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Liath raised a hand, then swept it back down to her side "Do you?" She was too angry to speak further

"I pray you, Sister Acella," said Rosvita placatingly "Let us see the diplonant’s seal and the regnant’s authority"

"Henry is dead," said Liath "Did you not know?"

"Dead?"

The cleric staggered She paled She swayed Brother Fortunatus, who had stood all this ti to overhear, ran to help her sit down on the bench

"Is this true?" The look on her face broke Liath’s heart

"It’s true He died in Aosta"

Rosvita hid her face in her hands

Fortunatus looked at Liath He was pale but not as shaken as Rosvita "In Aosta? If this is true, then …" Strangely, he glanced toward the shadowed end of the hall where those tatchful nuns stood as straight and alert as soldiers on guard "Can it be that after all… ?"

Rosvita lowered her hands Through tears, she looked at Liath "Who stands as regnant? Who granted you the power to ride to St Valeria? Who rules these Lions? Who rules Wendar?"

"Sanglant"

She ht have said "the Eneot to her feet "Enough! I cannot allow her in the library, Sister Rosvita We have no way of knowing if her tale is true How can a bastard rule in Wendar? Not by right, but by the sword"

"Wait, Honored Mother," said Fortunatus placatingly "Surely there is an explanation that comes with this news Lady Bertha and her soldiers were sent into Dalainst King Henry’s enemies"

"To battle the skopos, so you say," hissed Sister Acella "How can we know this tale is true? Hoe know that Prince Sanglant did not ain the throne?"

Liath could barely force civil words out, but she knew she had to She felt like slapping the bitch, with her sles, then, or the Lions"