‘Can you find anything?’ Luca asks. ‘The ankh is enchanted—this time thing must be part of its charm.’
Frustrated, I keep turning the vellum sheets. ‘I see the tunnel and bow again…nothing about the ankh. The book has its own ideas about what we need to know.’
Soon, Mattiolas and Serafina return. ‘My brother-in-law will see you tonight after vespers, Luca,’ she says. ‘I told him you’re here. He thinks I’ve gone mad!’
‘So,’ Mattiolas says, ‘where have you been? Why didn’t you let anyone know?’
Luca shakes his head. ‘I don’t know where to start. We didn’t know we were gone for so long…’
Serafina spots the open book and steps towards it, curious.
‘No!’ Luca says, slamming the covers shut.
Serafina reddens. ‘I’m sorry! I didn’t realise it was private.’
I’m glad she’s safe. But I can’t help noticing this proof of how much Luca cares for Serafina. He didn’t protect me from the book like that.
‘I’m going for a walk,’ I say.
Luca follows me out the door. He doesn’t stay with her? I turn to face him outside, on the road.
‘I’ve upset you,’ he says.
‘I know you care for Serafina.’
‘Of course I do. I’ve known her all my life.’
I raise a hand. ‘You don’t want her to see demons.’
‘That’s true.’
I turn and pace down the road.
Luca follows. ‘When I showed you the book, I didn’t know you’d see demons too,’ he says. ‘She can’t help me, Suzan. You’re the one who can read it.’
I don’t stop until we meet a crossroads. In front of us is a small building that must once have been a mosque: a half-destroyed crescent symbol rests against the stone wall. Luca reaches for my elbow. ‘You’re the one I need. This is something just for the two of us.’
It’s more than I have a right to hear from him, but it’s not enough—and it’s too much. To love a siren is to die. The moons Luca and I have been together and the emotions we have already formed are dangerous. How can I keep him safe? I can’t let him love me—and I can’t stop longing for it. I have to stop this. I turn my face, unwilling for him to see my tears.
Then I notice that a cross of green timber has been hastily erected above the former mosque, and its yard is pockmarked with fresh graves. In new horror, I forget my jealousy. ‘Those small graves can only be for children.’
A knight walks out of the church. ‘Are you all right, sir?’
Luca nods.
‘And the young Sister?’ the knight persists, meaning me. I’m still in my Cappadocia robes.
‘The graves upset me,’ I say, falteringly. ‘They’re so small!’
Luca says, ‘This can’t really be God’s work.’
The knight looks stiff with shock. ‘You shouldn’t question God by mourning the deaths of Saracens. God would have saved them if he wanted to. He didn’t choose them. We’re all here according to God’s will.’
Luca takes my arm. We walk away.
Rules of etiquette apply in this more settled environment and Serafina invites me to stay with her family in their house across the street, rather than in Mattiolas’s place. After our walk, I move my belongings into the small room I’ll share with her, then we both return to Mattiolas’s.
Conquering Eser has given Luca confidence to return to his previous obsession. ‘We need to find Ramberti. We can defeat a mere man.’
‘He’ll be in his palace,’ Mattiolas says. ‘Well guarded.’
‘Guards don’t matter.’
‘You won’t reach him just by being angry, Luca,’ Serafina says. ‘You should go to the Princes. Tell them what you know.’
I’m glad Luca’s fiancée is a sensible woman. But he curses under his breath. ‘They won’t listen. The only justice I’ll get is justice I find myself.’
Mattiolas shares bread, lamb and vegetables with us for a noonday meal, then leads us to the centre of Antioch. Ramberti’s palace, a wide sandstone construction, has two knights standing guard at each corner. Three storeys of shuttered windows are all bolted. Luca stares, hand on his sword, until the guards notice and start to stare back.
I stand close. ‘You need to wait for the right time, Luca. Ramberti probably wants you dead. Don’t act rashly.’
Luca shrugs. Since we defeated Eser, victory must seem so close. But at least he isn’t about to attack those heavily armed guards. Serafina visibly relaxes.
Mattiolas steps in. He bangs on the door. ‘I need to speak to the Monsignor. I want to make my confession.’
The guards look at each other and march to Mattiolas. He raises his hands, backing away. It’s clear that making our way in won’t be so simple.
‘We need a plan,’ he says to Luca. ‘Come back to my place. Our place. Let’s talk.’
I grab Luca’s hand. ‘Send Desi to find out what Ramberti’s habits are. You need to find him outside, Luca.’
‘Come back to the house!’ Serafina chimes in. ‘So much has happened. We need to tell you.’
‘A lot we’ll need to know,’ I add. ‘Come on, Luca.’
Luca
Sending Desi to spy is a good idea. Grooms always speak to each other. While we wait in his house, Mattiolas stretches out on an exotic rug topping a long bench against a wall. He tells us about knights having visions; about arrows fired from behind the castle walls; about brawls broken up by Princes.
‘The sevennight you left was the siege’s worst,’ he says. ‘Saracens threw the Patriarch of Antioch over the city walls.’
‘He’s like their Pope,’ Serafina adds.
Mattiolas shoots her a sharp look. ‘I’m the storyteller. Anyway, they tied him by his ankles and hung him upside down over the side of the wall. Then they beat his feet to shreds with an iron bar.’
Serafina interrupts, ignoring Mattiolas’s irritation. ‘A young couple went missing in the orchard. Two days later their heads were fired at us, over the ramparts. Their heads, Luca. Now you see why we were so scared for you!’
‘Alexios betrayed us again,’ Mattiolas says. ‘We heard General Kerbogha was bringing thousands of Persian Saracens to help our enemies. All with well-fed horses. Alexios promised us an army. Daily we looked out for Byzantine banners. But daily they didn’t come.’
‘To survive we had to try a surprise attack,’ Serafina adds. ‘That’s how the siege ended.’
‘Let me tell it. You weren’t there,’ Mattiolas says. ‘We knew we had to take the city and use its walls for defence against Kerbogha. So, late one night we gathered together near St George’s Gate. A Saracen convert lowered a rope from his side and we raised a ladder from ours.’
‘A Saracen let you in?’ Suzan asks, astonished.
A loud banging at the door interrupts our conversation. We all look up. Mattiolas’s front door slams open.
Narlo strides in. Outrageously, he carries Father’s shield. Its demon, barrel-chested like a general on a battlefield, grins proudly. ‘Luca!’ Narlo cries.
Forgetting Mattiolas’s story, I stand and fling my cape back. ‘Only the rightful Conte de Falconi can use that shield!’
Narlo’s eyes flash with fury. His spur demon pokes at his knees. I step forwards and Narlo backs out into the street, drawing his sword. I follow, my friends right behind me. ‘Cousin, you are too late. I am the Conte now.’
‘That’s not how inheriting the title works, and you know it,’ I tell him. ‘Anyone who has falsely called you Conte can… uncall it.’
I draw my own sword. I don’t care if one of the Princes sees us fighting again. Anyone would understand I need to defend my title.
Narlo comes at me with his sword, but I parry and quickly knock it clattering onto the cobblestones. Narlo bends to pick it up. I take the chance to take back Father’s shield.
‘I’m glad to see you bowing to your Conte,’ I tell him.
His face is as red as demon eyes when he
turns to me. ‘The title will be mine,’ he hisses. ‘All I need is for you to die and stay dead.’
He stalks off, not looking over his shoulder. But his demons do. Invidia salivates like a hungry dog before a meal.
Mattiolas slaps me on the back and cheers. I grin at Suzan. Two victories in a row! Narlo was not defeated as thoroughly as Eser, but he was defeated. Things are starting to go our way.
‘Come back inside,’ Mattiolas says.
He pours more wine and continues his story about how the pilgrims won Antioch.
‘People began to climb the ladder. They said God was on our side. If so, God tricked us. Too many people scrambled up! More kept pushing, forcing men ahead of them to—’
‘There were too many men on the ladder!’ Serafina explains.
Mattiolas shushes her with a wave. ‘Some held on with one hand, others couldn’t reach the ladder at all. They clung to the chainmail of those above. Finally, the highest men couldn’t hold on any more. The weight of the others was just too much.’
Suzan leans forwards, hand over her mouth. ‘What happened?’
‘They screamed and…fell.’ Mattiolas closes his eyes. ‘Dull thumps—soft bodies, hard earth. They fell, one at a time, then in groups. Dozens died.’
Suzan clamps her hands over her ears. ‘Stop! I can’t bear to hear it.’
Serafina looks on her with pity. ‘You’re exhausted. I know it’s not yet vespers but you look like you’ve had a long day. Come back to our place to rest.’
Mattiolas goes out, too. For more wine, no doubt. Alone, I pull out the book and turn to a page Suzan has already translated.
Knows this, the falcon’s codex scroll:
Thanatos has life-theft as his goal—
the lives of those who fight in trance—
and their human form. You have one chance
to save the final mortal soul
It has changed again.
I grab the book and take it out to the street. I bang on the door of Serafina’s family’s house.
Suzan answers. Her yawn stops when she sees the book. She steps outside, shutting the door behind her. ‘Everyone’s resting. You’ve found something else?’
‘Come over. I’ll show you.’
We walk back to Mattiolas’s house and she’s soon frowning down at the page, her fingertip tracing over the letters in that familiar way, while she recites the words. She pauses over the last line. ‘Twelve moons. The book knows about our lost time.’
Ten moons have passed since we last read that line.
‘The ankh is enchanted,’ Suzan says. ‘That means it’s demonic, I suppose. It tricked us. We can’t use it again.’
‘Whatever the demons want, they’re closer to it now. And Ramberti’s on their side. I know what I have to do, Suzan. If I can’t convince Adhemar about Ramberti with the book, I’ll follow Ramberti until I learn something that will convince him.’
Suzan
At least Luca has abandoned his impossible plan of challenging Ramberti in public. After matins the next day, I walk with him to the Princes’ meeting. Of course, Ramberti—and his guards—will be there.
We meet them at the entrance. Ramberti rolls his eyes. ‘Luca. You’re still alive.’
We follow him into a converted mosque. In its vaulting, gorgeously tiled interior, our Princes, dressed in gold-trimmed robes and jewels, stand and argue. Demons slump in corners and under chairs, and sleep.
I follow Luca to a seat on one of the long benches. He nods at one of the monks already there. I recognise him as the Tuscan monk who led burial prayers for Luca’s father.
‘Good morning, Brother Bonaccorso,’ Luca says.
‘Luca—Conte—I heard you had returned,’ the Brother says. ‘I’m glad you’re still among us.’
‘And I you.’
The meeting is dull. Though they all speak Latin, each Prince brings a translator who further slows their arguments. Raymond and Bohemond want to know who will be left behind in Antioch. Will one of them be crowned king? When will the others depart for Jerusalem? Ramberti yawns and leaves.
Luca tries to follow him, and I try to follow Luca, but the crowd gets in our way. How can so many people find this interesting? Then, just as we’ve nearly reached the exit, someone cries out and into the gathering stumbles a raggedy beggar. Despite the man’s rags, demons accompanying him have the same hollowly beautiful look of pride as those around Ramberti himself.
‘Adhemar!’ the man yells. ‘I have a message.’
Bishop Adhemar rolls his eyes. ‘Peter Bartholomew. Yes?’
‘The Lord has gifted me with another vision.’
There’s more movement in the crowd. Ramberti has returned. Luca relaxes.
‘St Andrew came to me!’ Peter yells. ‘He told me the Holy Lance, that pierced Jesus’ side, is here in Antioch! Beneath the floor of St Peter’s, waiting for a Christian army to use it to bring them to glory.’
Beside me, Luca stiffens. The lance is in the book’s Jerusalem prediction. I continue to watch Ramberti in the crowd. He looks satisfied. He’s played some part in this. The Princes confer briefly. They want to believe in this miracle, and send men to dig.
‘I will lead them with prayers,’ Ramberti offers.
Many knights cheer. ‘God wills it!’
The hall begins clearing. But while we’re waiting for Ramberti, Adhemar goes pale. An attendant brings him a chair.
One of Adhemar’s guards passes Luca, murmuring, ‘It looks like typhoid…’
Alarms are sounded. Further Princely meetings are cancelled. Luca moves to follow Ramberti to the church and I join him.
CHAPTER 15
Twelve moons
CHURCH OF ST PETER, ANTIOCH
Suzan
Built into Mount Silpius’s cliffs, the church of St Peter reminds me of the rock-carved churches back at home. As in Goreme, here a stone façade is carved over a cave opening. Niches contain the statues of kings and demons. Between them, pillars have been carved to look as if they support the cave roof and the grassy cliff top spreading above it.
Ramberti, Peter Bartholomew and the other men walk directly from the mosque meeting to the church, filing between two of those pillars. Luca and I follow. Luca wears his helm. Hopefully, no one will notice me. In dark robes, I should pass for an anonymous churchgoer.
In the church, it’s dark although it’s daytime. Demons form a red-eyed army, lurking in every crevice, both in the natural cave walls and the man-made architraves. No candles or lamps have been lit. Although it’s time for noon prayers, everyone is easily distracted. The air is heavy and damp.
My robes aren’t enough. Ramberti identifies me.
‘Your tiresome friend isn’t around?’ he sneers. ‘Have you come to pray for a miracle? I doubt even God could stop you being so ugly.’
I pull my cloak tight around my shoulders and over my face. I try to breathe through its thick fibres while I listen for Luca’s steps on the stone floor.
At the back of the cave, a stone altar is surrounded by ancient gravestones. ‘Luca!’ I breathe.
I feel him move closer to me.
‘The cave graveyard!’ I say. ‘From your book! There’s a tunnel here! Behind the altar. That’s where we can find the enchanted bow.’
Luca sucks in his breath. ‘You’re right.’
Some knights start to dig. Guards pull them back, demanding they wait until Ramberti has located the exact spot. Luca takes my hand and leads me around the cave’s dark side wall.
Ramberti measures the interior with long strides. Although two stained-glass windows are smashed, the mostly underground church has withstood attack surprisingly well.
‘There must be someone who knows his way around,’ Ramberti insists. ‘Who used to be the priest here?’
The church guards look at one another. ‘We killed him,’ one of them admits, finally.
Ramberti stares. ‘You murdered a priest?’
‘He was one of them,’ the sec
ond knight protests.
Luca and I continue our slow, concealed progress.
‘A Saracen,’ the first guard adds.
Ramberti looks pointedly at the gold crucifix above the altar, and then at the line of saints’ statues. ‘You thought this building was a mosque?’
‘Well, he wasn’t one of us.’ The knight shrugs. Of course we killed him, the gesture seems to say. Isn’t that what we’re in Antioch for?
‘No one knows his way around the church now?’ Ramberti demands.
The knight rubs his fingers over the stubble on his chin. ‘Aren’t all churches the same?’
‘I need to know which section of the floor is the oldest.’ Ramberti looks from one to the other, his fist raised. ‘Can either of you show me that?’
‘Errr…’ says the first.
His companion shakes his head.
Ramberti pulls a scroll of parchment from one of his long sleeves and reads.
‘Antioch. Beneath the floor along the nave, halfway between the altar and the portico.’
Ramberti finds the spot with his sword and taps the floor with a dull sound. ‘Perhaps this is the place. You’ll look until you find it. Idiots.’
Luca and I have finally reached the altar. We crouch lower, moving behind it. According to what I’ve already read in the book, the tunnel entrance is nearby.
A large rock seems to move itself. It is, of course, Luca, invisibly pushing it aside. ‘I’ve found it,’ he whispers.
‘Solid marble,’ Ramberti says, further away. ‘Earth beneath that. Knights, come here. Dig.’
I follow the soft sound of Luca crawling through the narrow tunnel entrance. It’s pitch black now. ‘Should we come back later with something for light?’ I whisper.
‘It’s too narrow for a flame,’ Luca replies.
From behind us in the church, I hear the crash of something solid against stone. The knights have started to break up the floor.
‘I have the bow!’ Luca whispers. There’s a clattering sound. ‘It’s hot!’
Mattiolas said the ankh was hot, until he passed it to me. This heat means something. ‘Give it to me,’ I say.
‘It’ll burn you! Go back!’
The Book of Whispers Page 19