‘Luca’s commander was very afraid,’ Isolde observed. ‘He wanted it out of his sight.’

‘I know.’

‘Perhaps you should burn it.’

‘Perhaps I will.’ Ishraq hesitated. ‘But I don’t understand why Luca’s lord was so troubled. He was unhurt, after all.’

‘If it was an Assasin who pinned it on his chest for a warning . . .’

‘It was no Assassin,’ she said. ‘It was Radu Bey himself, and Luca’s lord must have admitted him to his room in secret. For I saw Radu Bey come out. I myself let him out of the front door.’

‘Why didn’t you say?’ Isolde asked.

‘Because Luca’s lord had met him in secret and then made up this story about an Assasin. I didn’t know what it meant. Now I doubt Luca’s lord.’

‘He is appointed by the Pope,’ Isolde pointed out.

‘That doesn’t make him a good man,’ Ishraq reminded her. ‘There are many appointed by the Pope who persecute and destroy. And there is more between him and Radu Bey than we know. And, as he left, Radu Bey warned me.’

‘Of what?’

‘He asked me had I ever looked in Milord’s face, and I said that he is always hooded and in shadow. And he laughed and said that a man of God does not work in darkness. He said that when I see his face I will understand more. He said . . .’ she broke off.

‘What?’ Isolde asked, lowering her voice as if she feared that Milord might be listening to them.

‘He said never to let him come too close.’

‘Why?’

Ishraq shook her head. ‘He didn’t say. He said not to let him touch me. Not to let him . . .’ she hesitated. ‘Not to let him kiss me.’

‘He’s sworn to a monastic order!’ Isolde objected.

‘I know. But it wasn’t because it would be a sin,’ Ishraq tried to explain. ‘He said it as if . . . as if it would be dangerous. As if his touch might be . . . dangerous.’

There was a frightened silence. Then Isolde shook her head. ‘We can trust no one,’ she said.

‘We can trust Luca, and Freize,’ Ishraq said. ‘We’re safe with them. And I know that Brother Peter is a good man. But I don’t trust Luca’s lord nor his Order.’

‘We can trust each other,’ Isolde suggested, tentatively. She stretched out her hand to her friend and Ishraq stepped into her embrace. For a moment they stood together, then Ishraq stepped back. ‘We can trust each other,’ Ishraq ruled. And we have to. For I think we are alone together in a very dangerous world.’