to Serenissima? Reinstate them?’
Signor Maleovelli nodded. ‘I do. Once I’m in power, nothing can stop me overturning the decree that banished them and restoring the old ways. Together, Tarlo, we can bring the Estrattore, the ancient magic, back – back to where it belongs, they belong – here in Serenissima, in Vista Mare.’
‘What about people’s beliefs? What about God?’
‘What about them? They will worship what and whom they’re told. It’s happened before, it will happen again. Roma’s God was forced upon us. The truth is, Serenissima has always belonged to the gods – those who created your kind.’ Jacopo tried to contain himself. Giaconda bowed her head towards her father, a look I couldn’t quite read upon her face. Baroque remained impassive.
I couldn’t believe what I was being told. Katina had said there were Estrattore in the Limen and it was up to me to find them. I’d often wondered about the point of that if they couldn’t come back to Serenissima. But now I was being given the opportunity to bring my people, my ‘kind’, back to their homeland and to see them and what they represented restored. ‘I can bring them back to where they belong.’ My thoughts translated into words.
‘Esatto,’ said Signor Maleovelli. ‘But only with our help.’
My eyes shone. To overturn the Church – the ones responsible for their exile and murder in the first place. It was outrageous, dangerous and wonderful.
‘But what if we fail? What if, no matter what I do, you don’t become the Doge?’
‘Then, my dear little Estrattore, we’ll all be put to death,’ said Signor Ezzelino calmly. ‘You, me, Giaconda, Jacopo, Signor Scarpoli – horrible, lingering deaths in a very public place. And your Estrattore will remain trapped in the Limen forever and ever and the Church will continue to dictate what we do and what we believe, and Serenissima will one day crumble back into the ocean out of which she arose.’ I felt the truth of his words. My heart became heavy with doubt. ‘But we will not think about failure. If we do, we introduce the notion. Together, Tarlo, we will not fail.’
As I gazed at Signor Maleovelli, I felt I could believe him.
‘There’s a prophecy, you know.’ Jacopo sat forward earnestly, his voice soft at first. ‘It says that one day the Estrattore will create a child who will restore balance to the world.’
All eyes were upon him; he shifted nervously. ‘There’s mention of it in one of the old scrolls. But you … you could be that child, you know.’
Oh, I knew. I kept this knowledge to myself.
‘The way to restore balance is by placing a Doge on the throne who is not a pawn of the Church.’ Signor Maleovelli spoke with practised assurance. ‘One who understands to whom this city belongs and that this world is big enough to accommodate different faiths, different creeds and diverse beings. It’s all a matter of finding balance. You’re right. She is that child, Jacopo, just as I am to be that Doge. Together we can build a great future for all.’
There was no doubt, Signor Maleovelli craved power – they all did. And, in return, they would give it to me as well. The power to bring my people home and, in doing so, save Serenissima.
They were all watching me. They hadn’t stopped from the moment I entered the room. I didn’t care anymore. I had nothing, so it seemed, to lose – only everything to gain. I’d used my talents and risked discovery for a lot less when I lived with Pillar and Quinn. What Signor Maleovelli suggested not only excited me, it gave me confidence, and I hadn’t felt that in what seemed like such a long time.
I glanced around the room again. This time I could see the cracks in the plaster, the chipped and peeling paint, the mould that grew up the walls, the age beneath the patina of gilt and sunlight. I also saw darker shapes on the walls and floor. Empty spaces where proud faces had once hung, where tables and other pieces of elegant furniture had formerly stood. I glanced down at my dress and noticed that it was patched in places and the design out of fashion. It all made sense now. These nobiles also played a role – one their rank would not allow them to relinquish. And now they wanted the chance to play the greatest role of all and change the future by returning to the past