Holding herself rigid against this fresh reminder of her grief, Sophia
said only, "Yes."
Friar Mathieu said, "Lorenzo, the man who killed Daoud lies there--on
the floor. No need to talk about revenge." He pointed to a corner of the
room where Sordello's body lay.
Needing a moment's relief from her pain, Sophia said, "Lorenzo, how did
you ever get here?"
Still holding the crossbow pointed at Simon, Lorenzo spoke without
looking at her.
"After I got Rachel and Friar Mathieu out of the French camp, I saw
this fellow's army charging down from the hills to attack Daoud and his
Falcons." Lorenzo shook the crossbow.
Sophia prayed that he would put the crossbow down. What if by accident
he unleashed a bolt at Simon? If Simon were to die before her eyes, that
would surely be more than she could bear.
"I had to try to warn Daoud," Lorenzo said. "I left Rachel and the friar
there and rode off. I never did reach Daoud." He hesitated a moment,
eyeing Simon, then smiled, a hard smile without warmth or mirth.
"I got your precious Tartars, though, Count Simon."
Simon nodded, his eyes bitter. "Sordello told me it was you who killed
them." He took a step toward Lorenzo, who shook the crossbow at him
again.
_Put it down!_ Sophia wanted to scream.
"Yes. That worm-eaten spy of yours told you, eh?" Lorenzo jerked his
head in the direction of Sordello's body. "He was trying to guard them
at the time. He did a bad job of it."
"Mère de Dieu!" was all Simon said. Anger reddened his face, but he was
looking off into space, not at Lorenzo.
"After that," Lorenzo went on, "I found the wagon, but Rachel and Friar
Mathieu were gone. I found another riderless horse and hitched it up,
and I drove the wagon into the forest west of here. Rachel, I buried
your chest. I hope I remember where.
"By then it was nightfall. I used my forged safe conduct to get me back
into Benevento. Then I had to dodge the mobs of drunken Frenchmen
running wild all over town. I knew where you were staying, Sophia, but
it took me all night to get into this house past Count Simon's guards. I
spent hours in hiding and scrambling about on rooftops."
"I thought I would die of fright," said Tilia, "when Lorenzo came
through our window."
_Thank God for Lorenzo! How I love him. Nothing can stop him. Nothing
can kill him._
"What were you planning to do with these people when you came here,
Count?" Lorenzo said. "Turn them over to your master, Anjou?"
Sophia turned to look at Simon. He stood composed, his empty hands at
his sides, his face, pink in the glow from the fire, calm as a statue's.
"_Your_ master--Daoud the Mameluke--asked me to come here," Simon said.
"_Please_ put your crossbow down, Lorenzo," Sophia said again.
"Are you sure, Sophia? This crossbow might be the only thing that keeps
us from getting dragged off to be hanged. This high-horse bastard has
fifty men outside."
Greek Fire blazed in Sophia's brain.