Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Cha8pter 28

 

28.

 

Lord Dante Montague was not in Genoa then but at a private villa in Moldavia. He had taken the gallop there and met the emissary of the Sultan. It was unusual for him to be given a dispatch of such, but he obliged.

“Thank you for coming, Lord Dante Montague.” The Lord was met by the host, Stephen Indiao, a fellow trader who was a frequent guest of the Sultan. Trading does not concern itself with war, and there were still shipments to the Ottoman Empire.

“I came as fast as I could. How is he?” Lord Dante Montague asked.

“He is recovering. The wounds are healing.” The trader led the lord to the private chamber at the rear. Lord Dante Montague saw the dozen guards there, Janissaries by the design of their uniform.

“We meet again, Lord Dante Montague.”

“I am honored, Boluk Bashi Tarmak.” The officer who intercepted the caravan years ago was once met by him.

“Chorbaji, Lord Dante Montague. I oversee a regiment now.” The elderly officer smiled. “I am here with a guest of the Sultan.”

“Please meet my commander, Radu Tepes.”

Lord Dante Montague was to meet Radu the Handsome. He was told that Radu was wounded in battle and rescued by the Chorbaji and brought to the home of the trader to recuperate. The trader was Indo-Turkish, a native Turk but residing in Moldavia. He was a trader in spices and herbs, including medicinal ones.

“The guest was mortally wounded, but over the season, he has shown recovery from it.” Chorbaji looked at the trader. “The Sultan, Mehmet II, sent me the order to protect him and to call upon you.”

“Lord Dante Montague, we have not met, but the name of yours has been heard by me. I have a guest there, Radu of Wallachia. He cannot travel, but I would like to see him protected. Trader Indiao was kind to have him there, but I have a request of you. Can you see Vlad Tepes and convey to him his brother’s condition? He is at Wallachia and, to my knowledge, still in conflict with me. Sultan Mehmet II.”

“What am I to do? Tell the other, and my head could be … impaled.” Lord Dante Montague discussed with Indiao and the Chorbaji.

“It is a possibility. That man is … a beast.” Stephen Indiao refused to trade at Wallachia. “He had killed some of my friends that way. He is mad.”

“Trader Indiao, in war, we cannot dictate the cruelty of the acts there. The Wallachians have killed many of my friends, as they had of his; it is a vicious circle when we are at war.”

“What am I to do? Go and see him? I have never met him. It was …… Lord Gencio Capulet deals with him. I am with the Hungarian most times.”

“Lord Dante Montague, you must act on the request. If you do not, I will be executed.” Chorbaji Tarmak said. “It is the work of the commander and my sultan.”

“Both are mad. I hardly know him.” Lord Dante Montague sighed. “Why me?”

“He heard of your name, and he trusted you.” Lord Dante Montague was told.

 “When can he move?” Lord Dante Montague looked towards the private chamber.

“I am unsure. He is still resting.” Chorbaji replied. “You will see him later. He holds some letters for you to deliver on his behalf. It was all he requested.”

Back in Genoa, there were hardly any letters handed at the Montague’s, but little bits of paper were used as the means of communication for some; not all were shy to speak their mind. The older folks had retired to their home, while the young ones continued; and of course, for some under the supervision of the chaperones or caretakers, hence modesty was required. The masks stayed on for most, but some daring souls shed that shield.

“Did you see him?”

“I think so. Was he with the blue mask?”

“No, he was in the grey one.”

“Then I may have slipped him the note by mistake.”

Such errors were common in the masked masquerade. But the fun hardly ends with the dancing at the ball of the Montague’s home, which goes into the late strokes of the night. The dances varied by the musicians on their instrument offerings to the slow waltz then.

“Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say good night till it be morrow.” (taken from Romeo and Juliet plays) Juliet's feet were weary from waltzing the dance steps. She was the attention of the beaus that evening, but the one named Ramone Algar had her for most of the dances. They held onto their mask, but their affection was unfolded.

“Oh, I am fortune’s fool!” (taken from Romeo and Juliet plays) Romeo sighed.

“Oh, why do you say that?” Juliet looked at the handsome man held in her arms while their feet moved in unison to the music.

“I feel like a fool.” Romeo smiled. “I want to continue on the dance, but the sun will be peeking over us soon.”

“The sun… Yes…” Juliet smiled. “It will soon hold its thieving moment to our dances.”

“But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!” (taken from the Romeo and Juliet plays) Romeo praised the lady.

“And you, Ramone. You are the sunset I long to see.” Juliet smiled. “Before I go to sleep.”

It was then that Romeo leaned over and kissed the lady on the lips.

“This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath, may prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. Come to thy heart as that within my breast. O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?” (again, taken from the Romeo and Juliet play) Romeo looked at Juliet. The lady was surprised by the kiss. It was her first by a man she hardly knew.

“I think I must leave now.” Juliet pulled away from the arms of the man who had just kissed her. “Do send me letters when you are near. And my love to Rosaline for introducing me to her cousin.”

Romeo watched the lady stroll off to her home. He had not seen her face fully, but he felt she was his choice of love. Her lips were soft and warm to his, and her movements were all graceful.

“Are you ready to go home?” It was Rosaline. She had sat by herself at the side, watching the two dance, while she was asked by some, but her mood was sad. She came with a man she thought would give her some undivided attention, but all she got was one dance and hours of eating the pastries served at the table.

“Pardon me, yes. We can leave. How was your evening?” Romeo asked.

“My beauty sleep was denied,” Rosaline replied when they walked to the waiting carriage.

“Oh, did you? Was it fun?” Romeo had not understood the reply.

“Trust me. I will not come again.” Rosaline sighed. They had boarded the carriage and were driven home. Without hesitation, Rosaline turned towards Romeo.

“Do you know she is of the Montague?”

“Yes, I do, but she is … an absolute beauty.” Romeo leaned back and smiled.

“You do know that it will be an impossibility that the two of you could ever…”

“Halt that thought, Rosaline. Tonight I am Ramone Alger.” Romeo looked at Rosaline. “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” (again, taken from the Romeo and Juliet play)

“Romeo, do you ……” Rosaline felt the urge was there, and she took it. She leaned over and kissed the man on the lips, crushing his lips with hers. Romeo, taken aback, pushed her off.

“Rosaline, heaven forbid. Did you drink one too many glasses?”

“No…” Rosaline pulled away and looked out of the carriage. “I was……. I am sorry. I was drunk.”

“Was it? Or was it ……” Romeo tried to understand what had happened. “We are cousins, and I……”

“Forget it, Romeo Capulet. I was drunk. Let us go home.” Rosaline's tears flowed down her cheeks.

Love was said by many to be unforgiving when it was not reciprocated. Abram felt that towards Jessica. He had walked behind her, making sure she got home. He watched every step taken by the lady and sighed.

“Jessica, may I speak to you?” Abram found the courage to call at her.

“There is not much we can talk about. I am upset, but it may not matter.” Jessica replies without looking back. “What can I do? I am the daughter who must listen to the parents.”

“No, Jessica. I just want to say ….” Abram tried to explain himself. The lady stopped and turned towards him.

“What do you want to say? That you love me? That you need me? I can be a great mother too. I can have a dozen children bearing your image.”

“No, Jessica. I want to say ….”

“Let me go home. Tomorrow, you can speak to my parents about the wedding. I will be there.” Jessica turned to walk on. Abram was unable to speak, but for fear of her safety, he followed her.

All was not over for Romeo, who stood there looking at the departing Rosaline. They had alighted from the carriage at the house, but he did not go in. He stood there by the street and pondered on the evening’s event.

“How fares the young master of Capulet?” Mercutio approached the younger man. “If I had known you better, it would be now art thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature, for this drivelling love is like a great natural that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole (Romeo and Juliet extract.)”

Mercutio’s point is that at its root, love is just sexual desire, as most younger persons will attest to that. Mercutio, himself unattached to any lady, shared that Romeo’s romantic longing was just “driveling” and “lolling” brought on by sexual frustration.

“I am not that anymore, Mercutio. I am truly in love.” Romeo smiled. “What ails you to still be walking on the street at this hour?”

Romeo knew the man and smiled. Mercutio is known to the family; paladin was his profession, the knight in the royalty court, and often the man you looked for if you ever needed help from the palace, but he was never one to be satisfied with one lady.

“I was waiting for you.” Mercutio stood by the younger man. “You made an impression at the ball this evening.”

“Were you there?” Romeo asked. “I did not see you.”

“How could you? You were with the lady while I was with my guest, Count Paris.” Mercutio smiled. “He was there to court the daughter of Lord Dante Montague. And was disappointed this evening. One Ramone Alger had her company for himself.”

“Okay. Did he?” Romeo asked. “I did not see him.”

“He did not. That Ramone Alger dominated the lady for the whole evening.” Mercutio looked at the man. “I was unsure if that Ramone was also named Romeo Capulet.”

“Me? It … You meant Juliet Montague. Yes, I was with her, but this was our first time meeting.”

“Did you consider your selfish action could have tarnished my reputation?” Mercutio took on the sterner tone. “Do you know your name? Capulet. It stands for no interaction with Montague. Why……?”

“Oh, wait. I told Rosaline to bring you. I was the foolish one.” Mercutio sighed. “A plague on both your houses!”

“I am confused, Mercutio. Please be direct.”

“I told Rosaline to bring you there. A fool’s errand it was.” Mercutio looked at the other. “It was to allow you time to know Rosaline, but you went on your folly to look at the other lady. And one Count Paris was embarking on that too. It is a calamity in the offering.”

“I went with Rosaline, for I asked her, but I did not plan on seeing Juliet there. I mean, she was to be there, but I was not there to see her. Not my initial action. I was to enjoy myself there. I had not been to a ball like that. I then met Juliet, and we matched.”

“Idiots are we not.” Mercutio turned and walked away.