And ... back the present day. This is making me dizzy!Admissions and Admonishments AboundVerezzo, in the Great Hall of the Palazzo Davandati. Autumn 2404
Barone Iacopo was feeling confident about the meeting with Lord Silvano Gondi of Pavona, especially as he had recently obtained firm promises of defensive military support from Verezzo’s old ally, Ridraffa. He believed the joint forces that could thus be fielded against Pavona now matched the enemy’s strength, perhaps even exceeding it. The Mayor of Ridraffa had long been (effectively) a nominee of Verezzo. Lord Lucca himself had ensured the current mayor’s position. This made the two states natural allies, and their shared suspicions of the Pavonans’ aggression now made them keen allies also. Yet Ridraffa had not directly suffered Pavonan abuses as Verezzo had, and so of the two, the Ridraffans were a somewhat less hungry for war.
Still, Iacopo was glad the Mayor was present, so that Lord Silvano would realise he was now contending with two city states. Previously, the barone had done all he could to strengthen Verezzo’s forces, but progress was slow, due to a combination of factors, including the small funds available and the limited numbers of experienced mercenaries to hire after all the recent wars. Verezzo was not the largest of city states and so even raising native militia proved difficult, for want of able youngsters to fill the ranks.
Mayor Rafaelle was accompanied by his wife, Lorena, which was perhaps a little unusual, for this was to be a parley between warring states, not a trade discussion or social meeting. Yet her presence might lend a degree of civility to the process. Barone Iacopo was familiar enough with the young Lord Silvano to know that he was less likely give vent to unrestrained anger before a noble woman, and certainly not commit an act of assassination like a Pavonan soldier had done weeks before. The barone was happy for her to provide inhibiting influence on his own behaviour. He harboured furious hatred towards the duke, but he wanted to remain in control, to play and more subtle game and play it well. Her presence might provide a check against sudden fits of anger.
As well as Captain Muzio Vanni, the old condottiere commander of the pike regiment, now made lieutenant general of Verezzo’s army, the famous ex-brigand, Roberto Cappuccio was also present, for it was he who had most recently been the subject of Pavonan lies. Upon his return to Verezzo, after his sojourn through the realm of Pavona with his band of archers, causing as much trouble as he could (which turned out to be quite a lot), Barone Iacopo had rewarded Cappuccio’s commitment by commissioning him as Verezzo’s Scout-master General. Cappuccio had since begun wearing the livery of Verezzo, although still sported his famous green hat, and he never went anywhere without his trusty bow.
When the infamous Pettirosso came into the hall, the barone was pleased to witness momentary surprise, if not discomfort, upon the young Lord Silvano’s face. To have such a fellow as an officer surely revealed the strength of the barone’s hatred of Pavona, and strongly hinted that he knew the truth concerning the claims of the recent assassination attempt upon Duke Guidobaldo.
The young lord was accompanied by a single guard, armed with a handgun, although he had travelled with a large company of similarly armed soldiers. Perhaps, if he had attempted to bring more guards to the meeting, then objections may have been raised. But no-one thought to complain about a single companion, as such might be considered a necessary servant to accompany a nobleman, with duties beyond acting merely as an armed escort.
“So, your father has finally deigned to send you to me, as I demanded many weeks ago?” said the barone. “I was not happy that he sent a babbling priest to me before, only for one of your own soldiers to slay him.”
“I myself wanted to come,” answered Silvano. “And my father, ill though he is, at last gave me leave to do so. As for the soldier’s actions, I know not what came over him. He clearly had the wrong idea concerning what was expected of him.”
Barone Iacopo fixed his eyes upon the Pavonan lord. “Oh, I think he knew full well what was expected of him, be it nothing more than to make more of a mockery of the supposed apology.”
“I wish, barone, you would not presume such wickedness on my father’s part. Mistakes have been made, but this time the guilt was that of a foolish guard.”
“Are you here, then, to confess your father’s sins and pray publicly for forgiveness? Or are we to play more cruel games and hear yet more excuses and lies?
“Good barone,” said Silvano, “I humbly and honestly wish to forge a peace between our realms, in light of the new and deadly threats facing all of us. We cannot allow our realm’s disagreements to weaken us in such dangerous times.”
Iacopo, and several other of his attendants, laughed.
“And why should I believe you want peace, when your own father murdered our beloved Lord Lucca and plundered this, his realm even at a time when both vampires and ogres threatened all of Tilea? Your father had long sought any excuse to attack Verezzo - a despicable and base yearning he finally yielded to”.
The young lord stiffened, and when he spoke his words were uttered likewise,
“I am not my father.”
Iacopo was quick to respond. “An apple does not fall far from the tree.”
“You know me, barone. We marched together and took the field beside each other in the valley of Norochia, there to face hordes of ghouls and walking corpses. And with arrows, bullets, swords, and great courage, we did prevail. You and I, and those we commanded, proved ourselves that day. You know me.”
“Aye, you were there,” countered the barone. “But not your father. He was too busy robbing our realm. Murdering our master.”
The brigand Pettirosso suddenly interrupted, “I saw him and his knights slay Lord Lucca with mine own eyes.”
“And all heard his lies afterwards,” added Iacopo. “Claiming it was the VMC’s soldiers who had disguised themselves as Portomaggiorans to do the deed.”
“And now,” spat the Pettirosso, “he lies again, telling the world it was myself who attempted to assassinate him. I wish that it were, and that I had succeeded, for then vengeance would have been gained. But it was not I, despite my vow to do so, making his claims yet more lies.”
There was silence, though there was something about the young lord’s demeanour that gave the impression it was not due to him being stuck for words.
Iacopo broke the silence with a direct challenge,
“I ask you, in earnest, is everything your father utters false? Has he ever spoken a word of truth?”
Lord Silvano began silently, slowly, shaking his head, and this time answered with the slightest hint of anger in his voice.
“I am not my father, but I rule now in his stead and will rule in my own right when my father enters Morr’s garden. Pavona’s present and future lie with me. I was never party to my father’s lies, nor present when they were spoken, only later learning of them. Now I look to find those willing to befriend me, not my father.”
The Pettirosso was pointing at the young lord, quite contrary to what was customarily expected when addressing a noble superior, even of another city state.
“So, you admit your father was lying?”
Silvano answered easily, “I do, as did my father to General Valckenburgh, through me, having tasked me with explaining all that was done and why.”
“Lord Silvano,” asked Iacopo, “you would have us believe that we can trust you? How is it that you are made so much better than your father? Or is it simply that you are a good enough liar to make it appear so.”
“Since the war against Prince Girenzo, and the death of my brother,” said Silvano, “I have ever and always striven to do that which was right and proper, and to venture my own life in the defence of greater Tilea, not just Pavona. I have served the greater good, and holy Morr, both demanding and receiving permission to do so from my father. All I ask is that you judge me by my own merits.”
Iacopo put his hands on his hips and looked askance at Silvano.
“You did nothing more than the good Captain Vanni here and myself – serving in the alliance army under Lord Alessio, upon the orders of your lord and master. Why should we presume your good service makes you a more honest man? Even a goblin might obey his brute master’s commands, yet still lie with almost every utterance.”
The mayor of Ridraffa’s wife gave a polite cough, and all turned to look at her.
“By your leave, barone and my lord Silvano?” she asked.
Both nobles nodded.
“Norochia was not the only time the young lord fought against the vampires,” she continued. “He was at the terrible battle of Ebino, leading the charge against the enemy’s massed ranks. There his holiness Calictus died, the army scattered, forcing Lord Silvano to ride away. But had personally led his riders into the fray. Then, having only just recovered from near fatal wounds received when bravely fighting Boulderguts’ brutes in the Battle of Via Diocleta, he marched with you, my lord, in the alliance army to fight the vampires once again. Is all this not adequate proof of Lord Silvano’s earnestness to serve the common good?”
Iacopo had forgotten that the mayor’s wife had Gondi blood, being a cousin of Duke Guidobaldo. It seems she possessed a great interest in her relations’ affairs, or perhaps just Lord Silvano? This would hardly help her understand the duplicitousness they were capable of. And yet … it was hard to argue against her. Lord Silvano was indeed a proven hero of battle after battle. A thought tickled at the edge of his consciousness, concerning how Duke Guidobaldo kept his son busy in the wars, or more accurately why he might have done so, but he lost a hold of it when Mayor Rafaelle spoke.
“My wife speaks the truth, as you do too, Barone. There is good and bad in the Gondi family, as with any family perhaps. But we should surely not allow the faults and frailties of a dying man to prevent our proper defence of the realm?”
Lord Silvano turned to speak to Iacopo, but the barone spoke first,
“Yes, we know. You are not your father.”
