Harald watched Marshal climb up to the trapdoor and unbolt it. It swung down and caught against the wall. Marshal pulled himself up into the room.

"You'd better get up here," he called. "You aren't going to believe this."

Harald climbed up next with Rodrigo on his heels. Joan and Suze were behind him. They were in the sparring room. Marriette lay on the table with an old woman praying over her and another woman leaning against the wall. Marriette had a knife in her swollen belly. ...