‘Yours and mine both. But you don’t have to make it worse by giving us both a headache.’ Her servant’s stern expression softened. ‘Why don’t you come with me and Domnicus into the city?’

‘No. I’m. . . I’m too distracted.’

‘Well, go for a walk in the gardens or something. You can’t stay cooped up here.’

‘Maybe you’re right.’ She shook her head and snorted. ‘Anyway, you’re spending a lot of time with Domnicus, aren’t you?’

‘What of that?’

‘And he gave you that.’ Lilla pointed at the little golden cross hanging around Gerutha’s neck. ‘What does it signify anyway?’

‘It’s the sign of their god.’

‘I know that. But what does it mean?’

Gerutha shrugged. ‘He told me it means that love is more powerful than death.’

‘Huh! That’s absurd.’ Lilla couldn’t remember when her heart had grown so cynical. Love hadn’t stopped her kin from dying.

‘Is it?’ Gerutha shook her head. ‘Maybe. But I like the sound of it.’

‘It sounds as if you like him,’ Lilla smiled.

‘What? No, I—’

‘A man doesn’t give a woman gold unless he likes her too.’

‘He’s not a man. He’s a priest.’

‘Aren’t priests allowed to marry?’

Grusha chuckled. ‘Actually, I don’t know. But I promise you it’s not like that. I. . . I admire him. He’s fearless – and yet completely humble. Gentle too.’

‘It definitely sounds as if you like him,’ Lilla chuckled.

‘Well, you can think what you want,’ replied Grusha to close the matter. ‘Now then, you have all you need. If there’s anything else, Yana can help you. Wherever that useless girl’s got to,’ she added. Gerutha was unimpressed with the servant Katāros had assigned to them. She threw a shawl around her shoulders.

‘Where is it today?’ said Lilla.

‘The coppersmiths’ quarter. I’ll be back before dark. Try to think of other things.’

Lilla scoffed. ‘What other things?’

Gerutha gave her a sympathetic smile then lifted the latch of the door. ‘You’ll come up with something.’ She opened the door and took a step back in surprise. Three tall sentinels stood in the doorway, their faces half-hidden behind steel nose-guards. One of the men stepped forward into the room.

‘Queen Lilla Sviggarsdottír?’

‘You know who I am.’ Lilla frowned as two other sentinels entered the room and moved behind her. ‘What is it?’

‘By personal order of Emperor Leo, third of his name, I am charged to place you under arrest.’