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He dies, in my arms, from blood loss Afterward, I feel refreshed, ready for more action The bodies I hide in the bushes beside the path The blood, even, I cover over with ain, my hair under my cap Then I walk toward the castle and boldly knock at the iron gate that guards the entrance in the wall A host of soldiers answer and I am stern with them

"I am here to see Landulf of Capua," I say in a powerful voice "Bring h the courtyard filled with soldiers and smoke to the castle door A servant coh I obviously make them nervous Finally the wo wo tunic belted at the waist Many jewels adorn her hair and elegant fingers Her hair is black and worn up and her eyes are dark She is not Mediterranean but English Her s, yet it doesn&039;t reach her eyes She is exceedingly thin, and holds herself under rigid control I cannot say I war Certainly she does not see knife with the bodies of the soldiers

Lady Cia invites me in without many questions I don&039;t ask why a man who used to be an archbishop now has a wife Since the pope doesn&039;t want hiood coet visitors from Greece," she says, when I explain where I have just co my cap, I shake out land"

She is pleased "You are perceptive But surely you are not traveling through the country by yourself?"

I act sad "No I ith my uncle But there was an accident on the road, and he was killed"

She touches her heart "I am so sorry What was the accident?"

"His horse threw him His neck broke"

She shakes her head and leads me deeper into the castle "You poor dear You ive you food, shelter"

"Thank you"

The castle isodd, the only unusual thing I see is an excess of wealth, even for a Sicilian aerie co the Mediterranean The old, and the plaster ceilings are war is tasteful, not an offense to the eye I compliment Cia on her home

"My husband prides himself on his collections" She points to a marble statue from ancient Greece "Since you were just in that part of the world, I am sure you would appreciate our hero"

I approach the statue, touch it, think of Dante, and pray he is all right Perseus holds the head of the Medusa in one upraised hand, a sword in the other His head is slightly bowed; his great exploit has not on is a horror, even in death she finds no peace A feeling of disquiet sweeps over me, but I push it away I have seen this statue before, of course I have Lady Cia stands by my side

"Can I have a servant show you to your room?" she asks "You can rest and wash Then perhaps you can join us for supper"

"You and Lord Landulf?"

She does not flinch at the naer and a chubby rasp her hands They are cold, although the castle is war in most corners She tre deep into her eyes, I notice nothing supernatural

"You are hts of stairs before we co the e pass acovered with iron bars, and I see that night has fir black tunic over a white chemise With a rosary around her neck, she could have been a nun A few of Landulf s walls are covered with frescoes, paintings done directly on fresh plaster Most of these have a spiritual theme He seems to have an obsession with the Old Testary

Marie opens a door onto a small room There is linen on the straw hts a row of candles and asks if I need anything else

"No thank you," I say

She leaves and I a my hands in the water provided, I a around for a faucet with running water Then I remember there are such niceties, in other places The water is cold but seems fresh I drink some and it rinses away the blood in my mouth I do not under?stand how the soldier was able to resist my questions