Finally, they arrived. Their horses trotted through the gates of Squillace with renewed energy, sensing that their long journey was now over. The people on the streets began to gather close when they saw the nobility so evident in their visitors, cheering and yelling unintelligible praise as the party passed.
"This is my favorite part. Peasants will cheer for anything!" Juan beamed, blowing kisses to the people in jest. He aimed particularly for those women he thought he may bed at some point during his stay, watching to see if they swooned in delight or merely blushed in recognition.
"They are praising because they hope for coin." Lucrezia responded, frowning at her brother's teasing antics. But she couldn't stay annoyed long, the joy of the occasion pulled her in and the imminent arrival of one of her beloved siblings made her look around in delight.
"Well they'll get no coin from me!" he laughed and jingled coin purse, heavy with Rome's gold.
"I doubt even the whores get your coin brother." Cesare laughed and gave Juan a rare smile. He was relieved to have reached their destination at last and to have survived the trip with the storm cloud that was his oldest brother.
"I am excited to see our dear Gioffre. I wonder if he has grown much!" Lucrezia exclaimed. Her eyes were darting about as they rode to see if she could get a glimpse of their little brother who had flown the nest.
"I dare say he must have, sharing a bed with Sancha, he must be quite the man now." Juan chuckled and gave Cesare a knowing smirk. Cesare attempted to avoid his eyes and hide his own smile.
"Yes our lovely sister in law Sancha must have schooled him to be a fine husband now." Lucrezia tried to make eye contact with Juan but he deftly evaded her gaze. Cesare had found some sight in the distance he was intent on staring at. "Do not think that I do not know what goes on in our household." Lucrezia increased the trot of her horse to take the lead and leave her brothers behind. It was much freer to be on a horse she thought, rather than stuck in the stuffy confines of the carriage that lagged behind them now.
"I hope she doesn't know what happens in our house..." Juan said half to his brother and half to himself.
"…Or in our name." Cesare looked ahead to where his sister was riding, her posture straight and as regal as a princess. He could feel a cold chill sinking in and yet he saw the sun was still high in the sky. He wondered how Lucrezia could inflict this kind of chill even when her eyes held the kind of light he wanted to burn in.
"Family!" It was Gioffre. He was standing on the steps to his grand palace with his bride at his side. He had grown just as they had expected. He was tall now, almost as tall as Juan and his chin sprouted the beginnings of quite a splendid beard. But still he stood almost on tip toe now and waved both arms above his head at his siblings' approach, a giant grin threatening to split his face in two. No matter how many years may pass he would always be the Borgia baby.
"Gioffre! Brother! How we have missed you." Lucrezia cooed, anxious and straining to get down from her horse. Her childish joy bought forth by the sight of her childhood playmate. The boys were already on the ground, not needing anyone to help them from their horse. Even in her joy it did not escape Lucrezia's attention that Cesare did not offer his hand to help her down as was his usual way. She graciously accepted the hand of one of Gioffre's serving men and resolved not to let this small thing disturb her, even as she watched Cesare and Juan greet Gioffre without her. It is just the way of men, she told herself.
"Gioffre! Shall we bow or embrace?" Cesare said as he bounded the steps up to his little lordly brother.
"Well you may bow but I will embrace." Gioffre laughed and stepped forward to pull his brother in to a tight hug. Juan was right behind to do the same and to ruffle Gioffre's hair affectionately. Lord title and palace aside, this was still their little brother who they had once indulged daily in games of hide and seek.
"And shall we embrace too?" Sancha made her presence known with her telltale smirk and eyes already glittering with mischief and humor.
"Well of course. Are you not family now too, sister?" Cesare replied as he took Sancha in to his arms. Juan would have to wait his turns to get in to Sancha's embrace.
"What a lovely scene." Lucrezia commented as she ascended the stairs to her family's gathering. If there was any tone of disdain in her words, the boys did not notice. Sancha simply smiled at the Lucrezia's entrance as she slowly let go her hold on Cesare.
"Lovelier with you added." Gioffre responded, making haste to hug his sister. "I'm so glad you're here." He gave a smile just for her. "I have missed you all so terribly!" He laughed. "Shall we start the festivities then?"
"Yes, let's." Sancha and Lucrezia spoke at the same time.