This Rough Magic

Lodovico stumped forward. Reached over the gap and opened the latch. 'Well, Benito Valdosta. What is going on around here? What are you doing in those clothes? Did you pawn your boots for drink?'

It was like olive oil on wind-riffled water.

'I've just brought news that Corfu is under siege. It's blockaded, so I had to travel in disguise. And I'd kill for a bottle of good Veneto Soave, never mind pawn my boots.'

'Siege, eh. Who?'

'Emeric of Hungary, together with the Byzantines.'

'The bastards!' He turned to the Schiopettieri officer accompanying him. 'The Marangona must be rung. So must the Campanile of San Marco's bells. We're at war. Have some of your men summon all of the Council of Ten that have not accompanied the Doge to Verona. And call in the Senate.'

The old man took a look at the Justice. 'Well, no one's allowed to even give you a cup of Soave for killing Venetian Justices, much though some of them might like to. So you might as well let him go.'

'With pleasure. All I wanted to do was tell the Republic that we are at war. This one—who is either a traitor or a fool—wanted to stop me. I haven't harmed him.'

Lodovico looked at the clerk on the floor. 'And that one?'

The clerk sat up, looking embarrassed. 'I just thought I'd stay on the floor for a while, milord.'

Lodovico snorted. 'Probably a good idea with all these guns. Let's uncock those weapons, gentlemen. And Benito . . . are you going to let him go?'

'Certainly.' Benito pushed him away.

Justice Capuletti staggered free. 'Shoot him!' he shouted.

'Have you lost your mind, Justice?' snapped Lodovico, interspersing his powerful old body between Benito and the Schiopettieri. 'Go and get that cut cleaned up, and have a glass of wine. You're overwrought. You'd better hope you're overwrought. If you're not, what you keep trying to do is treasonous.'

He turned around calmly to face Benito, presenting his back to several half-raised firearms in a show of the bravura that had once made him the talk of Venice. 'Do you mind sheathing your sword, young Benito? It causes unease.'

The bells of the Campanile of San Marco began to peal, calling the people to the piazza. Benito knew that whatever happened to him now—and despite Lodovico's calm, Benito knew he was still in deep trouble—he had succeeded. Venice would go to the rescue of Corfu and Prince Manfred. He took a deep breath, allowing some of the tension to ease from his shoulders. And Maria and baby Alessia would not have to face the danger and privations of a siege. He calmly nicked his forearm—the blade must be blooded before it was put up—and put the blade back into its sheath. Then, hung that on the sash he had for a belt.

 

Chapter 60

Only seven of the Doge's Council of Ten were in Venice and only five were in the Doge's palace. On their way to the great chamber where the Senate met, they were accosted by a functionary, who quietly escorted them into a small salon. Council membership was secret and anonymous; it rotated every three years with different members of the Case Vecchie selected through a complex process to serve. Benito was not surprised to see that the five assembled were wearing carnival masks. After all, their anonymity had to be guarded.

The military questions were terse, pointed and incisive.

'Tell us what force attacks the Citadel.'

'We estimate at between ten and fifteen thousand. Croat light cavalry, Magyar heavy cavalry, Slav pikemen mostly. From what we could see.'

'What cannon did they have?'

Benito scratched his chin. 'Well, most of the enemy cannon were not ashore and deployed when I escaped. That was how we were able to effect a landing the previous day.'

'How do you assess the Citadel's state of readiness for siege?'

'Sir, it is both good and bad. Provisions seemed adequate by what the captain-general said. But the fortresses were undermanned. The Citadel has nine hundred and fifty and the fortress on Vidos a further hundred and ninety. There were very few cavalry. In the region of fifty, perhaps. Of course, we added to that a bit.'

'Well, that tallies with the known facts anyway,' said one of the men. A portly one, that Benito was almost sure was Lodovico's friend Admiral Dourso under that mask.

'This will still have to be thoroughly investigated,' said another sourly. 'And now, thanks to the furor you've stirred up, Montescue, investigated in the full Senate and not in private. They're clamoring for news in the piazza and in the great hall.'

Lodovico smiled wryly. 'I've never really approved of the secrecy of the Council of Ten's doings anyway. Best to have this out in the open. I think there is less room for deception there. Come, boy. Let us go and face them.'

The huge hall was crowded. Benito found himself looking at a number of expectant, worried faces. The Venice rumor mill was already working.

'Why are the bells being rung?' demanded one elegant Case Vecchie gentleman in the foreground. 'Are we at war?' The hubbub of questions coming from the hundred and twenty members of the Senate—who, with all the other functionaries of state, had multiplied amazingly—was overwhelming. This many despite the short time? It was frightening. There must have been at least three hundred people there. Benito took a deep breath. It would probably be the great Council of a thousand five hundred members next . . .

A very badly played trumpet blast stilled the crowd.