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Obedient to her will, its dark substance trembled, and itthe nah the rock itself, it vanished froht, but if she concentrated, she could see with its senses as it forged forward on the track of its prey

Mother Obligatia--once known as the novice Lavrentia--asse their simple meal out on the table

Now, at last, Antonia allowed herself to totter to the stone bench carved into the wall, back by the entryway She sank down, shaking horribly, all the strength drained froht take her hours to recover, and the link that bound her to the creature she had su woe had weakened her In truth, unless she could divine the secrets of iht become too weak to i, eyes shut, she prayed for strength and health and long life in order that she could continue to do God’s work on Earth On the floor nearby, Lucida’s body cooled and stiffened

XVIII

THE FIELD OF BLOOD

1

ANNA found it hard to sleep, especially after listening to the inti up between three trees to give shelter while Prince Sanglant and Prince Bayan conferred, each man attended only by two trusted captains Sapientia sat beside Bayan, but in truth she hardly spoke, ht in a box

"You know these children born out of Duchess Rotrudis," Bayan had said "Are Wichman and Zwentibold the best of them? Or are they the worst?"

"Zwentibold lant replied "The sisters are as bad as Wicher boy, too"

"God save us," mur had already fallen asleep She stirred, snorting as she turned over, and Anna shut her eyes fir that neither of the princes would notice that she was still awake When Bayan went on, she peeked again, watching the figures silhouetted in laht’s wind

"Then can trust be put in the neentibold to us brings?" asked Bayan "HisConrad rides to Wayland on a flimsy excuse, or as we call it, a lame horse"

"It is in Conrad’s interest to protect his western provinces from the civil war in Salia"

"That horse still li at Sapientia "With sords he can sing to all three sides, and when they have done fighting each of the other and lie weak, so he marches in to take what territory he wishes"

"Do you know Conrad well?" asked Sanglant

"By his reputation I know hiree?" Bayan laughed "The crow of gossips says Conrad wishes the kingship of Wendar for himself Also I hear he old torque Her mother is the elder sister of Henry, is she not? What does Conrad intend?"

"It’s true that Conrad likes to be his own master, beholden to none Heout the Quman, and then send out scouts to see what remains I don’t know What troubles me more is that Theophanu has retreated to Quedlinhame"

"She fears the Qulant shifted i his empty cup for more wine "Only a fool doesn’t fear the Qu to touch his throat "Theophanu does not lack courage, Sister But she may lack an army, in which case she would have been foolish indeed toto Zwentibold’s report, she turned west before anyone in this region kneere co I expect she retreated to Quedlinhame in order to protect it--"

"You always take her side," said Sapientia suddenly, falling silent again only after Bayan laid a hand on her arm

"--or to have a base fro and afterward chose to strike west into the heart of Saony A wise enough decision, froer arard and Burchard and most of their host into Aosta, as well as many more, his own and others"

"Theophanu should have been able to draw frolant