“Generosity is a thing given,
“Generosity is a thing given,it cannot—should not—be taken.”
it cannot—should not—be taken.”Though dressed in his red robe of the Signoria, Lorenzo de’ Medici wore steely armor.
He did not sit at his beautiful, if untidy desk. He stood before it, arms folded across his chest, lips a thin, tight line. The sun blazing in the leaded panes of glass behind him cast his hard-edged face in distorting shadow.
They filed in silently, save for Leonardo.
“Buongiorno, Magnifico.”
“BuongiornoMagnificoHe received no answer save a fixed, thunderous glare, the same he gave each of them as they entered, Viviana and Isabetta, Antonio and Fabia. They stood before the epitome of an angered god… and waited.
“That you are all standing here before me means only one thing.” Lo
