Chapters 22-23 Summary

Traveling in bad weather with his small rear division of Lothar's army, Gerold and his men reach the ancient road, Via Francigena, on which they will travel to Rome. Along the way they see the remains of villages, pillaged, burned and robbed of their men, the people having suffered atrocities at the hands of Lothar's army. Gerold resolves to end his service to Lothar after reaching Rome with his men. Gerold comes upon Benedict, who is riding away with the papal treasury. He binds Benedict and his men with the intention of taking them to Rome.

During a huge feast for Lothar's army, Benedict is brought before Sergius, who has overindulged in food and wine. He orders that Benedict be treated as a thief, and goes into a seizure. Exhausted and not wanting to face the Pope's physicians, Joan is shown...