We had to postpone the search for the fugitive jester, though, as the next day don Arsago received a letter from the Doge's Palace itself. And that excited us all to the utmost.

“What's the big deal?" I asked Joanna quietly while the others were busy exchanging excited glances and remarks. "Don Soranzo only invited the Count to dinner, that`s all.”

"Well, yes. However, Soranzo`s guests can easily end in a walk across the Bridge of Sighs if you`re unlucky." Joanna shook her head in concern. “Don Arsago never hid the fact that he doesn`t approve our Doge`s policy. And the Council of Ten is usually very swift and merciless when it comes to a situation like this…”

I learned from Joanna that the Doge's chambers had a secret door leading directly to the prison cells. She also told me a sad story of signor Rizzardi who was found hung between two columns on the Piazzetta with “high treason” sign around his neck right after he last session in the Senate. Venetta remembered lots of similar stories. Many noble patricians were “honored” to be strangled in the cells of the Doge's Palace, and their bodies were then secretly dumped into the waters of the lagoon. So, when a reasonable Venettian received a personal invitation from the Doge, he`d better keep his eyes open.

"First of all, you shouldn't go alone," Alessandro advised. His lips were stiff pursed which meant he already had a plan in his head.

“And let Soranzo think I`m a coward?!" the Count sarcastically. There was a dangerous gleam in his black eyes.

That gush of anger, however, didn`t stop Alessandro.

"Cowardice and caution are two different things," he said heavily. “It`s better to take measures and stay alive than put on a brave face and die with a piece of steel in your liver.”

‘Very well then. Let Ricardo keep me company," don Arsago said, patting my "brother" on the shoulder with false gaiety as he got my fearful look.

Alessandro nodded his head.

“I will take three men. We`ll be waiting for you outside, at the archway leading to the Palace, under the Bridge of Sighs. There will be another gondola on duty nearby. No one uses that narrow canal at night, so it`ll be quiet there. But we will hear any noise coming from the Palace. And I beg you to make as much noise as possible if there`s any danger, you, "Alessandro glanced at Ricardo, whose wide grin didn`t match the gravity of the matter.

“I'll do my best,” Ricardo saluted, his carelessness soon transferred to the others. The tension subsided and when don Arsago went upstairs, everyone began to talk again. The day was back to normal.

Only I was beside myself. I wanted to talk to Alessandro, but he was busy with the guards all day. Only in the evening I managed to catch him when he went up on the balcony with a stack of scrolls and the astrolabe in his hands.

"Don Arsago has asked master Faletrus to draw up a new horoscope for the Doge and himself," he explained in response to my astonished look. “Our doctor doesn`t feel very well, so I offered to help him carry all the necessary things.”

I quickly realized that no one would disturb us there. I wish Bianca didn`t want to get some night air now.

"I've always been fascinated by astrology. Let me take these scrolls, you're going to drop them. Maybe signor Faletrus will teach me if I help him a little, what do you think?”

Alessandro smiled.

- If you really want to…

The shy joy in his voice disarmed me. I confessed that at that moment, looking into his gray eyes, I completely forgot about Ines and about the danger hanging over us, as well as those-who- live-under-the-waves, ready to wake up any day…

As soon as we reached the roof, however, the bright moon reminded me of the sea again. Its rays pierced through the clouds like silver knives, cut channels, penetrated the sea water, disturbing those who dozed in the depths... I shuddered and turned away.

It was almost dark. The lighted lanterns cast a warm orange glow on the stone parapet of the terrace. Alessandro placed his instruments on a table and now was leaning over the brass disk of the astrolabe, thoughtfully fingering the sighting needle. In the gloomy shadows a spider glittered ominously, its legs curved in a predatory manner to indicate the location of the brightest stars.

"How comforting it must be to know that all the secrets of our future and past can be read in the stars, " he said with some sadness in his voice. “Sometimes I envy Faletrus.”

I shrugged. My companion's face faded into shadows. The velvet of the night accentuated the prominent cheekbones and the severe crease between the brows. The last few days had not been easy for all of us.

“But some mysteries are so deep that even the stars cannot shed light on them…”

Keeping my eyes on the upper tympanum, as if I were suddenly interested in the lines of the equator and the celestial meridians, I objected:

"Actually, mysteries want to be solved. We always leave the keys, hoping someone will follow the trail... because the longer you keep a secret to yourself, the more it poisons the soul.”

The lantern beside us flickered for a moment, then suddenly brightened. We were both in a pool of golden light. Leaving the astrolabe alone, Alessandro took a step toward me.

“Julia!”

I looked up. It took my breath away when I met his eyes, hot and excited.

“Julia…”

His fingers lightly touched my cheek. The skin under his touch froze and immediately flashed. I couldn`t hear my heart beat. An indescribable wave of emotion came over me, washing away my fears, doubts, and oppressive despair of the last few days.

"I want to tell you something…” I whispered with a sudden courage. But the time for my confess didn`t come yet.

The creaking of the railing and heavy footsteps pierced the deep silence, shattering the quiet charm of the moment. Alessandro looked around, startled. That was doctor Faletrus. He was coming upstairs, groaning and moaning like a woman in labour. I quickly stepped back.

"My dear signor, was there any need to hurry?" Alessandro asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "The stars won't run away from you.”

"Our Count wants to see you, Sandro. He told you to hurry. It seems that there are new circumstances…”

Signor di Goro turned to me with a sigh, and I noticed a sad smile in the look he gave me.

"We'll talk when I get back, okay?" he asked softly.

I nodded, unable to say what was in my heart. I wanted to ask him to be careful. And to take care of Ricardo, of course. The renewed fear and vague awareness of the fragile tenderness that had sprung up between us mingled in a way words couldn`t convey. Julia didn't call me a dreamer for nothing. I was a person of images, not words. Oh, if only I could share my thoughts with Alessandro as easily as we did with Pulcino!

Before he left, Alessandro touched my hand lightly, and then I just stood and watched his figure fade into the darkness of the stairwell.

***

The house was quiet, but I believed no one slept that night. Don Arsago and Ricardo solemnly embarked in a big gondola, which departed with all pomp along the Grand Canal to the square of the Three Griffins. Another gondola glided like a shadow behind them, with no lanterns, carrying the guard troop led by Alessandro. There had been no news from them so far.

I was sitting in the darkness at the window in my room. The clock struck midnight. A large bell rang from the Campanile, calling for silence. Cold silver moonlight played upon the sloping roofs, diluting the dull blackness of the night. The water glistened like mercury. The fog was gathering over the canals, its damp vapors settling on the balconies, humped bridges and uneven pavement.

Sitting by the window, I waited. Pulcino urged me to visit the Doge's chambers myself, but I refused. What could a seagull do against his armed guards? Besides, Pulcino and I had been together too much lately.

If it hadn't been for the slow movement of the moon, the city might have been a picture in the wooden frame of a window. Everything was so still.

Suddenly there was a silvery ripple in the canal near our house, as if a giant hand ran over the water. I listened. It seemed to me that I could hear a soft splash below.

Morays hardly grow to that size. I crouched under the window, wondering what to do. Had Scarpa come to see me?! I closed my eyes and tried to see something under the water, delicately, so I wouldn't be noticed. The jester wasn`t my only enemy in Venetta. Manriolo, too – I suspected that he'd mastered the art of chiamata even better than me. The Doge's men were also in the list. And I had expected to get the news from Julia, though I`d almost given up hope. My friend seemed to disappear into the turquoise depths of the Middle Sea without a trace.

The silver ripples reappeared as the mysterious spy circling the house made a second pass. It was a very large creature. I could sense his feelings: uneasiness, impatience, annoyance... I was about to "talk" to it when suddenly there was a noise on the other side of the house.

That was Ricardo! They were back! Thank heavens!

Barefoot and wearing nothing but my night gown, I ran into the hallway. Then I came back to put on my bathrobe. By the time I reached the central staircase, the awakened servants had already made a big fuss making a fire in the kitchen and dragging heavy buckets of water. Ricardo was in the centre of the mess. His voice was hoarse and jerky, his hair damp and sweat. And a sleeve of his half-unbuttoned coat was torn as if he had been fighting with someone.

Oh my God… Did he really?

"What happened?" I asked, trying to catch my breath. “Is it don Arsago?”

"No,” – he replied, brushing the dark strands of hair from his forehead. “That`s Alessandro…”

I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. I gripped the railing tighter and the candelabra lights swirled before my eyes in a crazy kaleidoscope.

***

He isn`t not killed, just wounded. This thought was pounding in my temples, while I was waiting under the door of Alessandro`s bedroom.

Doctor Faletrus was already there with his kitbag. Ricardo and I were sitting in a room that would otherwise seem very comfortable: the walls were covered with colored Tarchian carpets, green velvet was used a tablecloth. There was a pot-bellied decanter of wine and two glasses on the table. It was warm and comfortable, but I was shivering from head to toe. Ricardo paced up and down, trying to calm down a bit.

“Everything was fine at Soranzo`s. After we`d had supper and discussed some matters, the Count and I left the palace. The courtyard was still and we thought we`d made mountains out of mole hills. I just noticed that there were no guards on the Giant's Staircase. They didn`t even lit the torches there. However, don Soranzo himself admitted that his health and power were draining out of him, so it is not surprising that the Palace is a mess.

Alessandro and his men were expecting us outside the arcade. We went toward the canal and I was thanking Madonna that everything went so smoothly when we saw the figures. They were armed to their teeth, the three f them emerged from the dark recess of the gate, and the other surrounded us from behind. It was an ambush. Panteganas! Those dirty rats!” he spat.

So they knew everything, I thought frantically, trying to distract myself. The bravos who set the ambush knew exactly where don Arsago's gondola would be waiting. It means that someone in our house betrayed us.

Ricardo continued, still avoiding to look at me.

"...The bravos were obviously aiming at the Сount, they weren't interested in us. Three men attacked him and he would have been lying in the alley as dead as a doornail but for Alessandro. He parried the attack in time, but he was wounded himself. I must confess I was at a loss for a moment…”

A maid slipped from behind the door of the bedroom, holding a bowl of rusty-red water. The sickly smell of blood reached us, making me sick. Once again, I remembered that terrible night when Assunta was wounded. Heavens, did we have to go through this nightmare again?! Madonna, please, don't let him die! I prayed.

"...Guido and the boys arrived just on time, and it was too early to charge

Sandro off, though he could only fight with his back against the wall, " Ricardo said. "We got three of them down and the rest of them managed to jump over the nearest fence. Don Arsago wanted to hammer at the owner`s gate, but we held him back. That could be a trap, too. We begged him to come home, but he didn`t listen. He told me to bring Sandro here, who was barely able to stand, and went to the city guard. I can swear, I have never seen him in such a rage! Hope they`ll catch the scoundrels, but I guess they`re far away from Venetta now! These bravos are like rats; they bite and crawl back into their holes, hide in the lagoon on some remote island. No one will ever find them there!”

Well, you never know till you try, I thought to myself. My hands were burning as if I`d pricked them with needles. I rubbed them nervously and thought of a plan.

The sound of heavy footsteps and the clatter of iron on the stairs announced the arrival of the guards. Ricardo rushed to meet them. While he was giving new orders, I slipped past him and went down to the dock.

When I put my hands into the water, it was warm, almost hot. I knew exactly who I wanted to find and it didn't take me too long to find him. Our bond was still strong enough after his transformation in the porch of St. Marina's church. Somewhere in the shallows near Dito a bulky body, a living chest with a tail, stirred in the darkness.

"You asked for it, witch," pesquator hissed menacingly.

The last thing I cared about right now was his threats. My heavy gaze made ripples on the water surface.

"Three men on the island. They have fresh blood on them, so you `ll find them easily. Kill them but leave one alive.”

"Are you crazy?" Scarpa asked gently. “What makes you think I would…”

"You owe me, you rascal. So take your bones and go to the island, now!”

A strange power came over me. I could feel the sea waves as if they were flowing up and down in my chest. There was a taste of salt on my lips. I brushed it away and my palm was stained red. The blood was as salty as seawater. The sea and I were one, breathing in unison. It was a thrilling experience.

Somewhere on the edge of the lagoon, the pesquator was throwing himself on the rocks and raised clouds of sand with his tail. My words made him furious. No one dared to give orders to those-who-live-under-the-waves. I was taught never make any deals with them. We just called upon them, hoping for mercy. However, I believed that Scarpa had been living among the Venettians long enough to adapt human scrupulousness about the debts.

At last, after a good hour of curses and oaths, Scarpa got exhausted.

“Very well then,” he finally gave up. “I will kill them because I am hungry!” He sounded really pleased as he managed to pay me back and save his face.

"You only told me where to find the loot, but you'll pay me for it!”

I thought that logic had never been his strong point, either in human or fish form.

With a vicious lashing of his tail, the former jester disappeared from my mind. I recoiled. And then I sat on the ground. Like he sea tide, that strange magic let go of me. Chilliness of the dawn fell like a heavy cloak on my shoulders. My night gown was soaked with sweat. The lights of the torches paled. The houses nearby were slowly waking up, shaking off the slumber of the night. I could smell the smoke from the chimneys rising in the damp morning air.

I was myself again.

I staggered to the door and shivered as the icy ring of the door pierced my palm. I thought indifferently that in the next few days I would have to be more careful on the canals. At least until the pesquator didn`t get over his rage and hatred.

Ricardo was still giving orders to the guards. It seemed he didn`t even notice that I`d been outside. He led them out into the misty morning and helped me upstairs, back to that stuffy little carpeted room. Before the servants my "brother" tried to look confident, but as soon as we were alone, he groaned, hiding his face in his hands.

"It's my fault. If only I had not delayed! " he cried bitterly. "If I'd been quicker, Sandro wouldn't be lying there now." Don Arsago didn`t lose his bearings – he took out his sword and that murderer was sent to kingdom come before he managed to say a word! And I ... I just…”

Despite the hard night, I felt relieved. Good thing Ricardo was so worried about his friend. So he hadn't turned into a walking account book yet!

“You brought him here. That`s all that matters.”

Moving closer, I leaned against his shoulder. Ricardo smelt like iron, sweat, and leather. I liked it. I wanted to forget about the sea and its salt, still crunching on my teeth.

“Don't worry, doctor Faletrus knows what he is doing,” I tried to comfort him.

Can you blame yourself for a moment's confusion in a night fight? Ricardo was a merchant, not a warrior. Alessandro was different. I guessed, he never left his sword, not even in bed.

“He'll be fine, " I said, trying to convince myself as much as Ricardo. “Don`t blame yourself. It's those mercenaries. Damned murderers! I hope they get their bitters!”

"That's just it!” Ricardo groaned, looking up at me with a sick, inflamed look. “I was confused because I recognized him. That bravo who attacked us first. Though he was wearing a cloak and the shadow of his hat hid his face, I recognized him. I hired him ten years ago to kill Alessandro.