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"Do not trouble yourself, Sister," whispered Fortunatus at her back "I do not think Princess Theophanu’s anger at you will last forever She suffers fronawed at her"

"What do you mean, Brother?"

"Do you not think so?" he replied, surprised at her reaction "Nay, perhaps I a Certainly you are wiser than I auards dispersed to their places, but Villa that he wished to speak to Rosvita in complete privacy Fortunatus ht’s preparations

"Do you believe their story?" Villaht scoured the wrinkles froer self, hale and vigorous and handsoaze for more reason than his title and his estates Hadn’t she looked at hi woman come to court for the first time and dazzled by its splendors? In her life, few men had te hand on her passions, and Villam respected God, and the church, and a firm ‘No’ They had shared a mutual respect for many years

"I cannot dismiss it out of hand, Villaht"

"You are not one to take fancies lightly, Sister, nor do you succu?"

"I will advise the king not to act rashly," she said with a bitter laugh "Villalant?"

"I will try" He left

The king’s particular circle of clerics, stewards, and servingfolk had the right to sleep in his chambers, and Rosvita herself had a pallet at her disposal Despite this coht troubled by drea a cloak of feathers and the features of an Aoi queen sat on a stone seat carved in the likeness of an eagle Behind her, a golden wheel thru her into a cavern whose walls dripped with ice Villam’s lost son Berthold slept in a cradle of jewels, surrounded by six attendants whose youthful faces bore the peaceful expression known to those angels who have at last seen God But the golden caled band of soldiers blundered into their resting hall, calling out in fear and wonder Ai, God, did one of those frightened men have Ivar’s face? Or was it Aain?

Amabilia was dead Yet how could it be that she could still hear her voice?

"Sister, I pray you, wake up"

Fortunatus bent over her A faint light limned the unshutteredand open door that led out into the garden Birds trilled theirHenry eed from his bedcha him a belt for his hastily thrown on tunic

"Your Majesty! Prince Sanglant just rode out of the palace grounds with more than fifty men-at-arms and servants in attendance He took the road toward Bederbor, Duke Conrad’s fortress"

Henry blinked, then glanced at Helmut Villam, who at that moment walked into the room "Did no one eant ed helplessly, but Villam stepped forward "I spoke to him"

"And?"

Villam shook his head "I advise you to let it rest for now"

"Bring me my horse," said Henry

Before the others could rouse, he was off Rosvita made haste to follow him, and she reached the stables just in tiuard of a dozen soldiers, he rode alone except for Hathui, whoht up with the group, he glanced her way but let her accoht he ates they took a different track, one that led past the monastery and into the forest, down a narrow track still lush with suh the forest Alder wood spread around thehts chilled theetation, low-lyingand prickly dewberry ae A rabbit bounded away under the cover of dogwood half shed of its leaves The hooves of the horses ap in the branches, she saw a buzzard circling above the treetops

The track gave out abruptly in a meadow marked by a low rise where a soleht or left depending on the density of the soil One had fallen over, but the roup remained more or less intact