Demon Rider

heavy brows. Deathly fatigue, yes, and a worry that belied the man's efforts to seem relaxed. But no trace of ridicule. 'That was some kindness!'

'You did what you had to do, and you did it without jeering or unnecessary humiliation. There is no better way to assess a man than to see how he treats a beaten foe.'

'The orders he chooses to obey are more revealing, senor. Montserrat tells me that you have gelded the hexer. For that I thank you from the depths of my soul! All Europe will rejoice at the end of the infamous baron.'

'I took his demons away from him, yes. He's not basically an evil man at all, Captain.' The big mouth twisted in a weary grin. 'So tonight I gave them back to him again.'

'You jest?'

'No. He broke down and wept. It was very touching.' The outlaw smiled through his exhaustion.

'You are more gracious to beaten foes than I have ever been, senor. Was this wise?'

'I hope so. I need his help, you see, as well as…' Longdirk interrupted himself with an enormous yawn. 'Excuse me! As well as yours — your help. I wanted to invite you to the meeting, but Montserrat said you were busy. I'll outline the plan and let you sleep on it. It will be called Don Ramon's Company, naturally. Have you met the honored caballero? No? You have a treat in store. He postures a lot, but he's brilliant at working out what I want to do and then ordering me to do it. He disapproves of fighting for money, but his m…' Another yawn.'…His squire persuaded him that this was the only option open to us. I shall be his campeador, whatever that is — it just seems to mean that I do all the work.'

Diaz was beginning to see the penance the tutelary had in mind for him.

'Senor Josep Brusi has agreed to provide the necessary financing on very generous terms. The baron…' Again Longdirk yawned. Muttering angrily, he heaved himself out of his chair. 'No, sit still. The baron will be our hexer — he is most eager to serve and no band in Europe will be better protected. My friend Hamish — Jaume — will be in charge of intelligence, because he has more of it than he knows what to do with.'

Longdirk shuffled across to the bed and returned with a quilt. 'That's as far as we got. About five hundred men, I think, to start with — pikemen, arquebusiers, cavalry… possibly some light artillery. We're going to begin in Italy.'

Some comment was required. 'Start what, senor?'

The big man was spreading the quilt on the floor. He looked up, bleary with exhaustion, having trouble making his eyes focus. 'Fighting, of course.' His grin made his heavy-boned face seem oddly boyish.

'Fighting whom?'

Longdirk straightened up and rubbed his eyes. 'The Fiend. He's unbeaten so far, but I have a few ideas. A bit of success and we can start gathering allies… A fighting man could not ask for a foe more worthy, or unworthy, I suppose. He's got to be stopped. Think it over and we'll talk again in the morning. Josep's provided some gold already, so we can start recruiting and arming right away. Sorry, Captain, I'm tuckered out. If I don't lie down I'll fall down. Can you find your way to your quarters? Any questions so far?'

More than a few! It all sounded like raving insanity, and yet…

Yet he was a believable leader! Young and brash… but believable. He had thrown himself to the Inquisition to save his friends. He had escaped the Inquisition by some incredible miracle. He was competent, indestructible, unconquerable. Men would follow him. Even Diaz himself?

But… But… But!

Was it heresy to compare him to El Cid?

'May I inquire what experience you have, senor?'

The boy changed another yawn into his big grin. 'None, if you mean conventional military experience. That's why I need you as my deputy. But fighting? Oreste has chased me all the way from Scotland. It took him three years to catch me, and even then he had to call in Nevil and his army. I think I know a little bit, Captain!'

The tutelary vouched for Longdirk, so he could not be as crazy as he seemed. Not crazy at all. He could master demons and overthrow the greatest hexer in Europe.

But!

'If I may have time to consider the matter, as you suggested, senor?'

'Of course. Can you find your way out? Better still, take the bed. I can't possibly sleep on anything that soft. No, I mean it.' With no hesitation, Longdirk dropped his clothes and settled himself on the quilt. His wide back was brutally netted by the white scars of the lash, but Diaz had seen those before.

With a luxurious yawn, the big man rolled himself up in a cocoon and laid his face on the rug. 'I think you're going to accept, Captain. I know you better than you know me, although I can't explain that now. Take the bed, I mean it!'

'You are very generous, senor!' Diaz snuffed the candle and went over to the huge featherbed, which he had already decided was the most appealing thing he had seen in years, and infinitely better than the thin straw pallet waiting for him in the cramped cell he had expected to share with Sergeant Gomez.

He knew that the offer was a sort of bribe. It would make the other offer harder to refuse — companions in arms already, sharing quarters, sharing trust. Either Longdirk was much more devious than he seemed or he had infallible instincts for handling men. Or he was just naturally generous.

Diaz stripped and sank deep into warm softness. Bliss!

Successful mercenaries could become very rich.

'One last question, senor. Why Italy?'

'Hmm?' said a sleepy voice from the darkness. 'Because Nevil's bound to strike there soon. The princes and republics are arming like crazy, hiring every mercenary they can lay hands on. The baron and Hamish agree that Italy's where the next big battles will be. Mind you, I'm not at all sure that Jaume doesn't just want to be Giacomo.'

After a moment he muttered, 'That was a joke, I think. Spirits keep you, Captain.'

'And you also, Campeador.'

REALITY CHECK

My geography is more or less accurate. Social customs are very similar, although the absence of monotheistic religions makes some differences inevitable — Medieval Europe without Christianity is a contradiction in terms.

A divergent cast of characters takes over the historical stage after 1241. One of the great turning points in European history occurred in December of that year, when Ogedai Khan, son and successor of Genghis Khan, drank himself to death in far-off Mongolia. The unbeatable Mongol army, which had already conquered Russia, Poland, and Hungary and was poised to advance westward, turned back and never returned. (Russia remained under Mongol suzerainty for more than two centuries.)

Alumbradismo was a transcendental heresy associated with the Franciscans and first detected by the Inquisition in 1519. It sought total submission to God through meditation and claimed healing powers for some of its practitioners.

I have not overstated the cruelty of the Spanish Inquisition.

— K.H.