ly
toward the door leading to the balcony outside. Downstairs, Scipio
started barking again.

"Capitano," said one of the archers. "Are we to stand here talking all
night? There is a whole town for the taking here, and we are missing our
chance."

"Hush, Juliano," said Sordello. "You see before you two very important
and wealthy followers of the late King Manfred. What they can offer us
by way of ransom will be far more than the trinkets you could pick up
raiding some merchant's home."

"Ransom?" Tilia spat. "What right does a furfante like you have to
demand ransom of me?"

"Why, Madama, is that not exactly what scoundrels do?" Sordello laughed.

He sat down in the spot Sophia had just vacated on the bed, laying his
glistening sword ostentatiously across his lap. Sophia saw that he
carried a long dagger in a sheath hung on his right side. He surveyed
them all, grinning.

_God, this is torture! If only I could find out what has happened to
Daoud._

"You have three choices, Madama Tilia," Sordello said. "You may leave
here. Outside this house you can take your chances with the victorious
warriors of Charles d'Anjou, who have fallen upon Benevento like
ravening wolves. Can you hear the screams? Or you can stay here under my
protection, and it will not cost you even one denaro. And in the morning
I will present you, all legally and properly, to King Charles, who will
be most grateful to me for the service. He is exceedingly eager to round
up all of Manfred's principal servants. Some he is beheading, some he is
hanging. You, former Eminence, will probably pay at the stake for your
heresy and witchcraft. As for you, Madama Tilia, if a rope stout enough
to hang you cannot be found, you may spend the rest of your life
shedding your excess flesh in a dungeon."

Ugolini sat hugging himself and shuddering. Tilia opened her wide mouth
to speak, seemed to think better of it, closed it again. But red coals
sparkled in her eyes.

_That's better, Tilia. Keep the anger hidden until you can use it._

But Sophia's fear for Daoud grew again at the thought that he might be
Charles's captive, awaiting execution. Why would Sordello tell her
nothing?

"Has David been captured?" she ventured, turning from the doorway to the
balcony.

Sordello smiled at her, just as Scipio downstairs broke into another
burst of furious barks. In the candlelight, Sordello's face turned a
deep orange with sudden anger.

"Find that damned dog an