"But preparations for a crusade take many years," Simon said. "Should not the Tartars go to the king now, so they can begin to plan?" "I do not think they should visit my brother just yet," said Charles. "His mind so easily fills up with dreams of recapturing Jerusalem." Simon caught a faint note of mockery in Charles's voice. "The presence of the Tartars at his court might distract him from his more immediate responsibilities." "Then what will we do with the Tartars?" Simon asked, nettled. "Let them remain with le Gros's court in Viterbo. It honors the pope to have those strange men from the unknown East at his coronation. Then, when he comes here to present me with the crown, let them come, too, as my guests. Indeed, they can stay with me after that. They will be safer with me than they would be anywhere else in Italy. And it might interest them to see how Christians make war." _They would be safer still in France._ He could have taken Sophia and the Tartars to France together, leaving the Tartars safe and well guarded with King Louis, and then going on with Sophia to Gobignon. And getting away from Charles and his war. "How many more months will I have to stay in Viterbo guarding the Tartars?" he said with some irritation. Charles put down his wine goblet suddenly and stood up. He seemed to fill the tent. The candles on the chest lit his face from below, casting ghastly shadows over his olive complexion. "Simon, I feel I can speak more frankly to you than I ever have. It is nearly two years since I asked you to undertake the guarding of the Tartars. The way you acted today showed me that you've learned a great deal in that time. You have seen the world. You have seen combat. You have learned to lead." _He praises me because I was so quick to mow down a hundred or so commoners_, thought Simon. "Thank you, uncle," he said tonelessly. "I did not summon you from Viterbo just so you could accompany me from Ostia to Rome, Simon. You saw what my routiers--as you called them--are like. And when I am inside the city I will be in much greater danger from that Roman canaille than I was in the field today. I need a good leader with me whom I can trust. I want you to stay here in Rome with me." Simon's chest ached as if chains were wrapped around it. "How long?" "At least two months. By then Sire Adam Fourre, my chief vassal from Anjou, will be here with seventy knights and three hundred men. A small force, but one I can depend on. I will feel more in control of these brigands then." "But who will guard the Tartars while I am here?" he asked, desperately trying to think of an excuse that would get him back to Sophia. Charles shrugged. "De Verceuil can look after them." For over a year now he had been guarding the Tartars with his life, at Charles's request. Now Charles hardly seemed concerned about them. It was bewildering. _And when will I see Sophia again?_ he cried inwardly.