The Book of the Lion Chapter 25 Summary

  • Everyone is waiting with anticipation for Richard the Lionheart to arrive, though Edmund is skeptical and wonders if the king will come at all. The catapults continue—at one point they manage to crack the wall, but before the Crusaders can get through it is being repaired.
  • Meanwhile, Hubert keeps everyone entertained by imitating the other knights in the camp and casting animal reflections on the wall with his shadow.
  • Rannulf and Edmund ride down the shore; they notice Saracan soldiers watching them in the distance. Rannulf assures Edmund that they won't attack, though. He also carries a spear—you know, in case lions are prowling around.
  • As they hunt, Edmund can't help blurting out a question that's been on his mind: Did Rannulf really kill five men?
  • Yes and no, he replies. See, he did but they were all sort of accidents, not acts of cold-blooded murder as people think. Rannulf explains that he is misunderstood and that he enjoys songs just like the others and even prays to God in his own way.
  • Every morning, Hubert and Edmund go down the shore and watch for the king's ships.
  • Today they've ridden farther than usual, and they spy water for the horses. A Saracen is already there, though, watering his own horse. Edmund bravely greets the enemy and approaches with Winter Star as Hubert watches, on edge. To be fair, Edmund is very aware of his throat, which he realizes could be slashed in the next couple of minutes.
  • The Saracen greets them cordially as well, and as their horses drink the two speak to each other, even though neither can understand what the other is saying.
  • Afterward, Hubert chides Edmund for his foolishness and says he missed an opportunity to kill. In that moment, Edmund only saw the Saracen as an individual, though, someone who's simply different from him.