He looked down at the weapons laid out on the chest, selected a dagger, and stuck it in his belt. Next to the dagger lay the Scorpion, the tiny crossbow, assembled, with a box of finger-length darts beside it. Surely not a weapon for a battle, he thought. "Here." He turned to Sophia and handed her the crossbow. "I know you have a dagger, but you can use this to protect yourself too. Sometimes I coat the darts with a drug that makes a man unconscious, sometimes with deadly poison. These darts are poisoned--be very careful with them. Most people have never seen a weapon like this, so it will surprise them. And you do not have to get close to your enemy to use it." "I do not need protection," said Sophia. "You will be out there protecting me." "If you take it, it will put my mind at ease," said Daoud. "For that reason only," said Sophia, dropping the tiny crossbow and the box of darts into a leather bag on top of her own traveling chest. Daoud picked up the locket. Its hammered silver outer surface glowed softly in the candlelight. "Please take this too," he said. "You have seen me wear it many times. After I have left you today, open it. I believe you will see a picture--an image--of me." She lowered her head and rested her hands on his armored chest as he hung the locket on its silver chain around her neck. He unfolded his forest-green linen cape and draped it over himself, clasping it at his throat with a gold chain. He took her in his arms, carefully, so as not to hurt her with the steel breastplate, and pressed his lips against hers for a long time. A knock at the door broke their kiss. "My lord, your horse is ready," said Husain's voice. At the door of the house, Ugolini and Tilia, both of them heavily cloaked against the cold night air, were waiting for them. In the light of the single small oil lamp burning beside the doorway, they were two short, bulky shadows, Tilia much bulkier than Ugolini. "We heard you moving about," said Tilia. "We came down to wish you victory." "What do the stars say about today?" Daoud asked Ugolini. "Yesterday, the twenty-first of February, the sun moved from the house of Aquarius the water-bearer to the house of Pisces, the fish." Ugolini shook his head dolefully. "The fish is the sign of Christendom." "Adelberto, you are a poor astrologer," said Tilia heartily. "A good astrologer would find something encouraging to say. For example: It would not be good for Christendom for Charles to win. The French would dominate the Church and corrupt it. True Christianity will triumph if Manfred wins." "Do not use the word 'if,' Madama Tilia," said Daoud with a smile. "I know Manfred is going to win," said Ugolini. "Otherwise I would not have followed his army all the way to Benevento. I believe he will go on to the Papal States and will persuade Pope Clement to restore me to my rightful position." "If Pope Clement _waits_ for Manfred after Charles is defeated," said Tilia dryly.