The Book of the Lion Chapter 9 Summary

  • The next morning, everyone rides into town. Edmund runs into Otto's widow, who hugs him tearfully and wishes him well. Elvira is also there, looking beautiful as always. He hopes against hope that he can return as a worthy man for her.
  • Edmund is riding Winter Star. He feels a little uneasy on the back of such a wild beast and tries to keep him calm as they ride through the streets.
  • Despite being nervous, Edmund can't help but feel proud to be a part of this group headed off to the Crusades.
  • They leave town and continue into the countryside. The town dogs follow them out, but there's one little hound that keeps up with Winter Star. Edmund thinks that maybe he should tell him to fall back since the pup can't be any use to anyone, but instead he decides to leave him alone.
  • Sure enough, a few miles later, two huge mastiffs catch up to group and attack the poor little dog, killing it. Rannulf quickly kills the two beasts.
  • That night, Hubert expresses relief that Rannulf killed the dogs—it proves that he would do the same thing for them if the chance came. Edmund isn't so sure, though, and that night the sight of his master's bloody hand and the bloody little dog haunt him.
  • The next morning he wakes up very sore from riding all day.