I'd die for any of these men and looking at them now as they watched me I think they sensed that. They'd given me respect and in return I'd give them my best as a leader.
I nodded my head in acceptance of the gifts as I felt too choked up with emotion to dare speak words. I turned and mounted my horse.
I heard the creak of leather and the jingle of harness as the others mounted up and some part of me still couldn't stop marveling at the fact that there were people who wanted me to lead them. The big gelding headed out with a will and I found myself liking the feel of my new mount very much.
In the length of a single night I'd gone from being penniless to a man of great worth. My hand dug into the bag and came back out with a hunk of bread that was still warm. As I bit into it with relish I acknowledged that, in a way, I now had a family of sorts. A rough looking family perhaps, but a good one for sure. El Elyon's goodwill was beyond any comprehension.