He could simply refuse to stay in Italy a moment longer. He could just get up right now and leave, go to Viterbo and find Sophia. No, he could not do that. He had come to Italy to _redeem_ the name of the house of Gobignon, not besmirch it further. What a scandal if the king's brother were to charge that Simon de Gobignon turned his back on him when he was in peril. What would the king and the nobles say of him then in France? He must see this through, at least until Charles was securely established in Rome. But pray God Charles did not ask him to stay with him beyond that. "You do not need to go back to the Tartars at all," Charles said. "It seems to me that phase of things is settled. I think it would be more important for you to go home, this summer, to Gobignon." Simon's heart leapt with amazement and joy as the words sank in. "Yes! Yes--I want to--very much," he blurted out. "I want that more than anything else." _If I can take Sophia with me._ Charles came around the table and laid a heavy hand on Simon's shoulder. Simon, still seated, had to twist his neck to look up at him. "Do you remember when we first spoke of your guarding the Tartars I promised even greater opportunities for glory? I said that you would ride in triumph through fallen cities." "Yes," said Simon after hesitating a moment. He knew where Charles was leading this, and felt a hollow of dread growing in his stomach. Charles bent down, bringing his face close to Simon's, his hand still pressing on Simon's shoulder. The Count of Anjou's eyes glowed green in the candlelight, and Simon felt paralyzed by his gaze, as if Charles were a basilisk. "Simon de Gobignon," Charles said solemnly. "I invite you to join me in the conquest of Sicily, and to share with me in the spoils. I ask you to bring the army of Gobignon to this war." _God's blood, protect me!_ "I cannot make my vassals come here," Simon ventured. His voice sounded weak in his ears. Charles's face came closer still. "_Make_ them come? They will beg you to _let_ them come. This will be the greatest war since you were a child." Simon gathered his thoughts. "Their obligations to me are limited. Many owe me only thirty days' service. Some are not required to serve outside Gobignon boundaries, need only fight if we are invaded." "Your father brought four hundred knights and two thousand men-at-arms with him on the crusade my brother and I led into Egypt." _Yes, and lost them all._ "But that was a crusade, and the ordinary obligations did not apply," Simon said.