And she majestically held out her hand to Earl Teja, who reverently led her out of the tent.
But Arahad looked after her in speechless wonder as she disappeared, his hand still upon his sword.
He was roused by the entrance of Eurich, one of his followers, who came up to him, and laying his hand upon his shoulder, asked:
"What now? The horses stand and wait. Whither?"
"Whither?" exclaimed Arahad, starting; "whither? There is only one way, and that we will take. To the Byzantines and death!"
CHAPTER II.
In the peaceful light of late afternoon shone the chapel and convent which Valerius had built in order to release his daughter from the service of the Church. It was situated at the foot of the Apennines, to the northeast of Perusia and Asisum, and to the south of Petra and Eugubium, upon a rocky precipice above the little town of Taginæ.
The cloister, built of the dark red stone of the neighbourhood, enclosed in its quadrangle a quiet garden, green with shrubberies.
A cool arched passage ran round all its four sides, decorated in the grave Byzantine style, with statues of the apostles, mosaics, and frescoes on a golden background.
This ornamentation consisted in symbolic pictures from the sacred writings, especially from the Revelations of St. John, the favourite Gospel of that time.