As Pero and his estate steward entered the hall in cheerful spirits, Guidus, unsure how he should present himself, removed the silk-bag cap from off his bald head and bowed awkwardly.
The snickering sergeants, lost in some private folly, were caught off-guard. They clamored to their feet before bowing, their armor rattling.
Pero disregarded them and darted towards the messenger. He saw familiarity in the old man’s face and his left eyebrow shot up. “I know you.”
Excerpt – The Crystal Crux: Betrayal
Up to this point, Betrayal has set the foundation for everything else that was to come.
Gherardus Fabbro is Lord Commander of Parthenope because he and his brothers murdered their parents and his older brother, Avenel, renounced the title and went into the wilderness with his sins and his mother’s corpse.
Five magical Bellerophon crystals exist in the world, their whereabouts until now unknown. One crystal, the Crux, is in the possession of Sinibaldus, a sinister magician who works secretly in Gherardus Fabbro’s employ.
The Holy Roman Emperor is dead, and a new one is to be elected. The Church doesn’t want it to be Philip of Swabia, so they expect loyal subjects in Italy to run out any traitors to their cause.
Pero de Alava has been deemed to be such a traitor by his own mouth, a declaration he spouted at a banquet resulting in Rugerius Fabbro’s broken jaw, and Pero’s exile back to Capua.
Pero has been suffering psychologically ever since, unable to concentrate, sleep and rule properly, hallucinating and seeing dark spirits, shades, everywhere he goes.
Pero fears retaliation. Pero fears his bride and friends might be hurt because of him and his big mouth.
Pero’s been waiting to hear from the court in Parthenope on how peace can be reestablished. This messenger is supposed to be delivering word on that very subject. Pero is excited, as is his best friend and estate steward Francis Whitehall.
Maybe now the nightmares will end.
Maybe now peace can be restored.
Maybe now the shades will go back in the shadows and stay there.
But we also know there was a secret meeting in Parthenope where the players in that meeting decided to destroy Pero and burn Capua.
What sort of message has this messenger brought with him, a messenger who is also the provost of Parthenope, an eminent and important man.
“Si senor, I am Guidus Salvatore, the Provost of Parthenope.”
Pero smiled uncomfortably as the nickname ‘Fiscus’ quickly entered and vanished from his mind. “What manner of madness compels the Court now?” Pero asked Guidus, dumbfounded. “You are no courier. Surely you did not volunteer for such a pedestrian duty.”
“No, my lord, I did not volunteer. I also possess no special knowledge of the Court’s intentions. I stand before you perplexed. A simple servant with a dispatch in hand.” Guidus unlatched the satchel on his belt and handed the rolled-up parchment to Pero. Pero took the scroll and motioned Guidus to be seated at the table.
Excerpt – The Crystal Crux: Betrayal
Guidus really has no idea why he was chosen for this duty. He thinks it beneath him and his experience and title. But Gherardus nearly begged him to do it saying the others in the court couldn’t be trusted to deliver it.
Guidus wasn’t buying it but brought it anyway.
Pero had not the time to read a single word before Benectus bounded into the hall with his servants, causing a ruckus.
“My viands are here,” Pero announced.
Excerpt – The Crystal Crux: Betrayal
It takes a while for the commotion to calm down before Pero orders Francis to read the message aloud.
“It is from the court in Parthenope and addresses Pero of Penafiel, Lord of Capua, Master of all the lands and cities appertaining thus.” Francis inhaled deeply, diving into the meat of the letter, expounding verbatim. “My Lord, grave news has come to us from Benevento concerning Melfi. While on holiday, a lady of their distinguished court named Meliore was taken captive by political brigands near the Basento River. The kidnappers are demanding a ransom and the city of Melfi is demanding a neutral arbiter.”
Disgusted, Pero shook his head. He threw down the cheese and shoved aside the charger of pasta nearly tipping over the limoncello.
Excerpt – The Crystal Crux: Betrayal
Pero was expecting news about their situation, about the problems between Capua and Parthenope, about how peace between them could be resolved. He doesn’t care about these other cities.
For the reader, there are a few clues in this developing situation.
The book began with Meliore Fabbro, Gherardus’ mother, returning from holiday in Melfi. Now, a princess named Meliore has been kidnapped in Melfi.
Pero, being a Spaniard, doesn’t know much of anything about Parthenope’s history and no one in the room is thinking about the past in such a way. The letter is confusing to everyone.
Francis keeps reading.
“Pero de Alava,” he read, “you are hereby commanded to take immediate leave of your post at Capua and marshal the exchange in Melfi.”
Rising to his feet, nearly upending the high back chair, Pero scoffed. Like a caged animal, he prowled from one end of the great hall to the other and then back again. The grand old spirit of complicity lashed his indignation to pieces. The brisk and bothered steps eventually led him to the same open archway where Guidus had stood so many times before. Pero stared despondently into the vastness of space, enduring the crucible of heat baking his skin. ‘The preacher is correct,’ he thought. ‘All is vanity.’
Excerpt – The Crystal Crux: Betrayal
What little hope Pero had rediscovered coming to this meeting is slipping away. This letter isn’t addressing the incident at the banquet where he broke Rugerius’ jaw. It’s not speaking to how peace can be restored. It is utter nonsense for him to step down and leave Capua to marshal this exchange.
Before Pero could turn back to the room, his keen eyes caught hold of a mysterious object racing above the clouds. It was very distant and difficult to describe but it appeared to be a white horse with wings. The steed’s powerful legs dashed over the currents of emptiness as if it were earth, the hooves kicking up swirls of cloudy vapor. It hurried in and out of view quickly. Pero couldn’t disguise his confusion.
Excerpt – The Crystal Crux: Betrayal
Pero is suffering, his mind imagining shades hiding in shadows, assassins lurking in every corner. Now he sees this, a winged horse running through the sky. A certain part of Pero’s mind is fracturing and he knows it.
Still, he tries to carry on as if everything is alright, not expecting anyone else to believe him if he told them what he saw.
He implores Francis to keep reading.
“You will not return to your post at Capua,” Francis voiced dispiritedly, “until this matter has been fully resolved.” Francis lowered the parchment. He hoped Pero had heard enough to dismiss this audience and finish the reading in private. Pero, however, had turned his back to the room again and was peering off towards the horizon…
Excerpt – The Crystal Crux: Betrayal
Pero has no idea at this point what he is going to do. Everything seems rather hopeless. He feels hopeless.
Francis waits a bit before reading some more aloud.
“Additionally, increased tensions between the cities of Melfi and Benevento have ushered in an unstable atmosphere giving us cause for your safety. While there is no evidence as yet to establish a correlation between the kidnapping and the political unrest, discretion on all points is a priority. Therefore, surreptitious necessity compels me to command the following. You will avoid Benevento and travel directly to Melfi utilizing a remote and ancient trail known as Eagles Pass.”
Francis suspended the reading. This command was absurd.
Absurdity, however, was no match for Pero’s madness. He cracked a devilish smile, nodding his head up and down, speaking to himself. “Eagles Pass. Eagles Pass. Fucking Eagles Pass.”
Excerpt – The Crystal Crux: Betrayal
And yes, I’m going to end this lesson here.
For those who have read the books, they already know all about Eagles Pass.
We will pick up from here next time and learn more about what is really happening with this absurd command and what is going through Pero’s mind.
Until next time, stay inspired and keep reading.
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