The respectfully addressed lord pounced on this. 'For what, signora?'
She wrung her hands. 'It was a silly thing, Your Honor. He shouted at me because he said I'd stolen a cap of his. A knitted one. It was his favorite. I would never steal, Your Honor. On my father's grave, I swear it! But he was angry. And I was angry. I said . . . many harsh things. He was good man even if he did drink too much.'
The Venetian lord patted her shoulder. 'There, there, signora. We all say things we afterward regret. I think you should go upstairs and have a glass of your late master's wine. He has family here?'
She shook her head. 'No, Your Honor. He is--was--from Padua.'
The Venetian lord nodded, and gently guided her to the door.
When it had closed firmly behind her, he turned to the two Schiopettieri standing by the entrance. 'Seal this place. Allow no one in, and detain all those who try. They will have to be questioned.'
The lord turned to Erik. 'Pardon me, Sir Knight. This has now become a matter for the Republic. When the good monk has finished his prayers, I must ask you to leave. To be frank, I am not quite sure why you were summoned in the first place.'
Because Abbot Sachs has been spreading bribes among the Schiopettieri, thought Erik sourly. But he saw no reason to contest the matter with more than a shrug. 'It seems a bit late for us to do anything, anyway. As soon as Brother Uriel has finished his devotions, we'll go. But I suspect Abbot Sachs will want to come and exorcise and bless the place as well as scour it for witch-sign.'
Lord Calenti nodded. 'He may apply to me.'
That's going to go down really well, thought Erik. But he said nothing. It was left to Manfred to ask the questions starting to trouble Erik. 'Lord Calenti. Just what was this man doing that's worrying you? Other than bursting into flames and doing a lot of screaming, that is.'
The tall, slim Venetian's eyes narrowed. He looked at the two of them very carefully, obviously considering things. He must have decided that telling them was either innocuous . . . or might carry a message to the people who were involved that he was closing in on them. 'Treason,' he said grimly, pointing to the workbench and an open mold. 'He was a coiner.'
At this point, Brother Uriel stood up. 'I am finished.'
The Venetian lord nodded. 'His soul is at rest.' The way he said it sounded as if he regretted the fact.
Brother Uriel turned on him. 'His soul is in torment! Can you not feel the pain? Something evil, evil beyond your comprehension devoured his very life.' The monk shuddered. 'The last time I felt the uncontained taint of this much evil was when we clashed with the forces of Lithuania outside Grudziadz. There is great evil afoot in your city.'
'I will leave you to deal with matters of the spirit,' said the Venetian stiffly. 'The Republic must deal with secular affairs. Please leave now.'
Lord Calenti looked now as if he regretted telling them anything about the victim, and motioned to the Schiopettieri to see them out.
The dawn was just blushing a translucent cloud-framed sky when they stepped out. Obviously the courtesy of a vessel was not going to be offered to them. In the distance a bell began sound.
Uriel sighed. 'Another mess that the Servants of the Trinity are ill-able to deal with. I never though it possible . . . but I wish I was back in the marshes and forests, facing the evils of the Grand Duke of Lithuania's minions-- instead of being in this misbegotten and supposedly Christian city. At least there it was clear who our enemies were.'
Manfred looked speculatively at the stiff, upright monk. The man was plainly distressed by what he'd encountered. 'Just what is going on here, Brother?' he asked. 'Why are we even involved here in Venice?'
Brother Uriel shook his head. 'You had better ask Father Sachs that,' he said heavily. 'I am not privy to the inner councils of my order, or yours. I only know that the scryers, including Sister Ursula, have by means of their holy magics foreseen that we have some role to play here in Venice. I do not know why my own abbot sent me to join Abbot Sachs's men. I only know that great evil is afoot in this city. The abbot may claim there is witchcraft everywhere in Venice. I only know what my eyes have seen and my spirit felt.'
Erik scowled. 'I can understand the Servants of the Holy Trinity. But why the Knights? We are the militant order. Keeping us sitting here is a waste of military power, never mind the fact that we don't really have a clear reason to be staying on at all.'
Uriel looked grim. 'We have orders to stay until the evil is rooted out. As long as need be. Those orders are not for us to question.'
