led the way onto the last barge. Unsure what to do now, Benito let the large knight propel him into the barge also.
“Better come with us, Knight-Squire Crazykid,” he said. “You don’t want to be left alone on Casa Dandelo’s wharf tonight.”
“My name’s Benito.”
The very large knight grinned. The square blocky teeth were visible even under the helmet. “Benito, then. It was still a crazy thing to do.”
“You should talk, Manfred,” chuckled the blond knight standing next to them. He removed the helmet and shook his long, very pale blond hair in the breeze. “God, I hate helmets.” Then, smiling at Benito: “I’m Erik Hakkonsen, by the way. And you are insane.”
But the words were spoken in a very friendly tone, and Benito found himself meeting the smile with a grin.
“I just couldn’t help it, that’s all. And I wouldn’t have missed that for anything.”
The very large knight—Manfred, he was apparently named—now removed his helmet also. Benito was almost shocked when he saw how young he was. He’s not much older than me. Can’t be more than eighteen.
The barge pulled away from the wharf and began heading across the canal. The mob on the other side was packed like sardines, all of them waving and shouting.
“LORD DORMA! LORD DORMA!” And more than a few: “Doge Dorma!”
The knight named Erik stared, apparently taken aback by the crowd’s frenzied applause. Oddly, the young knight named Manfred didn’t seem surprised at all.
“Just et