The Wind Dancer Read Free

moved quickly toward the door.
"Good evening, my lords. Until tomorrow."
    Andreas smiled mockingly. "Do accompany him, Lorenzo. The streets are so dangerous
for a man with a purse full of ducats."
    Andreas was toying with him, Caprino realized with a surge of rage. He turned at the
door and smiled through clenched teeth. "You test whether I'm afraid of Messer Lorenzo?
Well, I do fear him. I'm not a brave man, but it's not courage that's made me what I am.
You might consider who has called the tune this night." His index finger tapped his left
temple. "Up here. That's what counts." He bowed. "As you shall see tomorrow."
    The door swung shut behind him, and the breath immediately rushed from Caprino's
lungs in a soft explosion of sound as the tension eased from him. He straightened his
short scarlet cape, meticulously adjusted his velvet cap at the angle he preferred, and
started down the stairs. He gazed appraisingly at the painting of Venus in all her naked
glory on the wall beside the stairs. The painting was new and exceptionally well
executed, but the Venus was not overly beautiful, a circumstance which did not surprise
him. Giulia would never permit anything or anyone to overshadow her own charms in her
own casa.
    "Buona sera, Caprino." Giulia Marzo met him at the bottom of the stairs. She smiled
sweetly. "All is well?"
    Caprino shifted his cloak to reveal the purse.
    She held out her hand palm upward. "A joy to work with you, Caprino."
    "Tomorrow," he said as he tried to edge past her.
    "Now." Her smile never wavered. "Or I'll tell my lord Andreas you have no intention of
fulfilling your promise to find his thief and even now are hurrying toward the city gates. I
doubt you would ever reach that splendid house paid for by the ducats stolen from your
whores and thieves."
    He stopped short and turned to look at her. He should have known Giulia would have
been listening to everything taking place in Andreas's chamber. It was not only the slut's
golden beauty that had caused her to rise from one of his own brothels to own this fine
casa. He reluctantly opened the pouch and pressed five ducats into her palm. "Someday,
when I lose patience with you, I'll have you brought back to me," he said softly. "And I'll
strip you naked and stake you out in an alley and sell that sweet-smelling flesh to every
man who walks by. How do you think your fine lords will like you after a few weeks of
such use?"
    "You don't frighten me." She shrugged. "You cannot hurt me, Caprino. I have the
protection of many powerful men here in Florence."
    "Like that bastard up there?" Caprino jerked his head in the direction of the door at the
top of the stairs. "Andreas has no power here in Florence. He rules only in Mandara."
    "At present." Giulia's gaze lifted to look at the door he'd indicated. "Lion could rule
anywhere. Men such as he are rare."
    Caprino's gaze narrowed on her face. "Do I detect a trace of lust, madonna mia?Be
careful, or you'll lose your one weapon in Cupid's battle. A whore must never lust; she
must only be lusted after."
    "He doeslust after me," she said fiercely. "For two years he has come to my casa. Never
has he asked for any of the other women, only me." Then as she met Caprino's satisfied
gaze she tried to shrug unconcernedly. "Not that it matters."
    "I think it does matter to you." He studied her. "I wonder why? You have the most
peculiar tastes. I find him quite ugly."
    "How would you know? I've provided you with too many pretty young boys and
wretched-looking men not to know how peculiar are your tastes, Caprino."
    He tucked the purse into his belt and said mockingly, "He's far too rough for my refined
taste. Soldiers can be so crude. But there's another five ducats for you if you find out why
our brave condottiere wishes the services of a thief."
    Giulia's gaze returned to the door at the top of the stairs. "I'll consider it. But he's not a
man who babbles to a woman."
    "Not even to
la bella
Giulia?" He turned away. "Seven