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“It is e as well as my duty, Holy Father”

The pope old ring “How closely have you followed the problem with the Franciscans?”

Fournier inclines his head, his pluers interlaced “I know that one faction, the Spirituals, preach that our Lord and his followers lived in poverty,” he says “And that we should all do likewise”

“They’re happy to live in housing they say belongs to me,” snaps the pontiff “Happy to consus tothese things that sustain their lives of precious purity” He is sputtering with anger, spraying drops of spittle that sparkle in the slanting afternoon light

Fournier shakes his head sadly “They do Your Holiness an injustice And now…but perhaps it is not my place to speak of it”

“To speak of what?” The aged head snaps up, the eyes blazing

“One hears…reports, Holy Father”

“What kind of reports?”

“The Franciscans’ rows bolder He openly calls Your Holiness a hypocrite, a hedonist, and a heretic” The pope’s fingers scrabble at the arive me if I speak too frankly,” Fournier continues, “but now Michael is said to be conspiring with Louis of Bavaria to destroy you Their goal is to put a Franciscan on the papal throne Perhaps none other than Michael himself”

“Spawn of the Devil,” the old ht to heel”

“Louis ht prove difficult to rein in, but would Your Holiness consider sulittering eyes bore into Fournier’s; the cardinal bows deferentially “I stand ready, of course, to serve in any capacity you think helpful”

The pope nods “Bring thees ineffectually “There are cells beneath us,” he rasps “Also in the bishop’s palace in Avignon” Finally he extracts a pair of keys and hands them to Fournier Not quite the keys to heaven, thinks Fournier, but the papal dungeon is a starting place

He takes the keys and takes his leave On his way out, though, he hesitates, then turns “Your Holiness, I beg your pardon My conscience would troubledisturbing reports frone”

“Do Michael and the Franciscans fone, too?”

“No, Holy Father, not Michael; someone else Someone far more subtle, and perhaps far more sinister He does not bother to criticize you, Holy Father This man dares to criticize God Himself”

CHAPTER 8

Avignon

The Present

“I have an idea for you,” Elisabeth said, setting e juice on the table in Luarden “For your — how do you say it? — zhondo?”

“I’m not sure I understand,” I said “For my what?”