Pip Vaughan-Hughes - The Vault of bones

'Good brother Andrew,' I said, leaning forward over the food-strewn table, 'I see what a burden you have borne. But consider this. It may be that to find Querini away from Venice would put us to some advantage. If he should reach Venice, is it not possible, given the record of past Doges, that the Republic might be loath to surrender the relic, even to King Louis himself?'

'It… it is possible,' Andrew conceded. He turned away and gazed eastwards, towards the golden backs of the islands that shimmered there. 'Four days' sail, eh? Not so very far. I shall consult my brother.' And without another word he drifted off, leaving me in possession of the table, and of the ham, on to which I fell in an ecstasy of greed, made sharper by relief, and by the appalling, wonderful secret with which I had just been entrusted. I had not had time to think much about Letice of Smooth Field since we had escaped from the Pharos Chapel. I might have left her there on the shore, but my mind and body were in painful turmoil and it had been easier to take her with me. And strange to say, her kneeling to pray by the water had moved me in some way I could not have explained then or now. Since we had climbed aboard the Seynt Victor we had barely seen each other. But when she had insinuated herself into my conversation with Andrew, and that sly kick beneath the table… All the desolate, impotent rage I had felt when Michael had revealed to me the circumstances of Anna’s death had come flooding back. But I was trapped now, for I could not ill-treat any woman, no matter how evil; nor could I have her put ashore, for I was but a passenger on this ship. We had no power over each other here, and that very thought was a knife in my heart.

Thank you’ I told her now. I had cornered her in the prow, where she was watching the land slip by in the distance. 'Thank you very much. Do not..’ I held up my hand, for she had turned to me in surprise. 'Do not mistake yourself, lady. I do not know what is in your mind, but I know what you are, and what you have done. That you and I are alive together on this ship is an accident, nothing more. You will keep out of my affairs, or by God I'll.. ‘ I broke off, and smacked the rail in confused rage.

'Master Petroc, there is something I must say to you’ I rounded on her in fury, for how dare she address me? But her eyes were cast down and she was hugging herself tightly across the chest, and the unbidden memory of that day in Rome when I had witnessed Querini beating her stilled my tongue.

'I was in London when you were there’ she muttered. With some others. They were looking for…'

‘I know who you were looking for’ I said, quiet in my turn, for I feared that if I raised my voice I would lose control of my passions and strike her, or worse.

'Facio was riding the horse’ she said, eyes still down. 'He was the tall man with me in Rome, down by the river, the one who.. ‘ She gave me a rueful look, and I narrowed my eyes. 'I told him not to kill you, though he had planned on it. He was a mercenary once, before he met Nicholas Querini, and can ride a destrier as well as any knight’ she went on. 'I did not know they planned to kill your woman. I thought they would take her back to Venice. I… I would not have been party to it, I swear’

'I do not believe you’ I told her. Why should I? You are a murderess and the tool of an evil-doer. You killed your own friend in front of me. And Fulk de Grez in Rome, and his companion, no doubt: why would you not murder.. ‘ I could not utter Anna's name in the presence of this creature. 'It would surely be as easy, nay, easier by far, to strike down a defenceless woman’ You were there!' She pleaded. You saw!'

"Twas not you upon the horse’ I hissed, 'but you no doubt guided your friends to Cheapside. That is why you were in London, was it not?'

Well, you are right’ she said, and her eyes met mine. They were rimmed with red, and the pale skin beneath them was bruised with exhaustion. We knew your plans – Nicholas keeps an army of spies to tell him of friends and enemies, and what the world's gold is doing; and at Pope Gregory's court there was a certain Peter of Verona, newly become Inquisitor General of northern Italy, courtesy of Querini gold…'I closed my eyes. The trap that had caught us was monstrous. I saw Peters jolly face and cold eyes, and how spittle had flown from his grinning mouth as he spoke of heretics and what he did with them.'… we were waiting for your ship’ Letice was saying. We had been there since November…'

'But I do not care about this’ I snapped. What does it matter? I know. All of it: all the schemes, all the… waste.' She opened her mouth in shock. 'Oh, do not play the virtuous one’ I told her. 'I have found out your masters plan at last – too late, but a simpleton like me is always late to the feast, eh?'

We were to kidnap the lady, no more’ insisted Letice. 'I thought Nicholas was going to ransom her off to her uncle. And then I heard… I saw her, out in the streets; followed her. She was a fine lady…'

'She was a princess? I cried. 'But that is not why – dear God, I cannot bear this!'

'That wasn't why you loved her’ said Letice, quietly. I stared at her, horrified. 'And Querini is not my master, no matter what you might think – I'd not blame you for thinking it, mind. No, listen’ she said hurriedly, for I had begun to turn away. 'I was his woman, it is true. He took care of me, and what I gave him in return should be obvious. And more: I was useful to him, for I have a quick mind, and men will betray themselves happily for a pretty face. Nicholas has grown rich on such betrayals. I am not dull enough to think I am the first woman he has used thus, and I shall not be the last. But he gave me a fine life and I was happy to do his bidding. Until that day. No: listen to me. I saw you in Rome that day, when Nicholas blacked my eye: remember? He had taken me out to buy me something, or so he said, but we were following you. When I realised, I told him I would have nothing more to do with it, that he had no right…'

'Please, do not mock me with this morality play,' I scoffed, but she shook her head furiously.

Whatever else I may not be, I am a woman’ she said, eyes blazing. 'I will not suffer to watch my sisters ill-treated. I am a whore, Master Petroc’ she said defiantly. 'Not a princess, but I know how men use women, how they hurt us, defile us, kill us as if we were beasts. Do you know why Nicholas had your woman killed? Because it was easier than carrying her off. If she had been a man, do not think but that he would have taken the trouble. That's what I told him, there in the market, and he knocked me down.' 'Much you have suffered’ I sneered.

'Oh, I have suffered all right’ she said, suddenly angry. We've all fucking suffered, haven't we? Do not come the high-handed one with me, Master Gurt Dog of Balecester, Master Priest-killer! You would not blanch at the killing of a lady, from what I've heard! The priest you once were is showing, you moralising popinjay!'

'I was never a fucking priest!' I hissed. 'I was a novice monk, no matter what the… the stories, the songs about me – and they are not about me, no matter what the London street believes – are all of them lies, and…'

'And you are innocent. You never done it, eh?' said the girl, with an angry smile. Well, you must have done something.' ‘I am no priest, no priest-killer, and no-'

'No what? You have done your share, my lad. You've killed more men than I.'

'Is that so?' I asked, bitterly. You seem to know how to use a knife. Who taught you to kill, since we are speaking of such things?' She gave a grim little chuckle and and peered at me sidelong.

'Taught me?' she said. 'I worked it out for myself. Not very hard, is it? Who taught you, then?'