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d points upstream。
〃This way is the woods； my lady；〃 he says。 〃Soon we will be free of this unholy place。〃
I stop him。 〃I can't go with you； Dante； not yet。〃
His exhilaration turns to distress。 〃My lady？ Why not？〃
〃I cannot go from here and leave Landulf alive。〃
Dante is devastated。 〃But if you go after him you will die！ He is too strong！〃
〃I am strong； Dante。 You have seen that。 But I need your help to find him。 Where does he spend most of his time in the castle？〃
Dante is animated。 〃No； my lady。 I don't know。 He is like most people and moves around from place to place。 You will not find him before his knights find you。 Please； we must escape now while we have a chance。〃
I clasp his shoulders。 〃But I have to try to find him； Dante。 Landulf may have taken something from me； something very precious； and I cannot leave this castle without knowing that he has been destroyed。〃
Dante is confused。 〃What did he take from you that is so precious？〃
〃I cannot explain that to you。 I just need you to trust me that I speak the truth。 e； you spent many years with him。 Where is the most likely place he will be right now？〃
〃But I don't know when right now is； my lady。 All is dark in here。〃
I stop and concentrate。 Even though I have been unconscious much of the time； my very cells remember the passage of time。 〃It is the second morning after I came here； not long before dawn。〃 I pause。 〃Where does he spend his mornings？〃
Dante's face twitches。 〃If I tell you； will you do what you did last time？ Will you go to him？〃
I stroke his head and speak in a gentle hypnotic voice。 〃You have to tell me。 You are my friend。 You are the only one I can trust。 It is imperative that I destroy Landulf before I leave here。 Not merely for the safety of you and me； but for the well…being of all people everywhere。 You can see that； can't you？ His evil has spread far and wide。 I must stop it here at its source。〃
My words go deep into Dante。 〃He causes much suffering in many lands；〃 he whispers as he nods to himself。
〃And that suffering can stop today。 Tell me where in this castle he spends his mornings？〃
〃But； my lady； if you leave me now； when will I see you again？〃
I continue to stroke his head。 〃Remember the pool of water where we slept the night before we came to the castle？ It was off the road。 Do you think you would be able to hike back there？〃
He nods vigorously。 〃I can do it。 I know these woods。 When will you meet me there？〃
〃This evening。 I can get there by then。 Can you？〃
〃I am sure of it； my lady。 If I do not stop to rest。〃
〃〃You can stop to rest。 If I get there before you； I will wait。〃
He grips my arm fiercely。 〃Do you promise； my lady？〃
〃I promise you； Dante。 With all my heart。〃 I pause and sharpen my tone。 I know my next words must feel as if they cut right through him like knives but the time has passed for gentle persuasion。 〃Now tell me where Landulf is。〃
Dante speaks quickly； startled。 〃He is probably not in the castle now。 He spends most mornings at the ancient oracle； where Venus was long ago venerated。〃
〃Where is this spot？〃 I demand。
〃It is a stone circle built into the side of the cliff at the back of the castle。〃 He gestures downstream。 〃That way opens onto a stream that falls not far from the place。 But it is a dangerous spot； my lady。 His power is greatest there； and the spirits protect him。 You will not be able to get to him。 You have to wait until he leaves the circle。〃
〃We will see。〃 I pat Dante on the back。 〃Before this day is through； you and I will meet again。 It will be a time of rejoicing。 The evil enemy will be defeated and good friends will be together and free to go where they wish。〃
〃To Messina？〃 he asks excitedly。
〃Yes； we can go to Messina。〃 I hug him。 〃Take care of yourself； Dante。 You are much loved by me。〃
He hugs me in return and speaks in my ear。
〃You are my love； my lady。〃
15
The dark path leads to light； but the sun is not yet up when I exit the underground passageway and stand on the edge of the cliff and look out at the vast panorama。 A large section of the south shore of Sicily is indeed visible。 The sea is purple and there are few clouds。 The closest beach…far below and perhaps three miles distant…is occupied by a large contingent of soldiers。 I can see the color of their skin； their black and green flags that wave in the morning breeze。
Arabs。 Moslems。
They could not be so near without Lord Landulf s consent。
The duke is not far away； off to my left； down about five hundred feet。 As Dante warned； he sits in the center of a circle of stones…defined by the shape of the ledge and the pointed rocks that enclose it…in another pentagram。 This five…pointed star appears to have been drawn by blood； and there is something red and slimy in his hands。 He sits on his knees with his back to the cliff and I do not know what thoughts run through his corrupt mind。 I only know he will be dead in a few minutes。
I start down the cliff。
Venus shines bright in the eastern sky。
I take her white light as a good omen。
I e within fifty feet of the stone circle before I pause。 There is a young woman chained to the cliff just below me； and I see Landulf has the Spear of Longinus with him at the center of the pentagram。 I find it odd that I did not see it at first since I have not let him out of my sight on the hike down the cliff。 But the fact does not concern me； the girl does。 She is the one who assisted me when I rescued her and her friends from the cage。 Like her friend； who was sacrificed at the black mass； she wears a white robe and looks terrified。 Yet except for the three of us； I sense no one else in the vicinity。 I descend another thirty feet； silently； staring at Landulf s back。 I know it is him。 The girl sees me and I motion for her to remain silent。 Her eyes are suddenly wide with hope； and I have to wonder if that is good。 This all seems too easy。
Then I pause again。 Something makes me sick。
Lady Cia lies not far from the chained girl。
Her heart has been cut from her chest。
Now I know what Lord Landulf holds in his hands。
He continues to sit with his back to me。 Defenseless。
〃It was necessary； Sita；〃 he says softly。
That he knows I am here stuns me。
〃Why？〃 I ask。
He glances over his shoulder。
〃The sacrifice demanded the ultimate sacrifice；〃 he says。
〃To achieve what aim？〃 I ask。
〃To bring you here； to this spot。〃
I snort。 〃I brought myself here； thank you。 None of your demons assisted me。〃
He stands and stares at me。 His wife's heart continues to drip in his open palm。 His eyes are so dark 〃That's what you think；〃 he says quietly。
I gesture to the girl。 〃Why is she here？〃
〃For you。 For the next step in your initiation。〃
I point to my ears。 〃I have sensitive hearing。 The three of us are alone on this cliff。 Not that it matters。 You would need an army to protect you from what I am going to do to you now。〃
He gestures to the circle； using the heart。 〃You say your ears are sensitive。 What about your eyes？ Can you not see what you are u