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By Root 2795 0

Genoese. The Venetians need you in Cyprus as much as I do. At the very least, they are at a loss for skilled managers to replace those who fled when Carlotta left. They want the Genoese driven out. They want the island strongly held against Constantinople, but held by Christians, even if those Christians have to pay tribute to keep Cairo neutral. You have the skills. You have the soldiers. Perhaps you have friends among the Genoese? I confess I do not. Eighty years ago, the Genoese invaded and ravaged this island, and hung its king, my great-grandfather, in a cage. His son had to pawn his crown jewels to pay them. They own Famagusta and rule there like lords. They chose Carlotta’s husband. The Bank of St George and the Knights of St John support Carlotta in all she does. But for the Mamelukes, Genoa would own all of Cyprus: we should be a vassal like Chios.’

‘Would you be worse off?’ Nicholas said.

Zacco said, ‘Ask me that again when I hold Famagusta and Kyrenia, and have ordered the Mamelukes from my shores. This island is rich. We need and cherish our traders. But there can only be one ruler, and that is the Lusignan.’

‘I see,’ Nicholas said. ‘But meantime, the Mamelukes may do as they please. Tzani-bey goes free, and you talk of giving me honour?’

‘This is not a court of chivalry,’ Zacco said. ‘This is a kingdom, fighting to live. Tzani-bey will be told that he has made a serious error. He will be asked, when next he meets you, to offer you public apology. If you fight for me, you will fight as his equal. As for the reparation: your time will come. Did the Venetians stop Tzani-bey?’

‘No more than you did,’ Nicholas said. ‘It is not a court of chivalry, that is certain. I am supposed to fight the Genoese single-handed, for the satisfaction of murdering Tzani-bey at the end?’

The young man smiled and glanced at his Sicilian commander, who leaned forward. ‘Not single-handed, Messer Niccolò. We have just received news. Your company is in Rhodes.’

‘Explain,’ said Nicholas. From head to foot, his body ached.

The man in the window said, ‘Why be angry? They found you missing after the great victory of Troia. It was natural that they should look to the coast, and find your ship gone. Venice gave all their assistance – Messer Martelli of the Medici; your own lawyer, Messer Gregorio. A galley was found, and your man Astorre took his soldiers on board, with all your chief officers. It has landed at Rhodes.’

Nicholas didn’t hurry to speak. Two hundred and forty miles to the west, Rhodes was the island home of the Knights of St John, the friends of Carlotta, of Genoa, of the Angevins. Now, it seemed, Astorre and all his army were there. Rushing off to the rescue, and sailing to the wrong place. For, of course, it was Carlotta who was known to be pursuing his services; Thomas would have told Astorre and the rest about Silla. And Carlotta, scouring Europe for money, was as likely to come back to Rhodes as to Cyprus. Likelier, Astorre must have thought. In the end, Nicholas said only, ‘What will happen?’

The young man said, ‘You have forged a strong bond with your officers. They fear for you. Finding no news in Rhodes, they might well sail for Kyrenia or Famagusta, expecting to find you awaiting Carlotta in Cyprus. If they do, they will be intercepted and killed.’

‘By whom?’ Nicholas said.

‘By me,’ said the young man in the window. ‘Or of course, should they elude me, by Carlotta. She will know by then that you are in Nicosia with me, and that she cannot rely on them.’

‘You will tell her,’ said Nicholas.

‘Yes,’ said Zacco. The hazel eyes remained clear. He pushed his hair out of them. He said, ‘These things must be done. I have been as candid with you as I can be. There is nothing you now do not know.’

Nicholas remembered something. ‘The lady Primaflora?’

‘She is with the nuns of the monastery where you left her. The Venetians kept their promise. They want your allegiance. You now know exactly why they want it. You may think that they, too, will not be content to be traders when the Genoese leave, and are building their