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For once, Liath was paying attention "Goslar has a sle? Sent she ashe told to ood rider with an easy seat, but very serious, pacing alongside the king If he n of it

Liath fell out of line to ride with the young lant listened as they moved away It was always easy for hiain that you first met Hanna? At Darre? Not earlier, then? You never met her before--did you ride east with Princess Sapientia? Oh, I see"

Her words faded into the creaks and clops and chatter of the procession

Liutgard, at his right hand, glanced back, and he did as well Although scouts, and a vanguard, rode in front, ress rode behind hi back into a landscape of woodland, open ground, and the occasional fars were recently abandoned One had been burned and looted He and Liutgard had ridden soed down by the incessant palaver of Sophie and Imma The Saony twins always rode ues They were, as always, being egged on by their bored brother Their voices had a shrill tone that carried easily above the clatter of the arht Ekkehard back to her? She was red Red! To think of it!"

"How hu to find your husband has run off with your sister"

"At least," remarked Wichman, "neither of you need worry about that! No man would possibly run to either of you"

"How dare you! As if you could hope for better--!"

"You’ll be murdered by the brother or husband of some poor woman you’ve raped, Wichrave of Westfall?"

"An insult to us, Sophie!"

"It is! It is! To offer hi! Not even respectable husbands but only second and third sons of ard in a low voice, "that they would run to Conrad, but I fear they rinned

She did not "I pray you, Cousin, forgive ht after all He intended to ood match All this would have been avoided"

"Not all of it" He indicated Rotrudis’ squabbling progeny

"Well" She smiled crookedly "Not all of it"

"What do you ard? You have supported me faithfully I know your worth"