To Lie with Lions - Dorothy Dunnett [322]
‘Why indeed?’ said Hadji Mehmet. ‘He is a banker, a guest, a Veneto-Fleming. All of Nicosia will be roused, is being roused to look for him. But there is no body.’ He paused. ‘Did your lord not lose a son in similar circumstances?’
‘No,’ said Tobie. ‘That is, the child was simply taken by his own father, which gave rise to rumours of …’ He stopped. ‘Kidnapping? You think that may be all that this is?’
‘Your lord is wealthy,’ the Turcoman said. ‘Such a wealth offered to our cause might have made a great difference three years ago. But I am neither explaining nor threatening nor promising. I know nothing of this.’
‘But you might help?’ Tobie said.
The man lifted his shoulders. ‘I am an envoy of a foreign land, a foreign religion, a foreign culture. How might I help?’
‘Because, as an envoy, you have studied these people over many months, many years,’ Tobie said. ‘More than most people, you can make guesses.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Hadji Mehmet. ‘But it is my task to remain neutral. An envoy who interferes, even to solve his host’s problems, is not welcome.’
‘Yet, as you have said, my lord, the Bank’s wealth and interest could be useful. Private advice, in such a talk as this, would do you no disservice.’
‘It might do me no service,’ said the Turcoman. ‘I have been disappointed in your padrone before. In any case, there may be nothing wrong. It is early. He may have met friends, and even now have joined the King’s party. If your other guess is correct, you will hear soon enough from his captors. For his sake, I hope that you do.’
‘He came here to help,’ Tobie said.
‘He came here for Zacco,’ said Hadji Mehmet. ‘It is Zacco who has most to gain from enabling you to find him, if something has happened. But you do not know that it has.’
By dusk, it was known that the King’s party was camping some twenty miles off, and that Nicholas so far had not joined them. By that time, Tobie had recruited every religious house in the capital to the cause of spreading the enquiry island-wide. He had already sent a message to Crackbene at Famagusta. There was a man with the King, paid to do nothing but ride for Nicosia if Nicholas appeared. The last official courier from the camp called to repeat the negative news, and pass to Dr Tobias the King’s regrets that my lord of Beltrees had been unable to join him.
The tone of the message was coolly social, and contained no hint of anxiety; as if Zacco were drunk, or uninterested. Or, more likely, as if he wished to pretend unconcern, while his mother did all that was necessary. Although Tobie had only the Turcoman’s word that the noseless lady was searching for Nicholas. She had not approached him.
Crackbene arrived late at night, with a pass signed by Rizzo di Marino. His eyes were enlarged from a ride of three hours in the dark, and his square Nordic face was pitted with dust. Violante, hearing, had come out of her chamber, fully dressed.
Crackbene said, ‘Highness,’ and paused.
Tobie said, ‘We have no news. Have you?’
‘No,’ said Crackbene. He glanced at the princess again.
She said, ‘You have something private to say. I shall wait below for you.’
‘No, Despoina,’ said Crackbene. He remembered his Greek. He had been on the opposite side in the Trebizond trade war. He said, ‘It is nothing: a change of plan the Court has not yet announced. The King has been inconvenienced by a colic attack, and is to take a day’s rest in Famagusta. The hunting is cancelled.’
Tobie grunted. It bore out his suspicions. The King was drunk, and some secretary had responded to his note about Nicholas.
‘Is he in pain?’ the princess asked.
‘He was bellowing. But he was bellowing before. He has Master Gentile with him. I am sorry of course for his highness, but it frees the others. The Bailie is returning tomorrow, and a proper effort will be made to find my lord of Beltrees. You think he may be outside the city?’
‘I think he would have been found by now,’ Tobie said. Without consulting anyone, he had posted an announcement of a reward. He hoped to God no one ever had to pay it: Gregorio would