The Lion and the Rose by Riccardo Bruni

Author:Riccardo Bruni [Bruni, Riccardo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781503948327
Publisher: Amazoncrossing
Published: 2015-10-06T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 30

“What news do you have for us, Zaugo?”

There were eight of them. A large candle was lit at the center of the room. The printer’s was the only face that could be seen clearly. Zaugo couldn’t tell which of them had spoken. He was breathing heavily.

His fear was palpable. They knew it. They could touch it, taste it.

They could do anything they wanted with him.

“I have no news, m’lords. I’ve told you everything I know.” He could hear his voice trembling. He tried to look past the candlelight, but he couldn’t see anything. “I don’t know anything else.”

“That’s not enough. We want the book. You told us you could bring it to us. We paid you to do so, saved your life so that you would do so.”

“I thought I could find it, but someone has hidden it. I don’t know where it is.”

“You need to find out.”

So they weren’t going to kill him. He could still be useful.

“How? If I start asking questions, the others will understand that I . . . that I’m the one who . . .”

“Betrayed them.” Said with disdain.

“How can I . . . ?”

“You’re the one who must tell us how you can keep your promise.”

“I’ll figure out a way.” Zaugo didn’t know how, but this was the only way he could stay alive: Convincing them that he might still find the book. Convincing them that he wasn’t useless, and that keeping him alive still made sense.

“This is disappointing.” The simple words cut through his heart like an icy blade.

“I’ll find a way. Trust me.” He could still escape. Leave everything behind, disappear with the money they’d given him. Go far, far away. Hide somewhere where they’d never look for him. In Spain, or Portugal. Set sail for the lands opening up on the other side of the ocean.

“Don’t come back empty-handed.”

If he did, he would never walk out on his own two feet again. He knew it in his heart.

Zaugo waited, but they didn’t say anything else. He backed up without asking permission. They were letting him go. The candle stood motionless at the center of the eight hooded men, their faces shrouded in darkness. He reached the door and took the last step. He was safe.

Zaugo walked quickly back up the corridor. He tripped on something in the warehouse and fell, rolling on the floor. He was terrorized, struggling to understand what had happened, what he’d tripped over. He didn’t know. It seemed like a large sack. He ran toward the door, the profile of which he could see outlined in weak moonlight. He burst outside, running up the stairs. Toward home.

“The printer is worthless to us now,” another voice said.

“What do you intend to do with him?” This was the same voice that had spoken to Zaugo.

“What one does with all useless things.”

“Your methods aren’t bearing fruit,” said a young, aggressive voice.

The silence that followed his words told him he’d gone too far. The voice he was addressing,

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