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"My lady" Aurea appeared in the door "Brother Petrus has coh Rosvita thought it strange that a presbyter came to fetch her rather than one of Henry’s own stewards She took Fortunatus with her and sent the young women to the schola They joined Henry and the court for ’s chapel while, as was custoe prayed in the queen’s chapel A colonnade connected the two buildings, and here Henry brought his retinue after the service of Sext concluded, to the royal garden
"Walk withsaid as he strolled out into the garden
Statues of every beast known to the huntsravel paths bordered by dwarf shrubs or hidden beyond the taller ranks of cypress hedges Stags and wolves, boars and lions and aurochs, guivres and griffins and bears glowered and threatened Yet their threats weren’t nearly as great, Rosvita thought, as the busy courtiers of Aosta with their bland sfloral labyrinth whose twisting paths were delimited by beds of hyssop and chamomile, bee-flowers, a purple cloud of lavender, and the last pale flowers of thyrance, but there was still enough lingering that, when Henry opened the gate and beckoned to her to follow hi into a perfumed sachet
She knew the path better than he did and had to guide hi turns until they reached the bench placed at the center, surrounded by a circle of neatly trimmed rosebushes From here, they looked back out over the low box shrubs as Adelheid eh and her ladies Seeing Henry, Adelheid disengaged herself froarden toward them
"Let n had tired Henry out New lines nested at the corners of his eyes and he favored one leg "It has become known to me that there is serious trouble in Wendar,here in Aosta Duke Conrad has ainst my will There are rumors he seeks to raise himself up as a prince equal to me, in the west A Qu stories of an Eika attack on Alba,for ht all trouble n in Aosta if Wendar falls into ruin? In truth, Aosta has suffered for years theseand I surely can be crowned as eainst me But in my heart I know it is the wiser course to return to Wendar now Yet I would hear your words, Sister, before I rave charge you set on me, Your Majesty"
He nodded "So it is Villam has already made his opinion clear He counsels that we ride north as soon as we can, given the rumors we’ve heard of early snow in the mountains If we do not make haste, we’ll not be able to cross the passes until next year I cannot tell whatif I aht What do you advise, Sister Rosvita?" His gaze was keen, alreen tunic today, tris that any noble hi
"I pray you, give me a few ate, had it opened for her by one of her servingwomen and, with a sweet s the intricate paths She knew this labyrinth well
"There are those who advise against returning to Wendar" He watched his young queen with an odd expression in his eyes, like a aze flicked outward to where Hugh stood in conversation with Helard, and other notables "I have heard rumors"
"So have I, Your Majesty, and I see no reason to believe what gossips hisper Speaking evil of others is a sin that hurts not one but three people, the one who is spoken of, the one who speaks the falsehood, and the one who listens to such slander Queen Adelheid is an honorable woman, and a clever one I do not believe you have any reason to fear that she has dishonored your e"
In truth, how could any woman even think to look at another ination
He plucked a beautiful blood-red rose from the nearest bush "Yet even the freshest bloom has thorns" He twisted a petal off the stalk and touched it to his lips "What do you advise, Sister?"