Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 34

 

34.

 

Katherina held her lover from the rear. He was to leave her again and ride back to Wallachia. They had spent one night together, and it was time to be apart.

“I must go, Katherina. I have a war to battle.” Vlad held his hands over Katharina’s hands at his chest. “Stephen III awaits me.”

“Will you be back?” Katherina asked.

“With God’s mercy, I will. This round, the war will be tough. The Ottomans outnumbered us.” Vlad sighed. “It does not mean victory is theirs, but we will see who held the best strategy on the battlefield.”

“Can you just ignore the war?”

“No, Katherina. I cannot. I was released from prison to fight this war. King Corvinus will not allow me to go free.” Vlad held out the hands of his lover and kissed them. “I am destined to battle there.”

“What about us?”

“You will be safe. I am sure Lady Sofia will take care of you.” Vlad felt the emotions inside him. He was unsure of the welfare of his family under Lord Gencio Capulet’s care. His letters were never replied to, and he had to come here to see them.

“I am not worried about us, Vlad, but of you.” The lady held onto her lover.

“I will be fine. I will …… I will speak to King Corvinus when I am back at Wallachia.”

Back in Hungary, another lady awaits his lover’s return. Lady Maria Despina stood in the hall awaiting her guest. The latter had agreed to meet her, but she was to wait. He finally arrived and spoke to her.

“Doamna Maria Despina, my apologies for making you wait.” Stephen III greeted the other. “I have no news of Radu. I had sent words to my men to find him.”

“Is he well? That is my concern.” Doamna Maria Despina sighed. “I am here and he is …….”

“As I was told, he was defeated by Basarab III, but changes in the Voivode at Wallachia are ever confusing. Of later, I am to march with Vlad Tepes to reclaim the land.”

“Vlad Tepes? He who is the …….” Doamna Maria Despina looked at the Lord.

“The Impaler? Yes, that is the man. His reputation ……”

“I was to say he is Radu’s brother. They were together once before as the guests of the Sultan.”

“Yes, they were, and then …… Vlad returned here and became the Voivode before he was defeated, not once but twice. He was also the enemy of the Ottomans, and little was I to know how it affected his brother there.”

“Radu told me he was fine.” Doamna Maria Despina said. “He related to me his life there without his brother.”

“He did? It was obvious. You are his wife. Silly of me.” Stephen III laughed. “Well, of his whereabouts, I am unsure.”

Stephen III was not to tell of Radu’s possible demise in battle, but there was insufficient proof of his death except for hearsay.

“Let me assure you that once I know of any news, I will tell you.” Stephen III bowed to the lady and left.

Another lady awaits news, and that was in Genoa.

“My lady, Tybalt Capulet is dead. He was killed in a fight.” The words have reached the home of the Capulets. “He was killed by one named Mercutio.”

“Mercy!” Lady Sofia was distraught by the news brought to her by her servant. She was with Benvolio and Rosaline for tea at the library.

“What madness is there?” Lady Sofia's tears flowed. “Tybalt is …….”

“That is not all, my lady. Romeo is involved. He killed Mercutio.” The servant said. “The young master is in hiding.”

“Gracious! What has my kin relation done now?” Benvolio stood up from the seat where he was seated. “Where is he now?”

“We have no news.” The servant said. “He was last seen with Gregory and Sampson.”

“Find them. Send men to find them.” Benvolio called out. “Reynard, where are you?”

“I am here, Sir. I had been looking for Romeo.” Reynard appeared at the library. “I came back to get more help.”

“Did you find Sampson and Gregory?” Benvolio looked at the man. “Do not disappoint the Capulet.”

Reynard nodded and tried to leave, but stopped by the lady.

“Is he injured?’ Lady Sofia asked Reynard.

“I am unsure. I was told that they ran off after the death of Mercutio. I had retrieved the body of Tybalt.”

“Send me words when you know.” Lady Sofia was emotional. “Send words to Lord Gencio Capulet. He needs to know. And where is Lorenzo?”

Reynard left then.

Lorenzo had rushed to the arch under the bridge when he got word of the fight and found Romeo there with Sampson. It was Gregory who brought Lorenzo.

“What did happen? I heard you were in a fight?” Lorenzo looked at Romeo.

“It was, but things happened so fast, and next I knew, I had killed Mercutio.” Romeo sighed. “All I wanted to do was stop the fight.”

“Tybalt?” Lorenzo asked. “He is dead, as I was told. The authorities are looking for you.”

“What of Juliet?” Romeo asked.

“The vixen who got us all in this mix.” Sampson snapped out. “We …….”

“Enough!” Romeo cried out. “I need a place to hide. I need to hide till father is back.”

“I know of such a place, but we must hurry,” Lorenzo said. “The two of you must find your own refuge. I cannot hide many of you.”

It was decided then, and Gregory and Sampson took off. Bassanio was also looking for refuge. He had defaulted on his arrangement with Antonio, who had then fled to Moldavia.

“I must seek Gencio there. I will let him know of the wares, and he will assist.” Antonio told Bassanio before he boarded the carriage to go there. “You do not have to worry about the threat from Shylock. He is a toothless tiger.”

“The shipment is important. If anything happens to it, we are doomed.” Bassanio was worried. “I will have …...”

“Hold your worries, Bassanio. Once we have the wares, we will be rich.” Antonio smiled. “Say nothing of the wares there. It must be our secret.”

Bassanio was left standing there alone, and he sought out Portia.

“I am at a loss,” Bassanio told Portia. “All my wealth is on those ships.”

“Be brave, Bassanio. We will find a way to settle the debts.” Portia looked at the man who was to be her husband. He lacked courage when it was needed. She wondered if he was right for her. Was he the right man to share her wealth? After all, Portia’s wealth was huge, and if mismanaged, it would be gone in one generation. She confided in Nerissa.

“It is not that I am petty or selfish here,” Portia explained her case to the friend.

“Hush, Portia. The more you say will affect your thoughts. Bassanio is a good man, kind and loving, but he may lack the shrewdness of the trade like you. Or even Gratiano.”

Gratiano is a good friend of Bassanio and had introduced the latter to Portia’s family.

“Yes, Bassanio could borrow from Gratiano.” Portia looked at Nerissa.

“Unfortunately, no. Gratiano is himself tight with the war in Wallachia. He had invested in some wares there. He also awaits the payments.” Nerissa explained. “He will help if he can.”

“I have no one then.” Portia sighed. Her thoughts to the Capulet. They may help if she approaches them, but they are in grieving then with the death of Tybalt and with Romeo missing. The feud between the Capulets and the Montagues had never been deeper before. The two families are at odds with each other. She knew of the death of one named Mercutio, but he was said to be intervening in the fight and was killed by Romeo.

“I could talk to Jessica. I will tell her to speak to her father.” Nerissa looked to Portia. “It may buy some time for Bassanio.”

Time was not what Vlad had when he returned to Wallachia. He rode to Castle Poenari first.

“My love, are you fine?” Vlad greeted his newlywed wife. She was in their chamber and stood by the wall opening.

“It is a lovely view from here. The Argeș River valley offers a long and wide view. I stand here daily and wonder what it will be like to wander there…… without guards.”

“It is a lovely view.” Vlad stood next to the lady. “The guards are to …….”

“I know, and I stopped going out of this castle. I am …….” Lady Justina turned to her husband. “I am happy that you are back.”

“I am for now. I am to ride to war soon. Stephen III awaits me.” Vlad looked to her. “I came to …….”

“I heard you went to Genoa. Was she there?” Lady Justina asked.

“Genoa? The servants are impolite.” Vlad sighed. “I ……”

“How is she? And the children?” Lady Justina pressed on.

“She is fine, and the children are growing well. I was concerned about them for I had no news from Lord Gencio Capulet, whom I entrusted their safety to.”

“That is good to hear. I am fine here.” Lady Justina said. Families are important. You need to …….”

“Justina, we ……” Vlad tried to read his wife’s feelings.

“There is no reason for you to …… justify your feelings, Vlad. I can understand that.” Lady Justina turned to look at the valley. “We …… Our union was an arrangement by the King. We hold …… We could only oblige. And we did. I am not a widow anymore.”

“Justina, how …….”

“None needed, Vlad. Ride to war with courage. I will be here for you.” With that, Lady Justina stepped away from the wall. Vlad stood there, lost, and wanted to find a place where he could reconcile his feelings.

“Voivode, Lord Stephen III awaits your return.” The servant came to tell Vlad.

“Duty calls then.”