Page 54 (1/2)

"Aunt," said Theophanu in her cool voice, "I pray you, if that is true, then ould Liathano deny that she is Taillefer’s heir? There is no one to say otherwise, except her We all believed it Why would she throay a clai her?" asked Scholastica

"You have not answered Theo’s question" Sanglant nodded at Theophanu, and he could not keep a s his aunt discomfited She deserved it

"She is subtle," said the abbess finally

"She is not subtle," said Theophanu with a shake of her head "She is a cub a wolves, here at court She is aard and as likely to say the wrong thing as to keep silence Begging your pardon, Sanglant"

He shrugged "It’s true enough"

"Were she subtler," said Liutgard, "there would be less disquiet But it’s true, she’s no courtier She has not the least idea of the duties and obligations that bind the consort Folk fear her, for they have heard e stories about her Yet it seeress who champion her" She smiled a little Maybe it, too, was a sles and Lions Common-born folk"

"A common-born woman cannot become queen, not in Wendar," said Scholastica "In Salia of old, as it says in the histories, a slave ’s fancy and aroused his lust--"

Naturally, having said it, she stopped She thought She looked at Sanglant, and, God Above, he felt hi

"So it seems not only in Salia of old," she reotten that in her history, so it is said, she was for some time a slave because of her father’s debts It was said she was Hugh of Austra’s lant kicked away his chair and strode to the back of the hall, unable to stand still

"Does this not trouble you, Nephew?" she said to his back

He turned to make a retort, but paused

Theophanu leaned forward to clasp her aunt’s hands Scholastica winced as Theophanu tightened her grip "Never believe that she went to Hugh of Austra’s bed willingly If I say anything, Aunt, if you believe me at all, believe that"

"What do you know of the o, when she was only an Eagle and I was--foolish and blind"