“That’s all right, your Majesty-for all their talk about it, none of them can really understand the ordering of a state.” Matt turned away, beckoning Boncorro out of earshot. “A few other scholars have already begun to hear of this villa and have come to talk and teach-in just two weeks! One is teaching rhetoric, another is teaching logic, and a third is teaching mathematics and music.”
“An odd combination.”
“No, he’s the Pythagorean in the bunch. I’m trying to get him to tell me about Pythagoras’ ideas about magic, but he claims the mystic master didn’t believe in the stuff-he just taught how the world worked and the parts interacted.“
“But if you understand that, you can work out ways to make wonders happen!”
“He doesn’t realize that, fortunately. The man’s a genius, but I don’t think he has very good judgment.” He glanced back at Arouetto. “I don’t think your new chancellor is doing a very good job in government.”
“He has already tried to resign, but I persuaded him to be chancellor only of this new center of study. He is ambitious; he hopes to build a community of scholars who will, together, pursue all human knowledge.”
“Is he going to call it a ‘university’?”
“If you mention the word, I am sure he will adopt it. Still, he is generous in his advice, when I ask it-and I have begun to select other men to do the work of the state. But I shall never again give any one man such broad powers as I entrusted to Rebozo-so Arouetto shall keep the title of chancellor, and I shall develop others for the men who do the work of government.”
“Wise policy. You have very good judgment, your Majesty.”
“I appreciate the praise, Lord Wizard.”
But Matt could see the young king brace himself against flattery. “Well, I’m glad you accepted my challenge and watched Arouetto teach, at least-and even gladder that you seized upon the idea of bringing them all into the castle without my having to mention it.”
“Which, I am sure, you would have-but there was so much value evident in the idea, that even I could not blind myself to it.” Boncorro smiled. “Already, the noblemen have begun to take artists into their households, and their wives have begun to invite scholars to their social gatherings. There is a positive stampede to catch a tame poet!”
“Which means there will be a lot of charlatans showing up, very fast. Might I encourage your Majesty to test very thoroughly anyone claiming to be cultured?”
“Wise advice.” Boncorro didn’t say he had already thought of it-he only said, “I must become as much a connoisseur as Arouetto-but I think the becoming will be a joy, and an excellent means to rest and refresh my spirit after a day of intrigue and striving.”
“There is something to be said for night school,” Matt admitted. “Uh, I’ve, uh, taken the liberty of strolling through the marketplace in my minstrel’s costume, and out into the suburbs…”
“Spying again, Lord Wizard?”
“Yes, but for you this time.”
“And for Queen Alisande, of course.”
“Well, of course! And already I’m hearing peasants singing arias while they work, and seeing people really beginning to look at all those pieces of statues left over from the Caesars. People are even beginning to debate what is Right and Virtuous on the street corners. Of course, one of those corners is in the red-light district…”
“But even there, the discussion should render some improvement in the way they treat one another.” Boncorro nodded. “I can no longer deny it. Lord Wizard-my actions have been aimed at making people good, for my father was good, and that is the quality I will always admire second most.”
“Second? May I ask what the first is?”
“Strength,” said the king. “Survival. But come, Lord Wizard-we will be late in meeting the pope’s ambassador.”
Matt exchanged glad greetings with Brother Thomas, then introduced him to the king, and right away the whole meeting had a much less formal tone. Before they could even mention any matters of state or the purpose of the visit, Matt told Boncorro, “Brother Thomas is studying the notion that magical power is not good or evil in itself, and doesn’t come from either God or Satan-that only the knowledge of how to use it comes from Good or Evil, and makes the magic what it is.”
“Really!” said Boncorro with keen interest. “All-well, yes, but I may not speak of that, your Majesty,” Brother Thomas said uncomfortably. “The pope has not given me leave and is not sure that what I say can be correct.”
“Correct?” Boncorro gave him a hard smile. “But surely, just between two men who pursue knowledge, we may speak of it! It is not as if you were going to preach it from the rooftops! Now tell me, if magic does not come from God, what are miracles?”
“Oh, something else altogether!” Brother Thomas fell without even realizing it, and the two of them were off into an hour’s conversation that had overtones of argument, but undertones of keen enjoyment. They finally got around to mentioning the pope’s objectives over dinner. “His Holiness sends his thanks for freeing himself and his clergy, your Majesty, and allowing them to preach openly, without fear of persecution.”
“It is my pleasure.” Boncorro smiled. “And quite possible, now that most of the leading sorcerers in the land have revealed themselves in trying to aid Rebozo, and have been dealt with. Tell his Holiness that I am pleased by his attentions.”
“I shall,” said Brother Thomas. “He hopes that you will return this visit of courtesy and come to the Vatican to visit him.”
The room was silent. Finally, the king spoke. “I thank his Holiness, but I fear that matters of state are too demanding at this time. I will send my ambassador, however.”
“Ah,” Brother Thomas said with regret. “You are still shy of religion, then?”
“Let us say that I am not yet ready to become an ardent Catholic, Brother Thomas-but I have begun to see a great deal of merit in many of your Church’s views and am beginning to think God may exist after all. However, I will invite his Holiness to appoint a chaplain to my court-provided he is yourself.”
“Your Majesty!” Brother Thomas said, dazed. “I am not worthy! I am not even a priest!”
“Then perhaps you had better be ordained,” King Boncorro said shortly. “Now, good friar-you were saying that mathematics is, in essence, only a language for describing how the universe works. Might it not, then, be a means of effecting magic?”
And they were off again, with Brother Thomas explaining that trying to understand the universe was one more way of trying to understand its Creator, and that mathematics, therefore, could be another route to God. Matt leaned over to Saul and said, “Maybe we ought to introduce the printing press. After all, we want this learning to reach the masses, don’t we?”
“Maybe we shouldn’t,” Saul retorted. “Bring in the printing press, and your university will degenerate into ‘publish or perish.’ ”
Their last day began with an impressive ceremony in the throne room, at which Boncorro knighted Pascal. Then, while he was still dazed, he declared the poet and Flaminia to be man and wife. Dazzled even more, the poet left the king’s presence to begin his honeymoon. Then they all went out of the castle into the bailey, where Alisande’s knights stood bridled and ready, and Stegoman huffed beside Sir Guy, impatient to be off. But Manny lay purring, watching Pascal and Flaminia move toward the entrance tunnel. He rose to his feet. “I must follow where his spell leads me, Wizard.”
“Well, somebody’s got to keep him out of trouble. His Majesty has sent word through all his reeves that any farmer who sells you a cow can just bill his Majesty. But don’t stuff yourself, okay?”