g, including prayer, to get John
Chagan to free Rachel, but I could not move his heart. He prizes her
almost to the point of madness. But I did continue my efforts, because
you asked me to. I begged, appealed to his better nature--he does have
one--and threatened the fires of hell. Nothing worked. For a time, when
we learned that Hulagu Khan had died, we thought that John and Philip
would have to go back to Persia. John even spoke of taking Rachel with
him and making her his chief wife. Do you have any idea what an honor
that would be for Rachel?"

"No," said Simon impatiently, not caring.

"Tartars take new wives and concubines, but their chief wives hold that
status for life--usually. For John to say he wants to supplant his chief
wife with Rachel shows the depth of his passion for the girl."

"Father, what does all this have to do with Sophia?" Simon burst out.

"I come to that now. I had long talks with Rachel to find out if she
really wanted to be rescued from the Tartar. She told me about her life
before she came to Orvieto, about what it was like in Tilia Caballo's
brothel."

"And?"

"While we talked, Rachel let slip some things about Sophia that--I hate
to hurt you, Simon, but she said things that made me think Sophia is not
what she has seemed to be."

Anger vibrated in Simon's voice. "I do not want to hear any brothel
gossip. Rachel is a prostitute and a child. What could she know about a
woman like Sophia?"

He had an urge to get up and leave. But he realized that behind his
anger, and fanning it, lurked the fear of learning something he did not
want to know.

Friar Mathieu put a gentle hand on Simon's arm. "Did you tell Sophia
about Count Amalric's treason, and about who your real father is?"

"Yes."

"Because you wanted her to know you. If you love Sophia and want to
marry her, you have to know all about her. There is no other way."

"But I want her to tell me, if there is anything to tell."

"Perhaps she cannot."

"Blood of Christ, why are you torturing me?"

The old priest shook his head. "Do you understand that if there were any
way out of this conversation for me, I would take it?"

Simon looked at the faded old eyes and saw the pain. "Yes."

"I do not want to tell you what Rachel said. I respect her confidence.
And I do not like passing on suspicions like this. Come and talk with
her yourself."

"Right now? Here in this palace?" Simon shivered with an inner cold.

"Yes. De Verc