The Spring of the Ram - Dorothy Dunnett [74]
“I enjoy most things,” said Nicholas. “We sailed past Tolfa. The Roman alum is still undiscovered, I hear.”
The Athenian smiled. His face, dark and bearded, was not young, but remained handsome and suave as the day Nicholas had seen it first on the quayside at Damme, eighteen months ago. And last, in September, on board a Venetian galley at Sluys, when he had met Violante of Naxos, and the trip to Trebizond had been mooted.
There was gold belonging to Nicholas lodged in Venice. There was also a respectable deposit in the name of the Charetty company. They did not talk about that; for much of it came from their private and continuing fee for locating alum near Rome, and then keeping silence about it. Venice valued her Turkish alum monopoly. Now Nicholai de’ Acciajuoli said, “Of course, someone will find Tolfa one day, as you and your physician did by deduction. The Pope’s godson da Castro is seeking it. Should he find it, the Pope will seize and exploit the alum. But every day that passes meantime makes my brother happy, and equally, surely, the Charetty company. So you go to Trebizond, despite your small mishap?”
“It is what we set out to do,” Nicholas said.
“And you will cherish, as well as you may, those generous colleagues of yours and mine, the Venetians?”
“In so far as I can,” Nicholas said. “The Genoese consul Doria is going to be troublesome. We suspect him of causing the fire.”
“You do!” said the Greek. “Then I share your concern. He sails ahead of you?”
“Into Constantinople. Stamboul. We don’t know his influence there.”
“He knows the Greeks,” said the Athenian calmly. “All the Doria family do. He will have friends among the families the Sultan has induced to resettle. As for the foreign colony over the water…my brother will tell you what goes on in Pera. The Genoese are disliked there in general, and the Venetian Bailie is the Turks’ preferred spokesman. Did the silk survive?”
“Yes,” said Nicholas. “The fire was very selective. You were going to tell me about alum.”
The other man looked surprised. “I thought I had.”
“We talked in Flanders, on the galley. You spoke of alum near Kerasous.”
“Dear me, did I?” said the Greek. “But that is a little way along the Black Sea from Trebizond. And the mine is not on the coast, but in the hills some way to the south. And the loads that can be brought into Kerasous are subject to quite terrible taxation as they pass through the straits of the Turks. It is complicated.”
“I can see that,” said Nicholas.
“Hardly worth pursuing at present,” the Athenian said.
“I can see that, too,” said Nicholas. “But your brother the lord Bartolomeo could, I’m sure, advise me. Will he come with me to Trebizond?”
“With you?” said the Greek. “Ah no. His business is in Pera. Alum, silk. Much like your own. There may be a passenger or two he could put your way. The Emperor sends merchants, courtiers. The Emperor likes buying silk, collecting news. You may find yourself with some such aboard.”
“With horse trappings?” Nicholas said.
The Athenian looked at him and laughed. “You have heard. The Persians breed pretty horses, but their envoys have their brains in their hooves. If it is true that the Sultan is assembling a fleet, you will be able to confirm it. What he has will be in Gallipoli, which you will pass. You will hear rumours about whom he will use it against. Some say it is purely defensive, in case our mad Ludovico of Bologna stirs up some crazy duchy against him.”
“So you don’t advise me to stay clear of Trebizond?” Nicholas said.
The Athenian examined him. “No. And, my cynical friend, I say so as much for your own good as any it may do Venice or Florence. I did not deceive you in Flanders.”
“No,” Nicholas said. “Why should you, when there are so many others?”
He was given something to drink, and they talked, to some point. Then he left, to tackle his next six engagements.