Poison In the Blood by M. G. Scarsbrook

Author:M. G. Scarsbrook
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, historical fiction, young adult, vatican, renaissance, memoirs, rome, historical novel, young adult novel, italian history, young adult fiction, historical mystery, vatican city, roman catholic church, borgia, vatican conspiracy, renaissance italy, pope alexander vi, historical crime, lucrezia borgia, the borgias, cesare borgia, rodrigo borgia
Publisher: M. G. Scarsbrook

CHAPTER 23

I Rule The Holy See

My family soon paraded out of Rome with a massive army of 10,000 French soldiers and many Roman volunteers. Alfonso and I stood on the loggia of our palazzo to watch as they marched out of Piazza San Pietro.

Below us, my father rode at the front of the line, his red paunchy body seated on a sturdy horse, his fat arms and legs jouncing with the trot. On the horse beside him, Cesare’s black figure sat erect in the saddle, fists gripping the reigns. His mask shone like the cold smooth face of a statue. He saluted me as he passed our home, and I waved back to him. Afterwards, the papal army followed in a long train, marching closely under the billowing standard of St. Peter. Everywhere the crisp beat of war drums echoed off the walls of the city, blending with the clip of horses’ hooves and the pounding of boots. Pikes jabbed the air, swords jogged at hips, and thousands of gauntlets and cuirasses glinted in the sunlight. Compared to the last time my brother left the city, there was nothing glorious about the parade – it was purely a military spectacle, a show of force, a display to impress our friends and intimidate our foes. Today the uglier side of my family was on view.

At the rear of the line, a retinue of clerks and ambassadors accompanied the campaign. I spotted Machiavelli bobbing along on a mule with deep saddle bags. He passed our house and I prayed intensely for his success in delivering the letter to Alfonso’s allies, and also for his safe return to Rome.

As I watched my family go, I struggled to hold back my tears. Alfonso put his arm around me, cupping his hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t blame yourself,” he said softly. “It’s not your fault that we’re in this position, neither of us has harmed your family, we couldn’t have done anything different.”

“Yes, I know,” I replied, “but that doesn’t make it any less regrettable. After we’ve taken sanctuary at Naples or the Spanish court, we’ll have joined the enemies of my family. My brother and father will view it as the worst kind of treason. Unless their alliances shift back to Spain in the near future, I may never be reconciled with them.”

“You can’t say that, not for certain. Families and politics are always changing, like the sky, one moment it’s foul weather, the next moment it’s fair. For all we know, your family might very well embrace mine in the future, and you’ll see them again.”

I breathed deeply and brushed the hair away from my face. “No, it’s better if we don’t see them again, at least not anytime soon. My feelings don’t matter now. Whatever happens, I must ensure that Alexander and Cesare have no reason to come back before we escape. If we ever see my family again in Rome, it’ll be the end of us.”

He nodded solemnly and we turned back to the parade.

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