Nicholas encounters one of them near Bologna: Queen Carlotta of Cyprus, who has been on a fundraising trip, seeking money and soldiers to defend her kingdom from her illegitimate half-brother, James. Nicholas is in the mood for a fight so when Carlotta’s entourage is attacked by mercenaries, he joins in, but he has no desire to fight for her in Cyprus and turns down her request twice.
Instead, he travels to Bruges to check on the wellbeing of his stepdaughters and to see his friends (Julius, his notary/former tutor; Father Godscalc; and Loppe, a former slave from Guinea), who have been left to assist with the Charetty dyeworks. To his surprise, his stepdaughters are hostile and won’t let him into their (his former) home. Their relationship had been strong before he married their mother but he was careful to safeguard their inheritance, not taking any of the profits he generated, so their resentment is unjustified. Nicholas winds up being beaten and arrested, and not for the first or last time. When he is released, he learns that Carlotta sent her beautiful lady-in-waiting, a courtesan named Primaflora, after him to Bruges. Nicholas gives Thomas, a freelance soldier, the assignment of escorting Primaflora anywhere he isn’t, and makes his escape.
In the Old Testament, God warns the prophet Ezekiel not to be afraid of the rebellious House of Israel, saying, "Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions." This might have worked for Ezekiel but it isn’t practical advice for Nicholas, who has enemies everywhere. After several months, he joins the Count of Urbino who is fighting Prince John of Calabria (son of the King of Anjou). It should go without saying that although Europe is vast, two of those who hate Nicholas, Katelina van Borselen and her father-in-law, Jordan de Riberac, are in Anjou, so they are on opposite sides. Nicholas is reunited with Astorre, the mercenary captain who taught him how to fight, and Tobie Beventini, doctor/hyper-critical friend. The battle is won, John of Calabria flees, but Nicholas is missing – kidnapped by men who bring him (on his own ship, the Doria, insult upon insult) to Carlotta’s half brother, James/Zacco, in Cyprus. Primaflora is on the ship as well, and Nicholas suspects she is as devious as he is but begins an affair with her.
In the New Testament, according to Luke, Jesus tells his disciples, "I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." There is one important chapter involving snakes and Nicholas manages to kill those that pose an immediate threat. But the primary scorpion is King Zacco, who is handsome, charismatic, and dangerously volatile. Nicholas would prefer to fight for Zacco over Carlotta but they are both fairly horrible and while he would be better off escaping from Cyprus, he always feels a sense of responsibility to someone – here, Primaflora (who can certainly take care of herself); his men, who try to rescue him but get caught by Carlotta; and Katelina, her brother-in-law and nephew, who turn up because they want to import sugar. The war between Zacco and Carlotta is violent, disturbing, and seems endless, although the entire book takes place over two years or so. A lot more happens but stop here to avoid spoilers, unless you are able to help with my unanswered questions below.
Title: Race of Scorpions
Author: Dorothy Dunnett
Publication: Knopf, hardcover, originally published in 1989
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: Europe/Middle East 1462-4
Source: Family copy
Reading this book contributed to this challenge:
• Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Race of Scorpions Questions:
Aren’t sugar plants bulky and difficult to steal? Wouldn’t you need more than a suitcase full to transplant / build a whole empire?
Why did Primaflora want to marry Nicholas? Did she initially think he was her best bet? If she had her eye on the king, why tie herself down?
I understand Nicholas married Primaflora to neutralize her but this isn’t Pretty Woman and it seems disrespectful to Marian and damaging to his reputation. Was there no other way to keep Katelina safe?
Why didn’t he put Katelina and Diniz on a ship together to Portugal or send someone with them?
Why did he hire Zorzi to run his dyeworks when he didn’t trust him? Or fire him when Zorzi encouraged Diniz to kill him? I dislike the Zorzi brothers!
Even if Zacco was besotted with Carlotta, surely he was unlikely to marry a courtesan, even before his mother finds out Carlotta is barren?
Who performed Nicholas and Primaflora’s wedding and who is going to issue their divorce?
Did Nicholas betray ex-Emperor David because he was angry that David mismanaged the defense of his empire? Shouldn’t he have expected the whole family to get killed?
What was the deal with the relief ships? Did Zacco plan the Adorno’s appearance?
Given Zacco took back the dyeworks, isn’t he likely to take the sugar business in Kouklia? Especially if Nicholas is gone and only Loppe is there to manage it?
Why don’t these characters get syphilis?
In an era when travel was difficult, how do this people – especially Katelina – zip around Europe so easily?
Some questions I figured out with help online but I had to be careful to avoid finding out anything after book 3, so be careful, please!
Instead, he travels to Bruges to check on the wellbeing of his stepdaughters and to see his friends (Julius, his notary/former tutor; Father Godscalc; and Loppe, a former slave from Guinea), who have been left to assist with the Charetty dyeworks. To his surprise, his stepdaughters are hostile and won’t let him into their (his former) home. Their relationship had been strong before he married their mother but he was careful to safeguard their inheritance, not taking any of the profits he generated, so their resentment is unjustified. Nicholas winds up being beaten and arrested, and not for the first or last time. When he is released, he learns that Carlotta sent her beautiful lady-in-waiting, a courtesan named Primaflora, after him to Bruges. Nicholas gives Thomas, a freelance soldier, the assignment of escorting Primaflora anywhere he isn’t, and makes his escape.
Title: Race of Scorpions
Author: Dorothy Dunnett
Publication: Knopf, hardcover, originally published in 1989
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: Europe/Middle East 1462-4
Source: Family copy
• Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Race of Scorpions Questions:
Aren’t sugar plants bulky and difficult to steal? Wouldn’t you need more than a suitcase full to transplant / build a whole empire?
Why did Primaflora want to marry Nicholas? Did she initially think he was her best bet? If she had her eye on the king, why tie herself down?
I understand Nicholas married Primaflora to neutralize her but this isn’t Pretty Woman and it seems disrespectful to Marian and damaging to his reputation. Was there no other way to keep Katelina safe?
Why didn’t he put Katelina and Diniz on a ship together to Portugal or send someone with them?
Why did he hire Zorzi to run his dyeworks when he didn’t trust him? Or fire him when Zorzi encouraged Diniz to kill him? I dislike the Zorzi brothers!
Even if Zacco was besotted with Carlotta, surely he was unlikely to marry a courtesan, even before his mother finds out Carlotta is barren?
Who performed Nicholas and Primaflora’s wedding and who is going to issue their divorce?
Did Nicholas betray ex-Emperor David because he was angry that David mismanaged the defense of his empire? Shouldn’t he have expected the whole family to get killed?
What was the deal with the relief ships? Did Zacco plan the Adorno’s appearance?
Given Zacco took back the dyeworks, isn’t he likely to take the sugar business in Kouklia? Especially if Nicholas is gone and only Loppe is there to manage it?
Why don’t these characters get syphilis?
In an era when travel was difficult, how do this people – especially Katelina – zip around Europe so easily?
Some questions I figured out with help online but I had to be careful to avoid finding out anything after book 3, so be careful, please!
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