Chapter 12
JOHANNA’S HEART still beat high in her throat when she came back into the main hall, where the festivities continued as if nothing had happened. The air was heavy with the smell of sweat and alcohol. Waltzing couples filled the dance floor. The music, talk and laughter drowned out the shouts and neighs from outside. The doors on the far side of the hall were closed, so none of the stewards had yet come in to warn their masters and no one had seen the fire.
Don’t trust any easterners. There were easterners everywhere in the crowd, amongst the guests and the servants, and in the distinguished party at the dais. There was no way that they were all bad, and there was no way to determine if any of them had knowledge of what was happening outside.
The king sat alone at the dais, fl
