1026. Chapter 1026

After Much Ado About Murder

Part Three

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: The game's afoot. Follow your spirit and upon this fanfic, cry," God for Istria, England and Lady Katherine." Rating: K Time: Immediately following After Much Ado About Murder, Part Two.

Previously…..

Sir Richard Castle and his army were sent by Duke Rodrigo of Istria to suppress the pirates who infest the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea. He has been successful, but has now returned to Istria where he has been told by Sir James Walden, the English commander of Duke Rodrigo's army, that things are not well. Not well at all.

"Is it war, then, between Venice and Istria?" Castle asked.

Sir James shook his head. "Worse. It's peace."

"Peace?" Castle was confused.

"Aye, Richard. Peace of a dangerous, unholy kind." Sir James looked around him, as if to see if anyone had overheard him. "We'll talk about this with the Duke. Leave your captains behind."

"I want Kate with me. She's the best advisor I've ever had."

Sir James looked over at Lady Katherine Castle. The look on her face told him that she had heard all that he had said.

"You and Lady Katherine then."

Castle and Sir James instructed Castle's captains where to quarter their men. Then the three rode through the streets of Pola towards the Ducal Palace. Castle was cheered as he rode.

"You are popular, Richard." Walden explained. "The pirates gave strangled Pola's trade and therefore its wealth for years. You've killed pirates, destroyed their ships, burned their towns and returned with loot and freed slaves. And best of all, you've brought Istria the beginning of a new navy. We're already building more warships. Soon we won't be dependent on the Genoese squadron for sea power."

"Is there a problem with the Genoese?" Kate asked.

Sir James shook his head. "Not really. Genoa will always oppose Venice. But Genoa's needs will not always coincide with Istria's."

They found themselves at the Ducal Palace. The palace had been looted of its treasures and vandalized during the brief occupation of Pola by de Braquenne and his army. Although Duke Rodrigo had wisely spent most of his available funds supporting his military and his diplomacy, the palace had been refurbished and was, if not returned to its former glory, at least presentable.

The three dismounted and handed their mounts over to some grooms. Sir James led them to the main doorway, which was guarded by a dozen men in full armor.

"Sir James! "Cried a knight wearing brightly polished armor with a large red feather on his helmet. "You have brought Sir Richard and his lady. Excellent. I shall take you to His Grace at once."

The knight led then inside to a reception area that was full of people. Castle saw richly dressed merchants, soldiers in full armor, churchmen, women, children and even a few gaudy specimens he took to be from somewhere to the east. All glared at Castle as he was led through the mob waiting to see Duke Rodrigo.

They were led up a marble staircase to a landing where more soldiers awaited. Castle was surprised to see that a half a dozen of them were English archers he'd had to leave behind due to illness or injury.

"Michael! You've recovered. You look well." Castle said to a tall stocky archer from near the border with Wales.

The man smiled at being recognized. "It's going to take more than a little cut to keep me down, Sir Richard. It's good to have you, and all the lads, back again."

"We must see Duke Rodrigo." Sir James said, taking Castle's elbow and leading him gently away.

"Is there some reason for the large number of armed soldiers on guard here?" Castle asked in a low voice.

"All will be explained when we see Duke Rodrigo."

They entered a large room overlooking the main plaza in Pola. Sitting around a table were three men. One was Duke Rodrigo, the second was Pietro Dandalo, the Lord of Rimini. He was a young and daring knight errant, seemingly more interested in adventure than anything else. He was a Venetian, but had taken service with Duke Rodrigo, claiming that when the negotiations came at the end of the war, it would be good for both sides to have a Venetian with Duke Rodrigo.

The third man Castle didn't recognize. He was younger than the other two men, no more than his early twenties, Castle guessed. He was tall and muscular and wore clothing very much in style. His clothing was silk with costly embroidered panels. However, he wore well worn riding boots and had a simple and apparently well used sword at his side.

Duke Rodrigo rose to his feet. "Sir Richard. Lady Katherine. It is so good to have you back again. Everything we hear is that the pirates to the south of us will be unable to attack us for at least a year. It'll take that long to build new ships and train new crews. And the treasure you've brought back will help pay our armies."

"And the new Istrian navy you have will be a help." Dandalo added. "Although Genoa is now our ally, as a Venetian I always worry that I might wake up after a little too much wine to find myself chained to a Genoese oar."

"Excuse me." Duke Rodrigo said. "Allow me to present to you my half brother, Don Federico Podesta. Federico was knighted by King Pedro of Castile for his military service. "

Podesta shot to his feet and bowed to Rick and Kate. "I am so pleased to meet you, Sir Richard. I hope that I might be able to serve under you. In any capacity that you need."

"I'm sure a man of your abilities will easily find a place with me."

Surprisingly, Don Federico blushed. "King Pedro had me chasing bandits in the Pyrenees. I hardly considered it military service."

"However, you're just as dead if you're killed by a bandit as by a king."

"Sir Richard, I fear that young Federico was born …on the wrong side of the blanket, as they say. While we Italians pay little attention to illegitimacy, it bothers Federico terribly. I suspect it may have bothered good King Pedro was well. This has left Federico with a burning desire to prove himself as a man among men. A warrior among warriors, so to speak. It'll probably get him killed at a young age. I would take it as a personal favor if you would take Federico into your service and do your best to keep him alive."

"Of course." Castle held out his hand to Federico. "Don Federico Podesta, welcome to the Saint Katherine's Company of England."

Federico shook Castle's hand. He then looked over at Kate, apparently noticing her for the first time. "Of course. She is the famous Lady Katherine Castle." He bowed to Kate. "I have been told that your beauty is second only to your courage. If this is so, your courage shames mere men such as myself."

Kate smiled at the young man. "I'm sure your courage is equal to any man in Italy."

"But now, Richard, we must discuss our current problem." Rodrigo said.

"And what is our current problem?"

"Bishop Eric Vaughn."

Castle frowned. "How is a bishop a problem?"

"Richard, what do you know of Vatican politics?"

Castle frowned. "I consider myself to be a good Christian, but I confess that I pay little heed to the doings of the Church."

Duke Rodrigo frowned, trying to think of the best way to broach the subject to Castle. He was saved the trouble by Lady Katherine.

"Perhaps I could explain things to my husband?"

"Of course."

"Richard, you know that in 1309, Pope Clement V, a Frenchman, was elected Pope, but refused to go to Rome. He stayed in Avignon, France. "

"I'm not completely dense, Kate." Rick interrupted.

"I know, dearest. I just need to begin at the beginning. There were many reasons for this, not the least of which was a desire by the Kings of France to control the church. But there were other reasons. There are various factions in Rome that have supported various candidates for the Papacy. Those whose candidates are successful can rise very high in the Church in a very short time. And become quite rich. The Papacy has income from all over Europe, after all. Just a tiny portion of that, siphoned off, is sufficient to make a family fabulously wealthy."

Castle nodded. "I suppose that could happen."

"Our current Pope, Urban V, is a former Benedictine and still lives as the Benedictine Order does, very simply. This does not make him popular with those in the Church that are used to a more opulent lifestyle. Urban is now ill. He may be dead for all we know. Or he may have recovered and will serve for thirty more years. But if he does pass from us, there are those who wish for a Pope who is, shall we say, more liberal in his lifestyle?"

"And Vaughn is one of these?"

Kate nodded. "Most certainly. He is English, which is unusual, and he's based in Rome. But he's quite wealthy and powerful. And ruthless. He has sold offices for his own gain."

"Wait! How do you make money from selling an office?"

"Do you recall the Monastery of Saint Andrew in the Duchy of Brittany? It's famous for its fine wines. If one were to buy the position of Abbot of the monastery, the sale of the wines would make you rich. As long as you provided a reasonable sum to the Church. There's also the sale of indulgences. If you sin, you must do a penance to atone for your sin. A priest can just make your penance a cash donation to the Church. That way the rich can do as they please and some priests get rich."

"That's awful, Kate."

"And Bishop Vaughn is one of the worst. "Duke Rodrigo said. "And he's been bought and paid for by Venice."

"But how does that concern us?" Castle asked, puzzled.

"Vaughn has come with a Papal Bull that he says is from the Pope himself, decreeing that Venice shall make peace with Istria. And it gives Vaughn the power to enforce that peace. We can assume that whatever peace treaty comes out of this will favor Venice."

"Can we do nothing? We have an army."

Duke Rodrigo laughed. "Make war on the Pope's representative? We'd be branded as heretics. No, the best we can do is try to bribe as many people as Venice has."

Pietro Dandalo interrupted. "As a seasoned negotiator I can assure you we can do more."

"How?" Kate asked.

"We'll agree to all of their terms and then argue endlessly over petty details. We'll ask the same questions over and over and look both surprised and stupid when this is pointed out to us. We'll misunderstand everything and forget what has been said before. And if we last long enough, things may change in our favor."

"May." Kate repeated. "They may change."

Dandalo just shrugged.

"You have several priests in your army, do you not, Richard?" Sir James Walden asked, "Including an Irishman named Ryan?"

"I'd trust Father Ryan with my life." Castle insisted.

"Perhaps. But it might be best not to put temptation in the man's way. Don't discuss this problem with him."

Castle looked to Duke Rodrigo, who nodded.

"As you wish, Your Grace."

"There is at least one priest with each of our companies." Kate said. "I assume the same applies to them?"

Again, Duke Rodrigo nodded.

Castle stood. "Then I should see about my troops." He bowed and left the meeting, followed closely by Kate.

They rode through the streets of Pola, not noticing the cheers of the townspeople as they passed.

When they arrived at Kate's family's palazzo, they found a guard of a dozen archers outside, wearing mail coats and helmets, and armed with both bows and swords. Castle recognized the senior archer.

"Why the guard, James?"

The man spat. "Lady Alexis ordered it. I can't say as I like the look of our neighbors, though. I'd recommend we stay here. There's more of us at the other doors."

Castle and Kate looked across the street. There were a dozen or so street toughs just standing around. Castle thought they might be useful in a tavern brawl, but doubted they'd do much against trained soldiers. Still, there was no reason to take chances with Kate.

"Stay here and make sure the guards are changed every six hours."

"Already done per Lady Alexis' orders, Sir Richard. And your captains are waiting for you inside."

Castle set about briefing his captains on what the Duke had told him, except for the part about Bishop Vaughn, of course.