"What if your concubine was in league with the sorcerers all along?" Scholastica continued, tight and controlled. "Now she is in a significant position of power. In your bed! The histories tell us that other women have ruled in such a way, although it grants them no dignity to do so."

He was too angry to speak.

Liutgard looked troubled. "It's true. All this talk of a secret cabal, these Seven Sleepers. It would make sense they would have a deeper plan."

Aunt," said Theophanu in her cool voice, "I pray you, if that is true, then why would Liathano deny that she is Taillefer's heir? There is no one to say otherwise, except her. We all believed it. Why would she throw away a claim to power if she sought power?"

"Are you defending her?" asked Scholastica.

"You have not answered Theo's question." Sanglant nodded at Theophanu, and he could not keep a smirk from his face. He liked seeing his aunt discomfited. She deserved it.

"She is subtle," said the abbess finally.

"She is not subtle," said Theophanu with a shake of her head. "She is a cub among wolves, here at court. She is awkward and as likely to say the wrong thing as to keep silence. Begging your pardon, Sanglant."

He shrugged. "It's true enough."

"Were she subtler," said Liutgard, "there would be less disquiet. But it's true, she's no courtier. She has not the least idea of the duties and obligations that bind the consort. Folk fear her, for they have heard many strange stories about her. Yet it seems there are those among the progress who champion her." She smiled a little. Maybe it, too, was a smirk, to answer his. "Eagles and Lions. Common-born folk."

"A common-born woman cannot become queen, not in Wendar," said Scholastica. "In Salia of old, as it says in the histories, a slave might become a queen if she caught a king's fancy and aroused his lust—"

Naturally, having said it, she stopped. She thought. She looked at Sanglant, and, God Above, he felt himself blushing.

"So it seems not only in Salia of old," she remarked, her voice fainted with an ugly tone. "I had forgotten that in her history, so it is said, she was for some time a slave because of her father's debts. It was said she was Hugh of Austra's mistress—and he a fine and upstanding frater!"

Sanglant kicked away his chair and strode to the back of the hall, unable to stand still.

"Does this not trouble you, Nephew?" she said to his back.

He turned to make a retort, but paused.

Theophanu leaned forward to clasp her aunt's hands. Scholastica winced as Theophanu tightened her grip. "Never believe that she went to Hugh of Austra's bed willingly. If I say anything, Aunt, if you believe me at all, believe that."

"What do you know of the matter?"

"I know enough. She saved my life many years ago, when she was only an Eagle and I was—foolish and blind."