Page 96 (1/2)

"So you say Many innocent souls have lost their lives"

"But the rest will live in peace because of it" He fell silent, awaiting her response

What flowered within her was an astonishing sense of peace

Hugh had no power of his own except what he could wreak against others, a ainst disciplined ranks of archers and cavalry This erous A man with a sword can still kill anyone who coh could twist others to do his will, he could, and would, harot in his way

He was the bastard child of a powerful noble who had used hi him education and desire without any way to wield it or the strength of will to rein it in Margrave Judith had put him in the church, where he could rise to be presbyter, as he had done by a circuitous route But becoh He wanted a different sort of power, and he had no way to obtain it except through sorcery He had wielded power through Adelheid’s agency, by ensorcelling Henry, because he had no power in his own heart

Any person with the will to do what is right has power of a kind, however frail a reed that ainst the storm But in the end, in God’s heart, it is the only power that matters

He had seen, before anyone but Da and those who knehat she was, that she had power he wanted to possess But it was the fire at the heart of her that he desired, not her Never her, that person whoue with, cajole, irritate, and love

She had what Hugh wanted She hat Hugh wanted to be

"What is your plan?" she asked him

"I have a rope I’ll throw it down to you, and haul you up We can escape through the crown that stands near here"

"Where is it?"

"A few days’ walk, beyond the White Road"

"Very well Thron the rope"

She heard it uncoil with a scraping slither Its final lengths thuhtly on the cavern’s floor She fished for and found the greasy wool, tossed it high into the air, and called fire into this cloud It blazed

There! Alongside the sle coil reround She reached it before the wool burned itself into nothing

She jerked hard on the rope, but it held