Of Faith and Fidelity by Evan Ostryzniuk

Author:Evan Ostryzniuk
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Knox Robinson Publishing
Published: 2011-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Geoffrey had much to think about on the march back to Spoleto. What bothered him was not the open discord amongst the captains, as he knew that great men often came to blows in the heat of a campaign, but the nagging feeling that Captain Prospero had been absolutely correct in his desire to have the prisoners released unharmed and un-ransomed. The people of Narni were not prisoners of war. No battle had been fought. No contest between peers had taken place. Only bandits ransom common folk, Geoffrey knew from his talks with the old knights in the squires hall. Ghosts of the bloody horror in that tower arose before him in the midday heat. It was Tarlati’s doing, he was sure. The heinous acts his men had committed at San Bernardino were enough to condemn him.

However, Captain Prospero seemed to think that the papal legate, the pope’s own brother, was somehow complicit and not just condoning the “excess”, as he had put it. While those dead men in the tower were not nobility, they were not lowly villeins either. Their violent end seemed unjust, even if they had denied fidelity to their lord. Maybe the war council should have accepted the captain-general’s proposal of amnesty, he thought.

Then Geoffrey mulled over the reaction of Captain Vilardell in all this, or rather the lack thereof. For a man who had saved his life, enrolled him in his own company without a name or recommendation, and risked his men to chase down and destroy a corsair vessel, his quiescence in the matter of the prisoners was surprising. Perhaps he poorly followed the debate, his being from Barcelona, Geoffrey thought, but he quickly cast aside this doubt when he recalled how fluent the captain’s conversations with the Italians had been. Geoffrey was sure, at least, that Captain Vilardell was one of the three who had scratched the eastern emperor, with Prospero and Colonna being the others, but the issue was moot now. Yet Geoffrey remained troubled, and he could not help but sense that this was a bad omen.

“I was speaking with the lads,” Jean said, as he caught up with the squire, “and they are expecting to set up Cacho tonight, although no one is sure who will host. Geoffrey? Oh, for all that is holy, can you not listen to me for once?”

“I always listen,” Geoffrey said and he slapped Jean across the chest with the back of his hand. “You just have to say something useful.”

“You insult me, but I’ll let it go.” Jean shook his head in disgust. After all he had done for the squire, the least he could do was acknowledge his efforts. He was no better than the Gamesmaster, including having to fight to get what is owed him. “And don’t walk so fast. You are outpacing the company, and Sanchez ordered us to keep good order.”

“Hang that sergeant!” Geoffrey said aloud. “Are you happy serving with those villeins? I should be campaigning alongside a knight by now.

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