Simon's chest ached as if chains were wrapped around it.
"How long?"
"At least two months. By then Sire Adam Fourre, my chief vassal from Anjou, will be here with seventy knights and three hundred men. A small force, but one I can depend on. I will feel more in control of these brigands then."
"But who will guard the Tartars while I am here?" he asked, desperately trying to think of an excuse that would get him back to Sophia.
Charles shrugged. "De Verceuil can look after them."
For over a year now he had been guarding the Tartars with his life, at Charles's request. Now Charles hardly seemed concerned about them. It was bewildering.
And when will I see Sophia again? he cried inwardly.
He could simply refuse to stay in Italy a moment longer. He could just get up right now and leave, go to Viterbo and find Sophia.
No, he could not do that. He had come to Italy to redeem the name of the house of Gobignon, not besmirch it further. What a scandal if the king's brother were to charge that Simon de Gobignon turned his back on him when he was in peril. What would the king and the nobles say of him then in France? He must see this through, at least until Charles was securely established in Rome.
But pray God Charles did not ask him to stay with him beyond that.