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1035. Chapter 1035

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.

With Cosmo as their guide, they made their way through the Apennine Mountains until they reached a small stream.

"This is the beginning of the Tiber, the river that flows through Rome to the sea. Follow it and you will find yourself in Rome in another day." He turned to Alexis. "And if you pass through my mountains again on your way home, please let me know."

Alexis smiled, leaned over and kissed him. Then rode off.

The convoy began to break up the as people headed for cities other than Rome or to places outside of Rome where they had business. When they were almost in sight of the city, Lady Alexis began to turn to the south.

"Rome is straight ahead." Castle called after her.

"But our villa is to the south." Alexis called back.

"Our villa?"

"Yes, Sir Richard. I spoke with Cosmo about someplace for us to stay. A villa in Rome itself would be too expensive. This way well be only a little way out of the city."

"How are we paying for this villa?"

"With money." Alexis replied unhelpfully.

A dozen or more servants were waiting outside the villa when they arrived. They scurried about, taking baggage inside, unsaddling and currying the horses, and then asking Sir Richard when he wished to eat.

Castle glanced up at the sun. It was high in the sky.

"It's close to noon, so I think a midday meal for all of us would be fine."

"All of you?" Gasped the cook. "The soldiers as well."

"Of course, the soldiers as well." Lady Alexis said sharply. "They have to eat as well." She glared at the cook. "Lord Rollo told me that this place was accustomed to serving the quality and their retainers. I hope I won't have to tell Lord Rollo that…"

"No, no." Cried the cook. "No need to bother the good Lord Rollo. Just let me send to the market for a few things." The cook disappeared back into the villa, shouting instructions.

Castle leaned over and whispered in Kate's ear. "Lady Alexis may end up running my army."

"Not if I have anything to say about it. And I do." She whispered back.

Alexis was busy chivvying the maids about the state of the bedrooms.

The next morning, Sir Richard, Ladies Kate and Alexis, and Father Ryan, accompanied by a half a dozen men at arms and mounted archers, rode to Cardinal Benedetto's palazzo. Regrettably, the chances of keeping their visit to the Cardinal a secret had vanished. As happens, someone had told one of the people they were convoying that Sir Richard and Lady Castle were to see Cardinal Benedetto. The news had spread through the convoy and to everyone that they met. By the time they reached Rome, half of Italy knew of their mission.

"I'd feel better with all of my men with me. "Castle muttered. "Somebody wants us dead."

Ryan shook his head. "Sir Richard, we're paying a friendly call on a high ranking churchman. To arrive with a company of soldiers in tow would be insulting. What we have with us are enough to keep the riff raff, cutpurses and ladies of dubious morals away without insulting anyone."

Rick had to agree and rode along in silence until Father Ryan, who had been to Rome as a much younger man, began to describe the ruins of ancient Rome as they passed by them.

"That's the Arch of Titus over there." Ryan said, speaking as if to a group of schoolchildren. "It was built to honor the Emperor Titus, who captured Jerusalem. The interior of the arch shows scenes from the fall of Jerusalem and you can see…"

"What did the Romans build so many arches?" Lady Alexis asked suddenly. "We've seen the Arches of Constantine, Janus, Septimius Severus…."

"To honor their emperors, Lady Alexis. The Romans also built columns to commemorate their emperors. There are columns of Marcus Aurelius and Trajan, two of the greatest Roman Emperors, as well as the Column of Phocas. That was erected in Anno Domini 608 to honor the Byzantine Emperor Phocas on his visit to Rome. Of course, baths were also important in Rome. There are the Baths of Caracalla and Diocletian. We'll not be passing them, I fear…"

"What is that?" Lady Kate said, as their horses rounded a corner.

"That is the Flavian Amphitheater, now commonly called the Colosseum, as if there were only one colosseum in the world. It was built by the Emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus, more commonly called Vespasian. It was finished in Anno Domini 80 and before it was reduced to the damaged state you now see, it held 55,000 people. Can you imagine any building holding so many people? That's nearly as large as the population of London in our day. Christian martyrs include Saint Proculus and Saint Januarius as well as many….."

Father Ryan continued to drone on until they reached the palazzo of Cardinal Benedetto.

"That is the palazzo of Cardinal Benedetto?" Kate gasped.

"It's far grander than the Palace of Westminster where our good king Edward III lives." Sir Richard said.

"King Edward is only a king." Alexis smirked. "The Cardinal is a wealthy Italian and a Prince of the Church."

The palazzo itself was a white wonder of snowy marble, all graceful arches, slender columns and a white marble roof that seemed to float above the palazzo. They dismounted and stood on a colorful mosaic depicting the Resurrection. As they did so, a dozen men at arms in highly polished armor, and white surcoats with the red cross of crusaders upon their breasts approached them.

"You are, sir?" Asked their leader.

"Sir Richard and Lady Castle, Lady Alexis Beckett and Father Kevin Ryan to see Cardinal Benedetto. I believe we're expected."

The man smiled. "Indeed you are, Sir Richard. Sister Sophia will take you to see Cardinal Benedetto. If your men would care to join those of off duty for a cup of wine, we'd be much interested in hearing of your campaigns."

Castle nodded to his men, who also dismounted and followed their new hosts.

Down the steps of the palazzo came a young woman in the habit of a nun. She bowed.

"Sir Richard? I am Sister Sophia. Please follow me. I shall take you inside. I regret that Cardinal Benedetto is in conference with another Cardinal. It may be some time before he can see you. He asked me to extend his heartfelt apologies."

"We understand that the Cardinal is a busy man." Castle said diplomatically, earning a smile from his wife.

"Some refreshments, perhaps?" Sister Sophia asked.

"Excellent." Ryan said, quickly. "I slept through breakfast this morning."

Sister Sophia led them inside and then through a series of vast rooms and hallways.

"Observe." Cried Father Ryan. "What a wonderful mural of Saint John the Baptist, baptizing Our Lord. Look at the colors. Look at the detail. One can almost feel the warmth of the sun in the Holy Land and feel the wetness of the River Jordan."

They hadn't gone fifty feet when Father Ryan stopped again. "This is magnificent. The miracle of the loaves and fishes. One can almost taste the food." He looked down the hall where he could see another mural. He hurried towards it. "And this is…." His words stuck in his throat.

Lady Alexis joined him. "Most interesting, Father Ryan. I don't believe I've ever seen the position the two women in the top right are attempting. And is that a goat beside them? I wonder what…."

Father Ryan grabbed Lady Alexis and pulled her away. "Lady Alexis! You should not see such…..sinful images."

"Dear Father Ryan." Alexis said, trying not to laugh at the earnest priest. "You forget my past. Something that I never do."

"That is a modern day copy of a mural in a famous villa outside of Rome. The original is much faded now." Sister Sophia said, not at all bothered by the subject matter of the mural. "The Romans celebrated the carnal urges. There are others if you…"

"No." Father Ryan said, just as Lady Alexis said, "Yes.".

"Your refreshments are in the small dining room." Sister Sophia pointed to a large doorway. "We have bread, cheese, meat, fruits and of course, wine. Please enjoy." Sister Sophia took off her habit to reveal another beneath it. However, this one was of black silk and so sheer that her body could easily be seen. She had large, firm breasts, a narrow waist and a flat stomach, long legs and had shaved her pubic hair.

"May I be of any other service?" She asked.

"I think that will be all." Lady Kate said.

Once inside, Castle looked around. "If this is the small dining room, the large dining room must be the size of our palazzo in Pola."

Kate shrugged. "I just hope the food is good."

The food and the wine were excellent and they spent several hours enjoying them both. Much to Father Ryan's displeasure, Lady Alexis had decided to look around the palazzo. Kate assumed that the young redhead was looking for more paintings of Romans enjoying sex. Kate had thought about accompanying her, but she wasn't sure how her husband would react. Men could be so odd at times.

"Where have you been, child?" Ryan asked as Alexis returned.

"Talking to the housemaids."

"Really?" Ryan said, clearly not believing her.

"Really. Sister Sophia is, as I suspected, Cardinal Benedetto's mistress. She and a Sister Brigitta. The Cardinal has a son by Sophia, but refers to him as his nephew. He's six years old and is already a priest. He has income from a monastery in the Po River Valley which provides him with…."

"Please stop." Ryan said, holding his hands over his ears.

Hearing the sound of footsteps heading their way, Alexis quickly sat. A page boy in the colorful gold and blue livery of the Cardinal bowed to them. "Sir Richard, Lady Katherine, Lady Alexis, and Father Ryan, the Cardinal will see you know. He regrets the delay. Please follow me."

They were led through another part of the vast palazzo to Cardinal Benedetto's office. As the door opened, Benedetto was there waiting for them. The knelt to kiss the Cardinal's ring and then were asked to sit. Four comfortable chairs were in front of Benedetto' desk.

"I do apologize, Sir Richard, Ladies Katherine and Alexis, and Father Ryan, but Cardinals Sebastiani, Poletto and Amato were all here. Not one of them can use one word if they can find ten to use, or better yet, twenty. But…." Cardinal Benedetto began to sort through papers on his desk. "We must discuss Father Vaughn and his machinations."

Benedetto ruffled through the papers some more and cleared his throat. "Father Vaughn was born the third living son of a small landowner, what you English call a squire, near the border with Wales. He was a bright boy, and as a younger son, would not inherit. The Church seemed to be the best place for him. He took Holy Orders and was found to have a talent for mathematics. These talents led him into the service of one Sir Robert Knowles."

Castle groaned at hearing that name.

"You know this man, Sir Richard?"

"I know him by reputation, Your Grace, and his reputation is not good. He makes a business out of war."

Benedetto shrugged. "So do many Englishmen. Your King sends out Commissions of Array to ask English lords to raise troops in exchange for money. Much as we Italians sign contracts with professional soldiers, condotierre, is that not so?"

Castle shook his head slowly. "Sir Robert is different. If he finds a well-fortified town or castle, he will approach them and advise them that they would be much better off paying him to go away than risking a sack should he overwhelm the defenses. Most agree. Those who do not…" Castle shook his head. "Knowles will move heaven and earth to bring a siege to a successful conclusion. Then he'll kill every living thing: Men, women, children and animals. He'll take everything of value and destroy every building and slight the defensive walls. He wants everyone to know what it means to defy Sir Robert Knowles. But, if you're a poorly defended village or manor, he'll turn his soldiers loose. I once rode some four days behind Knowles with my company of archers and several others, looking for King Edward. All we saw was death and destruction. Nothing that was burnable remained unburned. Everything that could be destroyed, was destroyed. And everything that could be killed, was killed. We saw whole peasant families gutted like beasts, or hanging from trees. Crops, orchards, livestock….all destroyed. Every well and pond was full of dead bodies to make the water undrinkable."

"I can see where Father Vaughn learned his ways." Benedetto said sadly. "However, our problem is his current activities. He has aligned himself with a group of French Cardinals who wish to keep the Holy Father in Avignon and under the thumb of the French King."

"Excuse me, Cardinal Benedetto." Kate said. "But how did a man serving an English soldier end up serving the interests of France?"

Benedetto shrugged. "Doubtlessly Vaughn decided that he could advance farther and faster that way. He seems to have no scruples and no interests beyond his own aggrandizement. That, of course, may lead to his downfall. But perhaps not in time for our purposes."