The Master of Verona

"Everything to do with Padua has been decided in council over the past three days. It is not what I had in mind, but it's the best I can now hope to do." He popped the end of his sweetmeat into his mouth and pointed to its mate in Pietro's hand. "Are you going to eat that? No? Here, I'll split it with you. The short version is this: Padua will officially recognize my claim to Vicenza and relinquish all rights thereto. Both the Vicentines and the Paduans will retain any land that was theirs before the conflict began. All prisoners on both sides will be released." He gazed sorrowfully at Pietro. "That means, I'm afraid, you'll get no ransom for Marsilio. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."

Licking his sticky fingers, Pietro shrugged off the loss — it was a fortune gone, but he'd hardly had time to think about it. Besides, he was used to being poor. Still, it galled him a little to think that Marsilio would be able to crow about keeping his fortune. Both Mari and Antony would be livid on Pietro's behalf. Imagining their indignant outrage, he smiled. He'd made friends for life in those two. Far more valuable than Carrara's gold.

Pietro's loss was nothing compared to Cangrande's. Between the recent battle and other skirmishes, the Capitano had more than two thousand Paduan captives, a least a hundred of whom could have been ransomed at a high price. If he was forcing his men to give up a fortune, he was losing several more himself. "What prisoners do the Paduans have?"

"Though they hold no Veronese of note, they do have many Vicentines. Remember, I wasn't fighting this war in the name of Verona. I was asked by the people of Vicenza to be their champion against the Paduans, and the Emperor named me their Imperial Vicar before he died. This has been mostly a defensive war, in a cause juste. That is what I have on my side. The law. The right. Justice." He took another pull at the wineskin. "I haven't been fighting only the Paduans, either. Bologna, Ferrara, and Treviso have all sent food, money, soldiers. They're worried, you see. If Padua falls, they think they'll be next. And behind them all are the Venetians. Venice doesn't want Verona's influence expanded any further. As long as all the inland city-states are warring, Venice has everything its own way." The Capitano's voice grew steely. "I won't allow that, if I can help it."

"You sound as if you're planning a war against Venice."

That drew a low chuckle that almost sounded admiring. "War with Venice is unwinnable. The Serenissima, that most serene city, is unique in the world, I believe — a city without walls. Why bother building walls when you've got the water to protect you? They have no land assets, a recent lesson hard learned from Ferrrara. They have no real armies but their fleets. For land war they just hire mercenaries or, even more practical, get someone else to do their dirty work while they reap the profit. Think of the Fourth Crusade. Profit is their aim, and trade is their sword. They do more with an abacus and a scale than they would with an army." Cangrande got a sly look. "But if I were to plan a war with Venice, I know how I'd do it."

"How?"

"I'd hurt them where they'd feel it. I would block their merchants, levy fines and dues on their traders. Pope Clement showed me how. I would erode their trade."

"You'd side with Genoa?" said Pietro.

"No no! The Genoese deal with gold in one hand and a knife in the other. No, Pietro, once I have shown the world what I can do in war, I will awe them by what I can make of peace. I shall use your father's words as an example. His notion of empire. The only way mankind can prosper is through peace, and peace can only occur under a single ruler empowered by God to make war. That's probably the best definition of a strong government — one that's willing to go to war to maintain the peace."

"If that's true, why not make a treaty with the Paduans years ago?"

"I cannot appear weak. Nor could I betray my oath to the Vicentines."

Pietro shifted, resting his leg on the bench in front of him. "So you wouldn't've taken Padua?"

The blue eyes narrowed. "I didn't say that. As Vicar of the Trevisian Mark, I am supposed to have ultimate control, under the Emperor, over both Padua and Treviso. But since the imperial throne is vacant, I have no one to appeal to. I hear they're holding elections next month in Germany, but there are no front-runners for the throne. It'll be a mess." He grinned happily.

"So it would aid you," said Pietro, "if they would settle on an emperor."

"At this moment I am pleased with the way things stand. True, there's no emperor to help me, but by the same token, there's no emperor to hold me back, either."

"What does all this mean for Padua?"