His guess had been right; he had been brought back by a circuit to his starting-point.
Presently he was face to face with the Ilkhan, who was hunting.

The Greek scribe was with him, so the meeting had been foreseen.

The King's face was dark with the weather and his stony eyes had a glow in them.
"O messenger of France," he said, "there is a little custom of our people that I had forgotten.

When a stranger warrior visits us it is our fashion to pit him in a bout against one of our own folk, so that if he leaves us alive he may speak well of his entertainment." "I am willing," said Aimery.

"I have but my sword for weapon." "We have no lack of swordsmen," said the Ilkhan.