Ilario, the Stone Golem

Ilario, the Stone Golem by Mary Gentle Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Ilario, the Stone Golem by Mary Gentle Read Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Gentle
must have rung in my tone, since that was the case. I saw two of the
    councillors speak to each other behind the chair of a third. ‘Messer Leon
    Battista Alberti presented me with his treatise on the eye, and vision in painting. It is here.’
    Rekhmire’ walked forward and placed De Pictura on the table before the Doge, bowed, and returned to his place behind me.
    Foscari shot a look at Leon Battista. ‘The writing of this took you some
    time?’
    ‘Yes, messire.’ His voice sounded dry.
    ‘And the copying, also, to have a copy that Donna Ilaria might have
    read to her?’
    Leon Battista nodded, not speaking.
    The Doge Foscari leaned back in his carved chair. ‘Clearly, Donna
    Ilaria’s father, Lord Honorius, supposed there to be a betrothal, all that
    time. Or you would not have been permitted to give such a gift. You do
    not deny this?’
    Leon’s chin came up. ‘I say nothing.’
    . . . And therefore, so far, not one of us has lied.
    ‘I understand there has been legislation passed in Florence of late.’
    The Doge ignored a choked-off laugh from the fat man, and looked
    further down the table. ‘Simon?’
    The sleek man he addressed leaned his hands on the table. ‘Indeed,
    seignior. They have passed laws legitimising prostitution. Messer Alberti
    will have heard.’
    ‘They have done this,’ the Doge Foscari looked blandly at Leon
    Battista Alberti, ‘so that the young men of the city should become less
    interested in, shall we say, exclusively male pursuits.’
    I fixed my eyes on a tile on the floor, following the ochre and red
    glaze’s repeating geometric pattern. I will not look at my father, I will not look at Rekhmire’! ‘Exclusively male.’ Let Doge Foscari think the young woman is modestly pretending not to understand what is referred to.
    Under my skirts, I have a womb and (as I ascertained privately once I
    was sufficiently healed) a functioning penis. ‘Exclusively male’ is
    considerably outside my experience.
    ‘ . . . And to further eradicate the sin of Sodom,’ the Doge was saying.
    He had risen to his feet at some point; a ripple of light from the torches
    shot back colour from his jewel-encrusted brocade robes. Drawing him
    would be easy, painting the effect of that light and shadow unbelievably
    difficult. He held out his hands, plainly giving judgement.
    ‘This is the sentence on Messer Leon Battista Alberti. Because of his
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    family’s good name, and because of the lineage of the Captain-General
    of Castile and Leon,’ a bow towards my father, ‘it is considered just that
    the penalty of execution be commuted to exile. Messer Leon Battista
    Alberti shall have a month to leave our territories of the Italian Peninsula.
    But in the interests of holding up a good example, and discouraging that
    sin of Sodom which in Florence is so prevalent, and which threatens us
    everywhere, Messer Leon Battista Alberti shall hold to his promise of
    betrothal.’
    Rekhmire’’s arm quivered, where he had stepped close and now
    pressed against me. I felt his shock as clearly as I felt mine. Honorius frowned and opened his mouth. Out of sight, I dug my fingers into the
    palm of his hand, cutting myself against the edge of his plate gauntlet.
    Foscari turned his head away and fixed an unrelenting gaze on Leon
    Battista.
    ‘Because we will see justice done, you will be married in the presence
    of a priest. Before you depart from Venezia! I will call for a confessor now, and you shall be shriven clean so that you can marry. This child will
    have a father’s name. This shamed maiden shall be made into a wife.’
    Silence echoed through the chamber.
    The Doge turned towards Honorius. ‘It has been forty days: your
    daughter has been churched.’
    Honorius took no notice of my nails digging into the thin leather glove
    he wore under his gauntlet. He bowed with the skill of a courtier, and
    spoke with the bluntness of a soldier. ‘Yes, lord. She can wed whenever
    you desire.’
    There is

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