“Why do you think?” he said gruffly, hurling an intimidating gaze back at them.

One of the men leaned forward with a wide grin. “You have come for the hunt, then?” he asked.

Solomon gritted his teeth. Nodded. “Yes.”

Someone slapped him on the back. “I knew you were one of us!” he said. “We ourselves have only just met,” the man said, indicating the others. “But you are welcome to join us.”

“You must be hungry. Share in our feast,” another said, handing over a plate of olives and flatbread.

Another man stepped from the dark to throw wood on the fire. As the flames licked higher, Solomon and the others dug into their meal.

“Kerek is less than a day’s journey from here,” the grinning man said. “But I was told that a band of us has already begun to gather there.”

“Then we must leave tonight!” Solomon urged, throwing down his meal.

The others looked up in surprise.

“An eager one, are you?” the grinning man said through laughter. “Have no fear, there will be enough throats to slit for every man to have his share.”

Solomon struggled to mask his rage. Holding tight, he drew in a deep breath and collected himself. In order to succeed in his mission, he would need to set his emotions aside. “In that case, we can afford the delay,” he said, digging back into his meal.

Confident that his outburst had gained the men’s trust, he kept still. Listening.

Soon the grinning man took out a pipe. He leaned back and nodded toward one of the younger men. “My son and I used to be farmers,” he told the group. He turned to face Solomon. “What was your work?”

Without looking up, Solomon said, “Shepherding.”

The man’s eyebrows rose. “Ah, a shepherd! Now that is a hard life. Almost as hard as a farmer’s,” he added with a chuckle. When no one spoke, the man went on. “I myself am glad to be done with it. Back-breaking work to tend the land!” he said. “And not nearly as rewarding as serving God’s call,” he said. “Am I right, brothers?”

The other men’s eyes sparkled as they nodded in agreement.

Another spoke up. “It is far easier to slaughter a heathen than a hog, as I used to do,” he said. “And the last one I took kept a stash of coins under her tunic. The sum totaling far more than I could have ever earned at my trade.”

Aroused by their talk, the eldest man among them lifted his voice. “Brothers! You speak only of earthly rewards, but you would do well to remember the honor of serving our Lord. For it should be the act of ridding the land of the unholy ones who deny Him that inspires you.”

Their faces riddled with guilt, the others agreed quickly, saying, “Yes, you speak the truth!” and “Of course that is so!”