Ritual of Fire by D. V. Bishop

Author:D. V. Bishop [Bishop, D. V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2023-03-20T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Most days, Bindi enjoyed making others wait for him. Whenever there was a knock at the door to his ufficio in the Podestà, the segretario left that person outside for longer than was necessary. Even when they were standing before his table, Bindi liked to shuffle court papers or keep himself occupied a while longer. Some might consider such behaviour petty, but to him it was essential. Doing so reinforced his authority, demonstrated who was in charge at the Podestà. It showed where true power resided.

To be on the other side of such treatment was . . . irksome. The segretario couldn’t be sure how long he had been waiting in the courtyard at Palazzo Medici. One hour? No, longer than that. Two perhaps, or even three. Whatever the duration, remaining on this bench had become a matter of pride. He would not depart until he had met with the duke – or at least Campana. One of them would deign to grant him a meeting. Perhaps staying here so long was foolish and certainly it was stubborn, but there was a principle at stake. It was the duke who had ordered the Otto to use every available resource to find and stop those responsible for killing Dovizi and for inciting pro-Savonarola gatherings across the city.

The new proclamation Bindi was clutching was important information. It promised another murder before curfew. Bindi did not doubt the young Medici was already aware of this fresh threat, he had spies and informants across the city. But it was Bindi’s duty to deliver a copy of the proclamation, to offer his counsel on how to respond, and to proffer whatever help the Otto could provide against this outrage.

Whether the duke would listen, whether he would even grant a meeting . . . that was beyond Bindi’s control. At the Podestà he had authority. He was in charge, the true power of the Otto resting with him. But here he was a humble functionary, a minor administrator from a court that had failed in its duty to the city and the duke. No wonder Cosimo or, more likely, Campana had kept him waiting so long.

If Bindi had his way, constables and officers from the Otto would already be standing sentry on the bridges. Ideally the duke would call on militia to bolster those defences, but the city’s men at arms had been at odds with Cosimo since he’d been chosen to lead Florence. The militia leader, Captain Vitelli, had been a frequent stone in the new duke’s shoe. Bindi heard whispers of vicious disagreements between Vitelli and Cosimo. There were rumours that the captain was departing Florence or had already gone. Whatever the truth, it was doubtful the militia would be willing or ready for rapid deployment.

It was Campana who finally came into the courtyard, though he seemed surprised to discover anyone waiting there. ‘Bindi, why are—?’ the duke’s private segretario said before realization crossed his face. ‘I thought I sent word you should return to the Podestà.

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