unshuttered windows made me
33
follow his gaze. A small patch of blue sky showed between the buildings
opposite. The canal reflecting the sky’s light back to it. I thought how
brilliant it would be out on the lagoon.
In which are isolated small islands, covered in cypresses, which they
call lazaretto: quarantined islands for sufferers from leprosy, or prisoners
who will never be released. Sometimes both on the same island.
If that made me shudder, I had only to remember the moments of not
being able – because of another’s physical force – to breath in air.
Nothing kills human sympathy so fast.
‘We won’t be rid of him.’ Honorius spoke without moving away from
the fire.
‘A life sentence,’ Rekhmire’ began irritably.
‘Not Carrasco .’ Honorius glanced down apologetically, evidently
realising he robbed me of heat. He sat, beside me, his back nearly as
upright as the oak settle’s. ‘Videric! Or, some other man, or men, sent by
Aldra Videric. Videric will send more spies. More murderers.’
The tone admitted of no doubt. I glanced automatically towards the
cradle in the corner of the room, to reassure myself that Onorata slept.
No matter that a child doesn’t understand, I think she hears the tone of a man’s voice . . .
‘You’re right.’ I rubbed at gritty eyes. ‘I saw them drag Carrasco off
and was glad – that lasted, oh, a quarter of an hour. And then I realised
that as soon as Videric stops getting what reports Carrasco was sending
him, he’ll send other men, to replace the ones who attacked us on
Torcello.’
In my mind I have the flare of a striped cotton robe as a man turns, the
clack of his war-sandals on tiles as he walks away, leaving me with a
woman who he fully expects to murder me. That’s the last time I saw him , I realised suddenly.
I ran for a ship immediately after my mother – after Rosamunda – tried
to kill me.
I know he sent her after me. I know he will have sent others. But that’s
the last I saw: his face concerned with worry for his wife – and all of it a
flat-out lie, to get me into the same room with her so that she could put a
dagger into me.
It is more than three quarters of a year now. I wonder if that fair hair,
that burly profile, look any different. If exile back to his estates at
Rodrigo’s order has made him look old. Or whether he merely bides his
time, knowing that sooner or later one of the murderers he sends will kill
me. And then the scandal may have the chance to die, too, and he may in
the future come back to court . . .
‘Carrasco’s arrest solves nothing.’ Restless, I rose to walk about the
room, careful not to tread the hem of my petticoats underfoot. ‘If no one
else tells Videric, Federico will – because God forbid my foster father
shouldn’t be scrambling to be in favour with every faction he can find!’
34
Honorius seemed surprised at my bitterness. ‘You know him better
than I do. This Federico, I mean. Videric I remember as Rodrigo’s
Chancellor, before I went north for the Crusades.’
He looked a little bitter himself, and I wondered if his expression
mirrored mine – or mine his.
‘Ilario, you can’t expect me to be unbiased. Videric blackmailed
Rosamunda into staying with him instead of leaving with me.’
Much as I like the idea that Honorius is my father, it still jolts me that
Rosamunda remains my mother.
And that that is irrevocable, no matter that the man I thought my
father is only a stepfather – my mother’s husband.
And a man who will send other men to kill me. I have considered this,
wide awake in the Venetian darkness, while the campanile lets me know
it is three, four, five in the morning.
Rekhmire’’s crutch struck the floor with a hollow sound as he came to
peer out of the window, at the narrow view afforded of the Campo S.
Barnaba from this room. ‘I’m told the Council’s dungeons aren’t good
for the health. It’s possible Master
33
follow his gaze. A small patch of blue sky showed between the buildings
opposite. The canal reflecting the sky’s light back to it. I thought how
brilliant it would be out on the lagoon.
In which are isolated small islands, covered in cypresses, which they
call lazaretto: quarantined islands for sufferers from leprosy, or prisoners
who will never be released. Sometimes both on the same island.
If that made me shudder, I had only to remember the moments of not
being able – because of another’s physical force – to breath in air.
Nothing kills human sympathy so fast.
‘We won’t be rid of him.’ Honorius spoke without moving away from
the fire.
‘A life sentence,’ Rekhmire’ began irritably.
‘Not Carrasco .’ Honorius glanced down apologetically, evidently
realising he robbed me of heat. He sat, beside me, his back nearly as
upright as the oak settle’s. ‘Videric! Or, some other man, or men, sent by
Aldra Videric. Videric will send more spies. More murderers.’
The tone admitted of no doubt. I glanced automatically towards the
cradle in the corner of the room, to reassure myself that Onorata slept.
No matter that a child doesn’t understand, I think she hears the tone of a man’s voice . . .
‘You’re right.’ I rubbed at gritty eyes. ‘I saw them drag Carrasco off
and was glad – that lasted, oh, a quarter of an hour. And then I realised
that as soon as Videric stops getting what reports Carrasco was sending
him, he’ll send other men, to replace the ones who attacked us on
Torcello.’
In my mind I have the flare of a striped cotton robe as a man turns, the
clack of his war-sandals on tiles as he walks away, leaving me with a
woman who he fully expects to murder me. That’s the last time I saw him , I realised suddenly.
I ran for a ship immediately after my mother – after Rosamunda – tried
to kill me.
I know he sent her after me. I know he will have sent others. But that’s
the last I saw: his face concerned with worry for his wife – and all of it a
flat-out lie, to get me into the same room with her so that she could put a
dagger into me.
It is more than three quarters of a year now. I wonder if that fair hair,
that burly profile, look any different. If exile back to his estates at
Rodrigo’s order has made him look old. Or whether he merely bides his
time, knowing that sooner or later one of the murderers he sends will kill
me. And then the scandal may have the chance to die, too, and he may in
the future come back to court . . .
‘Carrasco’s arrest solves nothing.’ Restless, I rose to walk about the
room, careful not to tread the hem of my petticoats underfoot. ‘If no one
else tells Videric, Federico will – because God forbid my foster father
shouldn’t be scrambling to be in favour with every faction he can find!’
34
Honorius seemed surprised at my bitterness. ‘You know him better
than I do. This Federico, I mean. Videric I remember as Rodrigo’s
Chancellor, before I went north for the Crusades.’
He looked a little bitter himself, and I wondered if his expression
mirrored mine – or mine his.
‘Ilario, you can’t expect me to be unbiased. Videric blackmailed
Rosamunda into staying with him instead of leaving with me.’
Much as I like the idea that Honorius is my father, it still jolts me that
Rosamunda remains my mother.
And that that is irrevocable, no matter that the man I thought my
father is only a stepfather – my mother’s husband.
And a man who will send other men to kill me. I have considered this,
wide awake in the Venetian darkness, while the campanile lets me know
it is three, four, five in the morning.
Rekhmire’’s crutch struck the floor with a hollow sound as he came to
peer out of the window, at the narrow view afforded of the Campo S.
Barnaba from this room. ‘I’m told the Council’s dungeons aren’t good
for the health. It’s possible Master
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