Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 31

 31

 

Benvolio sat in the end corner, hidden from the other patrons at the tavern. He had paid for the privacy in Genos, for in the circle he was in, the walls held ears, and the news by mouth was faster than the wind. He was seated opposite his friend, Mercutio.

“I am just back from Wallachia. Vlad Tepes is in power as the Voivode once more.” Benvolio took a sip of the mead served in the goblet.

“I last heard he was imprisoned by the king.” Mercutio was surprised. “He was there for……”

“A few of many years, we all know, but Stephen III secured his freedom in his return for the loyalty towards the King. He was released to battle the Turks again.”

“What! This must be his third term as Voivode. He holds the nine lives of the cat there.”

“Three maybe, but not nine. This round, he is not the previous voivode, you know. He is older and yes, powerless in terms of followers. The one mighty list of boyars that served him are dead or left the state. The only influence he holds is his reputation as the Impaler.”

“Worthy reputation if you were to ask me. The Mongols held their own savagery such that without a battle, cities have surrendered to them.” Mercutio said. “I heard you were last at Wallachia. I was herded here with Count Paris. He is looking to get a wife.”

“Ungracious of him, and I was holding court for him at Moldavia.” Benvolio looked towards Mercutio. “I stayed on to keep the interest of the Count there. King Corvinus did inquire about the Count, and I feigned excuses for him.”

“I thought it was Prince Escalus who was to do that.” Mercutio was puzzled. Prince Escalus was the reigning royalty of Verona and, many times, had stepped in to pacify the ruling and influential families in disputes. He was also to guard their interest at the volatile borderland of Moldavia and Wallachia. He once said that the collapse of the borderland will mean the soon-to-come end of the Hungary-to-Verona border and then all of Europe to the sea of Spain.

“Prince Escalus is at Wallachia. He is trying to assist Vlad Tepes in the coming war.” Benvolio said. “The revived Voivode is recruiting men. And women. It is essential that Vlad Tepes win.”

“Women?” Mercutio was surprised. “Are we at the stage where women are to fight for us?”

“It is a desperate time, my friend. And I am also back here to find me more men to go to war with Vlad Tepes. Prince Escalus had told me to find Count Paris and bring him back to Moldavia. More to it, on my journey here, I was told the feud between the Capulets and Montagues has flared. What is ……?”

“Unproven rumours. It seems that the Capulet heir was seen at the ball organized for the young lady of Montague. The rumours said he was the one dressed as the devil and was dancing with the lady. He had taken over the lady’s approval.”

“Lady’s approval? You mean if she is keen on him.” Benvolio laughed. “Young people are so impressionable by others who whisper some nice words or make false promises.”

“It would seem that way, but the feud with the families has deep wounds, and that was why I had to watch over the ……” Mercutio sighed.

“Over whom? The young man or the lady?” Benvolio asked.

“Both, I guess. I owed both families my …… favours.” Mercutio smiled. “The Capulet once saved my family from the business disruptions, and the Montague, well, they are not related to me by blood, but Lord Dante Montague once saved my life from some robbers.”

“You are a man torn between the two families. Mine will be with the Capulets. I am of blood nor bound by debts, but I do hold a feud with the Montague. The Lord of Montague had my cousin, Albert, taken the fall for some army supplies that he pillaged. Albert did not make it past his term of imprisonment. He died there, and I swore to repay that debt one day.”

“Why are you back in Genoa, Benvolio?” Mercutio asked. “I know you care but not that deeply for the Capulet family.”

“I hold another task, Mercutio. I may need your help here.” Benvolio looked at the other. “Can I trust you?”

“We are friends, if that is your concern.” Mercutio smiled.

“Prince Escalus entrusted me to find the Empress’s jewels here in Genoa.”

“You mocked me, Benvolio. The jewels are with the Turks.” Mercutio laughed.

“Claimed to be, but there were rumours that it was not. It is missing, and some said that it is here in Genoa or en route here. I am checking that.” Benvolio smiled. “If you assist me, you will have a part of the reward.”

“Are we not allies of the feuding families?” Mercutio taunts the other.

“Mercutio, we served with each other in the wars, and the bond there is deeper than the ones we hold for the families here.” Benvolio smiled.

“I am intrigued. Count me in then. If truly it is in Genoa, the Montagues and Capulets will know. They are the only ones capable of handling such wares. Then we are indebted to each other.”

“By our blood, we will hold to that.” Benvolio laughed.

Debts are, at times, set by bloodline. It was how Vlad Tepes had to face when he arrived at Genoa. He had arrived there in disguise with three of his personal guards. He knew that his face was well known and had his face covered with the mask from over his nose to his neck. He wore a hood over his head and walked without looking up. He soon arrived at his home and saw the armed guards. He did not approach it directly but sent one of his guards towards it. Bribes were given, and his guards took over the duty. He made his way inside and saw Katharina in the living area. She was weaving a design on the cloth there with her hands. She looked at the stranger who was standing there. She was to call the guards when Vlad removed the hood and mask.

“Vlad! I ……” The separated couple embraced each other with emotions flowing from their hearts. They sat down and shared their plight while being separated. They took their seat on the long bench there.

“I was arranged to be here by Lord Gencio Capulet. He got the carriage ready for us to depart that night.” Katharina related her tale. “I fled with young Mihrea and … Nicolae. They are your sons. We were housed here and given supplies by the Lord.”

“My sons? Yes, where are they?” Vlad asked. “I have not seen them for a long time.”

“Mihrea is at the training school. He wants to be like you. A warrior. As for Nicholea, he is at the library. He wishes to study the scrolls instead.” Katharina replied. “They are … they look like you, but they are …”

“Kind compared to me? Obviously, my reputation is rumoured even at Genoa.” Vlad sighed.

“That was why we have guards here, and when we step out, there will be other guards.” Katharina explained. “It was for our safety. We cannot move freely, but with the guards, we do go out at times.”

“And who are you?” The voice carried across the living area. Vlad turned to look and saw it was a lady.

“Lady Sofia. I have a guest. He is ……” Katharina stood up. “He is ……”

“Vlad Tepes, the father of the children.” Vlad Tepes bowed to the lady. “I rode from Wallachia.”

“And please be seated, Lord Vlad Tepes.” Lady Sofia did a cutesy towards the man. “I am Lady Sofia Capulet. I am the ……”

“I heard of your name, my lady. Lord Gencio Capulet mentioned you to me. I am ever thankful for your hospitality here.”

“My Lord has many good things to say of you, but he is not here. I think he is in Moldavia.” Lady Sofia said, “He travels far and wide.”

“I will leave you to speak to Katharina. I am in need at other places.” Lady Sofia turned to leave.

“Lady Sofia, I will need ……” Vlad cut off.

“No one else needs to know of your whereabouts. I will have Reynard, my chief of the guards, double up their numbers. Your men can rest and rest assured, they will be given rest and food.”

“Thank you, Lady Sofia. My appreciation to you.” The lady had taken leave of the couple then.

“She may be fearful of me. I am, after all, a killer ……” Vlad sighed. “The whole lands around Wallachia had that image of me.”

“Not to your family, you are not. They loved you as their father. In this house, you are Vlad Tepes, my lover and father to the children.” Katharina smiled. “I am inviting you back home.”

At the home of Shylock, Abram sat there to look at the piece of agreement signed by Antonio and Bassanio. He was not a man of understanding on the written paper, but he knew that the collection was going to be delayed.

“Shylock, I cannot help you here. I am to join Lord Dante Montague at Moldavia. He called for me.”

“You have to help me.” Shylock looked at the man. “Was it my daughter’s refusal to marry you that made you now decline my task?”

“No, arch bekor (older brother in Hebrew).” Abram lowered his head. “I am not suitable for your daughter. I am too…”

“Old? When has age determined a wedding?” Shylock snapped back. “I am her father. I will decide whom she is to marry.”

“I must go, Shylock. I will see you another day.” Abram left the man alone. Shylock looked for his daughter and found Leah instead. He told her of Abram’s refusal to help him.

“What am I to do when Bassanio defaults?”

“Follow the agreed terms,” Leah said.

“A pound of flesh? It may kill him.” Shylock looked to Leah.

“If we do not enforce it, it will ripple through the community. Your name will be dragged down with it. None of your debtors will fear you then.” Leah told her lover. “If I am to remove a man and his family from their home and leave them to the streets, so be it. That is our profession.”

“I am ……” Shylock had a sense of remorse for lending the coins.

“Remember what you told me when in the infantry. It was kill or be killed. Kill now.” Leah grabbed her lover by the arms. “You must be brave.”

Brave was what Bassanio tried to be when he met Portia. He showed her the letter of agreement between him, Antonio, and Shylock.

“Madness!” How could he impose such a term?” Portia read the agreement. “Is he mad? How could you accept such terms?”

“I hear you, but I had little choice. My shipments have taken the bulk of my coins. I have no other to turn to. Lord Dante Montague had declined me.” Bassanio lied. He had not met Lord Dante Montague.

“Lord Gencio Capulet was away, and the others are not keen.” Bassanio replied. “Only Antonio was kind enough to hear me, and we met Shylock.”

“Shylock held a reputation in Genoa for being unscrupulous. All of them in that trade are the same.” Portia sighed. “We had to deal with them earlier, when we were financially stretched. My father used to come back and mutter about their rates.”

“Portia, I… need your help here.” Bassanio looked at her. “I was desperate to go into the deal, but I wanted to impress you. I will find…”

“Let me think of a way. My father’s wealth is untouchable till I am wedded to you.” Portia looked at the man she had thought was her best choice, but there were anxieties then. It was not of the wealth, but the sincerity of love by the man. He had shown her his nice personality, but she was wary of being used. She was questioning her choice of the man.

“Let me talk to the others.” Portia took her leave with Bassanio's plea for help desperately displayed on his face.