The Venice conspiracy

CAPITOLO XXIV
666 BC

Atmanta It is the moment Teucer has been dreading.

The unveiling. The removal of his bandages.

Time to find out if he's still blind.

Tetia and his parents have gathered in the healer's hut, their faces sagging with the weight of expectation.

The magistrate has sent his emissary Larth, who sits on a small wooden stool near the bed where Teucer lies. 'Pesna commands me to inform you that the temple is complete. He moved slaves from his mines and they have worked ceaselessly through the changes of sun and moon to finish it on time. The hallowed halls shine like gold, and only await your offerings and blessings.'

Teucer doubts Pesna redeployed many workers and suspects the workmanship to be shoddy. 'The deities will be pleased,' he says sarcastically.

Larth grabs his arm. 'Do not humour me, Netsvis. If you could but see the man I am, then you would not be so foolish as to chide me like a child.'

Venthi steps forward to intervene, but Teucer, anticipating the move, tells him, 'Father, please, do nothing. I am in no danger.' He puts a hand on Larth's vice-like grip: 'Stranger, I need no eyes to see you. I know you are an enforcer, a torturer, filled in equal measure with ambition and resentment. If you do not wish the gods to curse you, then you will let go of me.'

Larth loosens his grip. Teucer can feel where the fingers have bruised his skin as Larthuza moves closer. 'Lie back, please.' The healer's hands guide him down on to the bed. 'Cover the window, Tetia. Bright light must not fall upon his pupils.'

Tetia closes the rough shutters inside the room, struggling to fasten the latch because the wood has warped and no longer lies flush to the wall.

Larthuza lights a candle and places it to one side. 'Teucer, I do not want you to open your eyes. Not until I tell you to.'

Tetia squeezes through to stand beside him. She takes her husband's hand as Larthuza starts to unwrap the bandages. They stick to the sweat on his face and leave white crease-lines on his pink skin. The healer dips wool in a wooden water bowl and cleans his eyelids. He dries Teucer's face and then prays:

'I beseech Turan, the great goddess of love, health and fertility to favour Teucer in this, his time of need. I implore all the great gods known and still unrevealed to show their kindness and love by gifting Teucer the return of his sight.'

Then he kisses his fingertips and places them lightly on the netsvis's eyebrows. 'You may open your eyes now.'

Teucer doesn't move. 'Thank you, Larthuza. Before I put myself to this test, I have things to say, and those gathered here must bear witness to my words. I speak as a netsvis and not as a mere man. In my world of blackness I have seen more than in my many years in the light.'

Venthi puts a hand on his shoulder. 'Be careful, my son.'

'Etruria is in danger. It grows richer by the hour but a great loss awaits it. One which the gods are powerless to stop.'

Venthi stoops and whispers in his ear. 'Enough, Teucer. These are things you should not say with strangers around you.'

Teucer lifts a hand to silence his father. 'I have seen a demon that has set its eyes upon Atmanta. A deity so powerful it sends Aita and his sprites running like scared children.'

'Enough!' Venthi turns to Larth. 'My son is still not well. The healer's herbs have affected his mind.'

'My mind is clear, Father.' Teucer opens his eyes.

Everyone stoops and stares. No one speaks.

Tetia can already tell.

So too can his mother.

'We all know from our silences that I cannot see. Nor will I ever see again.'

Larthuza brings the candle close to Teucer's eyes.

The netsvis flinches. 'Please, Larthuza, you will set fire to me with that candle. I may not be able to see it, but I can feel its heat.'

The healer backs away.

Teucer beckons to them. 'Now, Stranger, you with the hurtful grip – I imagine you did not come all this way merely to be a messenger. So help me up, and take me across the fields to Magistrate Pesna so I may speak with him of this curse. We have an urgent matter to settle.'