“What,” Signor Luni began testily, “have you been thinking, Saturnino?”
“You know what’s at stake,” Signora Luni added, flicking a quick glance at Ravenna.
“She knows about the spell,” Saturnino intoned. He sat down in the chair next to Ravenna, arching a brow at Marco. “Are you going to attack me, or will you hear what we have to say?”
“We shouldn’t,” Fortuna sniffed, dismissive. “What we ought to do is march this miscreant over to the Medici and let them deal with her.”
“Ravenna has a proposition for you,” Saturnino said. “I suggest you listen to her.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re fucking her,” Marco said, coldly mocking.
Saturnino launched his knife at him. It flew handle over handle, slamming into the chair’s back cushion, missing his cheek by a hair. Fortuna jumped to her feet as Marco raised his sword to the level of Saturnino’s heart. Signor Luni leaped across the table, fuming, spit flying as he cursed his heir. Signora Luni reached for her husband’s doublet, urging him back.
Ravenna instinctively jumped to her feet, her arms flung out wide, and yelled, “I know how to kill the pope!”
They all turned their faces toward her, except Saturnino, who was already looking at her. He was always looking at her. She inhaled, feeling the air expand her chest, settling her pulse. Saturnino nodded his head once, encouraging her. No matter what happened, they were in it together.
Together—until their time ran out.
She prayed it wouldn’t come to that.
“If you will all sit down.” She waited to speak again until one by one they all took a seat. “The pope has an army, unlimited resources, the favor of the mob, the power of Rome, and foreign kings and queens on his side. But he has one weakness we can exploit.” Their faces were blank and not encouraging, but she continued. “Underneath his robes, he wears chain mail that he never takes off, even while sleeping. It was forged by iron from the fae lands to the east. It is enchanted, elongating his life span, protecting him from disease and old age.”
“If that’s true—”
“Marco, will you shut up?” Saturnino said with some of his old rancor. “Let Ravenna finish.”
“This is the source of the pope’s true power,” Ravenna continued. “It is his greatest strength and his weakness. Destroying a single link in the chain will undo the spell.”
“Splendid,” Marco said. “Let’s all go to Rome and invite ourselves to the pope’s private quarters in the Vatican and—”
Ravenna raised her voice. “Heisimpossible to assassinate, heavily guarded, and always accompanied by his entourage. But I’m not suggesting we go to him. I’m suggesting we invite him tous.”
“Why would he accept an invitation from a known enemy?” Signor Luni scoffed.
“Because it will be framed as an apology,” Ravenna explained.
Silence reigned in the room.
“No one will apologize,” Signor Luni said softly. “Not us, not the Medici, not Florence.”
“The pope is planning an attack on the city,” Saturnino said. “No one knows when, or how large his army is. We can make a guess, of course, but why leave his arrival to chance? Why give him the upper hand?”
“By apologizing and issuing an invitation, we can lay a trap for him,” Ravenna said.
“Florence will not want the pope here,” Marco snarled. “There will be riots on the street, the people will refuse him entry. In case you haven’t heard, the pope has placed the entire city under interdict. We are allexcommunicated.”
Ravenna gaped at him.
“Since when?” Saturnino demanded.
“The news broke earlier this evening,” Signora Luni explained. “No one can bury their dead, attend service, marry, baptize their children.”
“If we apologize—if theMediciissue a formal apology to the pope—he might consider lifting the indictment,” Ravenna said. “They alone have the power to influence the tide of people’s loyalty and adoration. Think! They hold the city in their hands. Let the Medici influence their followers, havethemexplain how it serves their interests, their souls, when the pope lifts the interdict. It might be enough to quell an uprising.”
“This is all well and good, but it doesn’t solve the problem of the spell ending,” Fortuna said coldly. “What do you propose to do about that?”
“I will excavate the remaining Nightflames,” Ravenna said calmly. “And you will have the gemstones.”
