For two days my head hurt from trying to overcome all the confusion that reigned since news had reached us that the Prince of Melioria had gone missing. Now the bells of the church of S. Maria degli Angeli tolled slowly and gently through the nighttime mist, reverberating in every muscle of my body. Without thinking or deliberating further, I made my way up the hillside to the door of the church and entered.

The little church was empty. Only the votive candles beneath the sacred images gave any light, but this was enough for me. I knew the building by heart, and moved forward without stumbling.

As I knelt to pray, images of people filled my mind: the missing prince of Melioria and so many others who had been torn away from me by wars and floods! I collected all their faces in my memory and placed them in the hands of the beloved Savior, asking God to take care of each of them and all of them.

A candle flickered in front of my favorite image of Our Lady, Maria Santissima. I stood and went in front of that image and lit two more candles: one for Prospero and one for Rico. Please, Most Holy Mother of Jesus and my Mother, take care of my friends and me as we make our journey, I whispered.

My throat began to ache and tears stung my eyes. So many friends had disappeared since the floods in Venezia. I could do nothing for them. My big worry now was for my friends Rico Millefiori and Prospero Pastorelli. Rico was collecting gold from strange visitors and hearing voices in the chirping of the blue birds. Prospero was sneaking off to Fortune Tellers. That all felt wrong. If I had not been trying to keep away from dubious sea-captains and the like, I might have been stronger for my friends. I had failed them. Now I feared they were losing their faith and their hearts too. Please, Madonna Santissima, dont let Rico and Prospero stray off the good path, I prayed.

Just then I heard a soft voice in my ear. Can you help me light this candle, Fiorino?

It was Rico!

Whoa, Rico, you startled me! I exclaimed.

I come to ask Maria Santissima to help us during our journey, he said, and placed the unlit candle next to the others. I ask her to keep us safe and keep us from the hands of evil people.

I lit his candle and placed it with the others. Before I could turn around, I heard another voice saying: Fantastic, Fiorino! Please light my candles too.

It was Prospero!

Oh, how glad I am to see you here, Prospero, I said, and placed his candles on the little shelf in front of the image of the Holy Mother and Child. What a good surprise!

Certainly, carissimo, what do you think? We need many blessings for our safe return home, he said.

Ah, Prospero, amico mio, I am so happy to hear you speak of blessings instead of fortunes on this night before we leave, I grinned. I am very happy.

Rico laughed, then he helped me to light the new candles that Prospero brought. When we had finished, we stepped back, and Rico led us in the song:

Salve Regina, Mater misericordi. Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve! *

[ To be continued ]

*Rico intones the traditional hymn that concludes night prayer, the Salve Regina, or Hail Holy Queen. This hymn to the Mother of Mercy centers around this petition: Pray for us, o Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

It is funny how you can hear better when you are in a mist. Professor Aldo Stern was explaining the invaders of the past -- Normans, Saracens, Greeks, Albanians -- but I was distracted by the sound of rapid, determined footsteps. These reminded me of my friend Prospero Pastorelli, eldest among the apprentices. Sure enough, the older boys dark shadow appeared just on the other side of the pit.
Ciao, Prospero, I called.
Ciao Fiorino, he called back, and then quickly came out of the shroud of the thick mist and added: Buona sera, Signor Professore.
Salve, Prospero, the professor called back. Come closer, but watch your step. Tell me if what is in this pit reminds you of anything that you have seen before.

Prospero crouched down to look at the contents of the dug-out. Wow! What a buried treasure! he exclaimed. It looks like the lions that are by the fortress.
Yes indeed, said the professor. Those are in stone but this lion is bronze. It is very curious, dont you think, Prospero?
Curious? Yes! Fantastic, really! But why should this bronze lion be found so far from the fortress? Isnt that fortress a bit ancient, Professor?

The professor nodded. It is from the 14th Century, I suspect. This bronze lion may be of the same era. This week some of our gardeners spotted a strange protrusion, so I ordered the workmen to dig here. This is what they found. As we keep digging, I suspect we may find some clues, with the remains of a structure.
Fantastic! Prospero repeated, then he asked: Are you going to close off this part of the land, Professor? When people see this they might just want to start digging all over.
Yes. We must be careful now. In fact, I am going to meet with the regency council now. However, I think you will both agree that this is an exciting discovery.
Yes, Professor, Prospero and I answered at the same time.
Take care, boys. I must hurry to the council meeting. I hope to see you tomorrow, the professor said, hurrying up the hill.
The professor said tomorrow, but we had told the professor and the baroness that we would be leaving tomorrow.

Maybe he forgot, Prospero said, reading my thoughts. I looked around to see if anyone was nearby, but the fog was too thick. I did not want to be overheard as I told Prospero about the captain of the Aurelia and his demand that I meet him at sunrise and serve as his cabin boy.
If that is the case, Fiorino, then we shall leave before dawn. If you join his crew, youll never get home. Besides, Rico has enough money now that we can fend for ourselves.
Right, I said.
We just have to stick together. The old woman who sells the herbs told me that if we stick together, Fortune will find us.
Somehow she scares me as much as the sea captain does, Prospero, I said, and sat on the mound of dirt by the pit. Nobody has paid attention to us for months except for the Principe, and now suddenly, when he is gone, many people are starting to treat us very nicely. It seems to me like a trap. It feels dangerous to stay here and dangerous to leave.
This professor seems like someone that we could trust, Prospero said. He has in mind to get the baker to expand production so as to sell supplies to the ships that come into port, especially the crews. I can see making a fortune right here.

Fortune there was that word again. Prospero went on for a couple of minutes to explain the professors plans and theories. I said nothing until he finally asked me: So, what do you think, Fiorino?
I think that we really need to find a way home. Your father expects you to run the Inn for him in Parma; Ricos father expects him to become an excellent typographer and to set up a print shop in Padua. Neither of you can stay here much longer. And I miss Don Angelo and Monsignor the Patriarch, who have cared for me since I was small. I want to return to San Pietro in Castello and finish my apprenticeship.
Prospero listened quietly and then said: Yes, you are right. We need to go home. Tomorrow we leave, before dawn, so that no one will stop us.

***

There was one more person that I needed to see, and that was the Earl of Essex. Prospero had given me all I needed to respond to the Captain of the Aurelia, but Essex had been a friend lately, and I wanted to say goodbye properly.

Did you tell the sea captain that you would join him? the Earl of Essex asked me after I recounted meeting the Captain of the Aurelia.
No, Excellency, I refused him twice.
Good. You did the right thing. Never entertain a dubious proposal, Fiorino. Even a hint at agreement can trap you for life. It is how this breed operates. They offer to do you a favor in exchange for a favor. If you accept, they will hold you to do them favors forever. If ever you refuse after that, they will kill you. Now you had better hurry back to the villa. It is getting too dark and there are many unsavory characters stalking the port lately.
Essex put his hand on my shoulder has he opened the door for me -- something that the Earl had never done before. He sounded very concerned when he gave me leave: Be safe, Fiorino, he said.

As I left the Earls house, the church bells rang. Did they toll a warning or an invitation?

Fiorino hears the church bells as darkness falls

[PS: A treasure hunt will take place at Melioria this weekend. Be sure to visit and see what you can find!!!]

The adventures of Orlando furioso kept me excited all through dinner. Just as we said the final prayer and were about to leave, a tall stranger blocked the exit of the boys dining room. I need the apprentice Fiorino, he announced, and I immediately responded: At your service, Signore.

The stranger identified himself as Captain Kungler of the Aurelia, and spoke without ceremony. Ive come to Melioria with a shipment of beaver pelts. Tomorrow we ship out. I am in need of a cabin boy. I am told that you know the sea and how to sail.

Signor Capitano, I must decline, I said respectfully, An apprentice gondolier like me knows the canals of Venice but does not know the sea.

Not important. Cabin boys have other responsibilities and answer only to the Captain. You will learn to be a seaman, he smiled, and relit his pipe.

The captains smile did not reach his eyes, which made me very uneasy.

Signor Capitano, without my patrons permission I must refuse your generous offer, I answered, in the most polite of tones.

The Prince of Melioria is lost at Sea. You need a new patron, and that would be me. I expect you to accept my offer and to be at the docks at sunrise. The captain took another puff. Make yourself ready, he added, then turned and strode out of the room.

My heart was pounding. Who told the captain about me? Who told him I should go to sea with the Aurelia? I grabbed my cloak and raced down to the southeast shore where the Earl of Essex had his summer cottage. Ever since the Prince of Melioria had gone on his journey, Essex had shown me great kindness. I needed to see him now!

A shocking disorder greeted me just before reaching the cottages: an enormous pit, surrounded by tools, shovels and carts. Who was digging? When I got closer, I observed a bronze lion wedged at the bottom of the pit.

What could this mean? Why would anyone bury such a beautiful sculpture? I got as close as I could, but I did not dare go into the hole. It was a good thing too, because I was startled by a voice that came from behind. You see the lion, Fiorino? Does it remind you of anything?

I nearly fell in the hole out of surprise! As soon as I caught my balance I realized that it was Professor Stern who stood behind me. Does that lion look familiar?

It reminds me of San Marco, I said: the lion of St Mark, who protects Venezia.

The professor from Turin smiled and shook his head. Oh no, I do not believe this has anything to do with Venezia. Look again, and see if it reminds you of any other lion.

Taking a different position, I studied the magnificent sculpture. It was certainly very familiar to me. Many cultures used the lion as their primary symbol, the professor explained, In fact, we know many invaders came through this area, from the Normans to the Saracens, not to mention Pirates. This may indicate that the Normans built a settlement here centuries ago.

The lion was magnificent. But why would anybody bury this lion here? I asked.

Who says anyone intended to bury it? the professor countered. Perhaps there was a disaster and this area was abandoned. If we keep digging, we may find more interesting ruins. Melioria is richer in mystery and history than we imagine.

As the professor spoke, a heavy mist rolled in from the sea, and I pulled my cloak more tightly around me. The professor began to hum a tune that I recognized as La fiera dellest , a ballad that tells how one thing builds on another. I looked at the professor and then stole a look at the lion. The professor was smiling and quite happy; the lion was dark and solemn, as if to say that he had some mysteries to reveal.

There was no time to waste. Prospero told us wed leave the next morning, and there were borrowed items to return, people to greet one last time. I was feeling a little odd after what Prospero and Rico had to say, but maybe they felt odd about what I had told them. For now I had to but that out of my head: there was too much to do.

As soon as I got to the port I met the Baroness von Khr. She was strolling up and down the promenade with a small book in hand. I told her that we had found passage to the mainland and would be leaving. I do hope it is not permanent, she said. You know you have a place here.

Just then Professor Aldo Stern arrived. He is a professor in Torino. I thought that he came to Melioria on holidays, as so many people do, but no! He is on the regency council. I am sorry that you are going, my boy, he said. I have been quite impressed that you are a student as well as an apprentice. I was hoping to encourage you to study philosophy now that I see that you have studied Latin.

Thank you, Professor. Don Angelo had taught me Latin when so that I could serve the mass of the Patriarch when I was at Venice, and the Prince of Melioria has always kindly lent me some of his books and pushed me to study. It is their merit, not mine.

Since you are leaving, the professor said, I do hope you will return the princes books. I would hate to think they were lost at sea or stolen by smugglers.

Very good, Signor Professore, I bowed. I will return all the books within the hour.

The baroness spoke up: And what will you read when you go to the mainland, Fiorino?

Perhaps my face betrayed my own confusion, for I had not thought about reading. My only desire was to get home.

Listen, then, the baroness said. I am reading this little book of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. You would like it, I think. May I give you the book as gift?

Oh please no, Signora Baronessa, that is too kind, I responded quickly. It is not right that I accept it for we must travel very lightly and I do not know what we may have to do. But I cherish your offer, Signora, and I thank you.

The two nobles of the regency council gave me their leave, and I continued through the waterfront, greeting the shop keepers I knew and bidding them farewell. Keeping the Professors admonishments in mind, I returned to the Villa to bring back the Princes books to the library. Actually, I only still had one book at my place: Orlando furioso .

Orlando furioso is such an exciting book! Even if I found it hard to understand this epic by Ariosto when I first started reading, the story had me spellbound. I loved how Orlando traveled around the world to free the captives and to bring justice to the poor. This book had become my favorite and I was sorry to let it go. Yet, the professor was right. I must return the princes book to its place.

When I got to the library, I was surprised to see so many books on the floor, some opened, some closed with papers to mark the page where someone had been reading. I was about to put the copy of Orlando furioso back in its place on the shelf, but the confusion of books of the floor, and the smell of the musty pages inspired me to open Orlando furioso again and continue reading for a few minutes.

In no time I was following Orlando across fields and rivers and planes and mountains by the light of the volcano. A few minutes turned into hours, and suddenly it was time to eat.

Yesterday I went to the market place to see if I could get supplies for a voyage as far as Napoli, Prospero told Rico and I.

The three of us sat on Prosperos bed in our dormitory, and Prospero spoke softly so nobody could overhear. At a certain point I heard someone laughing, and when I looked up I saw an old woman was pointing at me. It was so dark and misty by the port that I could barely see her face, but motioned me to come to her table.

The old woman seemed to be selling herbs. I stepped up to her table and she looked me up and down. Ragazzo mio, I will tell you your fortune, but I can tell that you have not the money to pay for it, so I will tell you for free, she said to me in a laughing voice.

Before I could react, she told me to choose three herbs. I pointed to three without thinking too much. The woman took those herbs and placed them in the center, then she arranged the other herbs and spices around them. She looked in my eyes and said in a sing-song voice: You will soon receive a grand sum of money, but you will spend it all to leave this island. You will seek your fortune will find misfortune until you return home. There you will be safe and flourish. Act wisely, and Fortune will come hunting for you.

The old woman grinned: Ah, ragazzo mio, you are happy with this news?.

I blushed, and pulled out the few coins I had and put them on her table, but she put them back in my hand. Your friends will be safe if they travel with you, she whispered, but beware! Evil ones there are that capture foolish youths for their own ends. You would be in great danger if Fortune were not looking for you too. She waved me off and I could hear her laughing again as I left the market place to come back to the villa. So here I am!

The message seemed very strange to me. I could see that Rico was confused too. Prospero just smiled and said: Do you see? The old woman said Fortune would hunt for us! Fortune sent Count Algarotti to give money to Rico. If we stick together, good fortune will find us. Good signs! I say that we leave Melioria tomorrow morning.

Everything began to move quickly the next morning. At first light Conte Bon came from the port to the gates of the Villa. He was on horseback and I ran to meet him and shouted: What news, Signor Conte?

It is confirmed! The Prince of Melioria changed course and did not arrive where he was expected, he told me, and then added: I must consult the council, but keep faith, my lad. Perhaps the good Lord changed the Princes course for a reason. We must wait it out and see. At that, the count spurred his horse and raced up the hill to Villa Melioria.

Il conte Bon races his horse up to the Villa

Prospero called us to meet in the boys dormitory at mid-morning. I quickly recounted what the Baroness had told me and the comments of the Count. Prospero grunted. Rico, who was normally quiet, became very animated.

Yesterday afternoon when I was walking through the atrium of the villa, Rico told us, I felt a freezing wind blow through the house.

Rico feels a freezing wind blow through the Villa

The birds in the aviary starting chirping and chattering so loudly that I had to go over and see what was happening. When I got close to the cage, the birds kept chattering and, please dont laugh, I felt as if someone was standing next to me. I looked around. There were only the birds, but it seemed like I could feel the Prince standing there.

Oh! I felt a chill go up my spine when my friend said this, but Rico quickly continued:

Feeling as if the Prince was there, I felt courageous, like we always felt when he gave us advice. At that moment I notice a strange pacing in the garden. I went outside and met the man and introduced myself, the way the Prince always told us we should do.

What did you discover? Prospero asked.

The man told me he was a count, Rico told us. He calls himself Francesco Algarotti. He says he is a count from Venezia, but he does not seem very Venetian to me, Rico stated.

Rico meets in Count Francesco Algarottithe garden

Why do you say this? Prospero countered.

Because he kept speaking to me in French. When I told him that I am from Venezia, he said that he was too, but when I spoke to him in Venetian, he seemed confused. I had to speak in Italian for him to understand.

Prospero shook his head: Whats he playing at, I wonder?

Rico pulled something out of his pocket. I do not know, but he gave me this coin purse. He said that he will arrange to have some fisherman take us to Napoli early tomorrow morning. All we have to do is meet him at the port.

Rico placed the coin purse in front of Prospero, who poured the clanking contents on the bed. Prospero patted them all flat and then began to inspect the gleaming pile of gold and silver.

This is strange, he said in a hushed tone. Prospero carefully turned over one coin after another. Did you look at these coins, Rico?

At Prosperos nod, Rico and I began to inspect the coins. This is not normal, Rico whispered. This gold and silver all comes from different countries!

It was true. There were scudi from Rome, ducati and zecchini from Venice and fiorini from Florence, talleri from Austria and many other coins that I did not recognize.

Rico pushed the pile back toward Prospero, who put the money back into the purse. I told you that the count was very mysterious. Rico said. Yet, I felt as if the Prince was with me and I was not afraid.

Rico told us that the Prince gave him courage

Rico looked each of us in the eye, waiting for a response. Prospero picked up the coin purse and grinned. Very good, Rico. Youve got us a sponsor so we can get to the mainland and go home. He bounced the purse in his hand, and then tossed it back to Rico with a wink: Now let me tell you what I discovered yesterday.

Prospero winked and told us that he had news for us

As soon as our meeting ended, each of us rushed out to meet our contacts and got whatever information we could. I did not see my friends all day, for we each went in a different direction. The sky remained overcast and dark all day long.

My mission was to contact someone for passage from Melioria to the closest port on the mainland so that we could return to Venezia. Instead of going through the village, I ran along the shoreline, and was surprised to find the German Baroness von Khr. I bowed and greeted her, hoping that she would wave me off as she has done many times. Instead, the baroness called me over to herself.

Fiorino chances on Baronessa Diogeneia Franziska Freifrau von Khr at the shore

When I drew close to the baroness I noticed that she had a very intense look about her. She is a very small woman, smaller than me, but the prince often told me that she is very exact. She used to help her husband with military strategies, and now that she is a widow, she has come to Italy. She hoped to forget the wars that took her husband, but she is always alert. Her question told me she was noticing what others perhaps did not. She asked me pointedly: Have you noticed any suspicious ships in the harbor?

No, Signora Baronessa. The harbor is very deserted right now, I told her.

The baroness looked me up and down and said: Be very, very careful, Fiorino. I have reason to believe that there are pirates landing in the cove on the north of the island: pirates of the Barbary Coast.

Pirates? Moors? I gasped.

The baroness only nodded and said in a very low tone. Be on your guard. Barbary pirates are on the lookout for boys your age to kidnap and make slaves on their ships. It is not safe to wander on the shore in these dark days.

The baroness gives a strong warning

With that, Baroness von Khr peered into the fog again. Be on your guard. Tell the others not to try anything foolish, she whispered. She said no more.

"It is time for us to get off this island and get back to the mainland," Prospero was saying. Prospero is older than Rico and I. Rico has just 12 years and I have almost 13, and both of us are apprentices. Prospero is older, maybe by four years (I am not sure).

Oh yes! I remember when I first met Prospero. He arrived from Parma with skills he learned in his family for producing cheese and prosciutto. Prosperos father sent him to Venezia to learn baking and cooking so that the family could open an Inn.

Prospero Pastorelli learns to bake

Rico was so small when he came to Venezia from Monselice. His father sent him to apprentice with the Bragadin family at their printing company. Soon Rico was running the printing presses and learning the crafts of making paper, carving characters, running and maintaing the printing press, and even book-binding. He was quick to learn, and quick to grow. He soon was as tall as me.

Rico Millefiori meets Fiorino Pera the first day he arrives in Venezia

For me, I had no family to direct me, but the gondoliers liked me, and Cristiano made me his apprentice. I was learning how to manage the gondola well, but then the floods came and we had to leave Venezia.

Cristiano il Gondoliere takes Fiorino Pera as an apprentice

Prospero, Rico and I came to Melioria with many others after the floods nearly a year ago. The Principe di Melioria offered to help us complete our apprenticeships. It has been difficult for us, since, unlike Venezia, there are few artisans in Melioria. Now with the prince missing, there is little hope.

Fiorino Pera and Rico Millefiori on their arrival in Melioria after the floods of Venezia

Rico looked up: "Do you have a plan, Prospero?"

The older boy nodded. "You both have contacts here on the island. So do I. Let us find out from these people if we can get passage to the mainland. That is the first thing. Once we are there, we can look for craftmasters who will school us."

Prospero tells us that we need a plan

We agreed. In the pit of my stomach I feel pain. Melioria has been wonderful, but I know I need to build a future. Prospero and Rico both have families. If anything goes wrong they can return to their homes. I had the help of the Patriarch of Venezia. I wonder if I can return to his household? But there is time for those thoughts afterwards. We have people we must contact if we are to leave this island.

The skies of Melioria darken at Prince's disappearance

*Baker's table that Prospero uses was designed byMadonna Nowles.