902. Chapter 902

After Bad Santa

Episode 7.10

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I respect the people who own Castle, which is not me. Rating: K Time: See above.

Ricardo the Scribe had walked many a footsore mile before finally arriving at the city gates of fair Padua. He smiled and shifted the backpack containing his meager possessions, a change of clothes, some quill pens, an inkwell and many sheets of fine vellum.

He approached the gate house and was accosted by a mercenary on guard. The heavily armed Hibernian was of the company of a famous condottiere, or mercenary, led by the infamous Javier of the Black Bands.

"Just a minute, there, Boyo." Said the soldier, thrusting his halberd between Ricardo and the entrance to the city "Where do you think you're going?"

"I have family here in fair Padua, good sir. My mother's uncle's half brother's sister in law's cousin twice removed is from fair Padua, and I have come to seek my fortune. I am an author, you see."

"And what have ye written, Boyo?" Asked the soldier, not unkindly.

"A story about an agent for the Doge of Venice who rescues fair maidens and smites evildoers. They were best sellers in my hometown of Upper Reggio. I sold eight copies."

"Eight copies isn't that many." Said the soldier.

Ricardo shrugged. "I have to write them all by hand and there are only nine people who can read back home."

Suddenly Ricardo was struck by a vision of loveliness such as he had never seen before. A gorgeous woman with long, flowing chestnut locks rode by. Although she was armed and armored, he could tell that her legs were long and muscular, her waist small and her face was beyond compare.

"What beauty is that, soldier? Tell me, for I am struck with love as I stand here."

"That is Katarina Becketti, of the house of Lord Jaime Beckett. She is charged with keeping the peace in fair Padua, and no one does it better."

"She's beautiful, beyond beauty, remarkable." Babbled the love sick swain.

"Do not waste your time, scribbler. For she lives only to find who murdered her mother. She has no eye for any man as she has sworn to live only to bring her mother's assassin to justice."

"Perhaps I could help?" Ricardo said softly.

"Not likely." Said the soldier, taking out a large book. "Now I must write within the name of the family that you have here in fair Padua."

"It's Davidsono. The Lord of the family is called Joshua, I believe."

The soldier shook his head. "Then forget any dreams you may have had about fair Katarina. For the Beckettis and the Davidsonos are sworn enemies. It is said that Lord Joshua had a hand in the death of Lady Johanna, the mother of Katarina, although there is no proof. Now be off with you, scribbler. Take your dreams of fair Katrina elsewhere and let them die."

Ricardo asked directions to the palazzo of the Davidsonos and soon found himself in front of a grim and foreboding fortress like building. A half a dozen armed men guarded the front door.

"Go away, fellow, or feel our steel." Said one, known as Colin of the Yard. "We have no time for shabby rascals such as yourself."

Ricardo drew himself up to his full height. "I am Ricardo the Scribe and I am of the Davidsono family. I have a letter of introduction from my mother."

He handed the letter over, but it was obvious that these rough fellows could not read. "Go away and come back tomorrow." Colin finally said.

"Wait, you witless buffoons." Cried a feminine voice. "Let me see that letter." A dusky Ethiop held out her hand and quickly read the letter. "You should be happy I came along. Ricardo is Family and you know how Lord Joshua feels about Family."

Ricardo was allowed past by the guards and followed the curvaceous lady inside.

"I'm Lanie, maid to the Sisty Uglers, Meredith and Gina, the courtesans of Lord Joshua. That's them, passed out in the corner."

"Why are they wearing fur coats? It's summer in fair Padua." Asked Ricardo.

"That's Tomasso the Hairy, the son of Lord Joshua, but born on the wrong side of the blanket, as they say."

"Why should blankets matter?" Asked our gently bred scribe.

"He is illegitimate and cannot succeed Lord Joshua." Lanie explained.

As they walked through the palazzo Ricardo couldn't help but notice that the place was in awful shape. The floors and rugs were filthy, the walls were stained and the roof appeared to leak. There were dirty dishes everywhere and more empty wine bottles scattered about than Ricardo had ever imagined existed.

At last they came to Lord Joshua, who was sprawled on couch, draining a cup of wine. Lord Joshua was unshaven and unwashed, and the codpiece from his filthy pants had come undone. Ricardo introduced himself and handed Lord Joshua the letter from his mother.

"Another relative come to feed at my table?" Lord Joshua grumbled. "Well, you'll have to work for your living, boy. What can you do?"

"I am a scribe and I've written a delightful tale of intrigue and…"

"A writer? I can use you. In two weeks' time the Duke of Padua will hold a ball. All of the great families will be there. And each family is to provide entertainment to the Duke. Write me a play and not just any play. I want one that will attract the eye and the heart of fair Katarina Becketti. For too long our families have been enemies. I would win her hand in marriage and unite our two families. Maid Lanie will help you." Then Lord Joshua went back to his wine.

Ricardo spent the next two weeks with Lanie, learning all he could of fair Padua, the Duke and the noble families, especially the Beckettis and Davidsonos. And the murder of Lady Johanna Becketti. It soon became clear that there were many unanswered questions about that murder and many curious anomalies.

Ricardo worked many long hours with Lanie and using the skills he had mastered in writing his tale of intrigue and villainy, he completed the play and hired a troupe of wandering players to perform it in front of the Duke and all the nobility of fair Padua.

On the night of the Duke's ball, Lanie procured to Ricardo a suit of clothes in the finest style so that Ricardo could attend the ball as his shabby clothing would otherwise have prevented him from going.

"Lanie, how can I ever repay you for these clothes?"

Lanie shrugged. "No problem. They fell off the back of a wagon and my friend, Carmine, found them."

The Duke's palazzo was a fairyland that night, lit with thousands of wax candles, with the air filled with music and laughter. Everywhere were choice wines and the finest foods. But Ricardo only had eyes for the beautiful Katarina, who dressed in a dark green dress of costly embroidered silk was easily the most beautiful woman in all of fair Padua and in all of Italy for that matter. Why stop at Italy? She was the fairest maid in all the world, or so our lovesick swain thought.

Then it was time for Ricardo's play to be performed. It was a tragedy about how a lady in waiting in the long ago court of Alexander the Great discovered a plot to bring two factions of the court against one another so that a third party could gain more wealth and power. The lady was murdered for her troubles, leaving behind a sad daughter and a husband who loved the vino too much.

Ricardo was quite happy with the play and looking for the convenience so he could relieve his bladder when a slender, but strong arm dragged him into a darkened room. A razor sharp knife was soon at his throat.

"How dare you, cruel varlet! How dare you suggest that your Davidsonos were not guilty of my mother's murder? How dare you spread such lies?" Lady Katarina snarled.

"If you will but listen to the evidence I've found, fair Katrina, I can explain."

"I should be very interested in that evidence." Said a male voice.

Lady Katarina pulled back the knife and curtseyed. "Duke William. Forgive me for my rash act at your ball."

Suddenly it all become clear to Ricardo. Duke Willian de la Bracken had turned two noble houses against each other so that they would destroy each other and leave him more powerful and wealthy.

"It's you…." He said, before realizing he'd said too much.

The Duke motioned to his guards. "Kill them both. Make it look like they killed each other. That will set the two houses at war with each other even if killing Johanna Becketti didn't."

As Will the Assassin came forward with his knife, Lord Joshua, very drunk, walked in at just the wrong time and was spitted with the blade meant for Ricardo. Lady Katarina quickly grabbed the knife from Will's hand and dispatched him, then fought her way through the guards like a madwoman until she had killed Duke William.

A year later there was another ball at the Palazzo of the new Duke to celebrate the nuptials of Lady Katarina Becketti and Lord Ricardo Castello, the only surviving legitimate member of the Davidsono family.

And they lived happily ever after,