The Spring of the Ram - Dorothy Dunnett [198]
“Then what happened?” said Tobie.
With painful clarity, he told them, and they listened in silence. Catherine had not approved of his hunting trip, but he had felt the need to escape—he hoped the Emperor would forgive him—from the stifling attentions of the court. He had taken a few men, and had found the hunting good, and had camped not only one but two nights, and then, trusting to his wife to forgive him, had thought that he might indulge himself by continuing further. Who knew, he might even come across Nicholas and be invited to go with him to Erzerum. “For whatever rivalry there may be between us,” Doria said, “it does not extend to the Tabriz caravans, for there is enough there for everyone. As for the rest, he is a young man who enjoys games and I, too, find life sometimes a little too serious. They are dangerous games, I admit; but not mortal. He has not tried to harm me, nor I him. Our main quarrel, I know, is over my marriage to my Caterinetta, but love will not always submit to old men’s rules, or old women’s either; and as you see, she has come to no harm.”
“So you caught up with him?” Tobie said.
“Before the Vavuk pass. I was considering a camp for the night when I heard horses on the road I had left. The light was failing; they didn’t see me. But I did notice that they were Kurds, and riding armed, as if ready to attack. In fact, as I watched, they left the road and took to the turf, as if they hoped to surprise someone. I thought of Nicholas. It was rash, I know, but I took my men and followed, keeping also to the soft ground. But when I reached them, they had already surprised his camp, and were among the tents, slaughtering. I did what I could,” said Pagano Doria; and fell silent.
Godscalc said, “You saw Nicholas fall?” The girl, who had sat as if frozen throughout, drew a short breath.
Doria looked at her. He said, “Yes. I saw him die, and Master Julius. I don’t suppose you want me to…”
“Perhaps later. We want to find them. And all the rest of his company?”
“Some ran off. They rode after them, until they were all dead. Then they took the tents, and their plunder. When I woke, there was nothing left except bodies.” He moved his bandaged hand. “They had torn off my rings and cut through to see if I carried money. I was afraid they would come back, and took a stick and tried to get as far as I could while it was still dark. Two of my servants were still alive and came to help me. I didn’t see where Nicholas lay. I am sorry. It was too dark, and I was too weak.”
“They thought you were dead,” Tobie said. “Your servants were lucky.”
“They were not worth pursuing,” Doria said. “They wore no armour, and carried nothing but hunting weapons. But all the same, two of them died.”
“I am sorry,” said Godscalc. “If Astorre finds them, he will bury them also. We have a guide to whom, if you will, you could describe the exact spot.”
“If I could, I would come with you,” said Doria.
“There is no need,” Godscalc said. “Astorre will manage on his own. We ourselves are returning to Trebizond because of the company.”
“Of course,” said Doria. He lifted his free hand and rubbed it over his eyes. “Poor young men. I had forgotten, thinking of them, what it means to you all. You will go back to Bruges?”
It was odd to remember that once that is what they would have done. From curiosity, from pity for Marian de Charetty, from greed, of course, for the wealth the venture might bring, they had set out in Nicholas’s wake, and promised themselves that, if they fell out with him, they would make their way home (although Julius might come over stubborn, and Godscalc might stay to be confided in). Today, with Nicholas gone, return to Bruges had never even been mentioned. Now Godscalc said, “It would hardly be the best way of serving our mistress. For at least a year, we are committed to serve the Medici, and our station will stay, whether or not one or other of us goes back with our first cargo.” He looked