Dalassenus knew the crusaders would never willingly relinquish their prize; as they had demonstrated at Antioch and Edessa, they had no intention of giving up anything unless by force. As Grand Drungarius he could declare war on the Latin lords, but in doing so he would place the empire in the indefensible position of fighting against the Holy City. How could the Emperor of All Christendom be seen to make war on the defenders of his own church? However desirable it might be, the prospect was not one he could pursue, and he knew it.

Conceding he must abandon the field, he loosed the one arrow left in his quiver. 'The emperor will be informed of your decision,' Dalassenus told them, hoping the implied threat would weaken their resolve. 'No doubt he will be delighted to hear that you recognize the letter of your agreement, if not the spirit. And since you obviously value precision so highly, I will assume that even now you are making plans for the return of a certain valuable to the imperial treasury.'

The lords glanced guiltily at one another. It fell to Godfrey, as the new ruler of Jerusalem, to discover which valuable the envoy meant. 'If we have taken anything which did not belong to us,' he replied magnanimously, 'then rest assured it will be returned with all haste.' He saw Baldwin glaring furiously at him, but continued nevertheless. 'Only tell us what this valuable might be, and we shall gladly deliver it to you.'

Dalassenus smiled. These crusaders were like children in many ways. 'Do you not know?' he asked wonderingly. 'Why, it is on everyone's lips. Indeed, every Christian from Jerusalem to Constantinople is talking about the Holy Lance.'

Since their triumphant return from the council, Bohemond and King Magnus and their noblemen and advisors had closeted themselves in Bohemond's private chambers. Like the rest of Magnus' war band, Murdo was anxious for the king to emerge from the deliberations; and, like the rest of the men, he was growing restive and bored. Unlike everyone else, however, he cared nothing for the final result of the council. His only reason for staying was to redeem his vow of fealty to the king-so that he might take his leave with the king's blessing and a clear conscience.

At first, the rumours had flown thick and fast. There was to be an equal distribution of plunder, some said; there was to be no division at all, others said. The lords had chosen a king for Jerusalem; the lords had failed to choose a king. The emperor was on his way with ten thousand Varangi; the emperor was already here! The emperor demanded the city and its plunder; the lords were getting ready for war…

As the day dwindled and no further information was gleaned, speculation eventually ceased and the waiting men grew increasingly sullen and peevish. The Norsemen were now grumbling and moaning openly, their former mood of high expectation turning sour as the day sped away. Murdo thought to escape the sombre mood, but it was too hot for wandering around the streets and, anyway, the city stank. He considered going outside the walls where the air was somewhat better, but he feared missing his first opportunity to speak to the king.

'They have had no food or drink brought in,' Fionn pointed out. 'We will not have much longer to wait.'

'I, for one, am through with waiting,' declared Murdo, rising abruptly. 'I am leaving.'

'Do not wander far,' the cleric advised. 'I will fetch you when the lords have finished their deliberations.'

'Farewell,' replied Murdo, already striding away.

With that, he left the courtyard and hurried along the columned corridor, passed quickly through the entrance and out into the street. Brother Emlyn caught up with him just before he reached the Jaffa Gate. 'Murdo, wait!' he called, hurrying along behind as the young man made for the gate. 'I saw you leave the palace. Where are you going?'

'I mean to collect my father's belongings, and then I am going home.'

'Once the council has made its decision, we will all be leaving -a few days at most, I should think, and then -'

'I have no reason to stay even a day longer,' Murdo said sharply. 'I did what I came to do. Now I can leave this place for ever.'

'Your brothers-'

'They are no longer my brothers,' Murdo replied bitterly.

'What I was going to say was that your brothers treated you very badly, but that is no reason to -

'Torf and Skuli have made their decision, and I have made mine. In fact, they have done me a valuable service. I know now that I am alone in this and cannot count on anyone else. Very well. That is how I began; that is how I will carry on.'

'Do not talk so,' the monk chided gently. 'Come back with me, and we will speak to the king. It would be well to allow him to release you from your vow.'

Murdo started walking again. Emlyn fell into step beside him. 'You go back if you wish,' Murdo told him. 'I will not be persuaded to return.'

'How will you reach Orkneyjar?'

'Many crusaders are leaving now. I will get a place aboard one of the ships at Jaffa.' When the monk asked what he would do if all the places were taken, Murdo said, 'Then I will buy a ship. One way or another, I mean to leave this place far behind.'

'Then I am going with you,' the cleric declared.

'You are one of the king's advisors; you cannot leave him like this.'

'So,' observed Emlyn, 'my vow prevents me, but yours does not? Explain this to me.'

Murdo sighed. 'What do you want me to do?'

'Come back and beg a proper leave-taking of your king. Allow him to offer you his blessing.'

'And if he does not?'

'That is his choice. He is the king, and you are his vassal,' Emlyn replied; taking Murdo by the arm, he turned the headstrong young man. 'Come, do not think the worst. Magnus is a reasonable man, and a most generous lord if you permit him to be benevolent.'

Murdo returned to the palace precinct, and to restless waiting. At midday, the lords emerged from their vigil to proclaim their hopeful assurance of a swift and just settlement of their demands. They spoke of their renewed zeal for one another's support and loyalty, and their eagerness to demonstrate their prodigious gratitude for the services of their warriors. Bohemond then departed with his noblemen to his quarters, leaving Magnus to hold court with his men.

There followed still more waiting while the king, besieged by anxious Norsemen, answered their questions and allayed their fears. At last, Murdo's turn came; with Emlyn at his side, he stepped before the king and said, 'Lord and king, I beg the boon of your indulgence.'

'Speak freely, my friend,' Magnus invited. 'But, pray, speak quickly. I am to rejoin Bohemond, and we must soon return to the council.'

Succinctly as possible, Murdo explained his wish to return home by the swiftest means. He asked the king to release him from his vow of fealty, yet pledged his continued loyalty and friendship, to which the Norse king replied, 'I, too, share your desire to return home. I ask that you lend me your patience yet a little longer. We will all be leaving Jerusalem soon enough, and when we do, we will depart as wealthy men.'

At hearing his request denied, Murdo's heart fell. The prospect of remaining in Jerusalem, even a day longer, filled him with dread. Plucking up his courage, he said, 'Forgive my boldness, Lord Magnus, but I will gladly barter my share of the treasure for your permission to leave for Jaffa at once.'

Magnus paused to consider this a moment. 'Your offer tempts me,' he conceded. 'Yet, I would be a false and unworthy lord if I agreed. The road between here and Jaffa is not safe, and I could not spare so much as one man to go with you. Therefore, I think you must stay, and content yourself with a goodly share of the plunder which Count Bohemond and I hasten now to secure.'