The Bronze Crown. Stefano Vignaroli

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      To Giuseppe Luconi and Mario Pasquinelli,

      illustrious citizens who are

      part of the history of Jesi

      Amici di Jesi

      Stefano Vignaroli

      THE BRONZE CROWN

      The Printer – second episode

      ©2017 Amici di Jesi

      ©2020 Tektime

      All reproduction, distribution and translation rights are reserved

      The pieces on the history of Jesi have been taken and freely adapted from the texts of Giuseppe Luconi

      Illustrations by Prof. Mario Pasquinelli, courtesy of the legitimate heirs

      Translation by Fatima Immacolata Pretta

      Website http://www.stedevigna.com

      Email for contacts [email protected]

      THE BRONZE CROWN

      The Printer – second episode

      Translated by Fatima Immacolata Pretta

      NOVEL

      PREFACE

      Jesi, the birthplace of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, returns being the stage of the adventures of the young scholar Lucia Balleani, in the second episode of the trilogy The Printer. Love and death, esotericism and reason, good and bad. These are just some of the ingredients that give rhythm to this new investigation, focused on the mysterious disappearance of the bronze crown, once placed above the rampant lion of the main of Jesi palace, that of the Signoria. With skilful alchemy, Vignaroli intertwines past and present, through the parallel events of the protagonists of the present day and of the homonymous ancestors. An attractive lady and haughty regent of the Aesina republic, Lucia Baldeschi is divided between the obligations of reason of state and the love for the fugitive knight, the brave leader Andrea Franciolini.

      Between history and legend, the action ranges from the severe buildings and the dark secret passages of a subterranean Jesi, to the open countryside of its earldom, populated by shepherds and monks by day and animated by magical rites during the moonlight. Then there are the palace intrigues, the feuds between the lords, and the battles: those among armies and against pirates, from Urbino to Senigallia, up to some of the most suggestive gorges of the Apennines. Places and distinctive features of an era, the sixteenth century, characterized by lights and shadows, divided between the cult of reason and the practice of esotericism and of which the characters of the novel are the faithful mirror. In demeanour, as well as in strengths and weaknesses. In their footsteps, between sensational discoveries and brilliant intuitions, the quarrelsome lovers, Lucia and Andrea, of the twenty-first century Jesi will come to the truth in the sign of timeless love.

      Marco Torcoletti

      PREMISE

      After the first episode of the series “The printer”, here I am to present you the sequel, the second story. At the end of “The shadow of the bell tower” I had deliberately left several windows open to possible developments of the next plot. Bernardino, the printer, lies in desperate conditions in a room in the Santa Lucia hospital. Cardinal Baldeschi has died suddenly and has left the city government vacant. Will young Lucia Baldeschi finally take the reins of the government and prevent Jesi from falling into the hands of enemies who have always been pressing? Of course, she cannot leave the government in the hands of four corrupt nobles or, worse, entrust it to the papal legate sent by the Pope. But Lucia is a woman, and it is not easy to assume roles of power, traditionally entrusted to men. And what will happen to Andrea, her love, after escaping the gallows and having vanished in the wake of Mancino? Will he return to the scene to help his beloved? Or will controversial events lead him to other shores?

      And we also have to remember the parallel story, that of the scholar Lucia Balleani, our contemporary, who perhaps has finally found the love of her life, which will lead her by the hand to discover together with the reader new secret arcana.

      In short, the elements are all there, to face a reading that will again lead us through the alleys, squares and palaces of a splendid city in the Marche region, famous throughout the world for being the birthplace of Emperor Frederick II: Jesi. Enjoy the reading!

      Stefano Vignaroli

      CHAPTER 1

      Bernardino had reopened his eyes after days and days of unconsciousness. Though the room was in the semi-darkness, he was dazzled by the light and white of the room. A small, bare room with white walls, no paintings, no frescoes on the ceiling, not even the company of a shelf with books. He thought he had already arrived in Paradise, but the excruciating pains he felt all over his body made him realize he was still alive. Hearing him complain, a nun approached him and brought him a cup of chicken broth to his lips, which until then had forced him to swallow despite his unconsciousness. Though cold, Bernardino swallowed it with greed, until it went through him and started coughing. But he grabbed the nun’s arm again, which was pulling the precious liquid away from him, as he felt his throat so burnt, that he thought he had come out of that hell of flames only a few minutes before. But it had been almost a month since the day his shop burned down.

      «You are still weak, my friend. Little by little, or there’ll be trouble. The Doctor recommended a few sips and often. And Doctor Serafino is a good man, otherwise you wouldn’t be with us at this hour!», the nun told him kindly, but in a firm voice.

      «The Cardinal, it was the Cardinal...», Bernardino tried to say, with his voice choking between new coughs.

      «Yes, yes, it was Cardinal Baldeschi who wanted you to be cured in this place, thanks to the intercession of his dear nephew. Unfortunately, the Cardinal is no longer here. A disgrace, a horrible disgrace. The Cardinal was killed, by one of his servants from what I know, a certain Mira. She made him fall from the balcony of his study, after stabbing him with a very sharp knife. Rumour said that the Cardinal caught the girl stealing from his study. A fight broke out between the two of them and the old man got the worst of it. But the servant girl was arrested, and will pay for her sins. Ah, she’ll pay!»

      Despite his pains, Bernardino grabbed the nun’s hand and made a superhuman effort to talk to her.

      «Are you telling me that Cardinal Artemio Baldeschi is dead? Is it true? But... how long has it been since I lost consciousness? From the way you speak, it doesn’t seem to be yesterday or the day before yesterday. And what about Lucia Baldeschi? From what you tell me, she must have been left alone!»

      «Stay calm. I told you, but you mustn’t make any effort! You spent a month on this bed, in the grip of fever, delirium, dreams that gripped your soul and your heart. My sisters and I were desperate for you. And instead, the good Lord has not yet welcomed you into His house, and you are still among us. I will send a message to Lucia Baldeschi, telling her that you have regained consciousness. She will be very happy and will certainly come to visit you the next few days.»

      «Sister, send for her at once. Palazzo Baldeschi is just across the street, in this very square. I can even see it from my window!»

      The nun smiled and withdrew her hand, still held by Bernardino’s hand.