“Thank you.” Kenan slipped the gun into his pocket and leaned back.
Shifrah slipped her arm down around the young man’s waist and rested her head on his shoulder. It was an uncomfortable position, especially on a cold rocking boat, but she knew it would work. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and held her against his slender body, and he rested his chin on the top of her head.
She smiled. Dangerous, smart, and powerful, yes, but still just a man.
Day Ten
Chapter 28. Lorenzo
They trotted slowly up the wide gravel road from Valencia along the shore toward the huge black docks on the south side of the harbor. Taziri was quick to point out the absence of the warship and for a moment they simply sat in their saddles and stared out over the water at the handful of brave little fishing boats rocking on the wintry waves. Then Lorenzo nudged his mare onward to the docks.
“There must be someone there who can tell us what is going on,” he said.
“The stone is very close now, Lorenzo,” Ariel whispered from the triquetra around his neck. “Very close. Be careful.”
Taziri followed in silence.
Up ahead they saw another rider sitting in the middle of the road and looking out to sea. Soon they recognized Salvator Fabris’s oiled mustache and the golden rapier on his hip. The burned and stained canvas bag hung from the rear of his saddle against his horse’s flank. As Lorenzo and Taziri approached, the Italian called out, “You can imagine my surprise to find the ship rather…gone.”
“Yes, well, clearly Magellan heard you were returning and thought the most sensible course of action was to hide his entire armada and hope you would just go away,” Lorenzo said. “I wish I could do the same, but once again you seem to have something that belongs to me.”
“Stop worrying so much, Quesada. You think I would use it against Espana?” Fabris shook his head. “Give me some credit. Your country and mine are more alike than any two in the world. We are natural allies in all things, from the Roman Church we defend to the wine we drink. This stone will be a sword and shield against the powers of the east. The Empire of Eran. The Constantian Church and the Mazdan Temple. They are the true warmongers, and they are ones who should fear my intentions, not you.”
“You’ve threatened my wife, stolen my property, attacked my students, and murdered two of my companions. A lesser man might take that personally.” Lorenzo smiled. Stay calm, no matter what. My only hope to win here is by shaking his resolve first. “Fortunately, I am not a lesser man. Give me the stone now and I’ll let you go in peace. Go back to Italia and defend your home howsoever God directs you.”
“How long would you keep the stone? A week? A month? How long before Magellan or some other military commander discovers it and takes it for himself and turns it against your neighbors? Magellan is no saint and barely a patriot. I should know, I’ve sat through enough of his egomaniacal tirades. He wants war. He craves it. A great war in which he can cement his place in history. He wants his name to be remembered.” Salvator shook his head. “Men like him cannot be trusted with power, and men like you cannot be trusted to stand against men like him. You’re too forgiving. Too trusting. Too holy. The world doesn’t need holy men. It needs strong men.”
“And who says my husband isn’t a strong man?”
Lorenzo looked up at the figure on the hill above them. Qhora sat astride Wayra, a dagger in her hand, his old army coat flapping about her in the morning breeze, and her tricorn hat perched proudly on her head. The huge eagle strutted carefully down the icy slope. “Good morning, my love.”
“Good morning, sweetheart.” Lorenzo smiled at her. Dear God, she’s perfect. “You’re looking lovely. Well rested. And not at all in prison.”
“I know. Didn’t Salvator tell you? The Espani soldiers threw him out on his ass as soon as they realized what he really was.”
“And what am I?” Fabris asked.
“Not a good man.”
Salvator smiled at her. “Your husband, on the other hand, is indeed a good man. The world would be a better place if more men were like him, but alas, the world is full of monsters in human guise and it will take more than good men to safeguard the civilized world.”
Qhora came down to the edge of the gravel road. “Captain Taziri, it’s good to see you again. Thank you for looking out for my Enzo.”
The Mazigh woman nodded. “He wasn’t too much trouble.”
“I’ve found something you might want to see, captain.” Qhora nodded at the black docks. “The soldiers have something here that belongs to you. They’ve even been trying to fix it in your absence.”
“My plane?”
“I’ve befriended the man in command of this place, a Captain Ortiz,” Qhora said. “I can take you to the hangar right now to see your machine.”
“Won’t the soldiers mind?” Salvator asked with a grin.
“Of course not.” Qhora turned her bird up the road. “It’s Sunday.”
Salvator nodded knowingly as he nudged his horse away from the Incan woman. Wayra snapped her huge head forward and screamed at the Italian’s nervous mount, and then the great eagle raised herself up to her full height to shriek and trill over and over. Qhora stroked the bird’s neck until she fell quiet again. “Shh, shh.”
She smiled at Salvator. “That was her blood song. The hatun-ankas are very protective of family, including their riders. They mate for life, and raise their young quite lovingly and tenderly. And when family is threatened, they sing the blood song. It summons the rest of the flock to war. They are flesh eaters and blood drinkers. Wonderful creatures.” She stroked Wayra’s neck, her eyes fixed on the frowning Italian.
Taziri glanced at Lorenzo, and he waved her on toward the naval base gates at the top of the road. “Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”
The women rode on toward the base. Qhora called back, “Enjoy your present dear.”
Salvator looked down at the hidalgo. “Present?”
Lorenzo jerked his head up toward the hill that his wife had descended. Atoq sat at the top silhouetted against the colorless morning sky. The huge cat roared.
“Ah yes, your dueling partner.” Fabris nodded. “I remember him well. Strong leg work, but a rather muddled and brutish style.”
“The stone, senor,” Lorenzo said. “Place it on the ground, and leave.”
“I decline.” The Italian drew his rapier and kicked his horse into a gallop, driving down the shallow hill toward Lorenzo.
The hidalgo drew his espada and nudged his weary mare into a light-footed trot. When Salvator passed by he slashed at Lorenzo’s face, but the Espani batted the rapier away and then guarded his back, catching the Italian’s second attack just behind his neck. They trotted apart.
“You’ll have to kill me to take this stone, and I know you won’t kill me,” Salvator said. “What good is a soldier who can’t kill? You’re a broken sword, Quesada. Useless!” He charged again and this time Lorenzo held his horse quite still until the moment of contact. The hidalgo yanked his mare into a side-step so the Italian’s thrust whisked past his shoulder, and then he threaded his espada into the swept hilt of the rapier and flicked the Italian weapon high into the air.
The golden sword clattered on the gravel road many yards from Fabris.
Lorenzo dropped from his saddle and picked up the rapier. It was beautiful. The mirror finish of the blade, the smith’s scrollwork signature, the gleaming hilts, the slender crossguards. “The rapier is better than the espada,” he said. “Stronger. Thinner. Longer. Lighter. The design brings us all one step closer to the ultimate sword, the perfect gentleman’s weapon for slaughtering his lover’s husband.” He threw the rapier to the Italian. “Dismount.”
Salvator snatched his weapon out of the air. “And if I don’t?”