The Wind Dancer Read Online Free PDF Page B

she?"
    Lorenzo fell into step with him. "Very good."
    "A woman... offers interesting possibilities. The guards at the Palazzo wouldn't be
expecting a female."
    "Especially not when the woman smells like spoiled trout. I doubt if even a fishmonger
would find her alluring."
    "That problem seems easy enough to sol--" Lion broke off as Caprino stepped from
behind the column and started toward them.
    A smug smile on his lips, Caprino held up Lion's purse. "You are satisfied? A lift as
graceful as the steps of a pavane."
    "Where's the woman?" Lion squinted into the shadowed arcade.
    "Gone. I let Sanchia go back to the shop until I learned your decision. There was no point
to involving her further, if you found a woman unsuitable for your purpose."
    "She may be adequate," Lion said slowly. "If she proves pliable."
    Caprino's lids lowered to veil the sudden glitter in his eyes. "A woman you can own is
always pliable. Did you think I'd forgotten your second requirement? Sanchia is a slave
as her mother was before her. You can buy her and command her to do whatever you
wish her to do." He smiled faintly. "And she would never dare betray you by running
back to tell me or anyone else of your concerns."
    "A slave," Lion repeated. Slavery was not allowed in his own city-state of Mandara, but
there were many slaves in other parts of Italy brought from Turkey, Spain, and the
Balkans. "In your service?"
    Caprino shook his head. "She belongs to Giovanni Ballano who owns a print shop on the
Via Calimala."
    "Who sends her out to steal for him?"
    Caprino shook his head. "He doesn't know about it. Giovanni is a drunkard and a fool
who will soon lose his shop and everything he owns. He needs Sanchia's help, but hand
him a jug of good wine and a few ducats and he'll be persuaded to give her up to you."
    "More gold?" Lion asked dryly. "This thief is costing me dearly."
    "I found what you wanted," Caprino protested. "You can't expect me to impoverish
myself by buying her for you." A thoughtful frown suddenly wrinkled his brow.
"However, out of the goodness of my heart, I'll return half of this purse to you if you
decide to buy Sanchia."
    Lion's gaze narrowed. "Indeed? Now why is it you're so eager for me to accept your little
slave girl?"
    "It suits me to have her removed from Florence. I have my secrets also, my lord. Is it
agreed?"
    Lion gazed at him for a long moment before nodding slowly. "If Ballano can be
persuaded to sell her, I'll accept your lady thief." He took the pouch from Caprino's hand.
"Come to Giulia's tomorrow morning, and I'll return half the gold in the purse."
    "You do not trust me?"
    Lion's lips twisted in a mirthless smile. "Trust?" He turned and strode across the piazza.
    Lorenzo strolled beside him. "You're going to see Ballano now?"
    Lion nodded. "We've wasted too much time. I want to be at Solinari by Thursday."
    "You think Camari may move the statue?"
    "Who knows what that whoreson will do? He seldom does anything without a reason."
    "He hates you," Lorenzo observed. "To keep you from getting something you want may
be reason enough."
    "Well, he won't succeed." Lion's lips tightened. "The Wind Dancer is mine, and I'll not
let anyone take what belongs to me."
    Lorenzo stopped as they reached a table near the door of a trattoriabeneath the arcade on
the south side of the piazza. "I'll wait for you here." He dropped onto a chair at the table
and drew a slim volume from beneath his cloak. "You're being depressingly grim about
this matter, and I have no interest in your petty haggling."
    "By all means," Lion agreed ironically. "Heaven forbid you should be bored."
    "My thought exactly." Lorenzo opened the book. "Though heaven gave up any interest in
me a long time ago. Run along and conduct your business."
    Lion shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "As you command." He turned and strode
away in the direction of the Via Calimala.
    The rain was falling hard when Sanchia arrived at the print shop; a worried frown marred
the