ess in his voice stung her.

If he meant it--and he seemed to--she should be relieved. Overjoyed,
even. But all she felt was the weight of her grief, pressing pain into
the very marrow of her bones.

"What do you mean to do about Tilia Caballo and Ugolini?" she asked.

"I am sure King Charles wants them, but I do not care to be the one who
dooms them by turning them over to him."

_King Charles._ The title sounded so strange. That was how the ones who
supported him must speak of him, of course. And her heart wept a little
for Manfred, whom she had not thought of in her agony over Daoud's
death.

She heard the note of disdain toward Charles in Simon's voice and
wondered at it.

"You will not deliver Charles's enemies to him? After coming here and
helping him win his war? Have you turned against him?"

"Gradually--too gradually, I am sorry to say--I have come to see that
Charles d'Anjou was not the great man I once thought him to be. When I
learned that John and Philip were killed, that killed any remaining
feeling I have for Charles. So I will help you if I can. But where can
you all go? All of southern Italy and Sicily will be overrun with
Anjou's men. I cannot keep you, and you cannot safely leave me."

"Let us go back to the others," said Sophia. "It will be best if we talk
together about this."

She could hardly believe he was serious about letting her escape. Her
pain-wracked mind was unable to come to grips with what was happening to
her. How she needed Daoud! He would know what to do. As she entered the
firelit room her eyes blurred with tears.

But she saw at once that there were more people in the room than when
she had gone out on the balcony with Simon.

One of them was holding a crossbow leveled at Simon. Her heart stopped.
Then she recognized him, and she let her breath out in relief. Black and
white curly hair, graying mustache, broad shoulders. Lorenzo.

She heard a growling. Scipio stood there, held tightly on a leash by
Tilia. Ugolini was beside her.

Rachel hurried to Sophia and took her hand. "I'm glad you are back. I
was frightened for you."

"Simon wants to help us," said Sophia, taking Rachel's hand. She could
not give up in despair, she thought, while she had Rachel to care for.

"You took long enough to come in off that balcony, Count," Lorenzo said.

"Put down your crossbow," Sophia said. "Count Simon has decided to be a
friend to us."

"I would not regret giving our new frie