That was Ugolini's explanation of why he had come north with Manfred's army. Daoud wondered what Tilia's was. Both risked being imprisoned and probably executed should Manfred lose and Charles capture them. "Did you see Lorenzo leave?" "Moments before you came down," said Tilia. "That big dog of his, Scipio, is inconsolable. I can hear him keening in the stable. I think Adelberto and I will take him up to our room and comfort him." Daoud said, "It is a rare moment when Scipio is not at Lorenzo's side. And I think, too, he can sense when his master is in danger. As we all are today. It would be kind of you to care for him." With a tremulous attempt at laughter, Sophia said, "And who will care for me?" Tilia laid her small hand on Sophia's arm. "We will stay with you, Sophia, if you want, until Daoud returns." She pulled Ugolini inside the door and it closed behind them, leaving Daoud and Sophia alone. Sophia moved close in the lamplight outside the entrance of the merchant's house and looked up at him, her eyes large and solemn. "Nothing but you matters to me. Come back to me." Daoud still wished he could convince her that she had nothing to fear. But that was foolish. She knew all too well that there was much to fear. "I don't want you to be frightened," he said. "I will try not to be." "I will come back." There was so much he wanted to tell her, so much he realized now he had not said about how he loved her as he had never loved another woman in his life since-- Since his mother. They were two people who had been utterly alone in the world, who had both lost everyone precious to them. All they truly had was each other. _Oh, God, let me come back to her. I ask this not for my happiness, but for hers._ "I know I will see you again." She smiled suddenly. "Can you find your way to me?" He looked up at the building and then at the street. Bulking large against the stars was the huge square shape of an arch, which had been built over a thousand years ago, he was told, by a Roman general to commemorate his conquest of Jerusalem. With this talk of stars and portents, he felt it must mean something that this victory arch should be here in Benevento. Were not these wars of Muslim and Christian that had shaped his destiny wars over Jerusalem? He said, "I will ride through that arch, and you will be on the third floor of the house with the carving over the door of San Giorgio slaying the dragon." She smiled, her teeth white in the lantern light. "That is the Archangel Michael overcoming Satan." "How am I to tell one Christian idol from another?" She pushed at him. He saw the tracks of tears glistening on her cheeks. His own eyes burned. "Go quickly now."