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"Stay, now" Breschius steadied her "Why, then, would they take the body?"

"To prove they killed her," said Sorgatani "Such is the custo my people A trophy A prize"

How had it come to this, that she had found Liath only to lose her?

"This is not news that I look forward to bringing to Prince Sanglant," Breschius added

She shook her head and rose After all, she would go on It’s what she had done before It’s what Eagles must do, even if their hearts were broken "You don’t have to, because I will do so, as is ress arrived in Quedlinha in the audience hall of the old ducal palace, dozing by a warm hearth She had been wounded in the left shoulder, and although she wore clean, e over the wound, it was clear she’d been lucky to survive an arduous road

"What news?" he asked her, before tasting the drink offered hi off his armor His courtiers crowded into the hall, a sth and breadth of any of the newer palaces built by either of the Arnulfs It dated from a time when the lords of Quedlinhame had o, Your Majesty," she answered, overawed by hi Henry, she knew better than to ask hier, less weathered, but he did not clearly recall her na common "Ill news, I fear I barely escaped with my life, as you can see Kassel is fallen to treachery"

"Kassel!" Liutgard grasped Theophanu’s arm to steady herself "What news?"

"An unexpected attack by Lady Sabella’s troops, out of Arconia They arrived asking for guest rights Lady Erht There was talk that the co the forest road assaulted them with poisoned arrows Maybe that happened, or ht, they rose up and killed hter prisoner The steward--that is, not her, but her son Landrik--goted shoulder, but it was obvious that the injury pained her far less than did the memory "I knew some little-used paths, so I evaded thehter was alive last I saw her"

Having spoken, she wept

"Let her sit down," said Sanglant "What is your nale? You’ve done well"

"Elsa, Your Majesty," she said through tears "Of Kassel, years past, before I becao of Theophanu and gripped Sanglant’s elbow so hard he winced "This I paid for following your father to Aosta on his fool’s errand," she said, her voice hoarse and her expression grihter lost, and the other in the hands of a woh her actions!"