And his chatelain close behind

The column grew. Alois's four turned into forty. Then forty more. Faces I recognized. From Morrisaey, Moulin Vieux, Sur le Gavre. Some on horses, others on foot. Their faces rugged, silent, proud. A lump caught in my throat. I didn't speak. They kept coming, line after line, men who still believed in me. Who had nothing left but their souls. Then, on a pale stallion, bound like a sack of wheat, I sawBaldwin. And his chatelain close behind. I could not believe what I was seeing! They all came? All four hundred? I asked Alois. He shook his head. Four hundred andfour. He grinned. If the Freemasons came along. Odo said to me, We figured, if our souls are fucked anyway, what do we have to lose? My heart almost exploded with pride. I stood there watching the column grow and grow. Feeling the common heart of these men. Some called out to say hello, Hey, General, good to see you again. Others simply nodded, many I did not know by name. When the end of the column came in sight, it was trailed by four scruffy men hurrying to keep up, hoisting a white banner with an eye painted on it-the sign of the Freemason society. I mouthed Thank you to Odo and Georges, the words sticking in my throat. I wanted to tell them how proud I was of them. Of everyone. I merely put my hand on the miller's shoulder. Guess we're going to Bord, Odo said with a shrug, and I nodded, watching the column as it stretched down the road. You better have a real plan if you want to take this place, he muttered.