The Outcast Blade Read Online Free PDF Page A

said.
    His mother stared at him. His uncle, the Regent, simply looked disgusted.
    “S-see?” Marco pointed at the ceiling.
    “They shall be cleaned away this very morning,” Duchess Alexa promised. “Every single last one of them. Next time you’re here they’ll be gone.”
    “W-where will the p-poor spiders live? Everyone has to l-live somewhere.” Her son sounded sorrowful. “Even s-spiders with nowhere to live.” Having exhausted that day’s supply of words, Marco kicked his heels against the legs of his throne, curled into a ball and began to suck his thumb.
    The duchess looked thoughtful.
    “I think,” said Prince Alonzo… Then stopped as Duchess Alexa abandoned her chair to kneel in front of her son. Gently she pulled his thumb from his mouth and nodded towards the ambassador.
    “Is he a spider?”
    “He l-looks like a s-spider to m-me.”
    It was true the Mamluk ambassador was tall and thin, and dressed in a robe that made him look thinner still. The fat turban he wore could have looked like a spider’s head with a little imagination.
    Well, maybe a lot of imagination.
    “Is the Fontego dei Mamluk yet sold?”
    Count Corte, whom Alexa asked, blinked furiously at finding himself the unexpected centre of attention. “We’ve had offers,” he said carefully. “Good offers. From the Moors and the Seljuks.”
    “Has it been sold?”
    “No, my lady.”
    “Then it is returned to its original owners.”
    She smiled at the ambassador, who was so shocked he forgot to keep his face impassive. “My lady, that is unexpected.”
    The balance of power in Venice had changed and Alexa intended to provide proof. In removing Lady Desdaio without permission,Atilo had risked disgrace. He’d also made it impossible for Alexa’s brother-in-law to seduce the richest heiress in the city. In winning a battle against the Mamluks, Atilo had put himself beyond punishment. Since he was her man – as surely as Roderigo was Alonzo’s – her hand was strengthened.
    Bowing lower than usual, the Mamluk bid farewell and left the room, walking backwards as his customs required. He left so speedily everyone suspected he feared she’d change her mind.
    “Now,” Alexa said. “Tycho will tell me why he thinks Lord Roderigo is involved in this.” When Roderigo opened his mouth, Alexa scowled. “You’ll have your turn later.”
    “My lady. Roderigo was on the island with us.”
    “
Lord
Roderigo,” the duchess corrected. “These things matter.”
    “I’m sorry,” Tycho said. “
His lordship
was with us. But when I looked up at the banquet and saw his sergeant, who was not, I knew…” Those watching probably imagined Tycho gathered his thoughts. But he was wondering how to word what he needed to say. “I
knew
something was wrong.”
    “You knew this how?”
    “My lady. Please. I just
knew
.”
    “This knowledge gave you proof Lord Roderigo was involved?”
    “No, my lady. I simply thought…”
    Tycho saw the duchess look at a fat little man at the far end of the row of chairs arranged in front of the thrones, who shook his head. Quietly dressed and seedy in appearance, Dr Crow was reputedly the greatest alchemist alive. He’d questioned Tycho already on how he knew death was coming. He took for granted that Tycho did; his only interest was how.
    I just did
had probably disappointed him.
    “You were right about the danger,” Alexa said. “Wrong about Lord Roderigo’s involvement. Prince Alonzo tells me he sent Roderigo’s sergeant to confirm no disease had developed. If it had, quarantine was to be extended. Lord Roderigo locked the door to the courtyard because that was what regulations demanded.”
    “My lady…”
    “This was a Republican conspiracy. Arrests are already being made. We have dangers enough outside not to tolerate traitors within. Lord Roderigo is a loyal servant to the throne and was not involved.”
    “No, my lady. Of course not.”
    The duchess was waiting for something. After a