Page 187 of Fiorenzo

The overland leg of the journey in a four-horse carriage proved more exhausting than Fiore remembered from his previous adventure to the hunting lodge. The jolting of wheels-over-road did his fever-bruised joints no favors. He grit his teeth through it and gave thanks that at least this time he had Enzo by his side, holding his hand, walking him about when they halted to change horses or eat meals, and conveying him straight to bed when each evening they arrived at whatever inn Carlotta had arranged for them beforehand. He took in very little of the much-vaunted scenery. He supposed that would have to wait for the return trip to the city, when he hoped he might feel more himself.

The third day dawned with the promise of arriving at Enzo’s villa before the sun reached its zenith. Even so, Fiore found he awoke drained. He curled up against Enzo’s bulk in the carriage and didn’t stir to glance out the windows until, at long last, Enzo roused him with the tidings that he could see the villa.

Fiore beheld orchards laid out in perfect ornate symmetry on either side of the road leading up to an edifice that appeared just as tall and twice as broad as Ca’ Scaevola. He supposed the countryside afforded more space to expand than the confines of the city’s islands.

“Two temples?” Fiore asked, staring out at the identical columnar domes at either end of the villa.

“The western one is a temple to Bellenos,” Enzo explained. “The eastern one is the columbarium.”

“And the trees?” Fiore added, his curiosity piqued despite his exhaustion.

The ensuing narration on the wide variety of fruits cultivated on Enzo’s lands—lemons, peaches, apricots, apples, quinces—gave Fiore a welcome distraction from his pains. Further divulgences on the vineyards, the rabbit warren, and the poison garden carried them all the way up the road to the courtyard. The carriage drew around the fountain depicting a larger-than-life Bellenos in mortal guise buoyed by the spray and came to a halt at the base of the bifurcated stone stairs cascading down from the villa’s front doors.

Stairs which looked insurmountable to Fiore as he staggered out of the carriage on Enzo’s arm.

Enzo took both Fiore and the stairs in at a glance. He bent his mouth to Fiore’s ear. “Would you mind if I carried you?”

Fiore’s heart thrilled at the notion. His dignity, however, protested. “I think your arm will suffice.”

It did but barely. Fiore reached the foyer in no condition to admire its beauty.

“Perhaps the baths?” Enzo suggested.

Fiore perked up. “Like at Ca’ Scaevola?”

“Similar. Fed by a hot-spring.”

That sounded divine. Fiore meant to say so, but all that escaped his throat was a needful groan.

Enzo gave him a sympathetic smile. “Shall we head there first?”

With an effort, Fiore found his voice. “Yes, please.”

Enzo clasped his hand and led him onward.

They’d not gone three strides when Carlotta appeared before them in a doorway.

“A ship has been sighted approaching the lagoon, your grace,” she proclaimed.

Fiore knew not why this mattered. Hundreds of ships approached the lagoon every day. Halcyon could hardly survive without them.

And yet, even through his weary haze, he thought Carlotta looked a hair less serene than usual.

Enzo furrowed his brow. “What ship?”

“TheSwiftsure,” Carlotta replied. “Her grace the Duke of Wolfwater is aboard.”

Fiore didn’t think he could’ve recognized the name even if he weren’t exhausted by three days of travel and with anodyne coursing through his veins besides. He turned to Enzo. “Who?”

Enzo would not meet his gaze. “My mother.”

~

Enzo hadn’t seen his mother in almost half a decade.

Her intention—as he understood it upon her departure—was to remain at sea for the span of his university education. That had, of course, ended prematurely. In the back of his mind he’d known this intelligence would reach her. Perhaps not so quick as it’d reached all of Halcyon, but it would reach her all the same. And when it did reach her, there remained the possibility that this intelligence would induce her to end her voyage early and sail home to deal with her disappointing son.

Still, recent events had stolen his focus away from that particular concern.

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