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He brightens。 〃It is a beautiful land； my lady； filled with sweet orchards and tall trees that cover the hills。 You stay around Messina and wander not too far from the well…traveled roads； and you will have a pleasant visit。〃
〃If I had not been far off the well…traveled roads this evening； I would not have been there to rescue you。 But I am curious why you say I should stay close to Messina。 Surely the Moslems have not landed on Sicily's southern shores？〃
His face darkens。 〃But they have； my lady。 A force of them is camped on the beaches in the southwest。 Have you not heard？〃
〃No。 I heard that the Duke of Terra di Labur is strong in the south； with many armed knights。〃
Dante trembles。 〃Do not speak that name； my lady； for he no longer goes by it。 He has turned against the Christian God； and has murdered his own knights。 It is by his power and with his protection that the heathens have managed to land their forces on Sicily。〃
I am surprised； even though I know all these things deep inside。 Yet the future bees more a dream to me with each passing hour。 I know it exists； I know I am from there； but I have to focus to maintain this knowledge。 Yet this does not worry me。 It seems entirely natural that I should be one hundred percent in the present moment； with Dante； and the cooking rabbit； and his stories of the evil duke。 But I have spoiled Dante's appetite by asking about the latter。 Dante stares miserably at the fire as if he were staring at a picture of hell。 He scratches at his lepered arm and leg…my questions bring him pain。 Yet I know I must ask all about the political details。
〃What does the duke call himself now？〃 I ask。
Dante shakes his head。 〃It is better not to repeat it in the night lest he hear us talking of him。 For the night is his cloak； and shadows flow around him。〃
I laugh again。 〃e on； he can't be that bad。 I must know his name。〃
Dante is adamant。 〃I am sorry； my lady； I will not talk of him。 To do so is a sin to your good pany。〃
〃My good pany will not be so good if you do not answer me。 What is the Duke's name now？〃
Dante speaks in a whisper。 〃Landulf of Capua。〃
I have heard the name before； of course。 But now it rings in my ears with less potency and more harmless connotations。 Myth surrounds the title； not remembered agonies。 Yet I know Landulf is the one I have e for…from the stars； for the stars…even if the flames that sparkle before my eyes blot out most of the nighttime sky。 I do not want to focus on future facts…it is another choice I make。 I am more intrigued than scared。 Capua is tied to Landulf s name because he was originally from there。
〃I know this name；〃 I say。 〃Even in Italy； the farmers in the countryside speak of him。 They say he is an evil wizard； capable of performing magical acts。〃 I pause。 〃Dante； why are you crying？〃
He is really devastated。 〃It is nothing； my lady。 Let us talk of another person。〃 He pokes at the rabbit with another stick he has found。 〃Or we can just eat； you can have some meat。 You must be hungry after such a long day。〃
There is something in his tone that catches my attention。 〃Do you personally know this Landulf of Capua？〃 I ask。
He stiffens。 〃No。〃
〃You must know him to be so frightened of him。〃
He rubs at his leper arm。 Actually； the disease has spread so far； he has only a stump left。 His left leg is also little more than a stump； he walks with the aid of a wooden brace I found not far from where he was strung up。 His sores are open and fluid oozes from them。 He must be near death； yet he has energy。 But now his strength is in a whirlwind of constant motion。 His eyes are moist and he cannot stop shaking。
〃I cannot talk about him；〃 he begs。 〃Please do not force me to say his name。〃
〃Dante；〃 I say。 〃Look at me。〃
He raises his head。 〃My lady？〃
〃Stare deep into my eyes； my dear friend；〃 I say gently； carefully bending his will to mine。 〃You need not be afraid to speak of this duke。 He cannot harm you now。〃
Dante blinks and his tears begin to dry。 〃He cannot harm me；〃 he whispers。
〃That is true；〃 I say。 〃Now tell me about him； how you came to know him。〃
Dante sits back and stares at the fire again。 He has forgotten the rabbit。 He is half in a trance； half in a dream。 I know I am asking him to repeat a nightmarish section of life。 For even though I have calmed him with my power； his withered leg and arm continue to twitch。 It is almost as if his leprosy was given to him by the duke； but that I find hard to believe。
Yet I do believe it。 I know it。
What do I know？ The stars are far away。
Dante's face holds my attention。
〃My duke was not merely a duke； but an archbishop and a special friend of the Holy Father；〃 Dante says； in a clearer voice than usual。 〃It was to Rome my duke brought me at the age of ten to serve as his personal attendant and to sing in the Vatican choir。 The Holy Father said my voice was a sacrament； and I was allowed to join the privileged castrati and sacrifice my manhood to the Church。 This I did not mind； as long as I was allowed to stay close to my duke。 For five years I was at peace within the holy walls； and I thought of nothing but my duty and my vows。〃 He pauses and sighs。 Even though he is partly hypnotized； his pain es through。 〃Then； it happened； one terrible day； that my duke was falsely accused。〃
〃What was he accused of？〃
Dante hesitates。 〃I thought it was a lie。〃
〃Did the pope accuse him？〃
〃Yes。 The Holy Father himself。〃
〃Of what？〃 I repeat。
Dante pauses before he answers。 〃Of invoking the spirit of Satan。〃
I do not believe in such nonsense； nevertheless； his words are chilling。 〃Was he cast out？〃 I ask。
Dante coughs。 The smoke of the burning logs has entered his lungs。 The agony of remembering suffocates him； too。 〃There was a trial；〃 he says。 〃The cardinals and the Holy Father were present。 Accusations were made； then witnesses were called…I had never seen these people before。 Each one came forth and stated how my beloved duke had poisoned their minds with demonic spirits。 Even I was called to denounce him。 The Holy Father made me swear to tell the truth and then…in the same breath…told me to tell lies。〃 A tear rolls over Dante's ruined face。 〃I did not know what to say。 But I had never seen my duke mit any of these sins。 I was afraid but I knew in my heart I could not lie。〃 A hysterical note enters his voice。 〃Jesus never lied； even when he stood before his accusers。〃
〃Be calm； Dante；〃 I say soothingly。 〃That was long ago。 None of it can hurt you now。 Just tell me what happened。〃
He relaxes some； but shifts closer to the fire； as if chilled。
〃The pope grew angry at me； and accused me of being in league with Satan and my duke。 I was chained to my seat and more witnesses were called； more people I had never seen before。 These spoke against me as well as my duke； while the cardinals whispered among themselves。 I was very afraid。 They were talking about burning us。 I did not know what to do！〃
〃Peace； Dante； peace。 Continue。〃
Dante swallows thickly before continuing。 On top of everything else； he seems to have trouble breathing。 A frown w