Sophia and Daoud dressed quickly and opened the door for the cardinal. "D'Ucello has come here with twenty or more men-at-arms," Ugolini said. "He demands that you go with him to the Palazzo del Podesta, David." "Can you not order him away?" Sophia demanded. "You are a prince of the Church. You did that before." "He waited until most of the power of the Church had left Orvieto," said Ugolini. "And until the Filippeschi had been crushed, thinking I might call upon them for help," Daoud said. "You must try to escape," said Sophia. "Then what would happen to you?" "We will escape together!" Daoud looked at her drawn face, and at that moment he loved her more than ever. His love warmed him, and freed him from the grip of fear. This woman--who had spoken a short time ago so calmly of separation--was ready to run, to dodge arrows, to hide in ditches, to climb walls, to do whatever she had to, to be near him. "If he finds out what you are, we are all doomed," said Ugolini. Daoud saw that the small body was aquiver with fear. He could imagine what Ugolini was thinking, that the evil he had dreaded since Daoud came to Orvieto had come upon them at last. Just when he thought he was about to escape it. "He will learn nothing," said Daoud. "He will torture you." Ugolini sat down on Sophia's bed and wrapped his arms around his stomach. "We will all die horribly--me, Sophia, Tilia--everyone who helped you." He raised hands curved like claws and shook them at Daoud. "Oh, God, how I wish you had never come here!" Sophia sat beside Ugolini and put her hand on his knee. "If we can stay calm, dear Eminence, we can think of a way out of this." "Even if he tortures me, I will tell him nothing, except that I am David, the trader from Trebizond," said Daoud. The methods of resisting pain that he had learned from the Hashishiyya would serve him now. "You must not think of going with him!" Sophia cried. "It is the only way. If I cooperate, it shows my innocence. The cardinal can use his influence to get me freed." She jumped up and threw herself against him, weeping. "You are going to your death!" He held her tightly. "D'Ucello has nothing to gain by killing me," he said. "And surrendering to him is the only thing I can do." He looked at Ugolini. "Do you agree?" Ugolini sighed and shook his head. "I cannot think." Gently Daoud freed himself from Sophia's embrace. "Insh'Allah, God willing, I will return to you." He turned to the door. Every muscle in his body screamed at him to run, or to draw his sword and try to fight his way out. He cringed inwardly from the thought of imprisonment and torture. He remembered the poor madman whose body they had torn apart with red-hot pincers. He forced himself not to tremble. He took the first step toward the door, then another. _God, make me strong in the face of my enemies._ LI