The Saracen: The Holy War

by Robert Shea

  LII

  Fighting billows of terror that threatened to engulf her, Sophia pulledher veil aside so that Tilia's servant Cassio could recognize her.Yawning, Cassio led Sophia and Riccardo into the large, column-linedreception room and left them. Ugolini's man threw himself down on apadded bench. Sophia, too agitated to sit still, unpinned her hoodedcloak and dropped it beside Riccardo. Even though she had just walkedhalfway across town, she paced the carpeted floor, twisting her fingers.

  Would Tilia be able to help, or would she be as powerless as Ugolini?This journey across the city might be utterly futile, but Sophia, unableto sleep and tormented by demon-inspired visions of what was happeningto Daoud, had to do something.

  Tilia quickly appeared on the landing of the second floor gallery,followed by Cassio, who held a candle. Despite her bulk, she seemed toflow down the stairs in her trailing red silk gown.

  "Quickly, tell me what has happened," she said. "For you to come thislate it must be disastroso." Her voice was calm but hoarse. Her face waspuffy and creased with deep wrinkles. She wore one piece of jewelry, herbishop's cross.

  "We had better talk alone," Sophia said. Tilia nodded. Riccardo wasalready sitting on a couch in the entry hall with his eyes shut. Cassiolooked inquiringly at Tilia. His shoulder-length black hair, usuallywell-combed and glossy, was a nest of unruly locks pointing every whichway.

  "Give me the candle, Cassio," said Tilia. "Come up to my room, Sophia.Your escort can wait here." She sighed. "A few weeks ago there wouldhave been clients waiting in this room even at this hour. Since the popeleft--" She waved a hand at the emptiness of the great chamber.

  Sophia felt herself wanting to cling to Tilia, as if the short, fatwoman were her mother. A few months before she had felt nothing buthatred for the brothel keeper because she had introduced Rachel intowhoredom. Now she prayed only that Tilia could help her.

  Her bedroom was cool, the shutters of a large double window having beenswung open to let in the night air. Tilia sat on her wide bed, which wascovered with embroidered cushions and silk sheets that draped over thefour posts. Sophia went to the window and drew back the curtain to lookout. The street outside was dark and empty.

  What was happening to Daoud in the Palazzo del Podesta? Were theycrippling his beautiful body? Was he dying? Dead? She felt like cryingat the thought of how they might be hurting him. But she could not helphim unless she kept her head.

  Sophia quickly told Tilia about Daoud's arrest. Tilia lay back on thebed, her beady eyes fixed on Sophia, and fingered the cross on her amplebosom. Every so often she nodded, as if this were just what she hadexpected.

  She covered her eyes momentarily with her hand. "May God be kind toDaoud ibn Abdallah. He is worth ten of any ordinary men."

  _She knows Daoud's Muslim name!_

  But Sophia had no time to pursue the thought. Tilia had quickly wipedher tears away and turned to Sophia expectantly.

  "With Lorenzo away you are the only one who might be able to dosomething," Sophia said.

  "What do you expect of me, if David lets himself be taken away and thecardinal does nothing?" Tilia asked. "Have I more power than they?"Clearly her use of "Daoud" was a momentary indiscretion.

  "We need someone who can think," Sophia said, realizing how vague shesounded in her desperation.

  "How is Adelberto taking it?" Tilia asked.

  "He is almost speechless with terror. He just moans and weeps and wringshis hands. I am afraid he may try to run away, or confess everything ordo something equally foolish."

  Tilia nodded again, grimly. "He is picturing all the things they will doto him if he is found guilty of conspiring with the enemies ofChristendom." She looked at Sophia keenly. "What about you? Are you notafraid for yourself?"

  "I am dying of fear."

  Tilia reached over and squeezed her hand. "I am frightened too. Whowould not be? But you're right--giving way to panic just leaves ushelpless. Let us go back to Adelberto's mansion. He is a changeable man.I may be able to get him to think sensibly. I will see what I can dowith him."

  A wave of relief swept over Sophia. At least she was no longerstruggling alone.

  Sophia could see a bluish light on the tile roofs of the houses acrossfrom Tilia's window. It would soon be morning.

  _God, they have had Daoud for a whole night! What have they done tohim?_

  "D'Ucello has men watching the cardinal's mansion," Sophia said."Riccardo and I slipped out through the tunnel that leads under thestreet to the potterymaker's shop, but we cannot get back in that way."

  "Getting there is the easiest part of it," said Tilia. "Cassio will hirea covered cart for us. The hard part will be deciding what to do once wehave arrived." She smiled and patted her breasts, accentuated by thegossamer fabric of her sleeping gown. "I must put some clothes on."

  "While you dress, can I see Rachel?" Sophia asked. She noticed threeironbound chests, ornamented with circular enameled medallions, standingin a row against the wall beside Tilia's bed. Each was secured with apadlock. They must hold the gold Tilia's customers brought to her.

  "I will take you to Rachel," said Tilia. "She is as well and happy aswhen you saw her last. But do not tell her what has happened to David."

  "There is no point in frightening her," Sophia agreed. "But when weleave Orvieto, I want to take her with us."

  "Whether you believe it or not, I am looking after her welfare," Tiliasaid. "Just yesterday, John the Tartar offered me five thousand florinsto let him take her to Perugia with him when he follows the pope there.He flew into a rage when I refused him. So, you see, I have even bravedthe fury of the Tartars for Rachel's sake. Perhaps you will begin tojudge me a little more kindly."

  Turning to leave the room, Sophia froze momentarily. It had not occurredto her that Tilia would know that she had once hated her. The woman_was_ penetrating. She felt a little more confident that Tilia wouldhave the wisdom to help her in this calamity.

  Tilia, holding a candle, opened Rachel's door for Sophia. Moreglittering gold had been added to the girl's bedroom since Sophia hadlast visited her, and when the candle flame illuminated it, the roomseemed to blaze. Sophia blinked at the gold curtains before the windowsand the heavy cloth-of-gold draperies surrounding the bed.

  All this, she thought, was to impress that horrible Tartar who camehere to lie with Rachel. How lucky Sophia had been to be able to shareher bed with a man she loved.

  But thoughts of happiness with Daoud--memories--were like a knife in herheart, now that he had been taken from her.

  Tilia pulled the drape aside, and there was Rachel, curled up nude ontop of yellow silk sheets. Her skinny arms and legs made her look evenyounger than she was. Sophia felt heartsick as Rachel's eyes opened wideat the sudden light. She sat up in bed, dragging the sheet across herbody, then drew back against the wall. She looked terrified. Sophiawondered what sort of awakenings Rachel was used to in this place, and asudden return of her rage at Tilia made her tremble.

  _Well and happy, is she?_

  But she dared not be angry with Tilia now. Tilia was the only person whocould help her.

  Rachel's black eyes fell on Sophia, and the fear went out of her face.It was replaced by a glad smile that hurt Sophia's heart all the more.

  _I abandoned her to this, and yet she is happy to see me._

  "I will leave you two to talk," Tilia said.

  Sophia sat on the gold sheets and took Rachel's hand when Tilia wasgone. For a moment she forgot her own grief and fear, as an urge tocomfort Rachel pushed to the fore.

  "All of us are going to be leaving Orvieto soon, and when we do we willtake you with us," she said. Rachel's dark eyes glowed.

  Sophia went on. "Wherever we go, you will not have to stay with Tiliaanymore and do--what Tilia expects of you. We will find a home for you."

  She was not sure how she was going to keep such a promise, but shedecided that Daoud would have to kill her before she would let him putRachel in another brothel.

  Again the knife in
her breast as she remembered she might never seeDaoud again.

  Rachel shrugged. "I may be better off doing this than I would be as someman's wife." She looked down at her hands, and Sophia saw that herfingers were long and slender and quite beautiful. "John Chagan has mademe very rich, you know."

  Sophia thought of the three locked chests in Tilia's room. She wouldhave to make sure that Rachel, when she left this place of shame, gotall the gold that was rightfully hers. And how outrageous, that Tiliahad been filling Rachel's head with lies about how lucky she was.

  "Tilia and the others here have to believe that this is the right lifefor them. But there is not a woman here who would not trade whateverriches she has earned for a real home, with a husband and children."

  Rachel was silent a moment. Her face was all straight lines, Sophia saw,yet delicate and feminine at the same time.

  _As a woman, she will be much more beautiful than I._

  "Even you?" Rachel said suddenly.

  Sophia was surprised. "We are not talking about me. I am not--acourtesan."

  "What are you?" Rachel asked softly, shyly.

  _What word is there to describe me?_

  She had thought often about other women and how different their liveswere from hers. Sometimes, to survive, she had to give her body to menwhen she did not want to. She had been in danger of death. She had knownlove and wealth and power. She had lived this way since her parents andthe boy she had loved were killed, and she could not imagine living anyother way.

  "I am just a person who does whatever she needs to," said Sophia. Howcould she sit here and talk like this, when Daoud might be dying? Achill went over her, as if she were in the grip of a fever, and shealmost cried aloud.

  "Something is wrong," Rachel said. "Why are you here so early in themorning?" That look of terror was coming back into her face.

  The door opened, and Tilia was there, dressed in a long green silk tunicand a yellow satin surcoat. Light was beginning to show through Rachel'swindows. Sophia held Rachel's hand for a moment and then let go of itand stood up to leave.

  "Take me with you," Rachel said, seizing Sophia's wrist.

  "Not now," said Sophia quickly. "We will all be together when we leaveOrvieto."

  Rachel's eyes overflowed with tears. "I do not want to stay here. I wantto go with you now."

  "What have you been saying to her?" Tilia said angrily.

  "Nothing," said Sophia. She turned to Rachel. "See, Madama will be angrywith me. She thinks I have been frightening you. Now show her that youare calm and are willing to stay here."

  Rachel's thin shoulders slumped. "As you wish, Signora."

  In the midst of her fear for Daoud, a pang of guilt shot through Sophia.She had upset Rachel and then spoken gruffly to her. She rushed to herand hugged the thin body against hers.

  She kissed Rachel quickly and followed Tilia out.

  * * * * *

  Sophia followed Tilia through the door of Ugolini's cabinet after Tiliathrust it open without even knocking. Ugolini's eyes bulged at the sightof Tilia, and he threw down his pen.

  He was still in a panic, Sophia saw, heartsick. Even if they could comeup with a plan to rescue Daoud, would he be willing to do anything?

  "Now, of all times, you should not be here," he cried at Tilia.

  Without a word Tilia marched across the Syrian carpet, her broad hipsswinging under her green gown. She went around Ugolini's desk and heldout her arms to him. With a slightly embarrassed glance at Sophia, hestood up--he was the same height as Tilia--and let her take him into herarms. He leaned his head on her shoulder for a moment, then handed herinto his chair.

  _They really are lovers_, thought Sophia, seeing the little cardinal'ssudden wistful smile. The sight of that smile gave her new hope. PerhapsTilia could restore his courage. Only Ugolini had the power andauthority to do anything about Daoud's imprisonment. Tilia had to bringhim back to himself.

  "Did you not want me to know, Adelberto, what happened to David?" shedemanded, looking down at the parchment he had been writing on. "What isthis?"

  "I am calculating my horoscope for this day. The stars are telling me Ihave overreached myself and have only myself to blame for my downfall."

  "For your downfall? Dear God, Adelberto, have you given up hopealready?"

  His words dimmed Sophia's hopes. He believed in his stars.

  Ugolini, dressed in a white gown tied at the waist with a cord, walkedto the half-open windows and pulled the violet drapes across them,darkening the room. A breeze made the drapes billow inward and blew outthe flame of the candle on his desk, plunging the room into a deeperdarkness. Unbidden, Sophia picked up a wax taper from Ugolini'sworktable, igniting it from the fat, hour-marked candle in the corneraway from the window, and went lighting candles in the candelabra aroundthe room. Talking in the dark would only drive their spirits lower.

  _If only Lorenzo were here. He would have a plan by now, and be doingsomething about it._

  Ugolini held out his hands to Tilia. "I am doomed, and I do not want youdragged down with me." He turned to Sophia, whiskers bristling over hisgrimace. "You should have left her out of this."

  _If I had left her out of it, there would be no hope at all_, Sophiathought, sitting on the small chair facing Ugolini's worktable. Shelooked with appeal at Tilia, who nodded reassuringly.

  "Tilia needs just as much as any of us to know what is happening," saidSophia. "And you need to talk to her." Ugolini's hands were trembling,she saw. She, too, was afraid, both for herself and Daoud. Fear was ablack hollow eating away at her insides.

  _Oh, Daoud, what are they doing to you?_

  He might come out of the Palazzo del Podesta blind, or with arms or legscut off, or mad, she thought. When she saw him again, she might wish himdead--and herself along with him.

  She wiped the cold sweat from her brow with the hem of her silk cloak.In the heavy, hot air, the scent of Tilia's rose-petal sachet filled theroom.

  "Only a miracle can save us," said Ugolini, pacing and waving his hands."I have been praying to God that He take the soul of David of Trebizondbefore he breaks under torture and dooms us all."

  Sophia reeled with the pain his words brought her. She wanted to clawUgolini's eyes out. She sprang up from her chair, fists clenched.

  "May God take _your_ soul!" she screamed at him. "And send you straightto hell!"

  Ugolini turned and stared at her as if she had struck him.

  "Be still, Sophia," said Tilia quietly. "That will not help."

  Panting heavily, Sophia sat down again. They needed Ugolini so badly,and he was so _useless_. She wanted to weep with frustration.

  "Of course God will damn me," Ugolini cried, throwing his arms into theair as he paced the room, his white gown rippling. "Why should He spareme or any of us, when we have been working against His Church?"

  _It is not my Church_, thought Sophia resentfully. _It is the schismaticLatin Church he speaks of._ Remembering that she was probably the onlyperson of her faith in Orvieto, she felt terribly alone.

  _Almost as alone as Daoud must feel._

  "It seems that you no longer know who you are," said Tilia sourly toUgolini.

  "Eh? What do you mean?" He turned quickly and peered at her.

  _She talks to him as if she were his nursemaid_, Sophia thought. _Andthat is what he needs._

  "You are one of twenty-two men who _rule_ the Church," said Tiliafirmly. "You will elect the next pope, and very soon, by all signs. Youare not a citizen of Orvieto, subject to this podesta." She spat theword. "You are one of the most powerful men in Italy."

  "I am the creature of the Sultan of Egypt, and soon the whole world willknow it," Ugolini moaned. "Oh, God, how I wish you had never come to mewith his bribes."

  So it was Tilia who had recruited Ugolini for this work. There weredepths to this woman. If anyone could have an effect on Ugolini now, shecould. But Sophia wondered if even Tilia could reach the cardinal in hispresent state.
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  "Are you sorry you met me, Adelberto?" said Tilia softly.

  "No, no!" said Ugolini hastily.

  He rushed over to where she sat at his table and put his hands on hershoulders.

  "Without you," he said earnestly, "my life would have been flat andempty."

  _Love_, thought Sophia. _He loves her. That might make the difference._

  "And I helped you become wealthier than you ever dreamed possible. Ihelped you buy the red hat."

  "True," said Ugolini. "But Fortune raises men high only so they may fallfarther when she casts them down."

  Tilia brought her large hand down hard on Ugolini's marble-topped table."Enough of this talk of the stars and Fortune. Look here, Adelberto, forthis little cimice, this bedbug of a man, d'Ucello, to walk into thehouse of Cardinal Ugolini and arrest one of his guests--it isinsufferable! You must not permit it."

  Sophia did not dare to breathe as she watched Ugolini's face for a signof returning strength.

  "No doubt you are right," said Ugolini, nodding slowly like a boy beingtaught his lessons.

  "You must bring pressure to bear on this man," Tilia went on. "With mostof the cardinals following the pope to Perugia, you are now even moreimportant in Orvieto."

  _Thank God for Tilia._ At this moment Sophia was willing to forgiveTilia even the corrupting of Rachel.

  Ugolini said, "Yes, but if last night I could not stop him from takingDavid, what can I do now?" He spread his empty hands.

  Another gust of wind lifted the purple drapes and sent scraps ofparchment from Ugolini's table to the carpet. Sophia saw circles andtriangles and whole constellations flying across the room.

  They would have to enlist the aid of someone who had influence over thepodesta, Sophia thought, someone who was friendly enough to Ugolini tobe willing to speak on his behalf. With the pope gone, the most powerfulperson in the city was--

  As soon as the thought came to her, she spoke. "The Contessa diMonaldeschi. Cardinal, you must go to her and ask her help."

  Her heart rose to her throat, choking her. Tilia and Ugolini stared ather. Would they listen? Would they spurn her idea?

  "Why should _she_ help me?" said Ugolini.

  "She admires you," said Sophia. "She told me so the night of thereception she gave for the Tartars. Now that the pope has left Orvieto,she probably feels neglected."

  Wide-eyed, Ugolini shook his head. "But David is accused of involvementin the attack on her palace. Just yesterday I saw her cackling like astrega while her men chopped off Marco di Filippeschi's head andmurdered half his family. They even impaled a baby on a spear, and sheshouted with glee."

  "That has nothing to do with us," said Sophia, though the image revoltedher. "She has no reason to connect David with the Filippeschi."

  Tilia nodded vigorously, shaking her body and the chair she was sittingin. "Sophia has an excellent idea, Adelberto. If the Contessa diMonaldeschi pleads for David, if _she_, the injured party, is convincedof his innocence, the podesta must yield."

  Sophia felt more confident as she saw that Tilia was on her side. Shepressed the attack.

  "Again and again d'Ucello has shown that he does whatever theMonaldeschi expect of him," she urged.

  "He used to do whatever _either_ family expected of him," said Ugolini."Until so many Filippeschi perished that they ceased to matter."

  Ugolini went to the window. A blast of hot, damp wind roared into theroom, and he raised his hand protectively in front of his face.

  "It will storm soon," said Tilia. "It cannot be soon enough to suit me.A storm will break this terrible heat. As soon as the storm passes, youmust go to her."

  Ugolini nodded slowly. "If I fail to convince her, I will be no worseoff than I am now."

  "You will convince her," said Tilia. "You might as well start to put onyour red robes."

  Real hope sailed across the sea of terror to Sophia now, and it was agalley, a galley with sails painted a cardinal's red. She felt itbearing her up over her dread for Daoud and for herself.

  "I will go to the contessa with you," said Sophia. If he gave way topanic again, she could stop him from doing too much damage.

  "And I will return to my house," said Tilia, standing up.

  "No," said Ugolini. "It was dangerous enough for you to come here. Weknow this mansion is being watched. Stay here until nightfall."

  Tilia smiled, went to him, and held his small, pointed face between herhands. "I will stay. And if you succeed in persuading the contessa tohave David freed, we will have something to celebrate, you and I."

  To celebrate! What a wonderful thought. Sophia had begun to feel shewould never celebrate anything again.

  But moving Ugolini to act was only the first step, she reminded herself.The contessa might prove to be against them, and Daoud might still bedoomed.

  * * * * *

  Sophia watched, eaten up by anxiety, as the Contessa di Monaldeschiadvanced slowly into her smaller audience chamber, leaning on hergrandnephew, a plump boy in red velvet.

  "I hope you have not come to scold me, Cardinal Ugolini," the contessarasped.

  Could this old woman really have laughed to see a baby impaled on aspear, Sophia wondered as she and Ugolini bowed.

  "Dear Contessa, scold you?" Ugolini said with a chuckle. "Whatever for?"Sophia was delighted to see how completely he had, to all outwardappearances, cast off the terror that gripped him a short time before.

  _Like all of us, when terror strikes, he needs to feel he can dosomething._

  "Ah, Cardinal. Surely you know." When she reached Ugolini, the tall,bony old woman clutched at the boy's arm with both clawlike hands andbegan, with an effort that made her compress her withered lips, to lowerherself to the floor. It hurt Sophia just to watch her struggle togenuflect before the cardinal.

  The contessa had aged a great deal, Sophia thought, since she first sawher, over a year ago. She was thinner, more bent, moved with muchgreater difficulty. Ugolini reached out to try to stop her fromkneeling.

  "Please, Dona Elvira!" he cried. "Do not trouble yourself so."

  "No, I am a good daughter of the Church," said the contessa. "Andthrough you I pay homage to God."

  The old woman's maroon satin gown crackled as she bent her knees. Evenkneeling, she was almost as tall as Ugolini. Gold bracelets rattledaround her skinny arms, and heavy medallions dangled from gold chainsaround her neck. A net of gold threads held the coiled braids of herwhite hair in place.

  Once she was on her knees, her grandnephew pulled off his red cap andbowed to Ugolini with a sweeping gesture. His hair was a mass of tightblack curls. Had he, too, watched the massacre of the Filippeschi,Sophia wondered. And what had that done to the boy?

  "Please let me kiss your ring," the contessa said. She seized his handand planted a loud, smacking kiss on his sapphire cardinal's ring.

  "It is I who should pay homage to you, Dona Elvira," said Ugolini.

  Sophia immediately stepped forward to help the contessa struggle to herfeet. The boy took the old lady from the other side. Sophia caught aglimpse of him looking at her with bright, amused eyes. Eyes that weretoo old for the face of an eleven-year-old boy.

  When she got close to the contessa, Sophia smelled an odor that made herthink of a damp cellar. Together Sophia and the Monaldeschi heir walkedwith the old lady to a broad-armed chair, where she settled herself,gasping. Two manservants set smaller chairs for the cardinal and Sophiafacing the contessa.

  The contessa's grandnephew leaned elegantly against the back of the oldlady's chair, the fingers of his chubby hands interlinked. Sophiaglanced at him and caught his glittering eyes roving over her body. Hesaw her looking at him, and smiled faintly and without embarrassment.

  Contessa Elvira raised a trembling hand. "Cardinal Piacenza had beenmost unkind. I had a letter from him this morning condemning me in therudest terms for our triumph over the Filippeschi canaglia yesterday inthe Piazza San Giovenale. He accused me of sacrilege, because I shed th
eblood of Marco during a Mass. When else could I have taken him and hisfoul brood unawares? God gave me the opportunity."

  "Nothing happens save by the will of God," Ugolini murmured.

  "Esattamente! Yet Cardinal Piacenza has the audacity to tell me that Iam in a grave state of sin and that I have led Vittorio here into sin aswell."

  Glancing again at Vittorio, Sophia noticed the sword, short enough for aboy but long enough to kill, that hung from his jeweled belt.

  Ugolini shook his head. "No one has the right to say that another is insin. Only God sees the soul. _Judge not, lest ye be judged._"

  Sophia found it hard to believe that this was the same man whose panicshe had struggled to overcome a few hours earlier. He was suddenly theperfect clergyman, attentive, sympathetic, sententious.

  "Yes, and for what should I be judged?" The contessa lifted both handsnow. "For exacting justice?"

  "If you have any doubts, dear Madama," Ugolini said, "I will be happy togive you absolution."

  That was a nice touch, thought Sophia. If she confessed to him, thatwould certainly put her under his influence.

  But even as they talked, across town the podesta's men might be tearingDaoud's body to pieces. Sophia felt her stomach knot. She shook her headas vigorously as she dared, to drive away the hideous images withoutattracting attention to herself.

  _Hurry! Dear God, make them hurry!_

  "I _have_ no doubts," said the old lady firmly. "Besides, I have my ownchaplain. I would not wish another person on earth to know me as well ashe does. But I do thank you for your kind thought, Cardinal. I am gladto see that not all the princes of the Church think alike in thismatter."

  "I am sure Cardinal Piacenza is quite alone," said Ugolini.

  The contessa shrugged. "I do not know about that. Since His Holinessleft, no one has called on me. I have been feeling quite abandoned."

  Now Sophia began to feel a stronger hope than ever. The old lady likedto be flattered by princes of the Church. Perhaps she could be won overafter all.

  "Surely your guest, Cardinal de Verceuil, attends you often," Ugoliniventured.

  The contessa sniffed. "That Frenchman. He is no more civilized than hisTartars. I would rather he left me alone. The French are all ratherbarbaric. Of course, that fine young Simon de Gobignon--he is mostattractive." She grinned with a lasciviousness that startled Sophia."This palace has not been the same since he went back to France."

  "Back to France?" Ugolini stared. "I thought he, too, was going toPerugia."

  Sophia felt a ball of ice suddenly encase her heart. She had toldUgolini, as she told Daoud, that Simon was going to Perugia. She prayedUgolini would not suspect that she had been lying.

  "Oh, no," said the contessa. "France. He told me himself when he tookleave of me. And when he returns, I think Ghibellini everywhere in Italywill have reason to tremble. Because the might of France will followhim. I am only sorry he will not come in time to save Orvieto from theSienese. One of my sergentes just reported that the Sienese army is buta day or two away from here."

  _And Lorenzo with it_, thought Sophia. _If only he would hurry._

  "What will you do, Contessa?" Ugolini asked. "As a Guelfo family, do theMonaldeschi intend to leave Orvieto before the Sienese arrive?"

  He was straying from the subject, thought Sophia impatiently.

  _Never mind the damned Sienese army. They cannot do us any good._

  The old lady tossed her head, her hooked nose jutting defiantly. Shelaid her hand on Vittorio's.

  "We will stand fast. This family has lived in this city since the daysof the Etruscans. I expect our militia to put up a good fight. After ourhonor has been satisfied, we will ask, with dignity, for terms."

  "Very brave," said Ugolini.

  The militia of Orvieto, thought Sophia, was under the command of thepodesta. If d'Ucello was involved in fighting the Sienese, what mightthat mean for Daoud?

  Dona Elvira looked at the cardinal slyly. "Are you also staying inOrvieto, Your Eminence?"

  "For the moment," said Ugolini.

  Sophia was surprised that Ugolini did not say more, but the conversationseemed to be going the way he wanted it to.

  "You may be able to help us, Your Eminence."

  Sophia felt more elated than ever. If she wanted help from Ugolini, thensurely she would be willing to help him.

  "Nothing would please me more, Contessa."

  "You are from the south, from Manfred's kingdom. You might have someinfluence with these Ghibellini. Perhaps a word from you would help tokeep our house and our property intact."

  Ugolini threw out his arms. "Dear Contessa, anything. Of course, as aloyal supporter of the pope I do not ordinarily have dealings withGhibellini."

  "Of course not," the contessa agreed. Vittorio smiled. He had a small,chiseled mouth, such as Sophia had seen on the men in ancient Romansculptures.

  "But whatever little I might be able to do, I am entirely at yourservice," Ugolini said.

  "I have always considered you my very good friend, Your Eminence. Eventhough you opposed the alliance of Christians and Tartars and they weremy houseguests."

  That startled Sophia. The contessa made it sound as if the Tartars hadleft her home.

  "_Were_ your houseguests, Madama?" Ugolini asked. So, he had noticed ittoo.

  She sighed. "Yes, they and that boorish French cardinal left for Perugiathis morning, not long before you came. They chose a bad day to leave.This morning's storm is not the end of the rain. Another storm iscoming. Every joint in my body aches."

  "These storms clear the air," said Ugolini.

  The contessa held up a sticklike finger. "Exactly as the storm yesterdayin the Piazza San Giovenale did."

  Now she was bringing up her grievance, Sophia thought. Evidently she hadoffended a number of cardinals with the massacre of the Filippeschi.

  A servant brought a small table of some shiny black wood and set it intheir midst. Its legs were carved in the form of twisting, winglessdragons. Perhaps it was a gift to the contessa from the Tartars. Sophiahad seen such furnishings in Constantinople and knew they came from thedistant East, where the Tartars ruled.

  Another servant brought a tray with small sweet cakes filled with apaste made of crushed white raisins. A third poured the pale yellow wineof Orvieto into silver goblets for them. Sophia sipped her wine, but herstomach churned with fear for Daoud, a fear held rigidly in check. Shecould not drink much, and she could not eat at all.

  Every so often she glanced at Vittorio di Monaldeschi, and each time shedid, she found his eyes fixed on her.

  Ugolini wiped his mouth after finishing off a cake. "As Fortune's wheelturns, all of us need friends at one time or another."

  "How true," said the old lady.

  "I come before you today to presume upon our friendship to ask you afavor, Madama," said Ugolini.

  "We need each other, as you have said, Your Eminence."

  Sophia prayed that the contessa would agree to help.

  Ugolini told how the podesta's men had arrested Daoud the previousnight. Sophia watched the contessa's face for some sign of sympathy, butthe old lady remained as expressionless as a bird.

  "I am shocked that the podesta would arrest your houseguest," she said."But what can I do? After all, Signore d'Ucello holds the office becausehe has our confidence."

  _Which means that he stands aside while you murder your enemies._

  Ugolini spread his hands. "Precisely because he has your confidence,dear Madonna, I know he will listen to you. We have had no word of whathas become of our guest and friend."

  "I want _everyone_ punished who had anything to do with the attack on mypalace," said the contessa, clenching her bony fist.

  And what if the contessa were to discover that the man they were talkingabout had incited that attack and used it as cover for his own attemptto murder the Tartar ambassadors, Sophia thought. She would want himtorn to bits in the piazza. New waves of terror washed over her.

  A
nd she would want those who helped him punished along with him. Sophiaglanced at Ugolini and saw that he was sweating.

  _Dear God, do not let him falter now._

  "Of course, Contessa," he said. "That is why I have come to you. Becauseyou, and not the podesta, are the one truly injured. But the arrest ofDavid is a terrible mistake. I place before you my belief in this man'sabsolute innocence. I am prepared to swear to it. He was not even herein Orvieto when that dastardly attack occurred. He was in Perugia. Thereare countless witnesses. I know this man. He is a _good_ man, amerchant, not a warrior."

  "I remember him," said the contessa. "A very good-looking blond man. Iheard his conversation with the Tartars and I began to wonder myselfabout the wisdom of allying ourselves with them."

  "It is probably because David did testify against the Tartars that thepodesta thinks he might be connected with the attack on your palace,"said Ugolini. "But such a man as David would have nothing to do withsuch mascalzoni as the Filippeschi. I, too, have opposed the alliance,and yet you and I are friends. It is one thing to disagree in acivilized way. It is another to turn to behave like a scoundrel. Davidhas the same horror of murder that we all do."

  Remembering what she had heard about the killings in the cathedralplaza, Sophia wondered if the contessa had any horror of murder at all.

  "I am sure that is true," said the contessa. "But the podesta must havegood reason for detaining this David."

  Despair overwhelmed Sophia. The tears that had been falling in her soulsprang to her eyelids and began to run down her cheeks. She should notshow her feelings like this, she thought. But what did it matter, whenDaoud was dying and no one would lift a hand to save him?

  "Why are you crying, child?" said the contessa. Sophia heard sympathy inher voice.

  "Forgive me, Contessa," she said, sobbing. "This is very rude of me."

  "Does this man mean so much to you?" asked the old lady, her raspingvoice softened.

  In her anguish, Sophia was still clear-headed enough to see that shemight use that anguish. She threw herself down on the terrazzo floor andclasped the contessa around the knees.

  "Sophia!" She could hear Ugolini's chair scrape as he stood up. The boytook a step toward her.

  "It is all right," said the contessa. "You love this man, do you not?"She patted Sophia's hair.

  "Yes," Sophia wept. "And I swear to you, he is innocent."

  _He is, too, because he believes that everything he is doing is right._

  "Your Eminence?" said the contessa. "You approve of your niece and thisman from Trebizond?"

  "Oh, certainly," said Ugolini waving his hands. "He is a fine man."

  "Hmm," said the old lady. "That night at my reception I thought you andthe young Count de Gobignon were attracted to each other."

  Sophia felt a strange stab of guilt.

  "Oh, he is too far above me, Contessa," she said. "A count. David is amerchant. We are right for each other."

  _It is true that David and I are much more suited than Simon and I._

  "It makes me feel young for a moment to see a beautiful woman in love."The contessa stroked Sophia's cheek with dry, rough fingers.

  Sophia opened her eyes wide and looked the contessa full in the face."Please help us, Contessa, for the sake of love."

  The contessa sighed and smiled. "I will send for d'Ucello. I willrequest that he stop questioning your friend." She looked across atUgolini. "You must give me your word, Your Eminence, that this Davidwill not leave Orvieto until all doubts about him are settled."

  "Oh, thank you, thank you!" Sophia kissed the shiny knuckles, wettingthe blue-veined hand with her tears.

  "Sophia, stand up," said Ugolini, touching her shoulder. "This isembarrassing."

  Vittorio helped her to her feet, holding her waist more tightly than wasnecessary.

  _Embarrassing? If not for my outburst, there would be no hope of freeingDaoud._

  _But I must live in terror awhile longer. Until I know he is well. Thatthey have not done anything to him. Oh, God, let him come back to mehealthy and whole._