The Warring States (The Wave Trilogy) (62 page)

‘Do all Ebionites think their cause so hopeless?’

‘The Sicarii believe there is hope, but what does their sincerity count for? They are misguided. My brother – a black year on him – is no patriot.’

Sofia was sickened by this compromised, hedging world. ‘And you are a slave!’

Arik’s hand went quickly to his dagger, but there he stopped. ‘Perhaps,’ he said at last. ‘And what are you, Contessa?’

She could no longer deny it. ‘A prisoner.’

Though the young Prince Jorge had managed to maintain order after word came north of Andronikos’ death, the army was likely to stay in the vicinity of Byzant until things were more stable. This allowed Leto to withdraw some troops from the Dalmatian frontier to Concord, enough to restore absolute order in the Old City and to mop up the last of Geta’s bravos, who had outlived their usefulness.

The next step was bringing Etruria to heel.

The Ariminumese delegation sat opposite Torbidda and Leto at the stone table. Leto had left Ariminum on bad terms and his attitude to the smiling procurator was not conciliatory.

‘I was most gratified to receive your invitation, First Apprentice. Though we afforded General Spinther every opportunity to catch Contessa Scaligeri, he was – if I may say – rather rude when she escaped. How it was our fault, I can’t imagine. Look, things were said in the heat of the moment … we are willing to forget. For our part the deal negotiated still stands.’

‘I would have promised anything to scupper the league,’ said Leto.

‘Of course. Nevertheless an alliance between Concord and Ariminum is logical. Our ambitions do not overlap, but our common enemy, if we are to realise our ambitions unhindered, is Oltremare.’

‘So you want our siege-engines?’ said Torbidda neutrally.

‘And engineers to teach the arsenalotti to operate them. Give us the sea, First Apprentice, and Etruria is yours.’

The procurator had brought Admiral Azizi along ‘for his expertise’, though the Moor did little beside study Torbidda with unconcealed curiosity. The procurator’s giddiness made up for the admiral’s reserve; since Torbidda appeared willing to countenance the alliance, he was full of ideas for postinvasion arrangements.

Leto felt obliged to sound a note of military caution. ‘First Apprentice, it’s one thing moving markers on a map, quite another in the field. Sappers can only do the job
if
they land. I’m sure Admiral Azizi will agree that establishing a beachhead in Akka would be difficult.’

When the Moor said nothing, the procurator waved his hand dismissively. ‘The Queen’s navy is old. Pirates like Azizi here are as much as they can deal with. Our armada will overwhelm them.’

‘You’re being complacent,’ said Leto. ‘I saw no galley equal to the
Tancred
in all Ariminum.’

‘The
Tancred
is but one ship,’ said the procurator. ‘Our Arsenale can churn out a galley a day. And our munitions a—’

‘May I interrupt?’ the Moor boomed suddenly.

‘Oh,’ the procurator said doubtfully, ‘by all means.’

‘With Concord’s recent convulsions, First Apprentice, I understand construction of the sea-corridor has been postponed. Is this so?’

‘Amongst other things.’

‘Why go to the trouble of building a harbour when I can give you one?’

Leto looked at the Moor as if seeing him for the first time. ‘I think the Ariminumese government might object.’

‘Not if they’re hanging from the yardarms of my galleys.’

‘Praetorian.’ Torbidda pointed at the stunned procurator. ‘Arrest this man,’

Leto gave a start. ‘Are you mad, Torbidda? What is this?’

‘A gesture of good faith. Admiral Azizi works for Queen Catrina, Leto.’

When the Moor bowed in acknowledgment, the procurator leapt up, spitting, ‘Slave, you bite the hand that feeds you!’

Slowly the Moor turned towards him. He held up his bejewelled hand and commanded, ‘Look
here!
’ The procurator stared mesmerised as the Moor’s hand closed around his neck. ‘Here’s the hand that feeds me!’

The struggling procurator could not break free, and as the Moor turned back to the Concordians, the gasping stopped abruptly with a wet, crumbling sound.

‘Let me get this straight,’ said Leto as the guard dragged the procurator’s body away. ‘When you were receiving a stipend to attack the Oltremarines—’

‘—I was in her Majesty’s employ, yes. I like a diverse portfolio.’

‘And she sent you as a prisoner to Ariminum—’

‘—knowing the Ariminumese would free me. Even she didn’t think they’d be so rash as to promote me to admiral.’

‘And when we chased the
Tancred
, and that Rasenneisi bitch gave us the slip …’ Leto stood up suddenly.

‘Please, Spinther, be seated,’ the Moor said smoothly. ‘I was under orders.’

‘Queen Catrina must be terrified of the Ariminumese,’ said Torbidda lightly.

‘With good reason. For once the procurator spoke the truth: she’s not ready for an invasion. She’s been dealing with the Ebionite tribes and – how to put it? – family disputes for the last few years. How can we help each other?’

‘The Contessa of Rasenna’s child. I want it. Failing that, I want it dead.’

Catching on, Leto said, ‘Remember, Azizi: we could clap you in irons, then sail over and take her.’

The Moor gave Leto a dismissive look. ‘You need to concentrate on Etruria before starting another war. You asked for the child returned or killed, First Apprentice, and made no mention of the mother. This isn’t about Rasenna, is it?’

‘Queen Catrina should fear this child as much as I do,’ said Torbidda. ‘He threatens all princes.’

‘What matter if she loses her kingdom to him or you?’ The Moor smiled. ‘She has a foolish notion – the female mind defies all understanding, does it not? – that you don’t want this child to grow up … Cross her, and she’ll hide it away where you’ll never find it.’

‘Or?’

‘Or we can send the Contessa back on the next west-bound galley.’

Torbidda didn’t attempt to bluff. ‘Your terms?’

‘Ariminum.’

‘Torbidda, don’t let this dog manipulate us too,’ Leto said. ‘If we attack Ariminum, it’ll chase them back into alliance with the rest of the south.’

‘You misunderstand, Spinther; I only ask that you stand aside. The arsenalotti are loyal to me and poised to take over every ward and bridge in Ariminum. All we want, First Apprentice, is that when the Consilium Sapientium petitions you for help—’

‘—that I say no. Done. I
need
that child.’

Leto followed Torbidda to the Guild Hall. ‘Tell me what you’re thinking. Why’s the Scaligeri girl so important? I really thought that was just a ploy to break up the league – and it worked. Does it really matter what happens to her?’

Torbidda bared his teeth in rage. ‘After all this time, you still understand
nothing!
I
need
that child, Leto!’ Moving impossibly fast, Torbidda grabbed Leto by the collar. ‘There’s
nothing
more important – not you, not this, not any of it!’

Leto pulled himself free, breathing hard. ‘You’re going crazy, you know that? That damn preacher has addled your mind. I don’t know why you keep visiting him. Stay away from him – or better yet, cut his throat and be done with it.’

‘I may need him yet,’ Torbidda said, calming.

When they reached the Drawing Hall, Torbidda unlocked the door – he had the only key – and turned to Leto, tears streaming down his face. ‘Don’t you get it?’ he cried. ‘I can’t solve it. I
can’t!
’

Leto was mildly shocked to see Torbidda so emotional. ‘You can solve anything,’ he said firmly, gripping him by the shoulders. ‘You’re Cadet Sixty, for goodness’ sake!’

‘Remember the day they made us into numbers?’ Torbidda said, gazing beyond Leto. ‘Agrippina told us to take nothing that would slow us down, and I did it, Leto! I discarded
everything
– conscience, morality, friendship. I think what’s slowing me down now is my soul.’

He locked the door before Leto could respond.

‘If this tower is
not
sheltering outlaws, how do you explain the rumours?’

After the night of black towers, every Rasenneisi finally understood the truth: that the bandieratori, for all the mayhem they caused, had kept citizens good neighbours. Before that night, it was understood that one who used his tongue to lie about his countrymen would have the offending organ cut out. Now there was no recourse when Geta’s men came knocking. If it took just a whisper to knock down an enemy’s tower, who would not whisper?

The Mercanzia met secretly. They were stunned and frightened by the massacre they had authorised, and belatedly realised that in letting Geta destroy Rasenna’s fighting stock, they had surrendered the reins of power. Perhaps, they whispered, Geta didn’t realise how vulnerable they were now – he certainly wasn’t acting any different. Collectively, they agreed to maintain a strong front – but on hearing that Geta’s new wife was pregnant, each prior rushed separately to be the first to congratulate the royal couple: like shepherds, they paid homage; like kings, they bore gifts.

And in the Palazzo del Popolo, they listened with new attentiveness to the podesta’s counsel. Peace with Concord – why not? It was better than the alternative.

Deep below Rasenna’s cautious streets, the tunnels were alive. Uggeri was exhausted by his explorations by the time he
returned to the base Pedro had set up, and the generator’s light hurt his eyes. ‘
Madonna!
’ he said, ‘I’ve travelled
leagues
. How deep does it go?’

‘I don’t know – but we can get to either side of the river,’ Pedro said.

Uggeri swigged some water and said, ‘Okay. It’s important we know our territory. I’m going back. Don’t wait up.’

‘No,’ Pedro said firmly, ‘you haven’t eaten all day and you’re too important to let yourself get sick. Sit and eat.’

Gruffly, Uggeri assented, concealing behind his grave demeanour the sheer joy he felt at having a foe worthy to test his mettle. Even with the stench of sulphur, the taste of burned dust and wool in his mouth, the boiling blood and sweat still raw, Uggeri rejoiced: in Geta he had found an adversary who would fight to the death.

Pedro told Uggeri the plan as he ate.

‘Even if possible,’ Uggeri said incredulously, ‘what good would it do? When Concord’s legions arrive they can throw up a pontoon in a day—’

‘—that’s even more vulnerable. Don’t you remember how slow everything was before the bridge? If we separate north and south, we force Geta to pick which side he wants to protect. We can tie up resources, make travel difficult. We won’t win this with one blow in a single day. We’ll win it step by step, day by day.’

‘Or blow ourselves up.’

‘It’s worth the risk. Geta isn’t expecting it—’

‘—so he’ll overreact. I get it: the worse he acts, the more people will join us. But, Pedro, it’s
Giovanni
’s bridge.’

‘It’s
ours
. It saved Rasenna once by bringing us together; we can save Rasenna now by destroying it. Don’t be sentimental.’ Pedro spoke boldly because it was necessary, but really, he shared Uggeri’s doubts. It felt like sacrilege.