1028. Chapter 1028

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.

As they prepared to go, Alexis joined them. She was dressed in a beautiful green gown that complemented her red hair and pale complexion perfectly. She also seemed to be wearing every scrap of jewelry she owned.

"Do you think the jewelry is too much?" She asked Kate.

"Definitely."

"Excellent. Just the look I was trying for. I'm your cousin, Alexis, come to stay with you after the death of my family from the plague. Although not a noblewoman, I am quite rich, but not very bright and I'm flighty. Kindly don't try to rescue me from the silly decisions I intend to make tonight. Shall we go?"

A richly appointed carriage waited to take them to Bishop Vaughn's palazzo. Following the carriage was a troop of twenty well mounted, and well-armed and armored men at arms. A none too subtle hint of Sir Richard's status.

Bishop Vaughn had taken over the palazzo of a wealthy merchant who had been too vociferous in his support for de Braquenne. No one knew what became of him, although there were rumors that his throat had been slit by his own bodyguards who then made off with all of his valuables.

Bishop Vaughn met Castle, Kate and Alexis as they entered.

"Sir Richard and Lady Castle. I am so glad you could come to my home tonight."

Castle had learned that many men looked at Kate in ways that he did not appreciate. He found he didn't like the way that Vaughn looked at both Kate and himself.

"And who is this lovely lady with you?" He asked, his voice sounding very interested in Alexis.

"My cousin, Alexis Beckett." Kate replied. "Alas, her entire family was wiped out in the plague. She has come to live with my husband and me as we are her only remaining family."

"How truly sad, my child." Vaughn took Alexis' hand. "I hope that the teachings of the Church might help assuage your grief."'

Castle thought that the tone of Vaughn's voice indicated that the teachings would be delivered in bed. However, Alexis simpered and giggled like a young virgin. The three moved on as more people arrived. They entered a large room where the guests stood about drinking wine and chatting with one another. In one corner they spied Duke Rodrigo, Lord Pietro, Podesta, Sir James and all of the captains of the companies in Istrian service. They moved to join them.

Lady Jane Walden smiled at the newcomers. "Sir Richard, I believe you'll be seeing off any number of young swains now that Kate is here. She is the most beautiful woman here."

"Except for yourself." Castle said gallantly.

Lady Jane laughed. "I do believe our former captain of archers is becoming a courtier."

Before Castle could deny that, Duke Rodrigo spoke.

"As comforting as our own kind are, we need to mix and mingle and see what the good bishop wants of us here tonight."

As the group broke up, Sir Richard and Lady Katherine were soon approached by a tall, wiry and rather stern looking priest in the black cloak and white habit of the Dominicans. Castle noted that his clothing was made out of very fine and expensive cloth and that the cross hanging from his neck appeared to be of solid gold. He introduced himself as Father Paulo and asked both Castle and his wife about the expedition against the pirates. His questions about military matters were rather vague and amateurish. So much so that Castle wondered if the man was merely pretending ignorance. But, as he left, he dropped a large diamond on a table right by Castle's hand. Father Paulo backed away, smiling and carefully watching the diamond.

Castle picked up the jewel and turned to very expensively dressed young man next to him who had been trying to impress a young lady.

"Excuse me." Castle said, handing the jewel to the young man. "I just saw this drop from the hilt of your fine dagger."

The man began to refuse the jewel until he got a better look at it. Then he grabbed it quickly.

"Thank you. Thank you, a thousand times, signor."

The man quickly left, probably afraid that Castle would suddenly remember it wasn't his. When Castle looked over at him, Father Paulo was still smiling enigmatically.

As the priest walked away, the servants announced that the dinner was being served. The dining hall had tables arranged in a U shape with benches along the outside. Neither Castle nor Kate was surprised that while seated next to each other, they were on separate benches. Castle quickly found that his bench partner was a young woman whose hands seemed to have a mind of their own. Kate found herself next to a handsome young man with a similar problem. The dishes began with a soup made from venison.

Kate suddenly stood up.

"Dearest, you must feed me as you always do." She promptly sat on Castle's lap, pushing the other woman away with her butt and "accidentally" kicking her former bench partner. While a quite unorthodox manner of eating, both Rick and Kate enjoyed the meal greatly.

Course after course was served. Beef, pork, fish, more venison, and lamb, cooked in every way imaginable and with rich sauces poured over them and many vegetables, including expensive and rare oranges. In addition, in the open area of the dining room, a continuous stream on people entertained them. There were jugglers, troubadours, fire eaters, musicians and more.

As the meal ended, there was suddenly a burst of movement around Bishop Vaughn. The Bishop stood, looking quite angry.

"I have been advised that the commander of the Istrian fleet is a heathen! A Muslim. This is an insult to God and to His Holy Church. This will not stand! No good Christian can accept this." Vaughn roared.

"I agree!" Yelled a voice from the far end of the table. To Rick and Kate's surprise, Hamid arose from his seat and walked towards Bishop Vaughn. He stepped around Vaughn's table and knelt before the Bishop, throwing his arms around the churchman's knees.

"I have seen the error of my ways, Bishop Vaughn. More than anything else, I wish to become a Christian. To leave my heathen ways behind and live in the light of the true son of God. Please teach me to become a Christian, dear Bishop. Could I possibly take the name Peter? Could I be named after the first Bishop of Rome?"

Whatever Vaughn had expected when he accused Istria of having a Muslim in charge of its fleet, this was not it. Vaughn looked confused and searched the faces of his entourage for help. None was forthcoming.

"I'm busy." Vaughn screeched, pushing Hamid away. "Yes. That's it. I'm a bishop on an important mission. I'm sure we can find a suitable teacher for you."

"I'd be glad to take this lost soul under my wing, so to speak, and bring him the light of our Savior, Jesus Christ." Father Ryan said from the back of the room. "I have already had many discussions with Hamid, soon to be baptized as Peter, and he is an apt pupil."

"Yes! Yes!" Hamid yelled, rising to his feet. "The good Father Ryan will teach me." Hamid strode back to Ryan and threw himself at the Irishman's feet.

"I assume this is acceptable to you, Bishop Vaughn?" Ryan asked.

Vaughn could do no more than agree.

Once back at the Beckett palazzo, they found Hamid, Ryan and Alexis waiting for them.

"What was that all about?" Castle demanded.

"Please, Richard." Hamid said with an airy wave of his hand. "It was obvious that Vaughn would make an issue of my religion in an attempt to deprive Istria of my services. Father Ryan and I managed to forestall him quite easily. I did hope that Vaughn would take me as his pupil so that I could hang around him and his people a bit, but that was too much to hope for."

"So, you won't be learning about Christianity from Ryan?"

"Of course, I will Richard. I have a fascination with religions, be it Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism….Why the people of the Hind have a fascinating religion. They believe that….."

Ryan cut him off. "I don't think any of us are ready for a discussion on religions, Hamid."

"Oh, please call me Peter. I rather like the name, you know."

Castle turned to Ryan. "And you know about Vaughn and his….financial activities?"

"Of course. Do you think that just because Ireland is at the far end of Christendom that we don't know what's happening? Vaughn is a disgrace and I hope to see him punished."

"If you gentlemen will excuse me," Alexis said, rising, "I need to see a handsome young man I met tonight." She looked away. "I do hope I can remember how to act like a virgin."

Once in bed, Castle pulled Kate to him.

"This is all very confusing for a poor, simple soldier. At least when all I had was a company of archers, I knew who my enemies were and how to attack them and defend against them."

Kate kissed him softly. "Lover, you're an excellent soldier and commander, as your exploits with the pirates prove. Just remember that you now have many friends who will help you, just as Hamid and Ryan did tonight. And you have one woman who will do anything to help you. Anything at all."

Castle nodded. "I know, but I fear Alexis may be endangering her immortal soul for me, not to…OW! Kate, you pinched me!"

"I did and you deserved it. Now, just relax while I show you some of the things I'm willing to do for you."

"You won't pinch me, will you?"

"Probably not. We'll just have to see."

If Kate did pinch him that night, he didn't object.

When they came down for breakfast the next morning, they found Sir James Walden and Federico Podesta waiting for them. Sir James held a letter in his hand.

"Ah, Richard. I was just going to ask a servant to wake you two. We have bad news."

Rick rolled his eyes. "What else is new?" He asked sarcastically?

"There's an enemy fleet headed for Istria."

"The Venetians?" Kate asked.

"No. There's a truce with Venice. Why attack us when they think their hired bishop can get them what they want peacefully? Are you familiar with the Guelph and Ghibelline factions in Italy?"

Castle nodded. "The Guelphs are supporters of the Pope, while the Ghibellines support the Holy Roman Emperor."

Sir James nodded. "It's more complicated than that with a lot of local feuds and politics mixed in, but that's basically it. Vaughn is, of course, a Guelph. He's paid for his Guelph friends to raise a fleet to attack us. He has four cogs, Northern European sailing ships, and six large galleys."

"Cogs?" Kate asked.

"Large, heavily built ships that relay on sails rather than oars. They sail in the rougher waters of the North Sea and the Atlantic, and so are more heavily built than galleys. And, being larger and not needing oarsmen, they can carry far more troops." Sir James explained.

"With our ships and those of the Genoese squadron…" Castle began.

"The Genoese are leaving us. The Venetians are at peace with Istria but not with Genoa. The Venetians are attacking Genoese colonies in the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea. The Genoese want to protect their own first."

"So, there are our six galleys taken from the pirates, plus one small scout. Anything else?" Kate asked.

"Our shipyard here has almost completed two more galleys, but our ships are smaller than their galleys and much smaller than their four cogs."

Castle shared a look with Kate. "I think we should go see Hamid."

"Peter. For God's sake, call him Peter." Sir James reminded him.