In the stable at Antioch,
"My lord, please forgive him. You don't know what he's been through. A year ago, in this wretched place, he lost his fiancée forever. She was one of you Franks—the daughter of the Duke of Burgundy," a German noble who knew Sven well explained to Eric.
"Is she still alive?" Eric asked.
"Perhaps she died under the blades of the Turkic People. Or perhaps she's still alive, forced to wander somewhere as a slave to Heretics just to survive. Either outcome is heartbreaking. It's a sad story." The German noble sighed.
"It's not the story that's sad, but the man. This tragedy is of his own making. If he had been rational enough, he would have refused to bring his fanatical wife along."
Eric ended the topic, swung himself onto his horse, and scanned his surroundings, confirming that all the Frank and German nobles were mounted.
