Chapter 680: Last Day in Venezia
He paused, his gaze lifting to meet the eyes of those around him.
"Lord Ciriaco Dandolo."
Upon hearing his name, Senator Ciriaco Dandolo, who had been engrossed in paperwork at his desk, looked up sharply. His hands stilled, and his lips twitched involuntarily as he processed the gravity of the situation. Accustomed to being the subject of rumours, he usually brushed them off; however, the allegations this time were too consequential to ignore, affecting every member of the Senate, including the Serene Doge himself.
The venerable senator rose abruptly, a reflexive gesture of defence, but then, seemingly realizing the futility of rebuttal in such a charged atmosphere, he slowly resumed his seat, choosing silence over protest. The chamber’s eyes were on him, each senator wearing a mask of varying emotion—suspicion, curiosity, perhaps even schadenfreude.
As the assembly concluded, Ciriaco Dandolo’s guards navigated through the still unsettled crowd, escorting him swiftly to the Doge’s palace. Upon arrival, it was clear the Serene Doge was expecting him. The two old political allies, now thrust into an awkward confrontation, walked side by side along the secluded palace alley, discussing the morning’s tumultuous events while the crowd outside the Senate continued to swell.
"Your Excellency, you know I would never engage in such reckless rumour mongering, especially not at a juncture as critical as our Republic’s current reform efforts. You know me; why would I advocate for the resurrection of that ineffectual Concio? It’s unthinkable," Ciriaco Dandolo argued earnestly.
The Serene Doge, maintaining a composed manner, offered a slight smile. "How many years has it been since we first collaborated, my friend?" he inquired, his tone light yet probing.
"More than thirty years, Your Excellency," Ciriaco Dandolo replied promptly, his voice tense.
Nodding thoughtfully, the Doge continued to navigate the pathway, leaning slightly on his stewards for support. "We have been rivals, yes, and partners too. I know you, my old friend, as you know me. You might play the game hard, but you’re not one to act against your own interests. This rumour, spreading such drastic political proposals—it doesn’t benefit you. We must consider that someone else is manipulating the narrative for their own ends."
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Excellency," the senator intoned, lifting his head slightly in a gesture of respect mixed with a trace of defiance. "But might you have any clue as to who the instigator might be?"
"I possess no concrete evidence as yet," the Serene Doge replied, his voice echoing slightly in the dimly lit corridor of the palace.
"Nor do I," admitted Ciriaco Dandolo, his tone low and measured. "However, that Saracen serving the Greeks, he warrants our deepest suspicions."
The Serene Doge paused, casting a discerning look at the old senator, his brow furrowing slightly. "Evidence, my old friend. Remember, we are Venetians, not barbarians. We do not cast aspersions based on mere whims."
"Yes, Your Excellency," Ciriaco Dandolo responded, inclining his head slightly as they approached the heavy oak doors of the council chamber.
"What shall we do next, my lord?" inquired the senator’s private counsellor as they stepped away from the echoing halls.
"We wait," the senator murmured, his voice a blend of resignation and strategy. "The Serene Doge holds his cards close, observing how I react while growing increasingly wary of that Saracen after today’s tumult. Our agents are already at work in the square, shifting the crowd’s focus away from our interests. Keep a close eye on Abdullah. He’s like a cornered beast now, potentially dangerous and unpredictable. I have no love for men who act solely out of desperation. Now, find out where that Saracen is hiding!"
"Yes, my lord," the counsellor affirmed, turning to leave on his urgent errand.
Yet, the very next day brought startling news from the docks that jolted the city. Instead of attending the senate as expected, the ambassador and lord chancellor of the Greeks, Abdullah, made a beeline for the harbour. Despite the guards’ attempts to detain him, the Greek galley had already hoisted its anchor and was sailing away from Venetian shores.
Stunned by this turn of events, the Serene Doge quickly dispatched his aides to Abdullah’s last known residence. When they arrived, they found the room abandoned, stark and silent except for two neatly folded letters resting on the deserted desk—a silent testament to the abrupt departure.
In the first letter, Abdullah expressed his gratitude with diplomatic finesse, lauding the Serene Doge for his efforts in fostering a newfound closeness between their states—a movement that marked the first significant thaw in relations for over a century. He praised the Doge for the opportunity to honour the great and powerful Republic, noting it as a profound privilege to pay his respects. He concluded by mentioning the necessity of his return to Constantinople due to urgent family matters yet assured his swift return to continue their auspicious dialogue.
The tone shifted drastically in the second letter, which was addressed privately to Senator Ciriaco Dandolo. Abdullah’s words were scathing; he vehemently accused Dandolo of pilfering resources from the Romans and exploiting the Venetians, as well as the populations under Venetian dominion. He condemned Dandolo for the alleged subterfuge of planting spies, administering poisoned food, orchestrating opposition within his senatorial faction, and confining him to the estate under the guise of advancing Venetian prosperity. Abdullah ominously hinted at a third letter, its location undisclosed, adding a layer of mystery and further implicating Dandolo in nefarious schemes.
The response from Dandolo was swift and fraught with tension. He insisted that his interactions with Abdullah were few, recalling only a cordial exchange of gifts—a testimony to their supposed amity. Invoking his family’s honour, Dandolo vehemently denied all accusations of malevolence or deceit.
The Serene Doge, observing this exchange with a wearied scepticism, simply sighed deeply and, with the aid of his attendants, departed from the tumultuous scene. Left behind was a chamber in disarray, with Dandolo’s faction embroiled in vehement disputes with other senators who now openly challenged his integrity, plunging the Senate into chaos once more.
In a bid to salvage his political future, Ciriaco Dandolo, flanked by a troop of hounds and loyal guards, descended upon Abdullah’s now-deserted estate. His mind was clouded with anxiety about the potential existence of a third letter which could contain damning evidence that might fuel the fires of his adversaries within the Venetian Senate, particularly at a critical juncture where he harboured significant political ambitions.
As Ciriaco Dandolo stood impatiently, his men scoured every inch of the sprawling estate. Time ticked by painfully slow, and after thirty exhaustive minutes, not a trace of the elusive letter was found. The air thickened with tension as Ciriaco Dandolo prepared to chastise his fruitless search party.
At that moment, a figure appeared at the entrance, calm and seemingly unaffected by the surrounding urgency. It was Leonardo Loredan, accompanied by a few guards, nonchalantly holding up a piece of paper.
Ciriaco Dandolo’s eyes flickered with a mix of relief and suspicion as he observed the young senator. Despite their political differences, the presence of Leonardo Loredan, a known emissary of the Serene Doge’s faction, could not be dismissed lightly.
"Where did you find it?" Ciriaco Dandolo inquired, his voice betraying a hint of cautious curiosity.
"It was quite straightforward, Lord Ciriaco Dandolo," Leonardo Loredan responded with a disarming smile. "We discovered it hidden beneath the very antique you gifted to Abdullah. It seems it was placed there right by the estate’s gate, untouched since it was originally deposited."
The tension in the air is growing, Ciriaco Dandolo scrutinised Loredan, aware of the young senator’s minor role yet significant influence as a conduit for his more powerful superiors in the government.
"And what, may you tell me, does this enraged letter of Abdullah’s contain?" Ciriaco Dandolo asked, his tone sharp, masking his growing unease with a facade of assertiveness.
Leonardo Loredan’s response was measured, his smile never wavering as he tapped the letter lightly with his finger. "Shall we see what secrets it holds, or would you prefer I summarize the fireworks contained within?"
Caught between frustration and curiosity, Ciriaco Dandolo nodded, signalling Leonardo Loredan to proceed. The game of political chess continued, with each player keenly aware of the high stakes involved.
As Leonardo Loredan read the letter aloud, his dramatic flair accentuated the gravity of the words, making every syllable resonate in the tense atmosphere. His voice took on a theatrical quality as he relayed Abdullah’s retaliatory plans, crafted out of frustration and political manoeuvring.
"It seems quite straightforward," Leonardo began, his tone casual but laden with implications. He cleared his throat, enhancing the suspense before diving into the contents of the letter. His eyes widened theatrically, mimicking surprise as he delivered the message. "He declares that due to your persistent obstructions to his peace efforts in the Senate, he has directed the Greek, or, Roman navy to target and sink any vessels in the waters of Cyprus, the Aegean, and Egyptus that are affiliated with the house of Dandolo."
