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Every noble in Bayan’s arht place them under suspicion From her position close to the altar, Hanna scanned the crowd, but she hadn’t enough height to see anyone except the top of Captain Thiadbold’s head, recognizable because of his red hair, far to the back The biscop had co Lions to witness as well, so they could report the proceedings to the soldiers under their coraver than heresy It was, truly, akin to treason against the regnant

But all Hanna could think about was losing her head to a Quic carry her east Maybe she’d been limpse of Liath Yet hadn’t that been only a dream? Couldn’t she be excommunicated if Biscop Alberada knew the extent of her involvement with sorcery? Sometimes it was better to keep quiet In a way, that puzzled her most about Ekkehard, Lord Dietrich, and lost Ivar Why did they have to be so obstreperous about their beliefs? Why did they have to keep rattling the chain?

But that was her"Why make a date to o out of its way to avoid you should you happen on it in the road?" Like Prince Bayan, Mistress Birta saw the world in practical terms Probably that was one reason Hanna respected Bayan, despite his annoying adiven the chasht well send her to her death Of course, Birta had never cut off anyone’s fingers, but there was no saying she wouldn’t do so, if she thought it necessary

A et roo aside one of Sapientia’s stewards so she could see better Clerics walked forward in ranks Each carried a lit candle to signify the Circle of Unity, the Light of Truth These they set in a circle around Ekkehard, Dietrich, and the others, who had been herded into a clu Hanna blink The bright light threw the expressions on the carved saints into relief, a lip dran in pity, a hand lifted with two fingers extended to show justice, a glowering frown under heavy-cut eyebroin to that e on its unfinished coed

Biscop Alberada mounted steps to the biscop’s platform She raised her hands for silence

"Let unsweetened vinegar be brought forward, so that the accused may taste the bitterness of heresy"

Her servants brought cups forward, each distinguished according to the rank of its recipient: for Ekkehard a gold cup, and a silver one for his noble companions; for Lord Dietrich a silver cup as well, and one of brass for his stubborn retinue The common-born heretics had to make do with a wooden cup passed between them One man refused to drink and hipped, three ti, from the bite, all but Lord Dietrich, who drained his cup as though it were honey aze remained fixed on the biscop

"Let any ear the Circle be stripped of it, for they no longer rest within the protecting ring of its light and truth Let their hair be cut, to be a badge of their shame"

One of Ekkehard’s youths was vain of his blond hair, and he began to hile Ekkehard stood at a loss to aid hi off their hair in ragged bunches Only when Lord Dietrichman stiffen, clench his hands, and lift his chin with tremulous pride as a sour-faced cleric hacked off his beautiful hair

"Let theer burns in their hearts" Descending fro the candles one by one by capping them Smoke drifted up in wispy ribbons "Thus are you severed from the church Thus are you become excommunicate Thus are you forbidden the holy sacraments Thus are you cut off forever froht died Afternoon dwindled to twilight Colors faded into grays

"Let any woer stand in the Circle of Light God no longer see theered as if he’d been struck One of his companions fainted Others sobbed

"I do not fear," said Lord Dietrich "Let Godvessel"

There was silence Alberada seehed

Lord Dietrich gave a sudden violent jerk that spun hi as he fell hard to the floor He twitched once, twice, and thrashed wildly, struck by a fit of apoplexy