Chapter two, part VI
Once the servants had withdrawn and the fine wine sampled Arn looked at Benedict,
“That man, d’Urbino, he is no ordinary aid, he is a soldier.”
Benedict nodded, “you noticed too?”
“Yes, something in his eyes, he has seen battle, cheated death or whatever you wish to call it. I’ve seen at some of my father’s guests, the old ones who survived the Turkish invasions and the young ones from the border forts.”
Benedict nodded again, “I’ve heard of this one, he is indeed a soldier and if the stories are anything to go by, a very good one. I just wonder what he is doing here.”
Sif leaned forward, for once the one who was inexperienced, “what about him?”
“Nothing much, he is from south of here, north of Apulia. He has gained a reputation as a very good soldier; a leader of men on his way up, my guess is that he is no more than a few years senior to Arn. I don’t know what he is doing here, I hadn’t heard that he had joined Carmagnola, though with Italian troops and politics you’d never know for sure.”
“And?”
“Nothing much, I was also somewhat surprised to hear that Carmagnola was around, last time I really heard of him he was fighting for Milan.”
They fell silent again, not wishing to discuss the implications of that, while still in the general’s house.
Their wait was soon over, the man known to them as Angelo d’Ubertino reemerged from somewhere inside the house, this time accompanied by an older man. The trio rose to greet him, but he waved them down and proceeded to nod at Benedict.
“Signor Benedict, an honor to finally make your acquaintance, I’ve heard a lot about you from my Venetian friends over the last couple of years.” Benedict smiled at the remark and nodded his thanks, Carmagnola turned toward Arn,
“And you, young man, must be the son of my old friend. It has been way to many years since I last saw him or your fair city, and this must be your wife.” He turned and bowed to Sif, who smiled back.
“Now I’m sure, that whatever message your father has for me is of utmost importance, but please allow Angelo here to abduct Benedict, I think we may have mutual interests.” And with that subtle move he gave Arn a chance to deliver his message without Benedict overhearing. The older Greek graciously allowed himself to be led away to another room by Angelo while Carmagnola led the young couple into the garden.
For a moment they merely strolled in the garden, Arn and Sif respectfully waiting for their host to open up the conversation, but Carmagnola seemed reluctant to break the silence. Sif discreetly studied the man they had gone through all that trouble to meet.
He was older than Benedict, perhaps late thirties, same age as Svend, with a decidedly Italian look. Not short, but perhaps a bit stocky and with a square face. He looked calm and determined and Sif could understand why he was a commander of men, he had that charisma that most successful leaders have, but at the same time she more felt than saw a trace of ruthlessness and perhaps scheming, a little like the quality she had felt in Stefano and Benedict. She was certain those three would enjoy each other’s company.
Carmagnola stopped under an almond tree and turned toward Arn, “so your father send you with a message he couldn’t trust on paper.” It wasn’t a question, more a statement. “The letter only confirmed who you were, it didn’t mention your wife, or that trouble maker, Benedict.” He smiled to show he held no grudge in the matter.
“I haven’t read it, but he said to deliver to you, or wait for you, in case you were not in the city and then only tell the request to you personally.”
“I wonder how he knew I would be here? I remember giving him this address, but didn’t really expect him to use it, or rather have a need for it.”
The walked a bit further, enjoying the shadows and the relative cool. “So, what is it he want? Some things I can imagine that the Empire needs, I cannot grant, however much I would like to.”
Arn took a deep breath, “I’m sorry my lord, is there any chance, you could describe my father’s ring for me, so that I will know it is you and that you indeed have met my father?”
Carmagnola didn’t answer at first, then he looked closely at Arn, “your father didn’t ask you that did he?”
Arn shook his head.
“It was wise of you to think of it, but since Benedict already vouched for me, or rather didn’t object, this would seem a moot point?”
Arn was slowly turning red around the ears, but Carmagnola merely smiled, “I don’t fault you, mind you, I thought is was prudent of you. Let’s see, his ring? I’m not sure I remember all of it. If I remember correctly, it has a flat oblong surface on which is engraved an orthodox cross under a small ship of an unusual design and an eagle. The band is decorated with some very curious snake like designs and perhaps, I’m not sure some sort of writing?”
“That’s the one, he doesn’t show it to anybody on purpose, so unless you pay attention to details, or he deliberately showed you, then you wouldn’t know. Except...” Arn looked dubious.
“That there isn’t any eagle,” Carmagnola finished the sentence for him. “Alright then, now that we have established that I am who I claim to be, I needed proof of your identity.”
“Oh, I hadn’t thought about that, I actually thought that the letter took care of that?”
“It did, I have no reason to doubt you, Benedict serves to prove that you are indeed Greek, unless he is trying to pull some sort of plot on me.” Carmagnola grinned, “It is getting a little tiresome, but in principle you could be an imposter trying to get some sort of advantage.”
“So,” Carmagnola turned serious, “what is it your father needs so badly that he cannot use regular channels?”
Arn steeled himself, now it had to count. “Men, he needs men.”
The condottiere sighed, “I was afraid of that. He fears Turkish incursion is eminent?”
“I don’t think so, as far as I know, they haven’t negated on their treaties yet, all I know is the talk of the Duchy of Athens.”
“Yes, they have found new allies. Here in Italy, I cannot help you there, not now, how many men does he need?” Carmagnola looked speculatively as if he was thinking about something else at the same time. “Mind you I know I owe him everything, but I cannot spare my troops for that long, not now or in any foreseeable future and what ever fresh troops I could levy or hire I will most likely need myself.”
“Oh no, you misunderstand he has no urgent need for troops, his plans are more far-reaching. He needs instructors, experienced sergeants, veterans and officers that can help him train his own men.”
“The guard? That is some of the finest close combat fighters I’ve ever seen, far better than most of my own troops.”
“I don’t think it is the guard, but I truly do not know, but to answer your question, he needs infantry tactics, larger groups of men working in unison, he cannot wait until whatever new ideas crop up here in Italy percolate down to us.”
“I see, but that will be equally hard to be without, I cannot run my army without my sergeants and I cannot train my troops without instructors.”
Arn looked downcast fearing he had failed his task on the second day in Venice, but the soldier continued. “Don’t despair just yet, let me give it a couple of days thought and I’ll let you know, I may be getting out of town for a while, but I will use Angelo, whom you have both met, as go between. He’ll know how to contact you or Benedict without the Doge knowing.”
“Benedict doesn’t know the content of my message.”
“Really? Your father keeps his plans close then.” Arn felt that the older man didn’t quite believe that Benedict could be kept in the dark, but he thought that if anything, then Benedict most likely thought the same as Carmagnola him self. That Arn had asked for regular troops.
“Alright, I’ll make sure he only contacts you, or if need be leaves message with Benedict on how you can get in contact with him. In the future, do not return to this house, I will see you before you go back if all goes well, but not here.”
Arn nodded in understanding and the small impromptu meeting boiled down to pleasant stories about the time Carmagnola was young and Arn never got around to figuring out why he had been in Constantinople or what he had done together with his father.
