Chapter 9:
“If we push hard, we should be in Udine this time tomorrow.” Geovanni’s gaze never left the trail ahead. It was easy to tell the man wanted to talk. Thaddeus didn’t share the need for mindless chatter.
The pair had ridden in silence for some time. Thaddeus was in no mood to push anything or debate his reasoning. The last time he followed the scribe’s suggestions, it led to death… or at least the presumption of death. Thaddeus couldn’t shake the feeling he missed some import clue at the fire. It mattered little now that the wetlands with the clearing of death were several hours behind them. Like Venice, the affair would fall into memory. Like all memories, the facts surrounding the event would become distorted by time and distance.
Movement off in the woods to the left caught
