The Family - Mario Puzo [14]
Over them stood Netto with four armed men, all with scarlet swords. Netto’s mother, the Duchess Atalanta, was screaming curses at her beloved son. As Netto tried to calm her, Cesare stood listening.
The son was explaining to his mother. “Mama, Torino was too powerful, and his family was plotting to overthrow you. I have killed all the members of his clan.” Then he tried to reassure his mother that, though she would have to be deposed and he would become the ruler, she would always hold a position of honor in his government.
She slapped him. “A son’s betrayal!” she screamed.
“Open your eyes, Mama. Not only Torino, but also Cousin Tila, has conspired against you,” Netto insisted.
Cesare had heard enough. He took his leave and quickly returned to Tila’s apartment.
After hearing what happened, Tila was enraged. “Gossip, gossip, all of it!” he shouted. “That bastard cousin of mine, Netto, is trying to steal the crown from his own mother. And he plans to murder me as well.”
Cesare, Tila, and Gio barricaded the door and then went out through the window and up onto the roof of the palace, scaling the rough stone walls. Cesare and Tila jumped down into the dark of the rear courtyard, then helped Gio, who was not physically strong. Once on the ground, Cesare had to restrain Tila from trying to get back to the castle to fight Netto. He finally led them to the fields where their escort was encamped, where he knew he’d be safe because of his own thirty armed men. His only problem was Tila. Should he stay to save his friend, or take him to Rome and safety?
Cesare offered Tila the alternatives but Tila refused. He asked only that Cesare protect him in getting to the Communal Palace in the center of Perugia, where he could rally his own followers to defend his honor and restore the castle to his aunt.
Cesare agreed, but first he told ten of his armed men to escort Gio Medici back safely to Florence. Then, with the rest of his men, he took Tila Baglioni to the Communal Palace.
There they found four armed men, faithful supporters of Tila, waiting for them. He immediately sent them out as messengers, and by dawn there were more than a hundred soldiers under Tila’s command.
As the sun rose, they saw a troop of armed men on horses led by Netto riding through the public square. Cesare warned his own men not to take part in any battle. Then they watched as Tila surrounded the square with his men and rode alone to confront Netto.
The battle was quickly over. Tila rode directly into Netto, grabbing his sword arm and then stabbing him in the thigh with his dagger. Netto fell off his horse. Tila dismounted, and before Netto could stand, Tila impaled him on his sword. Netto’s troops tried to flee, but were captured. Tila then mounted his clipped-ear warhorse and ordered the captured enemy to be brought to stand before him.
Fifteen of them were left alive. Most of them were wounded and could barely stand.
Cesare watched as Tila ordered Netto’s men beheaded, and their heads spiked to the ramparts of the cathedral. He was amazed at the sight of Tila, the bullying student lout, who had been transformed that one day into a merciless executioner. Only seventeen, Tila Baglioni had become the Tyrant of Perugia.
When Cesare arrived in Rome and met with his father, he told the story and then asked, “If the Virgin Mary is the most beloved saint in Perugia, why are they so merciless?”
Pope Alexander smiled. He seemed more amused with the story than horrified. “The Baglioni are true believers,” he said. “They believe in paradise. Such a great gift. How otherwise can man bear this mortal life? Unfortunately, such a belief also gives evil men the courage to commit great crimes in the name of good and God.”
Pope Alexander did not love luxury only for