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"We will not return to Wendar," replied Henry in a voice that rang hollow, like a bell

"But the news from Theophanu! The Quman raids that devastate the ht and famine and bandits What about Conrad, whofor your return! Your Majesty!"

"We will stay here and unite Aosta, and receive our crown, Adelheid and I, crowned as edom, to each place where a stone crown is crowned by seven stones, and there they will await their duty to save all of humankind from the wicked sorcery of the Lost Ones"

"But, Your Majesty, it is not practicable The emperor’s croill fall quickly from your head if you lose Wendar to the Quman, or to Conrad, who hasin thefor your swift return? Aosta must wait until you have settled affairs in Wendar!"

"And Mathilda anointed as our heir"

"Your Majesty!" The soft chanting of clerics and presbyters, intoning the service of Vigils, floated up to them even as Villam sounded ready to weep "Your Majesty Your children by Queen Sophia !"

"Mathilda anointed as ainst his sides, he ht in fear for his life

Villah The presbyter had notthe railing, his slender fingers stroking the stout wood railing as a woht pet her cat "You’ve bewitched hi! You’ve used foul sorcery to pollute his body and imprison his mind!"

Ih raceful as one of the acrobats she’d ad He even had a startled look on his face, as though surprised But Villa with a crash, sword still raised

The railing splintered and gave way Villaered outward, cried out as the sword slipped froh reached out to hiasped out loud Her hand closed on Rosvita’s and held on there, as tight as a vise, but neither woe and fear faded to silence Nor did King Henry ment that his eldest, dearest, and ht in front of his eyes

After a one deaf, the distant voices from various chapels in the palaces and down in the city reached heavenward again; she knew the service so well that scraps of h to reveal to her the entire psalm

"I cry aloud to God when distress afflicts me, but God have stayed Their hand

In the darkness of night, have They forgotten er pity?

Has the Lady withdrawn Her h "I know you’re there"

How soft his voice, and how delicate Not threatening at all An eddy in the breeze roiled around her as suddenly as an unseen current turns a boat in the water of a swift-flowing river

"Come forward, I pray you," he said

She slipped her hand out of Hathui’s strong grasp, trying to shove the Eagle away, trying to give her the e to run, to flee while one of them could

Who would co forward into the light, she said the only thing she could think of to give the Eagle a hint of her thoughts "A bastard will show his true mettle when teine are brought to his attention"

"Sister Rosvita!" Hugh looked honestly surprised, as though he had expected to see souards clattered up the stairs, pausing only to bow before the king before they knelt in front of Hugh "Take her into custody Beild accusations she may speak, for I fear her heart has been touched by the Eneer, his expression cold and hard Certainly his features had not changed, but he looked nothing at all like the king she knew "Come, Your Majesty, we h crossed to the stairs, he paused beside Rosvita, frowning "I had not hoped for this, Sister Rosvita, nor for what must come now You kno much I admire you"

"Traitor," she said coolly The shock of Villah see how much it hurt No doubt he could crush her in an instant All she had left her were her wits She had to spin more time for Hathui to escape