Author's Note:

The last chapter was short and long in the coming, so here's the next one. I hope you enjoy this one as the last chapter was to start the journey to Micheletto and Cesare's reunion, which was a must. Please read and review, it means so much to me!


Chapter XI - What the Future Holds

"I would ask for another child, Cesare, your child."

As Cesare wandered through the Vatican not listening at all to what the Vice Chancellor was droning on about, his sister's words repeated over and over in his mind. Could he really father a child? Give her a child? The thought of their child made him smile despite all the worries and apprehensions he had about putting a child in Lucrezia's belly. Their child would be perfect. If it was a boy, he would grow into a strong man and a handsome one at that if he shared his father's looks and a girl that resembled her mother, that image took his breath away.

"My Lord Borgia," Sforza's officious voice asked, "did you hear me?"

Cesare snorted, "My apologies, Cardinal Sforza, my mind was elsewhere. What does your cousin have planned now?"

Just as Sforza was about to respond, there was a loud commotion in the courtyard as several riders pulled up before the Vatican. This was normal and commonplace in the fast environment that was the Vatican, but it was the ginger-haired, scruffy, lean man who leapt from his horse to fall through the door that caused the two men to take a step back.

"Micheletto? Micheletto! What are you doing in Rome?"

"Forgive me, my lord," Micheletto said, prostrating himself, "Signor Machiavelli sends news from Florence that will be of great interest to you."

Cesare's heart plummeted at that. His life was complicated enough for the moment without new intrigues or enemies making their moves against him and his family. He was overjoyed to see his old friend and comrade back where he belonged but as Micheletto had once told him, when there was news it was always bad news.

"What is it, Micheletto?"

"The Pazzi family, my lord," he replied immediately and apologetically, "they have thrown themselves in with Caterina Sforza. She has the entirety of their fortune behind her, as well as her own funds to keep her army in steel."

The curses that Cesare uttered could have made even the most lecherous of cardinals blush to match their skirts, but the news that the Bitch of Forli had gathered to her the second most illustrious family of Florence to her was the worst news he could have received at that moment, that moment when he was starting to feel as though he was winning the fight against his enemy, but once again, Caterina Sforza proved she was much cleverer than everyone gave her credit.

"My Lord Borgia, you may wish to lower your voice." Cardinal Sforza interrupted.

He scoffed, "You're right, Sforza, but I wish that your cousin would stop pushing pins into my side every other day."

"I cannot do anything about Caterina, my lord," Ascanio replied, "but I will go and update His Holiness concerning my cousin's latest move in the chess game."

Later, Rodrigo Borgia stormed into the barracks where he found Cesare and his manservant, whom he could swear he hadn't seen around in months, sparring. He had just been informed of the new situation with the Great Arachnid of Forli and he was desperate to hear what new plan his eldest son had formulated to stick a wedge in her door.

"Cesare, I apologise for interrupting your play date with your boyfriend here," he said, earning a scowl from both men holding blades, "but we need to be dealing with Caterina Sforza unless your master plan involves duelling her."

"Father, I have a plan for her and it will work."

"Why don't you let the rest of us know then? Why are you so hell bent on keeping your plans from us? We are the Pope of Rome! You, our son, need to tell us what you have planned for our enemy!"

"I keep my plans to myself because I trust myself with them but I trust nobody else with our family's safety and ultimately that is what I fight for: for you, for mama, for Giovanni, for Lucrezia! To insure their safety I have to defeat Caterina Sforza and I will do anything to keep the family safe and as long as we win, which I might add, Holy Father, we mostly do, I do not see why I need to waste time divulging to you each step in my rather lengthy plans so that by the time we have talked, Forli is armed to the teeth and I no longer can have the quick victory we all desire and need. Are you now satisfied, Holy Father, or must I carry on losing precious time explaining my actions to you?"

Rodrigo did not know what to say to his son, who had grown so well into his boots that he no longer required a father's counsel and input. When Cesare had routed the French army under the previous king, Rodrigo had begun to feel his son slipping away from him but since the new French sovereign had granted him both consort and army, the oldest Borgia child had thrown himself from the nest and landed on his feet at a gallop. When they had made their play for the papal crown and St. Peter's, Cesare had been under his father's wing, but now, Rodrigo saw that their roles had been reversed and truthfully, had been for some time, but he had been too blind to see it. Cesare fought for Cesare Borgia and no longer for Alexander Sextus.

"Very well, my son," he finally said with a strange hitch in his usually authoritative voice, "you have our express permission to act on our behalf and use our army for your offensive against Forli. Since you no longer are in need of our help, we shall attend to clerical matters while you return to your duties at the head of two armies now, Your Grace."

With his piece said, the Pope exited the dusty room and returned to his seat, knowing that he was leaving in his wake a version of his son who could wreak havoc on all of Italy and he would if it was what he had to do to protect his precious sister. Rodrigo was not oblivious to the love the siblings shared, but he did wonder if Lucrezia was the only member of their family who truly ruled Cesare, for he was certain in his mind that he never had any such hold over his eldest.

"I hope you know what you are doing, my lord." Micheletto cautioned his renewed master.

Cesare gave him a confident grin, "Believe me, Micheletto, I know precisely what I am doing and for the first time in my life, I am sure that releasing myself from the control of my father is the best thing for this family, this papacy and this Italy of ours."

"Very well, Cesare Borgia. I hope the future is ready for your plans and armies."

He guffawed as they discarded their swords and walked out of the barracks together and headed for Cesare's chambers in the Vatican, "Giving me those armies is the last thing my father will ever hand over to me, for now, if Cesare Borgia, His Grace the Duke of Valentinois, desires something, he earns it himself and fights for it. Nothing will ever threaten me or my family…or you ever again. We shall be safe in Italy once the Sforza threat is nullified."

Micheletto saw clearly the glare of rage and revenge in the Duke's eyes, a look he had sported since the attempted assassination of his family during the Pope's indisposition, but now, it had new power and strength and intent. He had the power to rage through Italy and force lords and ladies especially to bow to his will with the great horde he now had at his command. Nothing would stand in his way now and for the first time since his arrival, Micheletto was thankful that Signor Machiavelli had had the foresight to send him from Florence and back to Cesare's side, for in the coming weeks, it was the safest place in all Italy to be.