"Yes. We let her encourage you. We let her fall in love with you." He
watched de Gobignon's color grow warmer, pinker, as he absorbed what
Daoud was saying. "Each time she saw you, Ugolini would question her
afterward, as if worried about her virtue. You told her more than you
realized. She told Ugolini more than she realized."
"Did _you_ question her?" De Gobignon fixed his eyes on Daoud's.
"I spoke very little with her. I did not want her to suspect me."
_Forgive me, Sophia, for denying our love. I do it to save your life._
"Where can I find Sophia?"
"Perhaps you can help her. She is in Benevento. She came with her
uncle." Daoud managed a smile. "He thought Manfred was going to force
the pope to reinstate him."
"Where in Benevento?"
"On a narrow street that runs south from the Roman arch. A house that
has a statue of an angel conquering a dragon over the door. The only
three-story building on the street. She is on the top floor. Get there
before Charles's men do."
"You do care about Sophia."
"She is an innocent woman. I do not want her to be hurt on my account."
"What about the others--your servant Giancarlo, Tilia Caballo?"
"They thought I was a merchant from Trebizond serving Manfred as an
agent."
"And Sordello? He seems to know more about you than he ever told me. It
is he who killed you. If he deserves to be punished, tell me."
The sky had deepened from blue to indigo. Somewhere nearby a girl was
sobbing. Daoud wondered if it was she who had screamed earlier, when the
bolt from the crossbow first hit him. What was a girl doing on this
battlefield?
_Does Sordello deserve to be punished? De Gobignon tried to use him
against me, and I had more powerful means to turn Sordello against de
Gobignon. But then the sword turned in my hand. That is not Sordello's
fault. Let de Gobignon think him innocent._
"We let him think he was spying on us. Actually, he told you only what
we wanted him to tell you. You saw his rage when he realized how I
tricked him."
With sudden anxiety, he remembered the locket. He reached out with a
hand that had no strength and put it on de Gobignon's arm.
"I must tell you one thing. When you go looking for Sophia, do not take
Sordello with you."
A man's soft voice overhead said, "Simon. We have been waiting till most
of the men moved away. Tell Rachel no one will hurt her if she speaks to
David. She wants to say good-bye to him."
Daoud looked up and saw the Franciscan who interpreted for the Tartars.
He let his head fall to the side, to see where de Gobignon was looking.
Rachel. Older, more woman than girl now. It had been well over a year
since he last saw her.
"It is safe to come forward, Rachel," de Gobignon said. "We understand
that whatever happened, you could not help it."
Rachel rushed across the intervening space and threw herself on her
knees at Daoud's right side, reaching out with tentative hands to touch
him. Daoud saw that she was afraid that even laying a hand on him would
cause him pain.
"You cannot hurt me, Rachel."
She stroked his face, running her hand over his beard. "Oh, Messer
David!" Her voice was husky with grief.
"My name is Daoud, Rachel. I am a Muslim. I have wronged you greatly. I
beg your forgiveness. Perhaps this is how God punished me for the sin I
committed against you."
"You wanted to help me. I know you did." She sobbed, and he felt the
weight of her head on the chest armor that had failed him.
"Your servant Giancarlo--Rachel calls him Lorenzo--helped Rachel escape
from Anjou's camp," Friar Mathieu said. "He left us. He saw Simon's army
coming and wanted to warn you. We left the cart and wandered around the
edge of the battle looking for refuge. We saw your banner here, Simon.
You must protect this girl."