Johannes Vermeer Diana and her Companions

Johannes Vermeer Diana and her CompanionsJohannes Vermeer Christ in the House of Mary and MarthaUnknown Artist warmth by volk
S'carrying something," he said eventually. "Sergeant? Go and bring that man here."
A few minutes later the sergeant returned.
"Says he'll meet you in the middle of the beach, sir," he reported.
"Didn't I tell you to bring him here?"
"He didn't want to come, sir."
"You've got a sword, haven't you?"
"Yessir. He was brought before a trestle table, behind which sat half a dozen large men in various military styles,
and one small olive-skinned man who was gutting a fish and grinning hopefully at everyone.
"Well, now," said Argavisti, "Cenobiarch of Omnia, eh?"
Brutha dropped Vorbis's body on to the sand. Their gaze followed it.
"I know him-” said Borvorius. "Vorbis! Someone Prodded him a bit, but he dint want to move, sir. And he's carrying a dead body, sir.""On a battlefield? It's not bring-your-own, you know.""And . . . sir?""What?""Says he's probably the Cenobiarch, sir. Wants to talk about a peace treaty.""Oh, he does? Peace treaty? We know about peace treaties with Omnia. Go and tell . . . no. Take a couple of men and bring him here."Brutha walked back between the soldiers, through the organized pandemonium of the camp. I ought to feel afraid, he thought. I was always afraid in the Citadel. But not now. This is through fear and out the other side.Occasionally one of the soldiers would give him a push. It's not allowed for an enemy to walk freely into a camp, even if he wants to.