How we cite our quotes: Chapter, Paragraph
Quote #1
I did not take a step. Even if it cost me my head, I would defend my master and his good wife. (1.13)
Right from the start we get a sense of Edmund's sense of duty. His master's house is under attack, but though Otto demands that Edmund run for it and save his own skin, Edmund refuses to budge. He's ready to face death rather than abandon the man who's trained him and given him a roof over his head.
Quote #2
"Your master Otto was a thief," he said at last.
"No, my lord, he was an honest coiner."
[…]
This time he barely touched me, a quick stab of his open hand, below my ribs. I gasped, swore to myself I would not go down, and fell.
I was on my feet in an instant—shocked at myself, ashamed. I was in angry tears.
"You won't defame my master Otto," I heard myself say. "Or his good wife." (4.12-17)
Trying to defend Otto at this point is pretty much pointless, but Edmund lives to serve, and since he doesn't have a new boss yet, he's going to stick up for the one he had prior. Edmund is very loyal to Otto, so even though he knows the man was a criminal, he refuses to let his name be dragged through the mud. It's Edmund's duty.
Quote #3
The duty was punishment, but I was happy to be around the animals. Hubert and I bucketed salt water over the feces and urine of these bleating, squalling creatures. Our own horses, including Shadow and Winter Star, heard the newer animals snorting and joined the chorus. (18.7)
We know, we know. We said Edmund is all about duty. But sometimes he can be a bit dense—like when he robs the Venetian. But after Nigel puts him in his place he's happy to accept his punishment. He gets it, and is eager to make it up to him.
Quote #4
"The pagans have it," he continued, speaking carefully to still his stammer. "And they will not let it free to the Christians. That's one of the reasons we are called there." (19.26)
The Christians of the Middle Ages saw it as their duty to reclaim the Holy Land from the Muslims. In terms of the book, this means we aren't just dealing with individuals and their sense of duty, but with whole groups.
Quote #5
"I'm sorry," I rasped.
Rannulf's eye said: for what?
"For being such a useless squire."
"A squire with a strong arm," Rannulf replied, "who can read a ship's chart—at what exactly are you useless, Edmund?" (21.14-17)
Edmund's being a little hard on himself right now. He's been fighting the fever, and now he apologizes that he wasn't able to attend to his duties. He's just so wired to serve that he won't give himself an excuse for not doing his job. Luckily Rannulf isn't a cruel guy and points out that Edmund isn't worthless just because he's been sick.
Quote #6
Three days had passed since the battle. Day and night it was too hot to think of further fighting. Hubert and I attended Nigel, which meant that we did little more than drowse in his tent, brushing flies from our eyes. We ate Templar bread and drank inferior wine, fit for squires, a beverage that had almost turned to vinegar. (24.17)
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to point out that sometimes Mother Nature really gets in the way of fulfilling one's duty. Still, though, Hubert and Nigel keep on tending to Nigel and his needs.
Quote #7
Hubert stood still, and only now did I let myself experience the shame—I had stood by while good men scythed the heathen, and I had done nothing to help. Sir Nigel could indulge himself, believing, apparently, that he should not blacken his sword on a woman. But I had betrayed my king, and, I began to believe, Heaven. (34.26)
A Crusader has two kings—God and King Richard. That's a lot of duty to keep up with. Here, Edmund is guilt-ridden for not participating in the killing of the prisoners. Sir Nigel gets to bow out with an excuse, but Edmund feels like he's failed as a squire because he didn't obey orders. He takes it to heart because doing his duty is what matters most to him.
Quote #8
"Have I so badly lost our lord king's favor?" I heard myself ask.
"And counterfeit ignorance. You prove a smooth liar, squire," he said, with something like gentleness. "You did not join in the general slaughter." He said this as easily as though he discussed a horse race. (35.10-11)
Hmm, so maybe Rannulf is onto something—maybe Edmund actually doesn't feel so guilty about not killing the prisoners. We can connect the dots and believe that sometimes Edmund acts the way he wants to and then tries to make up for it by pretending to feel guilty about not doing his job.
Quote #9
My duty was to see that Rannulf's lance neither feel nor nattered, to make sure he kept to his saddle. The line of armored horsemen took never so much as a step backward, holding from north to south. The knights were full helmeted, and bent forward into the hail of spears, while the squires were less well protected. A few of these youths lost their mounts, and were lost in the stew of fighting men. (37.26)
Edmund's battle challenge is to make sure that his knight can make the kills. While weapons are flying right and left, he has to make sure Rannulf stays on his horse and keeps his lance. But since the squires are less protected, this can be really dangerous work.
Quote #10
This time when the attacker broke off, Rannulf kicked his horse into action, and I followed. It is a squire's duty to keep his knight fit in appearance as well as deed, so I tugged at Rannulf's chain mail where it hitched up behind, and wiped horse foam from his sleeve. (39.3)
Sounds silly that a knight would be worried about how he looks during battle, but that's the way it works. Part of Edmund's duties as squire is to make sure that Rannulf looks nice and neat on the battlefield. Sometimes these squires lose their lives fluffing up the capes of their masters.