Read Online The Palace by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - Free Book Online Page A

through old
eyes. "He does not command anything of me but what I willingly give." He turned
on his heel and strode on up the right side of the divided staircase, leaving
the joiners to mutter among themselves about the unpredictability of foreigners.
    At the top of the staircase he hesitated, studying the half-completed room on
the other side of the gallery. Then, his mind made up, he moved toward the sound
of sawing.
    "Oh, it's you, Ruggiero," Gasparo Tucchio said with a friendly wave as he set
down his mallets. "I'm glad of a break. The day is almost over."
    Giuseppe followed Gasparo's example and set his saw aside. "It's nearly
sunset. It's been getting cold at night."
    "Where's the Patron?" Gasparo asked familiarly. "I saw him leave earlier.
Dressed very fine, he was, all black brocade and a doublet of white velvet under
his mantle."
    Ruggiero was not offended by Gasparo's easy manner, or the disparaging
comments of the other three. "My master has gone to the house of Federigo Cossa.
He will do himself the honor of serving the prandium to the man who was his host
for so long."
    "Oh, the old alchemist." Gasparo dismissed Federigo Cossa with a laugh. "I
built a new room for him once. He's almost as finicky as Ragoczy." He added,
somewhat more respectfully, "So the Patron is serving the meal? That's just like
a proper Fiorenzeno. I remember when Laurenzo used to serve his guests when they
came to his table. He doesn't do it much anymore."
    Lodovico managed to keep the contempt out of his voice. "Ragoczy's becoming
very Fiorenzan. I have heard that he has also distributed clothing to the poor."
    "He has been told by Medici that this is expected of all rich men in Fiorenza."
Ruggiero spoke evenly as he studied Lodovico closely.
    Carlo put down his saw and slapped Lodovico on the back. "The trouble with
you, amico, is that you're hungry." He turned his attention to Ruggiero. "You
know how it is: a man gets hungry, he gets snappish."
    Lodovico had already realized his mistake and gladly seized on Carlo's
explanation for his surliness. "I have been famished this last hour," he
admitted with an ingenuous smile for Ragoczy's manservant. "I'll be glad of
prandium."
    To this Gasparo added, "I get cross as a Turk when I miss a meal." He sighed
and pushed his sawhorse toward the nearest wall. "We'll be through here in a
month or so. There's the rest of this floor and the next to do. Then the joiners
can finish everything. A pity. It's been good work."
    Giuseppe sighed. "It has," he agreed, somewhat unexpectedly. "I'll never work
on another building like this one, I know that."
    Gasparo seemed to remember at last that Ruggiero had asked for this
interview. "Well?" He stood up, much more businesslike. "Is that what you wanted
to talk to us about? I have the men you requested here."
    The air grew tenser as Ruggiero took a turn about the room. "You are all men
without families," he said at last. "You are all masters of your trade. You have
been remarkably loyal to your Patron."
    The four builders preened uneasily under this praise, which was suddenly
disturbing.
    "My master has learned a great deal about you. He is willing to pay you a
great deal of money if you will perform two services for him."
    "What services?" Lodovico asked, eyes narrowed.
    "In a moment." Ruggiero hesitated, then explained. "There is work to be done
here that no one must know of. Those who work on it will be paid double your
usual wages for the work"—this extraordinary announcement caused a number of
exclamations—"and at the end of it, you must leave Fiorenza forever. You will be
provided with work, wherever you go, and with a certain annual sum for your
maintenance."
    "Leave Fiorenza?" Gasparo demanded, torn between anger and utter amazement. "
Leave
Fiorenza
? What nonsense is this?"
    "No nonsense," Ruggiero said coldly. "It is my master's condition for the
work you are to do."
    Carlo had said nothing, but he ventured the