those crusades, and how different those kings.
He kept reminding himself that Manfred was an enemy of the pope and Daoud an enemy of Christendom, but the thought haunted him that through him great men and a noble kingdom had fallen. Again and again he tried to push out of his mind the idea that he had been wrong to come here and fight on the side of Anjou. But he knew it would remain with him, troubling him, for the rest of his life.
"If you want to show gratitude to me, Sire, the one favor I ask is that you not press me to stay."
Charles fumbled in a heavy purse at his belt and drew out a long silver chain. He held it out to Simon.
"Here. I want you to have this, at least."
Simon bowed gravely and held out his hand. Attached to the chain was a five-pointed star with a large, round ruby in its center.
"Beautiful. Thank you very much, Sire."