sorry for him. Even though Tilia was very much alive, this was going to
be a terrible shock.

Daoud said, "In the dungeon I heard something had happened at Tilia's
house."

Ugolini's eyes grew huge. "Tilia! My God, what was it?"

"Tilia is well, Cardinal," Sophia said quickly. "Luckily for her, she
was here when it happened." She wondered how much Daoud knew about what
had happened, and how he felt about it. Her heart still ached for poor
Rachel. Where was the child now, right at this moment? Somewhere on the
road to Perugia. Being abused, perhaps, by that beast of a Tartar.

"When _what_ happened?" Ugolini cried. "In the name of Christ and the
Virgin, speak out!"

Sophia told the cardinal and Daoud how she and Tilia had gone to Tilia's
house, and of the death and destruction they had found there. It hurt
her to see the anguish in their eyes. Especially Daoud's. He _must_ feel
a terrible guilt about having sent Rachel there in the first place. Now
he had to suffer that, along with pain d'Ucello had inflicted on him.

"The Tartars and de Verceuil!" Ugolini shouted, shaking clenched fists.
"May God send a flood to drown them on the road to Orvieto! May all the
devils in hell roast them!" He paced the floor furiously, his red robes
rustling. "I must go to Tilia at once," he cried.

"No," said Daoud. "Too many people would see you."

"But she has no one to protect her."

"She has hired guards," said Sophia. "And those who ruined her house are
gone."

Daoud's head fell back against the pillow, and his eyelids closed. His
face looked masklike to Sophia, almost as if he were dead. She realized,
with sudden anxiety, that he might be suffering terribly, without
complaint. That would be like him. And she and Ugolini stood here
talking. She must see to Daoud's hurts at once. He might have injuries
within, injuries from which he could not recover.

"Send some of your trusted men-at-arms to protect Tilia," said Daoud
without opening his eyes, his voice faint. "Riccardo and some others. Do
not go yourself."

"Of course," said Ugolini, looking abashed. "Even though you have been
tortured, your head is sounder than mine. But, you understand, _I_ am
tortured by the thought of what has happened to Tilia."

"I, too," said Daoud. "And to her people. And to Rachel."

"Tomorrow you can tell me what happened to you," said Ugolini at the
door. "I will let you rest now." He drew a breath, hesitated, bit his
lip. Sophia wished h