“Who are these people, Mungan? They look like Abhiseleka,” said Goldach. Mungan wiped the sweat from his brow, and sighed.
“I hope these men are dervishes,” he said, “but they may be common Mercenaries. They are Mohammedans,” he said. Goldach looked at them. Where have I heard that word? He thought. Mungan looked at him.
“The word Mohammedan?” Asked Mungan. Goldach nodded. “Your friend Abhiseleka. His land is overrun with them,” he said. Goldach thought about what Mungan was saying. If they’re overrun, the Mohammedans probably aren’t helpful, thought Goldach. Mungan shook his head.
“Don’t be a narrow-minded bigot like her,” he motioned to the wagon where he thought she was sleeping. “You can’t just categorize people, Goldach. Many Merlins have owned extraordinarily intelligent and gifted Mohammedan squires. Have you noticed their energy fields? They are extremely advanced. Probably dervishes,” said Mungan.
The words sank in to Goldach’s young brain.
“What do you mean, owned? One person can’t own another,” said Goldach. Mungan was about to reply when one man from the party of dervishes walked over to address him. He stood in a formal stance, like that of a soldier. He held up his right hand, to show he was unarmed.
“Mohammed ibn Musa, Sir. My party and I are at your service. We have just been robbed by a homily looking couple packing a hidden load of thieves. They stole our deposit to the King’s treasury. We are all dead men without it,” said Mohammed.
Mungan was inclined to believe him, as was Goldach. The other men kept a respectable distance, waiting by the carriage.
Coventina had exited the rear of the wagon, and was walking around the passenger side when she saw Mohammed. She shrieked, and kept shrieking. He jumped at the first one and ran back to his carriage. All the men got back in Mohammed brought the reins down hard. They were gone before anyone said a word. The dust was in the air from the road.
“There are bandits everywhere,” said Coventina. “Are you ready to relinquish the reins?” She asked Mungan.
“I’m afraid not,” he replied. “Would you like something to whet your palate?” Asked Mungan. She did not reply, but took the flask from him and drank.
“Coventina, those were not bandits. They were dervishes,” he said.
“What’s the difference?” She asked.
“Yes, what is the difference, Mungan?” Asked Goldach.
“Are you going to get in or not, woman?” Asked Mungan.
She began to climb into the carriage, holding her dress up and reaching for Goldach’s hand. She nearly pulled him out onto the ground. Mungan held his other hand, and for a moment, Goldach felt the stretch. She plopped down onto the seat.
“You don’t talk to a lady like that, Mungan. Look what you’re teaching Goldach,” she said.
“He has spent the rest of his life with Myrridian, Coventina. Do you really think I have anything to teach him about womanizing?” He asked. He looked at Goldach, who’s attention was transfixed on this exchange. Mungan quickly moved the conversation forward.
“The difference between a bandit and a dervish. Where shall I start? This is an extensive subject. It’s obvious neither of you have even met a dervish, except perhaps this one incident. Let me tell you, there would be no Druids left at all without them,” he said. Goldach leaned in and listened. Coventina raised her head as well.
“They’re the most devout people you will ever meet,” he said. “Even the cold blooded killers amongst them, worship facing the East five times a day,” he said. “They understand the Jewish magic better than some of the Jews I tell you!” He said.
“I heard something different,” said Coventina. “In Mass last Sunday, the Archbishop talked about the Mohammedans fierce defense of Jerusalem. He also mentioned some of them have begun to perform secret societies, conspiring against Christ and His Church,” she said.
Goldach and Mungan looked at each other quickly, remembering the Templars and the Order to which they both belonged. Coventina could not know.
“What do you mean, ‘There would be no Druids without them’?” Asked Goldach. Coventina noticed her point was ignored but said nothing. This was more important anyway.
“Coventina answered the question for us, Goldach. The Mohammedans are launching offensives on the interests of the Church, not just here, but everywhere,” he said.
“How does that amount to Druidic salvation?” Asked Goldach.
“If the Church is busy fighting them, they may be too busy to finish the job of exterminating us,” said Mungan. Coventina’s face turned red.
“Do you mean you condone these attacks?” She asked Mungan. A smirk appeared on Mungan’s face.
“I don’t condone them any more than the Church’s war on the peasantry here and abroad,” he replied.
