The Warring States (The Wave Trilogy) - By Aidan Harte Page 0,75
no greater treasure.
29
Truly, Man, temptation is wasted on thee.
30
Demon, I am old and want for nothing. What I ask, I ask on my daughter’s behalf.
31
Sore exasperated the Jinni asked, And what is that?
32
And Zacharias answered, Revenge.
CHAPTER 38
As Sofia predicted, the nuptials of Rosa Sorrento and Piers Becket were heralded in every piazza. Becket was enthusiastic about joining Rasenna’s magnates, and Polo Sorrento – though still cold to his daughter – was mollified by the new prominence his tower would gain in the transaction. The condottieri might be nothing more than foreign thugs with swords, but their ranks and military bearing created an air of legitimacy that a bodyguard of masterless bandieratori could never match. Watching how the farmer had turned humiliation to profit, the other magnates considered selling their own daughters before they were taken for free.
A great feast was prepared in Piazza Luna, with tables of meat and drink and entertainments not seen since the night the bridge opened. The ceremony itself was quickly got out of the way in the doorstep of the roofless church, while the bride’s mother nursed the baby. The crowd in Piazza Stella was oddly muted as the couple began their procession to the bridge.
They crossed in an ominous hush, and Becket looked over his shoulder at the silent, menacing crowd following them. He was relieved to pass under the guard of honour formed by his fellow captains and enter Piazza Luna, where he led his shy bride up the steps of the Palazzo del Popolo and turned to let the crowd admire them – except there was no crowd. When the guard of honour broke up, they discovered the train of followers was still occupying the bridge, and showed no sign of moving.
The father of the bride looked on in horror as his public triumph became another public disgrace. ‘Bombelli, what does this mean?’
Piers Becket, equally embarrassed, asked the same question of his commander but, like Fabbro, Levi confessed ignorance. ‘I’m going to find out though,’ he said, and grabbed Yuri. They caught up with Fabbro as he reached the bridge. The trio stood between the stone lions facing the rows of weavers and carders carrying the obscure flags of minor Guilds.
‘Who’s in charge here?’ said Fabbro, and to Sophia, ‘and it better not be you.’ Sofia wasn’t carrying the Art Bandiera flag – that would have been too provocative. She said nothing as the line behind her parted.
‘I am.’
‘Pedro!’ Fabbro sighed. ‘I’m not surprised to see Scaligeri here, but you understand what the Signoria means.’
Sofia said, ‘A law needing coercion to be enacted is a bad law.’
Fabbro ignored her. ‘Pedro, is this necessary? It’s supposed to be a happy day. Why spoil the couple’s celebration?’
Pedro was unmoved. ‘We’re supposed to celebrate the condottieri and major Guilds climbing into bed together? If the minor Guilds can’t be heard in the Signoria, they’re going to be heard here. I’m not here as an engineer. I’m here as a citizen.’
‘The point of this marriage was to prevent strife,’ Levi interjected. ‘Tell him, Sofia.’
‘I went along with it until I saw its real purpose. The Mercanzia wouldn’t have dared propose the salt tax without arms behind them. Yes, that’s right, Bombelli; I know about your little parties.’
Fabbro looked away from his godson in disgust and settled on Sofia, ‘I seem to recall you took part in a vote, Scaligeri. If this is how you act when a decision doesn’t go your way, why not burn down the Signoria and be done with it? These citizens are subject to the Signoria. We don’t rule by their consent; we rule by right. By taking part in this unseemly protest you undermine the law. Sedition’s a strong word, but I’m struggling to find a better.’
Pedro said, ‘A Signoria that rules by compulsion is no different than the old one.’
‘So those bandieratori sitting on their flags over the river, I’m supposed to ignore them? And what happens if I order the Podesta to break up this little party?’
Sofia said, ‘Don’t do it, Bombelli. My bandieratori come from the families that make up the Guilds on this bridge. I won’t stop them defending their families.’
‘What a privileged existence you live, Contessa. You take part in referenda but don’t abide by results you dislike. You goad these tower-renting fools to disrupt business, and if I attempt to remove them, you threaten to hinder me.’
‘I don’t like your tone, but that’s about the size of it,’ Sofia said.