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oesn't reach her eyes。 She is exceedingly thin； and holds herself under rigid control。 I cannot say I warm to her； but she is anything but threatening。 Certainly she does not seem afraid of me。 I have left my long knife with the bodies of the soldiers。
Lady Cia invites me in without many questions。 I don't ask why a man who used to be an archbishop now has a wife。 Since the pope doesn't want him； I think； he may have decided to enjoy good pany。
〃It is seldom we get visitors from Greece；〃 she says； when I explain where I have just e from。 〃But that is not your home； is it； Sita？〃
Removing my cap； I shake out my blond hair。 〃No。 Like you； I am from England。〃
She is pleased。 〃You are perceptive。 But surely you are not traveling through the country by yourself？〃
I act sad。 〃No。 I was with my uncle。 But there was an accident on the road； and he was killed。〃
She touches her heart 〃I am so sorry。 What was the accident？〃
〃His horse threw him。 His neck broke。〃
She shakes her head and leads me deeper into the castle。 〃You poor dear。 You must be devastated。 Let us give you food； shelter。〃
〃Thank you。〃
The castle is magnificent； and although my eyes strain to detect anything odd； the only unusual thing I see is an excess of wealth； even for a Sicilian aerie manded by a duke。 Landulf has sculptures from all along the Mediterranean。 The marble on his floor is inlaid with gold； and the plaster ceilings are warmed by wooden beams。 Everything is tasteful； not an offense to the eye。 I pliment Cia on her home。
〃My husband prides himself on his collections。〃 She points to a marble statue from ancient Greece。 〃Since you were just in that part of the world； I am sure you would appreciate our hero。〃
I approach the statue； touch it； think of Dante； and pray he is all right。 Perseus holds the head of the Medusa in one upraised hand； a sword in the other。 His head is slightly bowed； his great exploit has not made him proud。 But the face of the Gorgon is a horror； even in death she finds no peace。 A feeling of disquiet sweeps over me； but I push it away。 I have seen this statue before； of course I have。 Lady Cia stands by my side。
〃Can I have a servant show you to your room？〃 she asks。 〃You can rest and wash。 Then perhaps you can join us for supper。〃
〃You and Lord Landulf？〃
She does not flinch at the name。 〃Yes。 We would both enjoy the pany。〃 She snaps a finger and a chubby maid appears。 〃Marie will show you to your room。〃
I grasp her hands。 They are cold； although the castle is warm； with fires burning in most corners。 She trembles at my touch but I steady her with my strength。 Staring deep into her eyes； I notice nothing supernatural。
〃You are most kind；〃 I say。
Marie leads me up three flights of stairs before we e to my quarters。 Along the way we pass a window covered with iron bars； and I see that night has firmly arrived。 Marie is dressed in a long black tunic over a white chemise。 With a rosary around her neck； she could have been a nun。 A few of Landulf s walls are covered with frescoes； paintings done directly on fresh plaster。 Most of these have a spiritual theme。 He seems to have an obsession with the Old Testament。 The God that looks over his household is often angry。
Marie opens a door onto a small room。 There is linen on the straw mattress and a bowl of water。 Marie lights a row of candles and asks if I need anything else。
〃No thank you；〃 I say。
She leaves and I am alone。 Washing my hands in the water provided； I am at a loss to explain why I keep looking around for a faucet with running water。 Then I remember there are such niceties； in other places。 The water is cold but seems fresh。 I drink some and it rinses away the blood in my mouth。 I do not understand how the soldier was able to resist my questions。
11
A short time later I am at Lord Landulf's supper table。 An old spear is fastened to the wall。 It is this spear that the room seems to be designed around。 From the massive stone fireplace logs crack and shoot showers of sparks out into the room as I am introduced to Lord Landulf by Lady Cia。
〃This is the young woman I told you about；〃 she says。 〃She came to our door not more than an hour ago； seeking asylum。 Her traveling panion； her uncle； has just been killed on the road。 Sita； this is the duke and my husband； Lord Landulf。〃
He is not a tall man and looks frail； which surprises me； after all the gruesome stories I have heard of him。 Yet his delicateness is not necessarily a sign of weakness。 He appears to be physically agile； and I suspect he is an acplished swordsman。 He wears a neatly trimmed black mustache and a pointed graying beard。 He has oily smooth skin； and is dressed impeccably in a dark red silk chemise with long； tight sleeves； black hose； and a red and gold embroidery tunic； which es down past his knees。 His hands； like those of his wife； are decorated with many uncut gems and pearls。 A ruby on his left middle finger is the largest I have ever seen。 His voice； when he speaks is cultured； educated and refined。 His large dark eyes are warm but shrewd。 He clicks his soft； heelless leather shoes together and bows in my direction。 〃Lady Sita；〃 he says。 〃It is a pleasure。〃
I offer my hand。 〃The pleasure is mine； Lord Landulf。〃
He kisses my middle finger； and glances up at me。 〃Surprise visitors are always the most enchanting。〃
〃Hidden castles are always the most exciting；〃 I say with a smile。
We sit down to a vegetable soup。 Lady Cia leads us in a brief prayer。 There are only us three at the table； we have four servants waiting on us。 The soup is finished when Landulf inquires about my travels。 Considering the expansion of the Arab World； it is impossible to talk for more than a few minutes without the subject turning to the invading Moslems。 At this Landulf's mood turns foul。
〃Six of those heathen ships tried to land on a beach not five miles from here；〃 he says bitterly。 〃They came in on a wave of fog； but my scouts were wary； We were able to set fire to their sails before they reached land。 All their people were lost in the tides。〃
His remark stuns me。 〃You fight the Moslems here？〃 I ask。
〃Of course；〃 he says； and there is a gleam in his eye as he studies me。 〃Have you heard different？〃
I lower my head。 〃No； my lord。〃
〃e；〃 he says with force； 〃We are sharing food。 Why have secrets between friends？ You have obviously traveled far and wide with your uncle。 You know more of Greece than I do。 What have you heard of my relationship with the Moslems？〃
I hesitate； then decide I may as well dive in。 〃The word is that you are in league with them。〃
He does not lose his temper as I fear。 But the air chills。 〃It is only in Rome they would speak such lies；〃 he says。
〃I have been in Rome；〃 I say。 〃Not three months ago。〃
〃Oh dear；〃 Lady Cia mutters anxiously。 〃We did not know you had been exposed to such matters。〃
Landulf raises his hand； 〃It doesn't matter； in the short time I have known Sita； it is obvious to me she is not taken in by every story shared by every frustrated priest and nun。〃
〃That is true； my lord；〃 I say。
Landul