Heart of Glass

44





When the time is close to midday, the main hall of the palace is crowded with men from the Grand Council and their retinues of clerks. The Doge has sent out word that his errant son has returned, and it’s as much because of curiosity as anger that the men gather.

Aysim and I sit half hidden in a gallery above. We watch the Councilors flock into the chamber with their attendants. They preen and strut like exotic birds. Massimo is the last to appear, escorted by a dozen soldiers.

“Where is he?” he bellows. “Where is the murderer?”

The Doge, dressed in his officiating robes at the other end of the hall, looks calm. “He will be handed over when the Ottoman delegation arrives.”

Massimo bristles. “If this is some trickery—”

“It’s almost as if you’re looking forward to battle,” says the Doge.

From the look on Massimo’s face, I rather suspect he is.

As the clock strikes noon, Faruk arrives at the head of several fearsome-looking footmen with their bare chests oiled. He strides into the heart of the chamber with his chin raised haughtily until he stands before the Doge’s dais. I wonder if Massimo does not wish the Turks to know of his grab for power, as he did nothing to prevent the Doge from taking his usual place, nor did he ever expel him from the palace.

Ranged before the Doge are the men of the Grand Council. Behind them crowd lesser officials and scribes clutching parchment and quills. The room falls silent at last as they listen carefully to everything that’s being said.

“I hear that your son Roberto has reappeared. I am pleased for you, Alfonso,” Faruk says. “Pleased for Venice also.”

There’s a gasp—how dare he call the Doge by his first name! Faruk sends a quick, nervous smile around the court, realizing his mistake.

“Where is your master?” asks the Doge.

Faruk grins, and shrugs. “My master is not a fool. In this city, he trusts no one.”

“Is that right?” asks the Doge. “We are men of honor.”

Faruk’s grin falls away. “I mean no disrespect to Your Honor,” he says, “but now that your son is back, we’d like him to be handed over. As you are aware, Prince Halim wants to see justice done. If he can deal directly with Roberto, Venice will be saved”—he waves a hand through the air—“from a most unfortunate set of events.”

The Doge gets to his feet. There is nothing of the frail old man about him now.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” he says, maintaining his politeness despite all that’s happened. “New information has come to light.”

Angry muttering breaks out in the chamber, and the Doge waits for it to die away. He looks over the top of Faruk’s head and snaps his fingers at us. I press gently at Aysim’s back, and she stands, moving forward to the edge of the balcony. Her head is bowed modestly, and she is dressed in the latest Venetian fashion. But then she lifts her head to look into Faruk’s eyes, and energy crackles through the room.

Faruk staggers back in recognition. He licks his lips nervously, his glance darting from the Doge back to his master’s sister.

“Who is this woman?” he asks, his voice faltering. “I don’t understand.”

The Doge’s eyes narrow. “Oh, I think you do.”

Faruk seems to see that there’s no denying Aysim’s existence and switches his tactic. He gives a cry and lifts his hands towards the balcony. “Princess Aysim! You’re alive!”

The assembled Councilors burst out in exclamations. Aysim’s glare doesn’t shift from Faruk.

“It’s a miracle,” he continues. “Prince Halim will be saying prayers of thanks all night!”

“It’s not a miracle, Faruk,” she replies in Italian. “Your killing men found Emen in my place. By her death, your crime is seen.”

The Doge motions his head, and several soldiers, sensing the shift in power once more, draw their swords. Faruk’s attendants do the same. Most of the Councilors, my father included, huddle around the perimeter of the chamber.

“You would not harm an ambassador?” asks Faruk.

The Doge points at him, taking a step nearer. “I would not,” he says. “I will show you more respect than you have shown us. Go back to your cowardly master. Tell him that if he has not left my harbor within the hour, I will smash his ships under the iron fist of Venice. Do you understand?”

Faruk looks to his men, then backs away, before turning and retreating to the door through which he entered. Aysim takes her seat beside me once again and smiles.

“Did I perform well?” she asks in French.

“Perfectly,” I say. “It’s time for us to go down and tell our story.”

The Councilors are stunned into silence, and Massimo’s face burns red with shame. The Doge stands before them.

“We were all taken in by Halim’s deception,” he says, “but now we must stand together again. Swear loyalty to me, and the past will be forgotten.”

One by one, the members of the Council line up to kneel at the Doge’s feet and kiss the ring on his right hand. I hear my father muttering something about “never doubting you, my lord”; loyalty is as fickle as the winds of the sea.

Massimo, I notice, is last in line. “Forgive me,” he says, bowing obsequiously.

The Doge’s jaw is set hard. “Of all those who turned against me, your actions were the most disappointing.”

“My lord, I—”

“But you are a good soldier, and Venice needs you more than ever,” he says. “Halim may still risk a fight. Can I trust you, Massimo?”

“I will do everything in my power to serve you,” says the soldier.

The Doge’s face relaxes into a smile. “Then go. Keep the fleet on alert.”

Massimo steps down from the dais and summons his men around him. They process out of the chamber, leaving only the Doge, Aysim and me.

“Come here, child,” the Doge tells me. He takes my hand and brings me to sit beside him. “I owe you everything.”

“Our fight is not over yet,” I warn him. “It has only just begun.”