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Authors: Jana Petken
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that could prove disastrous.”
A look of surprise crossed Luis’s face. Sanz had insulted him, shown his disapproval, as though he had a right to have an opinion. “What fool has the gall to refuse my money?” he asked, unable to believe Garcia. “I offered him more ducats than he’s probably seen in his entire lifetime. He has disrespected me … the arrogant swine. Can he be trusted to keep his mouth shut?”
Garcia appeared to be undecided. “You have a son safely delivered to you, and I’m certain there are no witnesses alive to make accusations against you – but no, I’m not sure you should trust him.”
“Christ’s blood!”
“Your Grace, might I suggest you have him killed? It’s the only way to guarantee his silence.”
“No,” Luis answered, albeit reluctantly. He needed the militia and their loyalty. They still adhered to the oaths of the brotherhood, an ancient close-knit family of men-at-arms, sworn to protect each other above all else. Years ago, they had been all-powerful, managing their own criminal courts and dishing up punishments. In Castile, they were still highly respected and feared. Their fealty to each other was well known.
“No, that would not be prudent,” he repeated. “The other militiamen saw Sanz being summoned to my chambers. Even now they will be wondering what I wanted with him. Sanz’s death would raise suspicion. There will be enough chaos in the coming days. He lives.”
“What about the suspicion surrounding your physician? Questions will be asked,” Garcia said.
Luis wagged his index finger. “No. Cabrera was well known and respected, but my militia will not question his death. On the other hand, they will not take kindly to one of their own dying suddenly without proper explanation. I need these men, Garcia. Marauders coming in from the sea are ransacking towns, and there are criminals taking advantage of the monarchs’ lengthy absences from Valencia. Sagrat is well defended against thieves running around the countryside, but only because of my militia’s presence. Sanz lives … for the moment.”
“Maybe we should have used our mercenaries tonight,” Garcia offered.
“And have that thieving scum touching my new son? They’d have the tunic off my back and burn this town were it not for the coin I put in their fat pockets. I could never trust them with such personal matters.
“I specifically used Sanz because he serves me. He is duty-bound to keep his mouth shut. And even if he feels no loyalty to me, he will do what’s necessary to protect his family.” Luis had thought briefly about this. There was no guarantee that Sanz would keep his tongue still. In an unguarded moment, he could blurt out the truth about what he’d done, whether to his family or, God forbid, to Captain Tur. “I want Sanz’s family moved into the town. We need to keep a close eye on them, and Sanz has to know that we are watching them. You must find a way to make this happen.”
“I can’t imagine how they could be persuaded to leave their farm,” Garcia said, “unless their farm were to burn to the ground.”
Luis smiled. That was not a bad idea. “The townspeople will be in an uproar tomorrow when they find out about the infant’s family. Perhaps we should add to their burdens and give them something else to think about – a diversion, perhaps.”
“A diversion?”
“Yes, more tragedies. What could be more tragic than marauders attacking defenceless homes on the plain before stealing into the town to commit murder? They’re known to have ice in their veins. It would not be beyond their dark souls to kill a mother and father and abduct their two children. We need suspects … or did you not think about that?”
Garcia shook his head and spread his lips in a rare genuine smile. “What an excellent idea, Your Grace,” he said.
“Yes, it is. It seems we have need of the mercenaries tonight after all. Make sure they visit Sanz’s family first … but
A look of surprise crossed Luis’s face. Sanz had insulted him, shown his disapproval, as though he had a right to have an opinion. “What fool has the gall to refuse my money?” he asked, unable to believe Garcia. “I offered him more ducats than he’s probably seen in his entire lifetime. He has disrespected me … the arrogant swine. Can he be trusted to keep his mouth shut?”
Garcia appeared to be undecided. “You have a son safely delivered to you, and I’m certain there are no witnesses alive to make accusations against you – but no, I’m not sure you should trust him.”
“Christ’s blood!”
“Your Grace, might I suggest you have him killed? It’s the only way to guarantee his silence.”
“No,” Luis answered, albeit reluctantly. He needed the militia and their loyalty. They still adhered to the oaths of the brotherhood, an ancient close-knit family of men-at-arms, sworn to protect each other above all else. Years ago, they had been all-powerful, managing their own criminal courts and dishing up punishments. In Castile, they were still highly respected and feared. Their fealty to each other was well known.
“No, that would not be prudent,” he repeated. “The other militiamen saw Sanz being summoned to my chambers. Even now they will be wondering what I wanted with him. Sanz’s death would raise suspicion. There will be enough chaos in the coming days. He lives.”
“What about the suspicion surrounding your physician? Questions will be asked,” Garcia said.
Luis wagged his index finger. “No. Cabrera was well known and respected, but my militia will not question his death. On the other hand, they will not take kindly to one of their own dying suddenly without proper explanation. I need these men, Garcia. Marauders coming in from the sea are ransacking towns, and there are criminals taking advantage of the monarchs’ lengthy absences from Valencia. Sagrat is well defended against thieves running around the countryside, but only because of my militia’s presence. Sanz lives … for the moment.”
“Maybe we should have used our mercenaries tonight,” Garcia offered.
“And have that thieving scum touching my new son? They’d have the tunic off my back and burn this town were it not for the coin I put in their fat pockets. I could never trust them with such personal matters.
“I specifically used Sanz because he serves me. He is duty-bound to keep his mouth shut. And even if he feels no loyalty to me, he will do what’s necessary to protect his family.” Luis had thought briefly about this. There was no guarantee that Sanz would keep his tongue still. In an unguarded moment, he could blurt out the truth about what he’d done, whether to his family or, God forbid, to Captain Tur. “I want Sanz’s family moved into the town. We need to keep a close eye on them, and Sanz has to know that we are watching them. You must find a way to make this happen.”
“I can’t imagine how they could be persuaded to leave their farm,” Garcia said, “unless their farm were to burn to the ground.”
Luis smiled. That was not a bad idea. “The townspeople will be in an uproar tomorrow when they find out about the infant’s family. Perhaps we should add to their burdens and give them something else to think about – a diversion, perhaps.”
“A diversion?”
“Yes, more tragedies. What could be more tragic than marauders attacking defenceless homes on the plain before stealing into the town to commit murder? They’re known to have ice in their veins. It would not be beyond their dark souls to kill a mother and father and abduct their two children. We need suspects … or did you not think about that?”
Garcia shook his head and spread his lips in a rare genuine smile. “What an excellent idea, Your Grace,” he said.
“Yes, it is. It seems we have need of the mercenaries tonight after all. Make sure they visit Sanz’s family first … but
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