But the task was revealing itself to be arduous enough to force him to surrender.
After the blizzard during the night, the morning was so clear that Maria felt like she could touch the mountains with her fingers. Even San Paolo was pure white, like the roofs of Montegrimano. It was a fleeting sprinkle, a dusting that would survive the spring heat for just a few hours. She recognized her father right away, followed at a short distance by the unmistakeable outline of Gasparino and by another knight. The stranger rode a nice steed and, though he didn't reach the size of Bonzio, he had to be a strong and robust soldier. The girl leaned out, waving from the top of the walls to be seen. Raising a hand, her father returned her greeting.
«Bonzio has returned!» yelled the guard.
For the first ti
