The Iron
Crown

Denis's arrival was strange.

He was dressed in women's clothing and had a golden crown on his head.

But I did not waste time in futile enquiry.

I showed him the strange letters in the cards, and waited for his reply.

Quickly it came: "Whaddya burn them cards for?" I explained, brokenly, how I had hoped for a third miracle, and the replenishment of our forces by the mysterious figures on the cards.

But Denis of Pernia's face was unequivocally stern.

It seemed that I should not have burned the cards.

I fell to my knees before him and asked forgiveness.

But he did not bless me a second time.

With the stump of his arm he smote me, and though I reeled and fell, I knew my folly had earned me the blow.

I fell to the ground by Wollis his corpse.