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His rival, thought Zacharias, knowing the thought for truth as soon as it surfaced

Mistress Suzanne continued to speak, and as each word fell it seemed to iven against my will to Lord Wichman, while he lived with his retinue at Steleshame and harried the Eika After the Eika were driven out, I left in anew, and to escape Lord Wichave birth to his bastard child Because he had taken up residence in Gent, as its lord, I feared letting him know of my presence in Gent because I did not want him to--" This was too much, and she could not finish the sentence

"Knowing lant said softly, "I can see that you would not have wished hihed gratefully, gathered her resolve, and went on "Yet the child hness In this way, it came to the attention of Duchess Rotrudis Before the babe was six e, a cleric came to our house and took the child away" She remained dry-eyed and confident "I confess I was thankful to have that burden taken froiven the child a better life than I ever could Truly, I could never love it, relant could never be fully still, yet even with one foot tapping quietly on the carpet beneath his chair he kne to listen with his full attention His attention became almost a second presence in the chareat prince carries beside her Even Hrodik dared not speak without perave the weaver leave to go on

"My household has prospered, Your Highness Duchess Rotrudis was generous in paying randchild I used that restitution to ied myself to this man, Raimar With our newfound prosperity ere able to make our vows of betrothal before the biscop We willRaimar was able to leave the tannery, for he was put there as a slave by the Eika in the last weeks of their occupation but had apprenticed before the invasion to a carpenter With our servingar, he built t looms and added on a wool room, as well as shelves and beds for the household, and other slant, lifting a hand She broke off, flushing hotly again "Truly, you have earned the prosperity you now enjoy I will not disturb you any longer If Lord Hrodik can see to it that I am supplied with twenty stout wool cloaks forrateful, Your Highness, I pray you" At last, she lifted her gaze to meet his With his words, she had allowed herself to relax The play of lantern light over her face made the curve of her full lips and the quiet brilliance of her eyesof desire Sanglant gave a sharp sigh "Do not find me unmindful of the roses of suh we recall their scent and sweetness and beauty with an ardent heart"

"You have my leave to depart," the prince said irritably "You as well, Hrodik" But as they turned to go, he called out "Nay, stop a irl?" He indicated one of Suzanne’s party The girl had nothing of obvious interest about her except an odd burnt butter co vat Mostly grown, not quite a woer a child, she stepped forward fearlessly to confront the prince The top of her head didn’t even come to his shoulder

"I know you," he said, almost dreamily

Heribert stepped forward "She was the child who followed you down into the crypt, h, but I know her I know her What is your nahness" Mistress Suzanne stood protectively behind the child, setting a hand on her shoulder "Her name is Anna She and her brother Matthias escaped fro after the Eika had taken it How they survived there for all those h the intervention of St Kristine and caht them with me to Gent as part of my household Her brother Matthias is betrothed to one of er weavers He’s now a journeyman at the tannery"

"You’re the daiirl suddenly in a voice as hoarse as the scrape of sandpaper

Suzanne shrieked, and her fa forward to touch the girl

"Ai, God," Suzanne said through tears "She’s not spoken a word for two years"