Ilario, the Stone Golem Read Online Free PDF Page A

themselves accused of being rebels exploiting my
    absence! And meanwhile the King can go on draining away my resources
    and making enemies of my neighbours . . . Until I go back to Taraco.’
    One of his hands made a fist: I noted how it thickened the tendons in
    his wrist.
    ‘What I resent is that publicly Rodrigo will be seen to be doing
    something intelligent! In effect, he levies a fine on me that I can’t refuse
    to pay. He’s not having to support those troops himself, all the while this
    goes on. And no supporter of mine, if I have any, can point to the King
    being unfair, because he’s protecting me!’
    I echoed Honorius, quietly for the child in my arms. ‘Goddamn!’
    Rekhmire’ replaced his wine bowl on the chess table. ‘I begin to see
    why it’s not merely Aldra Videric who’s kept Taraconensis free and
    peaceful, this past generation and more! In every other man’s eyes, King
    Rodrigo is doing something legal, something moral, to aid you. And
    meanwhile—’
    The Alexandrine lifted one hand and mimicked a twisting motion.
    Honorius laughed harshly. ‘Meanwhile the bloody screws tighten, until
    my thumbs begin to bleed!’
    My father threw himself down on the wooden settle, stretching out
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    one long leg, and watching as I replaced Onorata in her cot. I hoped her
    doze would last.
    ‘Ilario.’ Honorius spoke quietly. ‘There’s no need for you to be
    concerned over this. I didn’t come home from Castile poor. It’ll take a
    year or two longer to get the estates in order, that’s all. A good harvest next year or the year after and we’re set.’
    I rubbed my back as I straightened up. ‘I can see why you never went
    in for politics. You’re a really bad liar.’
    Rekhmire’ spluttered.
    Honorius, with an unwillingly pleased look, said, ‘I can deceive and
    feint on the field of battle. But you’re right: I can’t tell lies worth a damn.
    I see I should tell you the truth in future, you’ll find it more reassuring.’
    ‘I suppose that’s one word for it . . . ’
    Honorius added, ‘I’m not leaving Venice.’
    He barely sounded stubborn about it. Twenty or thirty years of taking
    and giving orders – especially the giving – and even his common
    pronouncements tend to sound like statements of irrefutable fact. As for
    anything he thinks he’s made his mind up over . . .
    ‘You are leaving!’
    It didn’t sound at all impressive in my emphatic tenor. Perhaps
    because of the alto squeak that crept in, despite my efforts. I glared at the
    grey-haired soldier.
    Not looking up from the page he studied, Rekhmire’ observed, ‘Going
    to Taraco might, now, be very advantageous – I know what I would do
    if I were in Rodrigo Sanguerra’s situation. I would offer the post of First
    Minister to Honorius.’
    ‘ What! ’ I turned to face him rapidly enough that I had to bend over,
    hands pressing against my stitches through my petticoats. I breathed
    hard. ‘You think the King should give Honorius Videric’s job?’
    Honorius exploded into a chuckle and glanced between us, as if we
    were there for his entertainment.
    The Egyptian ticked off points on his fingers. ‘It would provide
    stability for Taraconensis. They would have a First Minister again, and it
    would be a war hero – twenty-five years of service in the Crusades. King
    Rodrigo is seen to have a powerful man at his side. And it to some degree
    fixes Honorius under Taraco’s standard – how can Captain-General
    Licinus Honorius sneak off to Carthage and claim to want to be the
    “strong governor” Taraconensis needs, if he’s already King Rodrigo’s
    first adviser?’
    Honorius slapped his leg in evident delight.
    I snorted. That caught my stitches, too. ‘You’re forgetting one thing.
    Videric wouldn’t let him do it! ’
    ‘Possibly. But even Aldra Videric must now be conjecturing that the
    King gains no current advantage from listening to him .’ Rekhmire’ shot
    me a sharp gaze. ‘I grant you the risk