There were torches burning at the door of Hugh’s house by SaintMary’s church and beyond, at the High Cross, it seemed to Cadfael thatthere were more folk abroad and stirring than was usual at this hour of awinter evening. The faintest shiver of excitement hung in the air, and as soonas his foot touched the doorstone Aline came flying to the doorway with openarms. When she knew him her face remained pleased and welcoming, butnonetheless lost in an instant its special burning brightness.
“Not Hugh!” said Cadfael ruefully, knowing for whom the door hadbeen thus thrown wide. “Not yet. Is there news, then? Are theyhoming?”
“Will Warden sent word an hour ago, before the light was quite gone.They sighted steel from the towers, a good way off then, but by now they mustbe in the castle foregate. The gate’s open for them. Come in to the fire,Cadfael, and stay for him.” She drew him in by the hands, and closed thedoor resolutely on the night and her own aching impatience. “He isthere,” she said, catching in Cadfael’s face the reflection of herown partisan love and anxiety. “They caught his colours. And the array ingood order. Yet it cannot be quite as it went forth, that I know.”
No, never that. Those who go forth to the battle never return without holesin their ranks, like gaping wounds. Pity of all pities that those who leadnever learn, and the few wise men among those who follow never quite avail toteach. But faith given and allegiance pledged are stronger than fear, thoughtCadfael, and that, perhaps, is virtue, even in the teeth of death. Death, afterall, is the common expectation from birth. Neither heroes nor cowards canescape it.