The Roman(63)

With the soldiers thus distracted, Ibarra disarmed one of the guards and beheaded him, then thrust his sword in another soldier’s side.

Without waiting for Aoibhe, he fled through one of the tunnels that led under the city. Several soldiers followed.#p#分页标题#e#

Aoibhe was already gone. Having stolen a sword from the vampyre she’d gutted, she fled into a passage that led to the overworld.





Chapter Fifty-Two



WILLIAM SAT ON HIS THRONE, his face in his hands.

Only one other time had he felt so alone, so abandoned, and that was the day his teacher died. He found it strange that his current trouble left him similarly bereft.

Simonetta had ignored his request for help, although she had refused the Curia permission to enter Umbria.

But the Curia didn’t need to travel through Umbria to arrive in Tuscany; they could travel the length of the Lazio region in which Rome was situated, and pass directly into Tuscany.

Similarly, the Venetians had ignored Florence’s request, despite being under the Prince’s control. Neither Umbria nor Venice was willing to engage in open armed conflict with Curia forces—not without the backing of the Roman.

The Prince tugged at his hair.

Aoibhe and Ibarra had escaped. Captain Borek and the remaining members of his detachment had split into two groups in order to follow them. But the traitors were cunning and knew the city well. They were probably hiding until sunset, when they could make their way north.

The Roman had responded directly to the Prince’s message, informing him that he’d withdrawn all support. William’s failure to surrender his pet to the Curia had been viewed as a betrayal. The Prince of Florence had been officially disowned and publicly condemned, which meant every principality in the kingdom of Italy would side with the Roman against him.

William knew first hand of the Roman’s possessive caprice. Faced with the dilemma of surrendering Raven to the Curia or disobeying his father, he’d chosen disobedience. He’d done so knowing his decision carried risk, but he hadn’t expected the consequences to be so great. The Roman had stripped him of his position and had communicated the same to the Curia. Such a move was equivalent to handing the Curia the keys to the principality and offering license to turn Florence into Prague.

The former Prince of Florence sat on his throne in the great council chamber, sorrowing for his beloved city.

A gentle hand rested on his, light as an angel’s touch. “There must be something we can do.”

William lifted his head to look at Raven. “The Curia will level us. I’m considered a traitor now. Even if we were to flee, the Roman would hunt me.”

“Would he hunt us in the United States? In South America?”

“I don’t think I would make it out of Italy. The Curia will hunt me too.”

“There has to be a way.”

He shook his head. “My only hope is to see you escape to freedom.”

“I’m not leaving you.” Her expression grew fierce.

He looked at her sadly. “I disobeyed the Roman and refused to hand you over to the Curia. But they are going to take you anyway.”

“I’d rather die with you!”

“If you survive, a part of me will survive also.” He took her wrist, marveling at the slim arm that lay below the gold bracelet he’d given her. “Don’t let your death be added to my sins.”

“Father is still inside the city. If I can get a message to him, maybe we can negotiate a truce.”

“It’s too late.” He released her.

She leaned against the throne, taking the weight off her injured leg. “I have to try.”

“I will lead my troops into battle. My mind would rest easier if I knew you were safe. Go to Sarah.”

“Listen to me, William.” She bent at the waist, her green eyes sparking with anger. “I’m not giving up. I’m not going to let you give up either. War with the Curia is suicide. You’ll die in battle, and I’ll die at your side because I won’t leave you.#p#分页标题#e#

“You say there’s no way for us to escape Italy without being hunted by the Roman. So our only option is to try to make peace with the Curia and prevent a genocide.”

William laughed bitterly. “They don’t want peace.”

“Father does.”

“He wants peace and he comes to my city with soldiers?”

“I’m sorry about the citizens who were killed. But Father must have some influence if he was able to command a group of soldiers. I want to talk to him. I want to try.”

William stood quickly. He touched her hair, her eyebrows, and her cheeks. “At least he can keep you safe. If you remain with me, you could be killed, or turned, or made someone’s pet.”