Read Online The Alchemist's Apprentice by Dave Duncan - Free Book Online Page A

desk and glared belligerently across at my master. “You are hallucinating!” The nightmare had just turned into sheer terror, as nightmares do.
    He shook his head smugly. “I warned you that you were being naive.”
    â€œMaster, before a doge is crowned he has to swear an oath known as the promissione . It is no trivial matter. He swears to shun each and every mistake and crime of all his predecessors in the last thousand years. The promissione is read to him every two months during his reign to remind him. He can barely blow his nose without his counselors’ consent. He must not leave the ducal palace without their permission. He must not meet with foreigners! He…I cannot imagine all the promises the doge would have broken if he went to that supper party!”
    â€œHe wasn’t wearing his ducal robes and corno . I expect that’s another. But Moro is a fanatical collector of books.”
    â€œThen why did the sellers not offer him a private viewing in the palace?”
    The Maestro scowled horribly. “I do not know the answer to that. But I don’t suppose for a moment that Moro is the first doge to slip out for an evening incognito, playing Haroun al-Raschid.”
    â€œAnd somebody tried to assassinate him? Is that what you mean? The poison went to the wrong man?”
    The Maestro pursed his lips. “I wondered how long it would take you.”
    Even more aghast now, I said, “The Serene One moves and is unmoved ? The procurator got the wrong glass and the poison meant for the doge? Is that what it means?”
    â€œPossibly. A hypothesis to keep in mind. Even if not, do you see why I cannot write to the Lion’s Mouth? The Council of Ten must not have cause to investigate the procurator’s death, not officially. A suspicious death involving illicit acts by the doge may bring on a constitutional crisis, just when relations between the Republic and the Turks may be boiling up to another war. What you got this morning was not a warning, it was a cry for help!”
    I stared down at my list, although I was seeing nothing. I did not want to see old Nasone either murdered or deposed, but all doges have political enemies. “Did everyone see him there?”
    â€œProbably not,” the Maestro conceded. “He came in, looked at the books quite briefly, and spoke with Orseolo. Then an argument broke out with the foreigners. I think he left then. He was not at the supper table later.”
    â€œWhat sort of argument?”
    â€œThe foreigners had not been invited. Imer told them to leave. Probably the doge had not been invited either. Faugh! Moro has always been impulsive. He champs under all the restraints of his office, the eternal committee meetings. Read me the list.”
    Present and not suspected:
    Dr. Nostradamus; Procurator Orseolo; madonna Violetta; Nasone
    Possible suspects:
    Attorney Imer; Karagounis; Senator Tirali; two foreigners; a woman; two footmen;
    Pasqual Tirali
    â€œYou assume too much. Move your friend to the list of suspects.”
    I protested, “Did you see her tipping poison into the victim’s wine glass?”
    â€œBah! Of course I didn’t. I didn’t see anyone doing that. I very much doubt if anyone did. It would be too obvious.”
    That had already occurred to me. “You said Orseolo had a crippled hand and used a cane. He must have laid his glass down when he wanted to handle one of the books? The others would too, perhaps, but he must have done so more often?”
    My master nodded. I could see that he had been hoping to point that out himself.
    â€œSo,” I said, “the murderer unobtrusively poisoned his own drink and then switched it for the victim’s. Did you see that happen?”
    â€œNo,” he admitted sourly, “but I was constantly being distracted by stupid questions. It is likely that somebody did. Tell Angeli you need him shortly.”
    I went over to the door and