Father Ancelin looked around, wondering if he could get rid of Tancred's rough soldiery: for after such a defiant display, it would be unlikely that the proud warlord would back down in any wise in front of his jocund and boastful Captains. 

No, he decided. He must come back again when he could see the man alone, no use making things worse now, Ceros grant him patience. He knelt on the floor, humbly, and picked up the scrunched up letter. He stoops to conquer.

Getting up was a little harder than getting down, and he did so with a grunt. 

He looked around at the laughing knights and nodded. 

"I shall certainly let the lady know of your words, gentlemen, your chivalry and fine wit should not be withheld from the world... and from their object especially." He looked at Sir Raynard "May I ask your name in particular, Sir, for the young woman should especially know of your pleasantries."

Raynard grunted, "So you are going to go back like a child tattle tale? Does that make you feel like you are championing her?"

The little priest shrugged. "It is hardly the place of a priest to champion the honour of a helpless damsel; that is the privilege and duty of a Knight, I believe. Sir...?" 

Tancred shook his head, "Tell him nothing. There are many rumors some of Offo's kin and mayhaps even offspring practice witchcraft."

"Yes, don't tell him your name, Raynard!" called the saturnine and bearded Sir Eustace d'Arfleur from the back of the throng. It was rare for him to talk at all; he usually kept his own council unless specifically asked for his opinion by the man to whom he owed fealty. 

"You, priest, I give you a chance to go on with us and join me at my castle. You may dine with me and my daughter, oh and Rigunth too. That should prove she is properly taken care of."

"A noble offer!" commented Sir Eustace and it seemed perhaps flattery toward Tancred, but to the Ancelin, the steady voice amongst the boastful raillery of the other captains seemed a prompt that he should accept. 

"But if that is not to your liking, then go back to Offo. Tell him this war will not last forever and I expect to win."

"I will gladly accept your offer, my Lord." said the priest quietly "... and look forward to travelling to Sartell once again, in such excellent and chivalrous company." He looked especially at Sir Raynard as he said this. 

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"So Eustace, are you defying my wishes or are you just a dolt?" he inquired of the man. Tancred was not a man who tolerated such acts of defiance lightly. 

Sir Eustace stood forward.

"Just a dolt, My Lord, my apologies. And Sir Raynulf de Fiennes, my apologies for so stupidly revealing your identity as the utterer of calumnies against a damsel. I hope you will accept them, but if not, your gauntlet, I see is to hand."

Ancelin diffused this escalating situation by interjecting his acceptance of Tancred's grudging offer.

"I will gladly accept your offer, my Lord." said the priest quietly "... and look forward to travelling to Sartell once again, in such excellent and chivalrous company." He looked especially at Sir Raynard as he said this. 

Raynard glared but said nothing. He did not like this damned priest. And he too was annoyed with Eustace unwelcome contribution to the conversation. 

There was no love lost between Eustace and Raynard, that was true. However, both had fought bravely against Irongron: both had rents in their mail hauberks and coifs, notches in their sword blades, dents in their casques and chunks hacked out of their kite shaped shields which attested to their bravery in the service of Tancred their feudal lord. 

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