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"So you see," cried Alberada triumphantly "The Enemy reveals its presence An evil spirit has taken control of this man This is the fate that awaits those who profess heresy"

The bravest of Lord Dietrich’s noble coot hold of his li him down until he went unaccountably still Foale bubble of blood beaded at one nostril, popped, and ran down his lax cheek He shuddered once, and then the floor darkened and a stink rose where he had voided his bowels

"He’s dead," said Ekkehard in a choked voice, shrinking away from the distorted corpse

In the shocked silence, Biscop Alberada’s voice rang as clearly as a call to battle "Take the excommunicates to their prison None shall speak to them, for any who do so will be excommunicated in their turn The Enee those who remain, so that we may drive the Enemy out of their bodies"

No one objected They had just seen the Enemy at work

The church cleared quickly Alberada left with a phalanx of clerics at her back Guards carried away the corpse, and servants stayed behind to clean up the mess Hanna waited, because Sapientia did not move away immediately The princess waited because Bayan knelt at the altar, as if praying Sootten hold of one of the silver cups, and when the church was empty except for Bayan, Sapientia, and several of their most loyal servants, he offered it to Bayan

Bayan wiped his finger along the lip of the cup, touched it to his tongue, and spat,a face "Poison," he said softly

There was a long silence while Hanna willed herself invisible, hoping they would not notice she had witnessed this horrible revelation If it were even true

"Will she poison Ekkehard?" asked Sapientia "Should we try to stop her if we think she ht?"

They had their backs to Hanna still, exae left on the floor by the overturned candles She edged sideways into the shadows

"Ekkehard is not threat to us," said Bayan heavily

"Not now He’s still young But he ht become a threat And what of the church? Surelyif this heresy is so terrible We must support her"