Little Giovanni smiled and babbled incomprehensibly at Betta as they sat in the warm sunshine of the palace courtyard. For a precious few hours a day Betta tended to him while his nanny accompanied Lady Lucrezia to mass and she treasured the time that she was able to spend with the sunny natured child. The Lady would not entrust the child to any besides Maria or herself, and first few days after Micheletto had brought him from Rome Lucrezia had not left his side for any reason.

The return of the baby to his mother' loving arms has improved the humor of her mistress a great deal but Betta knew that there was still disharmony in the marriage that had brought them here. They never shared a bed, the linens of her mistresses great carved bed being surpassingly clean and fresh each morning, and Alfonso could often be seen drinking far into the night when he should have been enjoying the favors of his new wife. Not that Betta blamed her mistress for her rejection of the young man. He had proven himself the worst kind of craven and allowed his wife to suffer at the hands of his family with only token protest when all that she wanted was her child. Lord Cesare would soon deal with this boy, she had no doubt.

At the thought of Lord Cesare Betta's mind drifted to Micheletto. He had left with his master, off to conquer with the army gained from the French alliance. Before he had departed the assassin sought her out.

"You have a good head on your shoulders girl. Use it and keep them both safe." At the unexpected kindness of his words Betta felt a tightness in her throat. "If you ever need to find me in Rome go to the tavern by the fish-market near the docks. I have some associates that gather there and they can usually find me." And he had smiled at her with genuine affection before he had turned and disappeared into the crush of the army. She had thought of him often as the weeks went by, and she hoped that someday she would be able to repay him for giving her freedom from the crippling effects of fear that had plagued her.

The departure of the assassin had left Betta feeling ill at ease in the palace without him there to protect her lady. After they had returned from seeing the new king of Naples invested in Rome the atmosphere has become increasingly less hospitable despite her lady's new status as ambassador and she wished Micheletto was there to access the situation. The man could scent danger like a stag hound while she only felt it in the back of her mind like the approach of a storm.

Betta heard the rattle of amour behind as the guard approached but she paid it no mind as she tickled the child's feet with a blade of grass. A startled gasp escaped her when she was grabbed from behind and her back was pressed into the wall. Giovanni began to wail from the ground and she struggled to reach the crying child but the strength in the guard's hands held her immobile. She had seen this guard hundreds of time on duty at the palace. He had a pock marked face and small, mean eyes and a reputation that was well known to every woman who served the royal family and tried to keep her skirts from being tossed. His breathe stank of wine and she was paralyzed for a moment by the memory of being held thus by her father.

"You're a tasty little bit, girl." He rammed his thighs between her own and began rubbing brutally. The man's beard abraded the skin of her neck and he squeezed one of her breasts. "Bernardino says you fuck him real good ."

Rage burned through her fear. "Get off me you bastard." Betta slammed her hand into the man's nose as Micheletto had taught her and she was gratified to see blood start spurting. His hand cracked into her cheek and for a second stars danced before her eyes. He pushed her to the ground, almost crushing the child, and stood over her with his hands clenched into fists.

"Go back to that little bastard, and your whore mistress." He wiped the blood away from his nose and his lips moved into a smile made more gruesome by the sheen of red across his teeth. "She's going to get what's coming to her, and so will you." The guard stalked off and Betta gathered the crying child into her arms and fled back to the safety of the rooms. When Lucrezia returned from the church she found Betta still clutching the boy tightly to her chest while a huge bruise blossomed on her cheek like a dark flower.

"My God, what has happened?" Lady Lucrezia ran to her son and snatched him out of Betta's arms, checking him for injuries.

"I was attacked, my lady, and he said..he said.." The adrenaline that had held her in its grasp since she was struck had finally dissipated and Betta was suddenly conscious of the slight blurring of her vision and her stomach roiled. Betta dashed to the window and vomited copiously. Far below she heard a man start to curse as the bounty from above splashed into his upturned face.

Lucrezia came to her and began wiping Betta's face with a rag that she had dampened in a basin of water. "Who attacked you and what did he say Betta? This might be important. There is something very wrong here. "

"A guard grabbed me when I had the baby in the courtyard. He called Giovanni a little bastard and you a whore, my lady. And he said you would be getting whats coming to you." The terror was finally leaving her but it was replaced by a deeper understanding of the dangerous situation her mistress was now placed in. The clouds that she had seen gathering on the horizon had finally erupted and there was nothing to protect them save their wits and what ever tenuous alliances they had forged while in this place.

Lucrezia Borgia had become an icy effigy whose eyes were storm clouds. "I will learn the meaning of this. Stay here with Giovanni. " She swept from the room in a swirl of blond curls and heavy robes.

The time seemed to drag by as Betta and Nanny waited for the lady to return. When the door finally opened after half the day had elapsed it was not Lucrezia who entered but her husband. Prince Alfonso shifted back and forth uncomfortably as he looked from Nanny who rocked Giovanni in his cradle to Betta, whom he finally addressed. "My wife has fainted and is asking for a healer from the forest. Can you bring her here, girl?"

I have served his wife from her first flowering and greeted him at this door every morning since we moved to this blighted country and he has not even learned my name, Betta thought wryly. No wonder my Lady treasures him so. "Yes, my lord. I will bring her. " Betta grabbed her cloak and hurried from the palace. Bernardino tried to stop her for a quick word but she shot him a look so venomous that it brought him up was hailed by multiple people on the street as she sped through the town and followed the path to Mother Nucca's house in the woods.

Betta pounded on the door of the cottage until Mother Nucca answered her. "Mother, my lady has need of you in the palace." Betta was breathless from the quick pace she had maintained on the journey. Mother motioned her into the interior and sitting in front of the fire Betta saw another aged woman with long grey hair, seemingly at home in the cramped, plant filled room.

"Tell us what is going on."

"But.." Betta cut her eyes to the other inhabitant of the room.

"Oh, your Lady has already had dealings with my daughter before and I think she might serve you better in this." Mother Nucca smiled, showing a lone tooth that hung like a stalactite far back in the cave of her mouth.

"Your daughter?"

"What, you think I hatched like an egg?" The younger woman's voice was full of dark humor.

Betta quickly explained that her mistress had fainted after meeting with the king and asked that a healer be brought to her. The women shared a look that spoke volumes. "Best you go with her. Do what you can for the lady." Mother Nucca said to her daughter. "Girl." she said to Betta as the other gathered up her things. "I don't think your mistress will be coming here any longer. Take my blessing to her for the long road ahead." Betta unexpectedly felt tears gather in her eyes as she bid farewell to the woman and the cottage that rested in the cool darkness of the deep forest.