"You wanted me to be gone, Your Signory, and it seemed most useful for me to come here. It occurred to me that important followers of the infidel Manfred might be here. And, indeed, on the floor below you will find his agents Tilia Caballo and ex-Cardinal Ugolini, being questioned by my men."
"And you were questioning this lady. Before God, I do not know what keeps me from running you through." His mailed hand reached across his waist to grip the hilt of his sword.
"Easy, Simon," said the white-haired man. He came into the room now, and Sophia recognized Friar Mathieu, the Tartars' Franciscan companion.
She looked past the elderly priest and saw who was with him.
"Rachel!"
In the midst of her fear and sorrow, Sophia felt an instant of miraculous happiness, as if the sun had come out at midnight.
She rushed across the room holding out her arms, and the girl flew into them.
"Rachel, what a joy to see you!"
"Oh, Sophia! Sophia!"
Rachel was crying, but not for joy. She was sobbing heartbrokenly. What had happened to her?