Ruthless and Deadly

by ML BINELLI

  Both men laughed and Teodoro explained the next steps to be taken.

  "Vidal, the girl is arriving soon. The marriage will be a simple affair and her father will not be in attendance. I will accompany her to the church and will hand her over to you. By the way, the ceremony will take place at the Church of São Roque, we are waiting for her arrival so we can set the date and time. Since it survived an earthquake, it must be a place of good omen illuminated by the heavens. Only our brothers and their wives will attend the wedding. Choose one of them to be your best man, get rid of your business, if you have any, and pack your bags.

  "Mr. Teodoro, leave me to it. Can I keep the portrait?"

  "Yes, of course. Wait for more news from me."

  They parted and Vidal walked on gazing at the image in his hands without paying much attention to those around him. He was hypnotized by the figure and her mischievous look. He tripped on a rock and the rounded frame fell and rolled down the street, stopping at the feet of a gypsy begging for alms and offering palm-reading on the curb. The gypsy picked up the picture. Vidal approached her and asked to have it back.

  "Beautiful girl!" said the gypsy. "Want to buy it back? Finders keepers, so now it belongs to me," she said teasingly.

  Vidal felt a surge of anger but collected himself and took a closer look at the gypsy woman. She had dirty bare feet, red painted nails and a rattle wrapped around her ankle. Her red dress was adorned with golden details and was filthy. He looked at the hands holding the portrait and realized he was speaking to an old woman. Her gap-toothed smile revealed a few gold teeth glinting in the sunlight. One of her eyes had a milky film over it and her hair was loose, a combination of very white hairs interspersed with black ones. Her skin was very dark and full of wrinkles. If he had seen her in the middle of the night in a dark alleyway, he would have run for his life thinking he'd seen an apparition from hell that had risen to steal his soul.

  He felt sorry for the poor woman alone amidst the crowd. Most passersby kept away from her and refused her promises of presages and palm-reading.

  "Good lady, I would gladly buy the portrait back from you. Are three reis enough?"

  "Very generous, my lord. But for two reis more I can tell you something you don't know about this maiden. What do you say?"

  Vidal thought about it and reached for another two coins which he handed over to the gypsy. "Tell me then what I need to know?"

  The gypsy stood up, handed over the portrait, collected the coins and said "Sir, the girl in this painting is the same as fool’s gold. Do you understand what I am saying?"

  "Yes, I have heard of it but never seen it," answered Vidal.

  "She is fool’s gold. She seems to be gold but she is not. She was created to deceive men and to drive them insane. Listen to my advice - keep away from this woman. Nothing of good can come from her, ever. If you insist on staying close to her, you will only find misery. She is a carrier of death. Run away while you can, Sir, this is the advice I give you."

  Vidal was about to say something but the gypsy raised her index finger to her lips asking him to remain silent, she bowed to him and left, walking down the street. Vidal remained motionless watching the woman disappear down the street and pondering over her words. He placed the portrait in his pocket without looking at it and continued on his stroll. He was not a man to believe crazy stories but the reports of Alicio's cousin came to mind.

  He continued walking until he reached a nearby beach. He watched the waves breaking and he felt the breeze on his skin. He looked at the vastness and imagined a boat floating on the water. That was him right now. Faced with the unknown, leaving behind everything he knew and entering a world that could be filled with happiness, as well as sadness. It was unpleasant to think of things this way, black or white, everything or nothing, life or death. Although the proposal, in Teodoro's words, seemed only to offer benefits as if it were a ship voyage, the things that Alicio revealed conjured up the image of him alone on a boat stranded in the middle of the ocean, without anyone and with no certainty about what was to come. The anxiety of the decision began to weigh on his shoulders.

  "There is still time," he thought or someone whispered over his shoulder.

  But giving up also felt like being stranded on a boat with no oars. Opening a business based on loans contracted with interest and what if that didn't work out? What would he do? What hurt him most was that his current situation was of his own doing. And he stayed there as night fell, lost in thought, until it was time to return home. He was so self-absorbed that he never noticed the sunset nor the arrival of the moon and its starry cape.

  Victim

  6. Archbishop

  Barbara was informed of the arrival of Archbishop José Torres. She ran out to greet him and found him dismounting his horse at her doorstep, she kissed his hands. The priest placed his hand on Barbara's head and stroked her hair.

  "Please archbishop, come in, please," said Barbara. "Would you like a refreshment?"

  "No, no. I would like to speak to you alone, if that is possible."

  Barbara waved off her servant and pointed to a room where they could talk. After the priest entered, she closed the door.

  "This is mad, archbishop. You know that father has forbidden visits. Thank heavens he is in the field checking the vines. Did you come alone? How dangerous this is for you!"

  "Don't worry, child. I was warned of the departure of Leonardo and I came as soon as possible. I have a few men hidden around here. But tell me, does he continue to torment you?"

  Barbara began to cry. The priest held her hand to encourage her to speak.

  "I can't take it anymore, archbishop. When he drinks, he takes me by force. I have no way of running away, nor anyone to turn to for fear of scandal. If anyone finds out what he forces me to do, I would not be able to bear the shame and would take my own life, even if I had to suffer hell's flames," she said sobbing.

  Torres clenched his fist. His eyes were reddening with hate for Leonardo. How can a beast like that abuse his only daughter for years on end? He had tried to help Barbara to free her from this indecent destiny but he had failed. The means he had, up to that moment, had proven not to be enough but now his power was far greater. Braga was known as the 'City of Archbishops' and the archbishop of the city was the most powerful and influential man on the Iberian Peninsula. Now he was able to make good on his promise, like he did on Madeira Island, where he was from. There he ordered the persecution of freemasons, inciting the people to burn their properties and hand them into the inquisition. For his good work, while still a priest, he was transferred to Braga where, at the cost of pacts and betrayals, he achieved his goal - power.

  "Barbara, I have a plan to take you away from this hell. I know that it is a drastic and dangerous move, but I believe it is necessary. I am going to accuse your father of being a freemason as you instructed me. I will get him to be tried by the court of inquisition.

  "But what about me, José?" Barbara laid her head on the priest’s chest and embraced him. "What will happen to me? If he is accused, I will suffer also. I may lose my lands and the church would take our belongings! No, this solution is terrible!"

  "Do not fear, I will protect you. I have influence and the church will take nothing."

  "But what about my future? I won't be able to have the love I long for and that dominates my heart, nor will I ever be able to have him. Sometimes I hate you for putting in my heart a love that can never be consummated in the eyes of others! You wretched man!" And she burst into tears.

  The priest turned her face upwards and kissed her. He had been blinded by his love for this girl since he had been her teacher. Despite having entered the church by vocation and not only because of his family's fortune, he fell madly in love with Barbara the very first time he laid eyes on her and she had slowly returned his affection. At least in his eyes. They met secretly and made promises of love that were impossible to keep. When he had reached the point where he could ask for a transfer to a
nother archdiocese, Barbara told him about how her father had abused her since she was just a child. When faced with this barbarity, Torres decided to stay where he was until he could do something to help her. Leonardo was a very powerful person in the city and he could not afford to get into odds with him. Torres would have been destroyed even with the church behind him but things had changed. Now he could. And would.

  "Barbara, when this fiend has been locked away, we will find a way to stay together or at least to be closer. You can ask for shelter at the Carmo Convent, where I have a certain amount of influence. Do not worry, you will not have to take the vows."

  "I will do anything you ask of me, José. I just can't bear not having you close to me and having to live with this monster who abuses me almost daily. I feel sinful and feel that I am betraying your love." Barbara threw herself down and covered her face with her hands. The priest knelt and grasped her hands, kissing them.

  "Do not fear. Do not punish yourself. I know what is going on and if I could, if he is not convicted, I'll kill him myself for that is how great my hatred is for him. If we do this with intelligence, we can free ourselves of him. You lose nothing for waiting. Now I must go. I'll send news when I can."

  Barbara then stood up and wiped away the tears that ran down her face. She followed the priest to the front door and he left. She closed the door and turned around, making sure nobody was watching her.

  "Filthy pig, hell awaits you!" she cursed.

  7. Father and daughter

  Leonardo was immersed in his thoughts during dinner. Barbara ate in silence but noticed he was in a bad mood. She tried to find out if her father had been told of the archbishop's visit. If that might be the reason for the brooding.

  "What is worrying you? I have noticed that you are worried about something, father."

  Leonardo grabbed his napkin and wiped his mouth. Then he angrily threw it on the table.

  "We need to talk. Let's go to the drawing room."

  "But we haven't finished eating!"

  "Let's go now. You can eat later. I lost my appetite."

  When they reached the drawing room, he asked Barbara to close the door. A servant appeared asking if they needed anything else and Leonardo informed her that they needed nothing more for the night. He then asked her to seek out Jonas and ask him to come to him early in the morning because he had urgent matters to talk to him about.

  Jonas was the caretaker of Leonardo's rural property. They had known each other for a very long time. His father had been hired by Leonardo's father. Jonas and Leonardo were the same age and at a young age became more like friends than master and servant. He was now Leonardo's lackey and Leonardo never let him forget that he had a blade over his neck. This abuse of power filled Jonas with resentment and resentments have a way of turning into hate over time.

  "Barbara, tell me, why did that piece of muck come here? What did he want? And why haven't you said anything about it. What are you hiding?"

  Barbara began to sob. "You don't know? He came to torment me, force me to give myself to him, the same way he did when he was my professor. Sir, you know what he wants, why do you torture me by asking? You know that he abused my body when I was a little girl. Why do you keep reminding me of that?" Her sobbing became louder and her hands began shaking. Her eyes became glassy and filled with terror as if she'd come face to face with a demon, an imaginary demon that she tried to ward off with her hands.

  "I didn't tell you about his visit because it wouldn't make a difference. You never do anything about it!" she added after having recovered her breath from the sobs.

  Leonardo became enraged. "Pig, heretic, may the seven hells have a place put aside for him! But he is strong now. He is plotting against us. If you had told me at the time, he would no longer be walking around chasing after girls of good families. I know he is planning on accusing me of something and I suspect that one of my brothers has betrayed me. The situation has now become very grave. I fear we have to separate for a time."

  "What do you mean?" What are you talking about?" said Barbara, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief and turning towards her father.

  "If I am accused of being a freemason, I will be put on trial. We will lose everything we own, I will probably lose my life and you will be persecuted for being my daughter. The only solution is to flee the country."

  "Is it not enough just to leave Braga? We could establish ourselves elsewhere."

  Leonardo shook his head. "Torres, as Archbishop, has the power to persecute us anywhere in Portugal, even in Spain if we go there. There is no place on this peninsula where we can hide. We will have to go further. And we cannot go together. If we leave, we will certainly be followed and the Archbishop will put his plan in motion faster. I doubt we'll be able to get away and if we do manage, we won't get far." Leonardo began pacing up and down the room, choosing his next words carefully.

  Barbara was disconcerted by her father's words. He became silent and walked around in circles in the center of the room. She had to keep him talking. From previous encounters with him, she knew he might simply shut down and leave her hanging until he was able to calm himself down.

  "So, what are you thinking? I don't see any solution. I also don't know where you want to get to. It seems like you have a plan already set up. What is the plan?"

  "Do you remember the person that visited us last year, Teodoro from Lisbon? Well, he, as you probably have already gathered, is a brother, a mason like me. We have been writing to each other and we have come up with a way for me to rid us of this situation."

  "You have written to each other? Weren't you afraid that your letters would be intercepted by another?"

  "We have our codes and very trustworthy messengers but let me continue with my line of thought, do not get bogged down by details."

  "Alright then, continue." Barbara sat down. From what she had heard and the way her father was measuring his words, she supposed the news was not going to be good.

  "You will travel first with the excuse of shopping or a change of environment. This will buy us some time before that shit notices what has happened."

  "Careful father, he is a man of God. It bothers me when you use words that deprecate him. I fear being punished by God!"

  Leonardo again slammed his fist on the table. "I could care less if he was appointed archbishop by God himself, to me he is an arrogant pig. I spit in his face!"

  "Calm down, sit here! Do you want a glass of wine to calm yourself?"

  "Yes, get me some wine from the table."

  Barbara opened the door and walked to the dining room. The servant was still cleaning up. She asked for a jug of wine and two chalices. She also asked her to leave a plate of food in the kitchen since she had not finished her supper.

  When she returned, she served Leonardo and placed the jug on the office table. "Are you calmer?"

  "Yes, now I am." He took a gulp of wine, wiped his mouth with his shirt sleeve and continued.

  "You will travel to Lisbon with most of our belongings. You will set off to the French colony in America, Louisiana. Your destination will be the city of New Orleans."

  "Alone? Do you think it wise for a woman to travel alone to America only with servants? And carrying a large amount of money? How will I take it? It will be a cumbersome load."

  "No servant will accompany you on this trip, the less people who know what is going on, the better. As for the fortune, a part will be in diamonds which are easy to carry."

  "I will go alone then?" Barbara's head began to spin. If she went alone, she might be able to escape from this hell hole.

  Leonardo stood up and began pacing again. With a sigh he turned to Barbara, who was still sitting down, reached for her hands and sat down beside her.

  "Teodoro and I thought of getting you a husband."

  Barbara was stunned. "What do you mean a husband? Why a husband?" "I can go alone, I don't need company!" she said loudly.

  "You won’t raise any suspicion when you emb
ark because you will be using another surname. This will make it difficult for Torres to have you followed, if he tries to find you."

  "But married to whom?"

  "From the latest news I got from Teodoro, there are two candidates of your age. He just has to convince one of them. If he doesn't manage then Teodoro will marry you."

  "But the archbishop will know about the marriage, after all, he is a man of the church."

  "The priest who will preside over the ceremony will hide the documentation for a certain amount of time."

  "How will he manage to do that?" asked Barbara frowning.

  "He is also one of us!"

  "A mason? A priest? I don't believe it!"

  "We are many, Barbara. You can't imagine how many there are of us and from all walks of life!"

  Barbara sighed impatiently looking for a way out of this mad plan. "And what about you father? While I am getting married to a stranger, what will you be doing? Watching the marriage and patting yourself on the back?" she asked ironically.

  Leonardo knew it would be difficult to get Barbara to come around and accept the plan. It was for this reason that he took so long to tell her about it. He was prepared to counter her arguments. He took a deep breath and continued.

  "After the marriage, which will most likely take place in Lisbon, as I said, you will both depart. When I am certain that you have set sail, I will follow."

  "What then? I'll be married in America. And why New Orleans? How will we get there? We will have to go to France to get a ship. How will we go from Lisbon to there? Isn't it a French colony?" she spoke quickly, a sign that her nerves were getting the better of her.

  "Yes, it recently went back to French rule but the Spaniards opened the ports to the English. The treaty continues in effect. You will embark on an English ship that covers this route and docks in Lisbon on its way. As for the place, I have received news that it is a very wealthy area. Don't worry about the marriage. When we meet again I will get rid of your husband, whoever he may be, as I did with your suitor. You remember that, don't you?" he said with a sly smile.