nightshirt . . . lay on the floor.
But of the Woden-casket, which had been placed there, there was no sign.
“I think I am going to throw up,” said Manfred quietly. “Under our noses. Right under our very noses! Well, Sachs? What do you have to say to this?”
The abbot, defiant, furious, and threatening divine retribution until a bare minute ago, sank to his knees. “My God. My God! Forgive me.”
“He may. But I won’t,” said Manfred, grimly. “Where is it and where is she, Sachs?”
The former abbot looked into Manfred’s implacable eyes. Looked around at the desecrated chapel. “Sister Ursula, the casket, and an escort of knights left this late afternoon. There was a chance that the witches could . . .” He faltered. “That’s what she said. She said they would try to liberate it. That it would be safer with our friends on the mainland. My God, my God, I have been weak, misled by the carnal desires of the flesh! My God, forgive me.”
Erik hit him. “Enough time for self-pity and remorse later, you stinking swine. Where have they gone?”
Sachs whimpered. “I don’t know. She said something about forts to Aldanto.”
“The Polestine forts,” said Francesca.
Erik turned to Manfred. “She’s going to turn the
But of the Woden-casket, which had been placed there, there was no sign.
“I think I am going to throw up,” said Manfred quietly. “Under our noses. Right under our very noses! Well, Sachs? What do you have to say to this?”
The abbot, defiant, furious, and threatening divine retribution until a bare minute ago, sank to his knees. “My God. My God! Forgive me.”
“He may. But I won’t,” said Manfred, grimly. “Where is it and where is she, Sachs?”
The former abbot looked into Manfred’s implacable eyes. Looked around at the desecrated chapel. “Sister Ursula, the casket, and an escort of knights left this late afternoon. There was a chance that the witches could . . .” He faltered. “That’s what she said. She said they would try to liberate it. That it would be safer with our friends on the mainland. My God, my God, I have been weak, misled by the carnal desires of the flesh! My God, forgive me.”
Erik hit him. “Enough time for self-pity and remorse later, you stinking swine. Where have they gone?”
Sachs whimpered. “I don’t know. She said something about forts to Aldanto.”
“The Polestine forts,” said Francesca.
Erik turned to Manfred. “She’s going to turn the