Race of Scorpions - Dorothy Dunnett [96]
He waited. Nicholas smiled, but said nothing. Loppe resumed, with some patience. ‘That was when the army was put under restraint. The excuse was reasonable. Mercenaries lacking employment are a danger in any society. Either Astorre signed a contract, or submitted. The captain has maintained his position: they are awaiting your arrival; they intend to fight for the Knights or the Queen. They are in the old Hospital, and locked in at night, although the Order allows them to work for their keep in the daytime. Le Grant has transformed the defences.’
‘Le Grant?’ Nicholas said. Once, John le Grant and he had blown up half Trebizond. But then the Scot had gone back to Bruges, and had been thrown out, as he had, by Marian’s daughters.
Loppe said, ‘Your former engineer. He came from Venice at the same time as I did. He said life was getting too easy without you.’
Astorre and Le Grant. Thomas, Tobie and Loppe. From being alone, he was part of a community. One which would push, and pull, and demand, if he let them. One which would do what he wanted, now that – with blinding precision – he knew what he wanted. He was not part of a community. He was in charge of an arsenal in the opening moves of a perfect war game. He said, ‘What is Carlotta’s attitude?’
‘The Queen? The Knights curse her, but give her what she wants. She is a fighter: she might attract help for Rhodes as well as for Cyprus. She is threatened by Constantinople as well as by Zacco her brother. She needs Astorre and his men, just as the Knights do. But rather than have them go to her brother, she’d kill them.’
Nicholas said, ‘And the lady I brought with me? Does she speak of her?’
Loppe’s face barely changed. He said, ‘The lady Primaflora was sent to make sure you would join the Queen’s party. Her absence, like your own, caused some comment. That is all I was told.’
Nicholas said, ‘I have met Zacco. He has invited me to join him, with Astorre or without him. The lady Primaflora will go where I go.’
Loppe spoke slowly. ‘He invited you, but did not keep you?’
Nicholas said, ‘He is a man of my age, or yours, and full of confidence. A woman would have learned caution.’
There was a silence. Loppe said, ‘And your lady is prepared to support the Bastard’s side, too, if you choose it?’
Nicholas said, ‘She is not my lady, any more than he is my lord. Primaflora had no wish to return to the Queen. If she does so now, it is only for form’s sake. She will leave as soon as she can.’
‘She is your strongest card with the Queen,’ Loppe remarked.
He sounded like Tilde. Nicholas laughed. He said, ‘Oh, don’t worry. She is enough of my lady to give the Queen all the reassurance she needs. Primaflora was sent to bring me back, and used every weapon, if for the opposite reason.’
Loppe said, ‘I am glad,’ and went on quickly, ‘I hear horses. What more can I tell you?’
‘Nothing more,’ Nicholas said. He got up and started to strip, while Loppe unfastened a box and began pulling out clothes.
Loppe straightened, a pourpoint in his hands. He said, ‘So?’
Nicholas clawed on a fresh shirt and took the pourpoint. ‘So what?’
Loppe gave a snort. ‘The Queen, the Genoese, the Order? The Bastard Zacco? Or home?’
Nicholas dragged on hose and tied knots. ‘You want to go back to Guinea?’
Loppe said, ‘I want to know what I’ve been waiting for. So does Astorre.’
Nicholas buttoned his doublet, took a brush, and reduced his hair to a bumpy brown mound which immediately crimped round his nape and his temples. He slapped on the fur hat. He said, ‘I thought you were waiting for me? I’ll tell you when I’ve seen Queen Carlotta.’
Loppe said, ‘You may not get the chance.’
Nicholas was ready. He smiled. ‘Oh, no,’ he said. ‘I’ll lay you a small wager I’ll be allowed back to the hospice for several days.