Chapters 12-13 Summary

Serving as a district judge, or "missus," Gerold renders lawful judgment for hundreds of complainants in the name of the Emperor. He deals out punishments like boiling water torture, fines and other bizarre penalties. Finally finished with his job, Gerold heads home, deciding that he wants Joan to be his wife. He finds Villairis a pile of ashes with intermingled dead bodies. At the cathedral he finds the bodies of almost everyone he has known, including his family members, but he is unable to find Joan. Gerold leads his men in an attack against the departing Norsemen and sees his screaming daughter, Gisla, being abducted on their ship. Gerald concludes the Vikings have taken Joan, as well, and after hacking a young Viking corpse in his rage, he weeps.

Anastasius visits the tent of Pope Gregory who has been sent by...