where I am only from Daoud._

If Daoud had told him where to find her, it must be that Sordello was
still secretly Daoud's man, as he had been in Orvieto. That must be what
the frown and the headshake meant.

"You need not glare at me like that, Madama Tilia," Sordello said. "You
are very lucky to be under my protection tonight."

"What will your protection cost us?" Tilia's voice was heavy with scorn.

Sordello spread his hands. "Why, whatever your lives are worth to you.
You have had much practice putting a price on that which is precious."

"The battle--King Manfred?" Sophia pressed him.

Sordello's grin broadened, showing more stumpy, crooked teeth.
"We--Anjou's men--are here in Benevento, are we not? Manfred von
Hohenstaufen is dead. With my own eyes I saw him fall."

Sophia felt sick to her stomach. Blindly, she staggered to the bed and
sat down heavily.

A long, high-pitched wail came from Ugolini. He threw his book to the
floor and rocked back and forth with his face in his hands. Tilia rushed
to him and held him.

_Manfred, dead._

Sophia's cry of grief was as heart-tearing as Ugolini's, but she kept it
inside herself. She had loved Manfred once, and even after that was
over, she had delighted in attending his court and had marveled at the
felicity of his kingdom.

_Gone in a day! What a loss, what a waste!_

"Manfred died in a most chivalrous manner," said Sordello, showing no
sympathy for the anguish he was causing. "He fought to the end, a few
faithful followers beside him, surrounded by enemies. Cardinal de
Verceuil killed him. I think I will write a poem about it."

"De Verceuil!" Ugolini cried. "That pestilence in red robes! If only I
had had him poisoned."

Had Daoud been one of the faithful who fought beside Manfred?

Sophia's throat almost closed with fear as she asked the question. "What
of--David of Trebizond?"

Again that little frown and shake of the head, aimed at her alone. "More
of him later." There must be things he did not want to say in front of
the two Venetians.

But she persisted. "Is he alive? Is he unhurt?"

Sordello nodded gravely, his yellowish eyes holding hers. "He was alive
when I last saw him, Madonna."

She let out a long breath. The ache of fear in her stomach eased. Even
if the battle were lost, Daoud would manage to live through it and get
back to her. Perhaps Sordello was his messenger.

She felt safer on her feet. She pushed herself up and moved slow