He bent and took hold of my waist in his hands and lifted me up to it, then settled my slippered feet into the stirrups. All the while, he cast me small, lingering glances with his gorgeous, smoky-hot eyes, making me shift in the saddle, feeling uncomfortably warm. What was that about? Was he playing the role of entranced fiancé? I didn’t know; I just knew that it was making me feel some kind of uncomfortable. And disgusted with myself for kind of liking it.
He took hold of the edge of my skirt and settled it to the side, totally covering my feet again, and a few men near us chuckled, as if he’d looked up my skirt instead. Oh brother, I thought. Stupid boys were stupid boys, no matter the era.
They quieted when Lord Greco frowned in their direction, and it was my turn to smile. He mounted his gray gelding beside me, and we all headed out, two by two, down the street and out the open gates, then across the long, descending bridge.
Beneath fading stars I could see the very beginning of the sunrise, the color of a dark, red rose. My breath clouded before my face. “It is beautiful, is it not?” I murmured, using the excuse of looking to the east as my chance to scan for any sign of Marcello’s men. Could they see me, in the faint light of day? Know I needed help?
“You enjoy sunrises, m’lady? Or the color of roses?”
I stole a glance at him, surprised that he had come to the same conclusion on the color. But Rodolfo had that habit—surprising me, as if he had some sort of inner knowledge of my thoughts.
“Both,” I said with a small smile that I thought would appear flirty. The guys behind me would eat that up. Talk about it around the campfire that night. Spread the rumor when we reached Firenze. That there really was something between us besides politics. And maybe, just maybe, that would help me stay alive to better pick my opportunity to escape—when it didn’t require a dip in the icy Arno River and dodging arrows, etc. That, I could do without. And the cage. There was a lot in Firenze, when I thought about it, that I could add to my Most Dreaded List.
“As my bride, m’lady,” he said, reaching out a hand, “I shall fill your rooms with roses and kiss you awake at sunrise.”
I was glad it was still pretty dark as a burning blush climbed my neck. Did he know I was only pretending to go for this? And his words were a little…forward, right? Whether we were engaged or not? Well, maybe if they had come from Marcello, I would feel differently…
He lifted his hand again, waiting, and I saw it then. A tiny piece of parchment, peeking between his fingers.
I took his warm hand and looked into his eyes. “I shall look forward to it, m’lord,” I said. Now that, I thought, will give the boys something to talk about.
Slowly I slid my hand from his, and with it, the piece of parchment. For the first time, I was glad I wasn’t holding the reins, which were tied to Lord Greco’s.
I was dying to read the note, but first, there wasn’t enough light, and second, the dudes behind me would totally see. I had to wait. Forced myself to wait. My palm grew sweaty waiting as we finally finished crossing the bridge and started down the western road. But when we were deep into the eastern woods of the Chianti region and reached the first crossroads that would lead north to Firenze, the men pulled up and circled.
Paratore was departing, speaking in low tones with Lords Barbato and Greco. With one last sneer in my direction, he wheeled his horse around and headed east, with two men on either side of him. Back home. To Castello Paratore, most likely. Perhaps to be ready as Marcello neared.
“So,” said the captain, “you still believe it is safest for us to travel to Roma?”
I frowned. What was this? Roma? Why would we go to Rome?
Rodolfo looked at each of the men but refused to look at me. “Marcello and his men shall expect us to ride toward home. They will be sorely disappointed to not intercept us on the road to Firenze. Once my nuptials with Lady Gabriella are complete, we can travel without fear.”
My heart stopped for a sec and then beat twice as hard, making me actually bring a hand to my chest. I stared hard at him, but he still didn’t look my way. Lord Barbato smiled over at me. “I have arranged every detail with our friends in Roma,” he said. “It shall be a day you will remember forever.”
Right. Like I was worried I wouldn’t have a wedding straight out of the latest issue of Brides magazine.
They’d planned it all out. Known, from the start, that it was me they wanted. And they’d come up with a way to ensure it would happen.
As the sun climbed in the sky, my heart sank lower and lower. None of Marcello’s men charged after us. They were probably as many miles north now as we were south. I wondered, briefly, why they just hadn’t made sure we got hitched in Sansicino, but then I knew why: Had word reached Marcello, there would have been no way that our men would have left without battle, weapons or not. This way, with only the word that I was gone, Marcello would be driven to pursuit rather than upheaval inside Ascoli’s precious city walls. Ascoli had neatly washed his hands of all of us and undoubtedly kept a sweet Fiorentini finder’s fee for my capture.
Even now the priest rode with us. Why not do the whole outdoor wedding thing here?
Then it came to me. The people of medieval Tuscany would only recognize a wedding performed in a church. It was something holy to them. Required. No vineyard or oceanside weddings in Italia in this day and age. No way.
It was shortly before noon when Rodolfo shouted out to his captain and the men allowed their horses to head toward a meager stream beside the road. I didn’t miss the fact that two rear scouts had just returned, wearing expressions of confidence and ease, and that two others were sent out to take their place.
I was led by Lord Greco and two men, who all turned their backs when I went behind a tree to relieve myself. I stayed there a moment, finally unfolding the note, which by that time had become a damp ball in my palm.
Your deepest desires shall be met. Trust me. —R
I read it, over and over again. His handwriting was elegant, almost like calligraphy. But that was not what so captured me. It was the promise. My deepest desire was to be with Marcello, forever, of course. He was promising to get me to him, to safety. Right?
But what was this turn toward Roma? And while I could excuse the words as simply code, something that the Fiorentini would dismiss as a love note, I saw as having different levels, different meanings.
No, I won’t go there. He’s reassuring me. Roma is south of Siena, farther away from Firenze than ever. He intends to use our location to help me escape.
I hoped. I refused to believe anything else. That he would actually use me to betray his friend or his pledge as one of the brotherhood. If he were willing to do that, would it have not been far easier to let me die in the cage?
I emerged from my hidden perch, and Rodolfo led me to the stream, where he scooped cold water with a small wooden bowl and let it flow over my hands. I rubbed my face, loving the wet on my dusty skin, and then when I blinked my eyes open, he was offering me a handkerchief to dry. So thoughtful…so ahead of me at every moment.
We broke bread and ate the hard pecorino cheese in silence, while the men chatted and laughed around us. What was there to say? Only one question came to my mind. “How long shall it take us to reach Roma?”
“Two days,” he said casually, “if we can keep this pace.” He was sprawled out on his side on a blanket, leaning on one arm, facing me as if we were out on a romantic picnic and had been hanging out together a lot.
Two days. Two nights on the road.
“Fig?” he asked, offering me a dried orb.
“Grazie,” I said, reaching for it.
He held on, teasing me, and I laughed in confusion. He smiled, making him look more the Roman god than ever.
Okay, so he was cute. Like movie-star cute. And his interest was flattering, but I loved Marcello. Right? Right. Bu
t I found myself kind of overwhelmed with all the attention—what was the deal, anyway? I’d never had a boyfriend in my life, and here, the guys seemed to line up…
The two guards nearest us moved away, as if to give us a moment of privacy. I shoved the fig into my mouth, knowing it was too big for one bite but wanting a measure of distance and distraction from Rodolfo.
He turned and lowered himself onto his back, putting his hands behind his head, as if he knew I didn’t want him to make any move. He was just playing with me, toying, flirting, like every other Italian male.
He stared up into the trees. “So tell me, Gabriella. What is it that you long for most?”
I hesitated and swallowed my fig. Huh? “What do you mean?”
“Is it a grand palazzo? Fine gowns? Children? What would bring you happiness?”
My eyes shifted to the trickling river. Come spring, it would be ten times as wide and just as deep. On and on it went, rushing toward the distant horizon. Like time. Like life. Sometimes gently falling from one pool into the other, other times fast and cascading, and still other times narrowing into a funnel, a torrent of knots and waves.
I returned my gaze to my hot-as-all-get-out captor. Marcello’s friend, I reminded myself, centering my thoughts on Marcello. I looked up to the wide, barren branches of the oak above us and then closed my eyes as I felt the tiny bit of warmth from the sun on my face. “What most of us want, I think. Love. Family. Friends. Laughter.” I smiled and dared to look at him again. “Adventure.”
He laughed and nodded. “Hardly a surprise.”
I looked up again, my eyes trailing from the old trunk of the tree to where it split into several limbs. “Wisdom. I want to become one of those old women everyone seeks out because she’s figured it out.”
“Figured it out?” he asked, confused by my contemporary phrase.
“Learned. From my mistakes, as well as my good decisions, so that I make better and better choices. So I can more clearly see the path best taken.”
He nodded, covering me in a gaze that made me feel as known and appreciated as Marcello made me feel.
Which was…decidedly awkward. I rose. “Should we not be on our way?”
He rose too, looking at me quizzically. “Indeed we should.” He had a piece of dried grass in his hands, and he picked it apart, methodically. “Do you not wish to know what I long for most?”
My resolve was crumbling. I looked up at him, seeing the sorrow and the longing in his big eyes. “What is it for which you long, Rodolfo?” I asked softly. Why was I feeling so defensive, tensing in preparation for his answer? He was my friend. Marcello’s. He simply needed someone to confide in.
“Peace,” he said, shaking his head and looking to his men, packing their things on their horses. “Between Siena and Firenze and beyond.” He took a step toward me, seemingly lost in thought. But I took a step back, toward the tree.
“Like you, wisdom, but to assist my people.” He shook his head again. “There are people, Gabriella, peasants. But peasants with dreams bigger than any nobleman I know.” His dark eyes lit up with excitement, and he clenched his fist before his face with a smile of excitement. “I long to have the time to help them take a step toward those dreams. And another. And yet another.” He took a second step toward me, as if to emphasize what he was saying. And I did too, bumping into the broad trunk of the oak tree behind me.
He stared down at me, and I dared to look up into his eyes. I had to know now. If I could trust him, truly trust him. “What else?” I asked.
He stilled, staring down at me so intently that he breathed in short huffs, as if he was holding his breath for a second at a time. He shook his head again. “Do not tempt me, Gabriella,” he whispered. “I am doing all I can.” He leaned closer and truly—it was like someone else was controlling my body—I lifted my face closer to his.
His eyes searched mine. And then he leaned in to kiss me, entwining his fingers into my hair, his other hand around my waist, pulling me to him.
I gave in.
Traitorous, two-timing, skanky wench that I was, I couldn’t help myself. Seriously, I just didn’t have it in me. He had me totally, completely confused.
And his kiss was far too sweet. I wanted it to be like poison on my lips, sour, killing. But it was far from that. Oh, so far from that…
Dimly, I heard the men cheering, and I pushed Rodolfo away, gasping for air like he’d taken it all from me. Like I could reclaim who I’d been seconds before, reverse the flow of the river, of time. And once again be only one thing: Marcello’s own.
Which was far better than being this.
His betrayer.
CHAPTER 10
I awakened the following morning feeling like I seriously had a Scarlet A sewn to the bodice of my gown. It didn’t help that Rodolfo was just a few feet away, even if he slept with his back to me.
Every man in camp was well aware that I’d allowed Lord Greco to kiss me; the fact that I’d shoved him away after would be quickly forgotten. They considered me Greco’s. Traitor to Marcello. In their eyes, the battle was over.
You deserve it, I told myself. Loser.
I doubted Marcello had ever even looked at another girl once I returned to him, let alone kissed one. I doubted he’d even glanced their way. Not since Romana was gone. Not since we’d exchanged the L word. He was that kind of loyal, that kind of faithful. That kind of loving. My love. My one, true love.
If a two-timing, treasonous jerk-o-rama of a girl can actually have one, true love…
I wearily made my way among the sleeping forms to the creek bed, ignoring the two guards who hastily rose and hovered behind me.
At the riverbed I sighed, crouched, and splashed my face. I rubbed it as if I could wipe away the nightmare I’d begun the day before, staring at the dark sky above, still lit with stars, though they faded with the approaching light of day.
I cupped my hands beneath a small flow of water and waited for them to fill.
“Sometimes we are more harsh with ourselves than we are with others,” a man’s voice said, surprising me so that I ended up splashing my dress more than my face.
I squinted in the dim light, and the priest was laughing. The priest from the dungeon, who had administered Fortino’s last rites.
“Oh, ’tis you. I confess, Father, I didn’t even see you there,” I said. But then I’d been totally distracted with thoughts of Rodolfo and my own stupidity.
He laughed again, crouched on the other side of the stream, and looked up. “Yes, ’tis my common experience. Being somewhat invisible. I doubt you know much of what I speak, being a She-Wolf and all. Everyone seems to take note of your every move, do they not?”
I cocked my head and stared over at him. “What is your name, Father?”
“Tomas. Father Tomas. Or just Tomas.”
“Just Tomas?” I repeated. I knew few priests in ancient Tuscany who didn’t demand the full respect of the title.
He hesitated, dipped his fingers into the water and watched them drip into the stream. “I was excommunicated two years past.”
I let that sink in a moment. I think excommunicated means cut off from the Church. Even…condemned.
“You no longer serve the Church?”
“I serve my God,” he said, poking a stick into the water and watching water divide on either side. “But no, my Church no longer allows me to serve in her name.”
“But you…with Fortino, you…”
“Performed the rite of Extreme Unction.” He cast me a small smile that I could just barely make out in the dim light. “God heard it. He is bigger than the Church. You saw it yourself—Fortino was on his way home to the Maker.”
Ah, so it was a power thing. Tomas was some sort of rebel not up for supporting the concept that the Church was All That. The High Chu
rch boys didn’t like that sort of thing. Especially in this era. I remembered that much of my medieval history lessons. We were only a couple hundred years away from the Reformation, when Luther would kick into gear and the Church would totally divide. Become Catholic and Protestant. I knew some kids back home who went to a mega-church, who didn’t think Catholics were even Christian. It was still ugly, five hundred years after the fact.
Religion. I thought it was all stupid. It was enough to be on The Path, right? Getting closer to God? Wasn’t the Christian faith kind of like an ice cream store, with a bunch of different flavors? You had your Baptists, your Lutherans, your Episcopalians, your nondenoms, your Catholics. They were all after Jesus as their head Dude, right? What did it matter?
After witnessing Fortino’s death, his vision, I was more than a little freaked out by the faith thing. But I wanted more of it. To know a little more of the Big Guy before I was on my own deathbed. And hopefully be greeted through those opening gates that Fortino saw when it was my turn to go. Which might be sooner than later in this place.…
“What did you do?” I asked Tomas. “To get…dismissed?”
“Excommunicated?” he returned without flinching.
“Yes, excommunicated. And Rodolfo, Lord Greco—he knows?”
“He knows.” He dropped his voice. “But Lord Barbato does not.” He stared at the water for a moment and then held my gaze. “I killed a man.”
I paused, trying to get it in my head that this big, roly-poly man, just a little older than I, was a killer. Murderer. But then, who was I to talk? I’d done the same in battle. Over and over again. “Why?” I asked.
“Because he was about to kill a woman. His wife.”
I think I blinked a few times. I’d heard it on the news. On shows like Dateline.
I finally found my voice again. “Why were you not hanged?”
The River of Time Series Page 72
