es--he who gave me this task
of guarding the Tartars. He calls me to meet him at Ostia. That is why I
came here today, even though I knew you would not want me to. Knowing I
would be leaving here and might not see you for months made me
desperate."

Charles d'Anjou at Ostia--the seaport of Rome!

As she realized what Simon's words meant, terror raced through Sophia.
She was going to fall from the loggia and break into a thousand pieces,
like an icicle.

Anjou was going to take Rome and cut Italy in half. Instead of trying to
cross the Alps and then fight his way through the Ghibellino cities of
northern Italy, Charles must have come by sea. Now he would be able to
strike directly at the heart of Manfred's kingdom.

_What will Daoud do? What will happen to Manfred? If only we had Tilia
here, with her carrier pigeons._

Despite her fur-lined cloak, a chill seized her.

She had feared for Daoud, that he might have to fight a great French
army. And though she had long since ceased to love Manfred, she had
feared for him and his kingdom. But the thought of the many obstacles
between France and southern Italy had comforted her. Now, knowing that
Charles d'Anjou was so close to Manfred's kingdom, she felt herself
actually trembling.

He put his hand on hers. "You're frightened."

Staring down at the bare trees, she whispered, "Yes, for my people."

His hand gripped hers tightly. He bent down so that he was speaking
softly into her ear.

"I know you cannot forget your people, but you could escape this war. My
service is done, now that the new pope has confirmed the alliance with
the Tartars. I do not have to stay in Italy."

She was glad he did not want to fight for Charles. The thought of him
and Daoud meeting on a battlefield was horrible. But surely this brother
of King Louis would make every effort to draw Simon into the war.

"Count Charles will want you to fight."

"If you will marry me and come to Gobignon, nothing else will matter to
me. We will live content in my castle in the heart of my domain. We will
shut out the world and its wars."

She turned to look at him, and the longing on his face was painful to
see.

She felt the tears coming, hot, blurring her vision.

"Simon, I cannot!"

His grip on her hand was painful. "Again and again you say that to me.
And you never tell me _why_. Are you secretly a nun? Have you taken
vows? Does your husband still live? I demand that you tell me! Stop
torment