14 - A Council of War and a Reconnaissance in Strength

At the Black Cat there is a Council of War. Apart from the senior members of Cola's Famiglia, others in attendance, include Matteo Corsini and his servant Noli and Renzo and Lino from the Termi de Diocleziano. Cola gives a speech in which he says that the Bardoni seizure of the House of Crows cannot stand unanswered. He draws a connection, not only with the recent disorder in the City, but specifically the kidnap of six nuns from the Convent of Santa Bibiana - not so far from the Bardoni stronghold in the Suburra. "For do we not suspect the Bardoni of collusion with the sorceror Caltagirone? His interest in obtaining virgins for the summoning of scimioni volanti - flying monkeys - is well known."

Discussion then falls to ways and means and it decided that a strong party will go to reconnoitre the underground entrance of the Bardoni stronghold. For it transpires that Renzo and Lino as youngsters were Spigolatori - gleaners in the dark for Ornella Morisi, the aunt of Gepetto and Carlo Bardone and a key member of their gang. They know the secret ways under the city and an entrance from which they could lead a party to the underground entrance to the Bardoni palazzo.

Reconnaisance in Strength

Led by Renzo and Lino, Marco, Father Arturo, Rocco, Fra. Giovanni, Astore and Lorenzo make their way up the Esquiline to a jumble of ruins and from thence squeeze down a dark opening in the rubble. They follow a maze of passages until they come to a set of steps upwards and a heavy door. An advance guard of Lino and Rocco are discovered by its guardians - demonic creatures that seem half man and half beast. Their comrades come to the rescue and battle ensues. A woman appears in the doorway. Taking her to be Ornella Morisi - rumoured to be a witch - the wizard Lorenzo envelopes her head in a well-aimed globe of fire. She falls down the steps, face and head horribly burned and is dispatched. The beastmen are slain and the party have access to the basement of the palazzo.

The Three Way House

In the basement they free a score of children, caged and living in miserable conditions. Upstairs they find a strange arrangement. The large palazzo is divided into three more or less discrete parts. They take two prisoners, a maid called Rosa and an archivist called Ubaldo. They are both cooperative. Ubaldo curates an immense collection of ancient artifacts gleaned from the underdark. He tells them that the palazzo is shared equally between Ornella and the Bardoni brothers and that relations are currently strained between Ornella and her nephews. He thinks it something to do with the alchemist, Caltagirone. He was Ornella's protege, and created the Beastmen for her. He seems to have transferred his alliegance now to the brothers. He confirms that he saw a group of nuns who were clearly captives. He believes it likely that they are held captive somewhere in the brothers' domain.

Renzo and Lino are concerned about the children and propose to lead them back through the underdark, deposit them at a monastery and then go to report to Cola. The maid Rosa is very keen to help with this so they agree to let her accompany them.

13 - Search for Marisa

In the morning, Rocco and Bettina go in search of Marisa, who they believe is trying to keep a watch on the House of Crows. As they approach their destination, Rocco is made by some ruffians in one of the local taverns. He and Bettina split up - Bettina to search out Marisa; Rocco to go the Baths of Diocletian to seek out Fra Michele and let him know the news and talk to Renzo. They meet up later, Bettina with Marisa in tow, and return to the Deliziosa.

12 - Gardening and Good Samaritans

Rocco is troubled by his dreams reminding him of his promise to the Graces. However, today is a work day. He and Marco, Astore, Fra. Giovanni and Father Arturo make their way over to the Black Cat, in a group for safety. They proceed without incident, the streets being somewhat quieter than before, the battle for the Colliseo being over - or at least suspended for now. However, Rocco has a suspicion that the house was watched and that their movements dogged. At the Black Cat they meet Trucco and agree that at least for now they might as well be the liaison for Fra Michele at the Baths of Diocletian.

On their return to the Hose of Crows they receive a visitor. A dapper fellow who gives his name as Gepetto Bardone, knocks politely at the door. He is flanked by a couple of bruisers. Although he is courteous in his demeanour, it soon becomes clear that he is here to demand protection money. They decline. He leaves suggesting that it might have been better had they listened to his reasonable demands.

The following morning they leave by a clandestine route, nipping over the garden wall and make their way to the rendezvous for Fra Michele. Rocco negotiates his way inside with the aid of Venetian gold. He and Renzo have a wary conversation where each hints at a greater knowledge but neither come clean, though Renzo does voice his admiration for Cola and his ideas for a better Rome. He also knows of the Bardoni - a Suburra gang - and has nothing good to say of them. His henchman, Lino guides Rocco to the rent in the ground that they use as a midden. Rocco wields away with his pruning hook at the foliage around the hole.

Gerdening done, the group make their way to the Black Cat once more. Traversing the city is difficult today, there appears to be widespread disorder in the area around the half-built Colonna Palazzo. When they finally make it to the Black Cat, it is quite late in the afternoon. Trucco has heard of the Bardoni and says more or less the same of them as Renzo. They are a Suburra gang and comprise two brothers of whom Gepetto is the elder and the brains of the outfit. His brother Carlo has an evil reputation for violence and breeds savage dogs. There is an aunt, known as Signora Scopatora, who is a well-known fence. They must be going up in the world if they are now trying to collect rents on the Viminale.

Returning to the House of the Crows proves difficult, for the situation around the Palazzo Colonna resembles a pitched battle. The most direct route would take them through the Suburra, but they are reluctant to risk that. They eventually take a very circuitous route up the Quirinale, where they run into a street robbery in progress. They rescue what proves to be a couple of Jews and their donkey from a bunch of street toughs. One of the Jews is badly injured. They realise that the Deliziosa is nearby so they seek shelter there and succour for the wounded man.

They are flabbergasted to find Bettina there. She has bad news. A band of ruffians came to the House of Crows that afternoon with a battering ram. She and Marisa shot a few crossbow bolts and skipped out the back. Marisa is hanging around to see what she can find out about their attackers. She came to the only place she knew in Rome - the Deliziosa, in the hope that they could get a message to the Black Cat. It was a miracle that they showed up here too.