She covered her eyes momentarily with her hand. "May God be kind to Daoud 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 wiped her tears away and turned to Sophia expectantly.
"With Lorenzo away you are the only one who might be able to do something," Sophia said.
"What do you expect of me, if David lets himself be taken away and the cardinal 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 she sounded in her desperation.
"How is Adelberto taking it?" Tilia asked.
"He is almost speechless with terror. He just moans and weeps and wrings his hands. I am afraid he may try to run away, or confess everything or do something equally foolish."
Tilia nodded again, grimly. "He is picturing all the things they will do to him if he is found guilty of conspiring with the enemies of Christendom." She looked at Sophia keenly. "What about you? Are you not afraid for yourself?"
"I am dying of fear."