Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 61

 

61.

 

Portia Belmont retrieved her notes, while Enrico, her supportive ‘jury,’ sat back with a sigh of relief. The man looked at the lady and shook his head.

“It is unbelievable, your works. Whatever happened to our strategy here?”

“Well, Enrico. I won, and that is what matters.” Portia smiled.

“You tame the lion in the cage with your works on the blood and the pound of flesh, yet you made it roar when you submitted on the concept of mercy. Why?”

Portia recalled her last move, when she approached Bassanio, who was in fright that the lady he claimed to love was ready to slice him then. She grabbed the knife and looked at the man lying there.

“I will ……” Portia was interrupted by the call. She turned and looked at Shylock.

“I will withdraw my claim on the compensation. I will ……” Shylock turned to the magistrate. “I will request an adjournment here. I will take on the wares that were confiscated and deal with them.”

“Why then, Mr. Judas?” Magistrate Javier looked at the other. “Are you ……”

“Mercy, or racham in my language, says that God’s ‘mercies,’ or rachamav, ‘never come to an end.’” But what exactly is mercy? Is it God’s feeling of compassion or pity toward people? Does it denote a divine willingness to relent from punishment?” Shylock sighed. “I called for ‘racham.’”

“Ms. Belmont presented an interesting argument. If I am to enforce my claim, I may risk killing Bassanio, for blood will be shed. I am then without mercy to a living person, for my greed for wealth made me take another life. We are from one’s mother’s womb; ‘rechen,’ which sounded almost the same as ‘racham,’ as you may have been told, is mercy. Can I forego mercy by endangering the person who was from the womb of the mother?”

“I was a soldier once, in my younger days, bearing the weapons to take another life, as I was told to do so, but I was not one. I regretted ever having to wound or kill anyone. I did it out of spite; it was my call. I was given a spear to be returned to its owner’s mother to tell her he was not coming back. I was to kill him with that spear.”

“I did not.”

“I kept the spear and kept it with me till … it was to remind me that I had … Was it mercy to leave the other dying or to plunge the spear to end the pain? I do not know. But I know today, I cannot be merciless and have another killed for a…… pound of flesh. I give mercy today. Let him live.”

Shylock bowed to the magistrate and then left the court.

“It looked like you won, Ms. Belmont.” Magistrate Javier looked at her.

“I object, Magistrate. Andre Bassanio Tito must disclose the whereabouts of the Empress Jewels.” It was Prince Escalus.

“I know nothing of it.” Bassanio shouted out. “I was told that it was a shipment of Radu’s wares, and it included his personal belongings. I assumed it included the Empress Jewels, but I have not seen it. All I wanted to do was bring the shipment to Genoa and hand it over to the Ottoman’s commander and be paid handsomely.”

“What is his name?” "Price?" Escalus asked.

“Chorbaji Tarmuk. It was all I knew. I was short of coins and got Antonio Meli to assist. With the dues paid by the Ottoman, I was to clear my debts.” Bassanio sighed. “It was never my doing, but Antonio and Gratiano, whom I trusted, had created the tale of the jewels being with me.”

“Ask them. I know nothing.” Bassanio shouted out.

“You lied.” Prince Escalus was upset. “I will……”

“Prince Escalus, may you please restrain yourself. This is my court.” The Chief Magistrate intervened. “I will not tolerate such accusations.”

“You will hear of it from the King.” Prince Escalus stared at the Chief Magistrate.

“So be it. And leave now.” The chief magistrate motioned to the prince. The latter turned to leave with Count Paris.

In the gallery, Antonio Meli slipped away from the gathered. He was confronted by Reynard, who had a dagger at the other’s chest.

“Move with me or die here.”

“What, Empress Jewels?” The Chief Magistrate roared out. “Someone explain to me. I got a circus here to perform today.”

It was the same at the basilica when Romeo Capulet looked at the Chorbaji.

“Why am I here? I know nothing of …… I am not involved with any of you.”

“Young lad, you are Romeo Capulet, and, in some ways, you are involved with us. You are the son of Lord Gencio Capulet….”

“My father will find you, and then there will be retributions that ……” Romeo struggled in his bonds.

“Do not threaten me, young pup. I am a warrior with many battles, and more have been killed by my sword. I am a Chorbaji of the Ottoman army. However, here I am a private citizen to protect a… friend.” Chorbaji Tarmuk looked to the rear of the basilica. “If you are to fear anyone, that should be the man resting at the rear. He is Vlad Tepes, or you may have known him as the Impaler. He … should I say, impales his enemies on the stakes.”

“Vlad Tepes? The Impaler? I heard of him, but… what has he to do with me?” Romeo asked.

“Nothing. It's just that you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, your exploits are widely spoken. You are running from the authorities.”

“I am not. I am waiting for my father’s return.” Romeo said. “He will help me.”

“Of course he will. You are his son. Do you know that Lord Gencio Capulet is back? And more to it, he is also helping Vlad Tepes here?”

“It cannot be. Why would my father help a…… killer?” Romeo was upset. It was not the image that he envisages of his father.

“Well. it may have to do with the Empress Jewels.” Chorbaji Tarmuk moved the topic to that. “Your father wants the jewels.”

“Empress Jewels? Father has spoken of it, but he told me it was given to the Ottomans. Why here now?”

“Something which you may never know, young lad. It is best that you do not know the details. But for now, you are my hostage. We have many enemies hunting us, and with you here, we can have leverage here. I am outnumbered.”

“My father will kill you.” Romeo called out.

“It may be that way, but we have few options.” Chorbaji looked at the lad. “Tell me, Romeo Capulet. Have you ever fought in battle?”

“No, I am not a soldier. My father, his cousins, and the others have done so. Why do you ask?”

“Do you know why we fought in battles? It was to win. We defeat our enemy and win. But it can be that we get defeated too. We may die or be wounded, or retreat in shame, but why did we do that? For glory? Sometimes, but most times, we are tasked to get something. A city or the leader of the enemy, or maybe… a gift like a jewel.”

“For now, the task here is the Empress Jewels. In this city alone, we have many who want it. Your father, Prince Escalus, and Count Paris, and, to my knowledge, even the magistrate are involved. Almost everyone wants those jewels.”

“Who has the jewels?” Romeo asked.

“I ……” Chorbaji Tarmuk held back his words. “I am unsure. But they assumed that man there had it. For that, his life is endangered, and now yours.”

When everyone was gathering to look at Bassanio, no one hardly noticed Antonio leaving the court with Reynard. The duo took the walk to the nearby bridge and then went underneath it to talk.

“Antonio Meli, do you know who I am?” Reynard asked, holding the dagger leveled at the other.

“I have seen you before with Lord Gencio Capulet. You are named …….”

“Reynard.” The Capulet guard said. “Now tell me what you knew of the Empress Jewels.”

“I do not ……” Antonio Meli gasped when he saw the other gagged after being stabbed from the rear. Reynard turned and saw it was Abram who stabbed him.

“You……”

“Die, Capulet.” Abram pulled the dagger out before pushing the other into the riverbank. He then looked at the trader.

“One word of this, and you will end up like him.” Abram looked at the other. “Now go.”

Antonio took to his heels in the other direction, and then Abram turned around suddenly. He found himself facing the friar.

“You are a mysterious man, friar. Not many can sneak up on me.” Abram looked at the friar. “Say your prayers to him. He is dead.”

“Not needed. Only the living need to hear my prayers.” Friar Lawrence smiled. “I came with another issue. I found your son, Abram Tov. He is in Genoa but may leave soon.”

Leaving was not on the mind of the prince then, and he confronted the magistrate personally in the chambers.

“Javier, you served under me once before?” Prince Escalus took his seat at the magistrate’s desk and poured himself a glass of wine. He was accompanied by Count Paris, who had chosen to stand. He had returned to the court and made his way to the magistrate’s chamber.

“I like your chamber, well decorated and filled with many gifts.” Prince Escalus admired the lavish spread in the chamber. “Does the magistrate pay better than an officer’s pay?”

“No, Sire. I am just getting by with it. Most of these items are part of the previous magistrate’s collection. I merely have them here to continue the tradition.”

“No jewels I can see. Are they scarce here in Genoa?” Prince Escalus looked at the magistrate.

“No, Sire. We …… I hardly hold any.” Magistrate Javier replied. “I am ……”

“Surprised to see me here at the hearing. Well, I am keen to know, as you may have known. Where are the Empress Jewels?” Prince Escalus cut the conversation to the issue on hand. “Who has it?”

“I have no idea. I thought it was the trader, but we found nothing. I…….”

“Did you hide it, Javier?” Prince Escalus stared at the other. “You found it and then hid it?”

“No, Sire. I did not. I had checked my officers, and none dared to do it. The trader lied.”

“Who is Chorbaji Tarmuk?” Prince Escalus asked. “I do not like Turks.”