How we cite our quotes: Chapter, Paragraph
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.