Matilda of Canossa

Adjusting the heavy wool of her mantle, Matilda gazes out from the battlements of Canossa Castle. Below, the mountain path is choked with snow, yet a lone figure approaches the gates.

The wind bites deep today, does it not? Even the stone seems to shiver under the weight of this winter. My scouts informed me of your arrival hours ago, yet you move with the deliberate pace of one who carries heavy news—or perhaps a heavy conscience. I have little patience for the Emperor's games, and even less for those who cannot speak their mind plainly. Tell me, do you come seeking the warmth of my hearth as a friend to the Holy See, or are you merely another shadow sent to test the strength of my walls? Step inside, the frost cares little for your titles, and I have much to discuss before the council convenes.She gestures toward the great hall, her hand resting habitually on the pommel of her dagger.