"Dead?" It was hard to believe. Daoud heard Lorenzo's startled grunt
beside him.
"The Contessa di Monaldeschi never forgave him for surrendering to the
Sienese without a fight," Erculio said. "Vittorio, the Monaldeschi heir,
stabbed him to death in his office and then escaped into the hills. He
is probably seeking asylum with the Church leaders in Perugia."
"I would rather have heard that d'Ucello killed Vittorio," said Lorenzo.
"Then there would be some sense in the world."
Daoud felt a pang of sorrow, and was surprised at himself. After all,
had not d'Ucello arrested him and subjected him to a day and a night of
horrible torment, with the threat of worse hanging over him? But he
remembered the podesta as a man of rare ability, who would have ruled
Orvieto well, given a chance. His death was a waste.
Manfred said, "Erculio has told me of your arrest and your sufferings at
the hands of the podesta of Orvieto. I want to hear more about that. But
let us speak now of Perugia. What is Ugolini doing?"
"Lorenzo and I escorted Cardinal Ugolini to Perugia and left him there,"
Daoud said. "He planned to block the election of a new pope by keeping
the Italian cardinals united behind himself." He paused a moment. Now
should he bring up his conviction that Manfred must march northward
before a new pope was elected?
But while he hesitated, Manfred spoke. "What of Sophia Karaiannides?"
Manfred looked sharply at Daoud, the sapphire eyes intent. "Why did you
not bring her back here with you?"
Jealous anger stabbed Daoud. Sophia had spoken little of Manfred, but
Daoud had long ago realized that she and Manfred must have been lovers.
He had decided not to think about that. Now Manfred was wondering what
had happened between Sophia and Daoud, and perhaps wanted Sophia back;
Daoud could read it in Manfred's tone and the look in his eyes.
Daoud tried to see Manfred as Sophia might have. Intensely--one might
almost say blindingly--handsome, strong, graceful, his brilliant mind
attractively decked out with elegance and wit, learned but carrying his
learning lightly, skilled in all the courtly arts and graces. What woman
could resist such a man?
But Manfred must have tired of her, as such men did, who had access to
any woman they wanted. Perhaps his queen, or some new love of his, had
insisted that Sophia be sent away. And once she was gone, he had
realized what he had lost.
_Too late now, Manfred._
But, he reminded himself, he must not let Sophia come between himself
and Manfred.
Daoud put out his hands, palms up. "Sophia is with Cardinal Ugolini. The
cardinal's courage fails him at times. We thought it best for one of us
to stay and give him strength. And Sophia can help him run his household
and entertain the men of influence he must see."
Manfred nodded, a small smile twitching his blond mustache. "Yes, she
would be good at that."
Daoud thought of Simon de Gobignon and felt a flash of hatred for him.
But he must report about him, too.
"She has captured the heart of a young French nobleman, the Count de
Gobignon, who commands the Tartars' military escort. When Charles
d'Anjou invades Italy, de Gobignon will surely be one of his captains."
"_When_ Charles d'Anjou invades Italy? And a moment ago you said _when_
a pope of the French party is elected."
Daoud was about to reply, but Manfred raised a hand for silence. He rose
from his high-back chair. With a glance, as if for reassurance, at the
portrait of the red-bearded man hanging behind him, he strode out in
front of the table with his hands clasped behind his back. Daoud and
Lorenzo made way for him. He walked the length of the marble floor to
the door at the end of the hall. The dwarf Erculio sank down
cross-legged on the tabletop, his long arms clasped around his knees,
watching Manfred sombrely.
Daoud prayed, _Oh, God, help him to judge wisely_.
"King Louis has always held Charles back," Manfred said, turning
suddenly to face Daoud and Lorenzo. "Louis does not believe that the
pope should set Christian rulers against one another."
_And help me to advise him well._
Daoud gathered his thoughts. The success of his mission in Italy
depended on persuading Manfred to choose the right course. His heart
beat harder. He tried to speak with all the assurance he could muster.
"Sire, there are enough French cardinals to elect the next pope. They
are bound to choose a man who will give King Louis what he wants--the
alliance between Christians and Tartars. And that same pope will surely
offer your crown to Charles d'Anjou as Urban did. If Louis has the
alliance he wants above all else, he will not stand in Charles's way."