"All right. I had a message from Count Charles—he who gave me this task of guarding the Tartars. He calls me to meet him at Ostia. That is why I came here today, even though I knew you would not want me to. Knowing I would be leaving here and might not see you for months made me desperate."
Charles d'Anjou at Ostia—the seaport of Rome!
As she realized what Simon's words meant, terror raced through Sophia. She was going to fall from the loggia and break into a thousand pieces, like an icicle.
Anjou was going to take Rome and cut Italy in half. Instead of trying to cross the Alps and then fight his way through the Ghibellino cities of northern Italy, Charles must have come by sea. Now he would be able to strike directly at the heart of Manfred's kingdom.
What will Daoud do? What will happen to Manfred? If only we had Tilia here, with her carrier pigeons.
Despite her fur-lined cloak, a chill seized her.
She had feared for Daoud, that he might have to fight a great French army. And though she had long since ceased to love Manfred, she had feared for him and his kingdom. But the thought of the many obstacles between France and southern Italy had comforted her. Now, knowing that Charles d'Anjou was so close to Manfred's kingdom, she felt herself actually trembling.
He put his hand on hers. "You're frightened."
Staring down at the bare trees, she whispered, "Yes, for my people."
His hand gripped hers tightly. He bent down so that he was speaking softly into her ear.