Adelheid had not moved, although by now day was rising and the servants had extinguished the lamps.

Two stewards entered, the second waiting as the first whispered to Lady Lavinia, who nodded.

“Very good, Veralia. Have the guards bring the prisoners to the courtyard. I’ll be out in a moment.” As the first steward hurried out, Lavinia bent her head to hear the message brought by the second, then turned to Adelheid. “Your Majesty, if you will attend me, there is water now for a bath and clean robes to change into. A meal to be served and wine to drink.”

Adelheid did not move.

“I must go out for a moment, Your Highness,” Lavinia continued, looking anxious when Adelheid did not respond. “My soldiers scout the countryside every day, seeking refugees. Enemies. Allies. We cast a wide net, and now and again catch a handsome fish. Few march as boldly to our walls as you did.”

Lavinia faltered as Antonia shook her head, enjoining silence. Mathilda’s attendants had shoved the big table out of the way and up against a tapestry depicting the trials of triumphs of St. Agnes, the virgin whom fire refused to burn. Antonia set her burden down on this table and unwrapped the cloth covering. It gleamed in lamplight, polished and bright.

“That is Emperor Taillefer’s crown,” said Adelheid. Her expression sharpened. The fire that had refused to touch St. Agnes, tied to the stake for refusing to offer incense to pagan gods, had leaped into Adelheid’s heart and caught there.

“Henry may be dead, Your Majesty, but his daughters live. You are still Empress, crowned and anointed.”

“I am still Empress,” she whispered, nodding.

God grant a certain light to some people that causes them therefore to draw the eye. As one watches a flame ignite in oil, Antonia watched Adelheid burn once more. The trials she had suffered had seared away her soft prettiness, but even this could not touch the core of her, which was iron.

“We must bide our time and make our plans carefully,” the queen went on. “We must seek what advantage we can. We must act quickly to build a base of support. News must go out at once that there is a new skopos. Then folk must come to us to receive your blessing.”

Perhaps she had underestimated Adelheid. Anger and suffering had honed her into a fitting weapon.

“Many will seek God’s guidance,” Antonia agreed.

“It’s true I still have an army, if Lady Lavinia can feed and house us. There are other allies who will be desperate for guidance—as you say—in this time of trouble. Frightened people seek a strong leader.” She touched each gem fixed to the seven points on the massive crown: gleaming pearl, lapis lazuli, pale sapphire, carnelian, ruby, emerald, and last of all banded orange-brown sardonyx, which represented God’s hierarchy on Earth: God, noble, commoner.

“My lady!” The first steward reappeared at the door. Veralia was stout and brisk, a good captain of the hall. “The guards have brought the new prisoners, as you instructed. They are armed, but have offered no resistance, so Captain Oswalo deemed it best not to provoke a fight. They are heavily guarded.”