ot love her if she were on the
side of evil._

Simon struck his knee with his fist. "I must find out the truth. I must
go after her."

"After Sophia?"

"Yes. If she is in Manfred's kingdom, I will find her and get her out."

"Whatever Sophia has done, she has already done, Simon. You cannot undo
it, or simply pretend that she has done nothing at all."

Simon lurched to his feet. Staggering in his agony, as if those knives
were still striking him from all sides, he reached the railing of the
loggia and gripped it. The sky had deepened to violet, and a single
silvery star glowed in the west. He remembered the magic his mother had
taught him of wishing on a star. He could not wish this awful pain away.

"I do not know what she has done. And I refuse to believe ill of her
until I have spoken to her."

"But you cannot go into Manfred's kingdom and look for her. You are
certain to be caught and imprisoned. You could very well be killed."

Simon turned. Friar Mathieu was a dim figure huddled in the deep shadows
of the loggia, his beard a light patch in the darkness.

"You think Manfred is behind all this," Simon said.

"Yes. Look you, when Urban died and Clement was elected--it was the
letter you carried from King Louis that broke the cardinals'
stalemate--Ugolini and Sophia saw they could do no more at the papal
court, and they left. Maybe they were afraid they would be discovered."

Manfred. Simon knew little about King Manfred. Up to now he had hardly
any reason to dislike him, and so had no reason to join Count Charles in
making war on him.

Now all was changed. It plainly had to be to Manfred that Sophia had
fled. And if Sophia had betrayed him, she must be serving Manfred.

And Mathieu was right. He could not go alone into Manfred's kingdom and
bring Sophia out. If she had lied and betrayed him, she not only would
refuse to come with him, she doubtless would betray him again, and he
would end up a prisoner.

But there was another way he could go after Sophia.

With an army at his back.

Yes, he would go to Gobignon and send out his heralds. He would summon
his vassals to a council of war at the chateau. Then, after the harvest
was in, he would ride forth under the purple and gold banner of the
three crowns with all the power of Gobignon behind him.

He would find Sophia if he had to tear Manfred's kingdom apart to do it.
Find her and get the truth. As his wife or as prisoner, she would be
his!