Chapter 44
The Secret Starts to UnfoldAlba was caught up in the revelry of the Palio and that evening everyone was retelling stories of the race. The costumed parades resumed after the Palio and street scenes resembled something from the 16th century. Lords and ladies proceeded past restaurants and sidewalk cafés, fools and thieves were dragged roped together by their wrists, and trumpets blared to clear the path.
It didn't seem to matter which borgo won the Palio. At least, Paolo couldn't tell which one had, since all the groups that marched down Via Vittorio Emanuelle that evening seemed to be as full of cheer as the last one.
By evening, Francesco had joined up with Nicki and Paolo, and he walked down the sidewalk at Nicki's side. Paolo wandered off, his attention spent on searching
