Last Vampire 6(30)
Marie opens a door onto a small room. There is linen on the straw mattress and a bowl of water. Marie lights a row of candles and asks if I need anything else.
"No thank you," I say.
She leaves and I am alone. Washing my hands in the water provided, I am at a loss to explain why I keep looking around for a faucet with running water. Then I remember there are such niceties, in other places. The water is cold but seems fresh. I drink some and it rinses away the blood in my mouth. I do not understand how the soldier was able to resist my questions.
11
A short time later I am at LordL andulf's supper table. An old spear is fastened to the wall. It is thisspear that the room seems to be designed around. From the massive stone fireplace logs crack and shoot showers of sparks out into the room as I am introduced to Lord Landulf by Lady Cia.
"This is the young woman I told you about," she says. "She came to our door not more than an hour ago, seeking asylum. Her traveling companion, her uncle, has just been killed on the road. Sita, this is the duke and my husband, Lord Landulf."
He is not a tall man and looks frail, which surprises me, after all the gruesome stories I have heard of him. Yet his delicateness is not necessarily a sign of weakness. He appears to be physically agile, and I suspect he is an accomplished swordsman. He wears a neatly trimmed black mustache and a pointed graying beard. He has oily smooth skin, and is dressed impeccably in a dark red silk chemise with long, tight sleeves, black hose, and a red and gold embroidery tunic, which comes down past his knees. His hands, like those of his wife, are decorated with many uncut gems and pearls. A ruby on his left middle finger is the largest I have ever seen. His voice, when he speaks is cultured, educated and refined. His large dark eyes are warm but shrewd. He clicks his soft, heelless leather shoes together and bows in my direction. "Lady Sita," he says. "It is a pleasure."
I offer my hand. "The pleasure is mine, Lord Landulf."
He kisses my middle finger, and glances up at me. "Surprise visitors are always the most enchanting."
"Hidden castles are always the most exciting," I say with a smile.
We sit down to a vegetable soup. Lady Cia leads us in a brief prayer. There are only us three at the table; we have four servants waiting on us. The soup isfinishedwhen Landulf inquires about my travels.Consideringthe expansion of the Arab World, it isimpossibleto talk for more than a few minutes without the subject turning to the invading Moslems. At thisL andulfs mood turns foul.
"Six of those heathen ships tried to land on a beach not five miles from here," he says bitterly. "They came in on a wave of fog, but my scouts were wary,Wewere able to set fire to their sails before they reached land. All their people were lost in the tides."
His remark stuns me. "You fight the Moslemshere?"I ask.
"Of course," he says, and there is a gleam in his eye as he studies me. "Have you heard different?"
I lower my head. "No, my lord."
"Come," he says with force, "We are sharing food. Why have secrets between friends? You have obviously traveled far and wide with your uncle. Youk now more ofGreece than I do. What have you heard of my relationship with the Moslems?"
I hesitate, then decide I may as well dive in. "The word is that you are in league with them."
He does not lose his temper as I fear. But the air chills. "It is only in Rome they would speak such lies," he says.
"I have been in Rome," I say. "Not three months ago."
"Oh dear," Lady Cia mutters anxiously. "We did not know you had been exposed to such matters."
Landulf raises his hand, "It doesn't matter, in theshort time I have known Sita, it is obvious to me shei s not takeni n by every story shared by every frustrated priest and nun."
"That is true, my lord," I say.
Landulf pulls his chair back from the table and sighs. "It is true that the Holy Father and I have gone our separate ways. But our differences were and still are more political than spiritual. Nicholas believes we should fortify our defenses, and wait for the Moslems to break against our walls. But I know this foe too well. I have met these bloodthirsty monsters on the battlefield. If we do not attack, push the war back into theirown lands, they will see us as weak and never leave us in peace." Landulf stands and steps away from the table. "But all that is a question of strategy, and in my own land I pursue my own counsel. But tohearthe talk in Rome I have denounced the Churchand turned against Christ himself." He pauses. "Isthatwhat you have heard, Lady Sita?"