49.
Prince Escalus held his first meeting
upon arrival at Genoa, with Count Paris at the home of Lord
Schmidt Helmut, an old friend from the courts of Hungary. In the library
was Vuk Branvonic, who arrived with the prince. And one other, Magistrate Javier,
who once served with the prince.
The prince was given the privacy of
the library to use.
“I am concerned about your
progress, Count Paris.” The prince looked to his trusted aide. “You were sent
to Genoa for the sole purpose of locating the jewels but to date, nothing had
been found.”
“I admit the delays were there but
we will soon find it. I have new information to it.” Count Paris reported.
“I have Andre Bassanio Tito in my
custody, and he was said to had shipped the jewels to Genoa.” Magistrate Javier
cut in. “I was ……”
“I had met the felon and knew of
his shipment.” Count Paris in turn cut in. “he told me that he had entrusted
the Bill of Lading to his fiancé, Portia.”
“How was that possible? She claimed she had
nothing of his.” Magistrate Javier looked at the other. “I had left ……”
“The officers of yours can be dealt
with and the uniform of the Magistrate replicated with ease. Or borrowed.”
Count Paris smiled. “Your denial of me to visit the felon made me take that
action.”
“It was confirmed then. My officers
told me a Magistrate visited the felon recently but left shortly before I
arrive.”
“A fast show of the handling there,
and I know of the Bill of Ladings.” Count Paris looked to the prince. “I was to
act but the Magistrate had his men to protect the lady.”
“Yes, I assigned two of men to the
house. If it is true, then I will proceed to house now.” Magistrate Javier
turned to the prince. “May I be excused?”
“In due time, Javier.” Prince
Escalus stopped the Magistrate. “Genoa has taken on some interesting crowd of
late. Vuk here tells me that Vlad Tepes; claimed to be dead is very much alive
in Genoa, but unknown to his hiding place. His death was fake created by the
Ottoman’s commander on whose order I am not sure.”
“Vlad Tepes here in Genoa?
Unlikely, this is his enemy’s lair.” Count Paris denied it.
“Where is safer than your enemy’s
home where you may look to find.” Prince Escalus looked at the other. “As to
his brother, Radu Tepes, I know for sure he had died.”
“I was also informed that Lord
Gencio Capulet and Lord Dante Montague had met the Impaler but they will not
disclose to me. It was timely…… not unfortunate that their children are
involved in some murder charges.”
“Romeo Capulet is in hiding till
now. His father …….” Magistrate Javier told the prince.
“Lord Gencio Capulet will not take
my offer to relocate his son to Verona under my protection.” Prince Escalus
looked at the Magistrate. “No one ignore my offer.”
“I will find Romeo.” Count Paris
declared.
“Do so, Count Paris. The Capulet
and Montague are getting arrogant in their influence. They may be invited to
the Court of King Corvinus but they are unaware of the shift of power there.
“Hungary is not isolated or strong
with other states around it. To the north lay the Kingdom of Poland and the
Kingdom of Bohemia. To the west was the Archduchy of Austria, a part of
the Holy Roman Empire. To the east, the Kingdom of Hungary bordered the
Principality of Transylvania, which was under Hungarian rule. To the
south, the region was contested between the Kingdom of Hungary, the Serbian
Despotate, and the Ottoman Empire.; an unresolved conflict.”
“The King is influential but the
tussle of power and throne prevails the existence of God. We lost the crusades
in the 12the century, but as we speak, the crusade still runs in us. The new
threats are the Moors, the Mamluks and the also the heretics.”
“Hussites…...” Magistrate Javier
uttered. “I had my running of conflicts with them. They are an influence in
Poland.”
“True, but the balance of power
needs the weight of influences. The Empress Jewels may be that. If I hold that,
the powerful will rally to my cause. And we shall defeat the Ottoman’s and
Constantinople will ours once more.” Prince Escalus looked at the two gathered
there. “Are you with me?”
“Yes, your highness.” Count Paris
announced it. And it was followed by the Magistrate.
“Refresh my memory on the situation
once more.” Prince Escalus looked at the duo.
“To date, Mercutio and Tybalt from
the Romeo’s fiasco.” Magistrate Javier reported.
“Nothing on my side.”
“Get the Bill of Ladings now.”
Prince Escalus gave the order. “And find
Romeo Capulet. Vuk Branvonic can assist. He brought with him his trusted
guards. They are five of them staying at the tavern nearby.”
At the Belmont house, the mood was
more homely if that can be stated.
There is a grief that
cannot be spoken.
There's a pain goes on and on.
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone.
(Empty chairs at empty tables / Les
Misérables / Michael Ball ‧ 1985)
“Stop your humming there, Maurice.”
Officer 24602 Nikolas Jean told the other. “I am trying to rest here.”
“Clamp it, Jean. You were not there
in the war when we fought the English. My father was there with the Maiden of
Orleans. My father returned soon after, a broken man but he was alive. He
regretted being alive when all his friends died on the battlefield. He taught
me that song.”
“I was not born then that war, but
I knew the pain of losses.” Officer Nikolas Jean sighed. “I was with the others
in the marketplace then in Paris, younger but food was to be earned from hard
work. I did my share but there was so much I can feed then, that there were
nights I went hungry.”
“Your parents?” Maurice asked. “From
Paris?”
“I know not of them. I was raised
by an old lady with a group of other kids. She took us to Genoa here. It was
not an easy life, but we had a roof over our heads. And the occasional brazier
to warm our souls in winter. It was one winter, when hunger pangs were too
great, I took to the streets to look for food. I saw the church and I avoided
it, but the priest who showed me the way. He went to look for bread to share for
my brothers and sisters in the kitchen, but I took the liberty to grab some the
silverwares….”
“Stole you meant.” Maurice
corrected the other. “Stealing in the House of God? That is a sin.”
“It was not stolen ……. but borrowed.
I would have it returned to the church later.”
“After you sold it? I do not think
so.” Maurice shook his head.
“Anyway, the priest saw me doing it
and I was afraid. He told me later I could have it. The gift if it would feed
the hungry was best to use for it than to adorn my house. The priest said that.
I took it and left. But the authorities the church saw me and found the
silverware. I was to be hauled to the prison but the priest stopped them. I was
told that the silverware given as a gift to me. It was the forgiving act that
changed me. From that day, I was to serve the priest at the chapel. It was my
turning point.”
“Jolly well, and you got fed daily
too.” Maurice laughed.
“Yes, I was, but the extra bread
and drinks, I had them given to my brothers and sisters. Later, I was to join the
services of the Hungarian Army when there was a callup for volunteers.”
“Did you kill anyone?”
“I ……. I cannot recall. War was
brutal, and we in it were more brutal in our act. Later upon discharge I was
with the Magistrate guards.” Jean sighed. “I knew no other skills.”
“Yawn! What a tale. You could had
told me a shorter version.” Maurice laughed. “For me, it was the singing
troupe. I toured the states, but a fate of love caused me to join the guards. I
was with a lady; Collete as her name. She left me for another named Enjolras.
She said he was more powerful in character. I was heartbroken. In my disgust, I
joined the guards, but I still sing.”
I smell women
Smell them in the air
Think I will drop my anchor
In that harbour over here
(Loverly ladies / Less Misérables / Song by Alain Boublil,
Cameron Mackintosh, and Claude-Michel Schönberg ‧ 1988)
“You disgust me, Maurice. I would have expected more from you.” Jean
remarked.
“Exactly what Cosette told; she was the later lady I met. But I am pass
that lady. I have now my other lady; Epinine. She welcomed me with spread limbs
and hefty bosom to rest my head.” Maurice laughed. “What do you have? For a
handy wanker on your colder nights?”
“Do you have …….” Jean was to snap at the other but was interrupted.
“Good evening, Sir’s.” The voice was from the house, and it turned out
to be Nerissa. She was carrying a tray of biscuits and drink for the two
guards.
“Something to warm your body.” Nerissa smiled. The two guards gratefully
accepted the offerings.
“I hope we did not offend you with our ramblings.” Jean smiled at her.
“We are the …….”
“The kind gentlemen that a lady will need in her life. And no, I did not
hear much of the ramblings as you state it was.” Nerissa turned towards
Maurice. “You got a lovely voice.”
“Thank you, my lady.” Maurice took a bite of the biscuit. “Delicious
these are.”
“I bake them here. I am a simple lady from a simple home, but my
friendship with Ms. Belmont, gave many impressions of my role here but shed the
nobility, I am just a simple lady.” Nerissa looked at Jean.
“I can attest to that. Shed the covers, and unveil the true self but
cleft in your desire, they all sound alike.” Maurice lacked the finesse of a
gentleman in his words.
“Pardon the insolent nature of my friend. He lacks the impropriety of a
gentleman.” Jean did a bow towards the lady.
“I am used to those outbursts. It may rile another but having grown up
in a bakery at the marketplace, one gets to be hard of hearing listening to
them speak.” Nerissa smiled. “I must be getting back to my host. She is
concerned on the fate of her ……. Friend.”
“And a good evening to you, my lady.” Jean bowed towards her once more.
The lady left the two to their task.
“I say younger man. You are smitten by her.” Maurice smiled. “To that, I
will say one day, you may just be ……”
Welcome, Monsieur, sit
yourself down
And meet the best of ladies in town
As for the rest, all of them ……. Bitches (in a
very low tone.):
Roosting their men, and cooking the belly
Seldom do you know
Honest men like you
That may not be yours
Who's content it was, God knows.”
(Adapted
from Master of House / Less
Misérables)
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