Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 64

 64.

 

The gathering at the home of Lord Schmidt Helmut was full in attendance, with even Lord Gencio Capulet and Lord Dante Montague in attendance. They got the invitation that morning. There was the magistrate himself, with Count Paris on the side. Prince Escalus was standing by the fireplace to address the gathered. They had convened in the library there.

“Lord Schmidt held a cellar of wines, which I am enjoying. That is something; I have found pleasure during my stay here at Genoa. However, I find it frustrating with my stay here not being able to get hold of the Empress Jewels.”

“Lord Gencio Capulet, you told me you will find it, but to this moment, I have not seen any progress from you.”

“My prince, I have been busy.” Lord Gencio Capulet pushed the issue off.

“Obviously, you were. Your son, Romeo Capulet, is a wanted felon by the authorities. And Magistrate Javier is unable to do his task to apprehend the lad just yet.”

“My prince, the lad you mentioned is elusive, but we will get him soon.” Magistrate Javier stared at the lord. “He may be with help from the family.”

“Please do not accuse…” Lord Gencio Capulet was not to take the accusation then. He was cut off by the prince.

“Enough of these words. I am only here to get the Empress Jewels. I hold no interest in anything else.” Prince Escalus looked to the magistrate. “With the conclusion of Bassanio’s case, the fate of the jewels is still missing. What is your assumption? He lied? He was cheated? And who is Chorbaji Tarmuk?”

“I ……” Magistrate Javier struggled to reply.

“Are you that incompetent? Or perhaps the takings as a magistrate overwhelm you?” Prince Escalus stared at the other. “And to you, Count Paris? What progress have you made on the issue?”

Everyone else who was gathered there looked elsewhere.

“I would like to be excused, Prince Escalus.” Lord Dante Montague stood up from the seat. “I have……”

“Sit down, Lord Dante Montague. I know from my network; you were the first among them all to know about the Empress Jewels. You were to trade it to the Ottoman Sultan, but Lord Gencio Capulet… took it from you and did the trade.”

“Prince Escalus, what had transpired has nothing to do with today.” Lord Dante Montague walked to the doorway.

“My patience with you is getting less, Lord Dante Montague. You walked out on me more than once. I will … not tolerate that. Sit back, Lord Dante Montague.”

The tone of the voice from the prince was not courteous but threatening. Lord Dante Montague took back his seat.

“As there was no progress, I took the liberty of doing my own investigations.” Prince Escalus stepped to the window and looked outside at the garden. “See that case there.”

The prince motioned to the case on the table.

“It holds ducats, and it is halved by now. I paid well for information. It is part of the war lessons I learned. No battles can be won without knowledge of your foe. Nothing can remain hidden if you know who to ask.”

“Ever since I arrived, I have had informants out there. In Hungary, it was set, but not here. Vuk Brakovic helped me there, but he felt his task was done and left for Hungary. He is a warrior and not a member of the Court. He believes in direct confrontation, not backstabbing.”

“However, in any battle, you need more than one front to contend with. I created multiple fronts and find my strategy there.”

 “I call upon my first informant. Bring him in.” Prince Escalus's loud voice reached outside the library. A man was dragged in by two guards.

“Officer 23567 Maurice of the Magistrate’s Court. He was assigned to guard Ms. Belmont on the order of the magistrate. He was accompanied by Officer 24602 Jean, who I was told eluded arrest after freeing one named Jessica Judas.”

“How are you, Officer Maurice?” Prince Escalus looked at the officer who was left lying on the flooring. “I was told that you fell several times in the dark basement. Such a messy place it was, and the rats are huge.”

“I ……” Officer Maurice recognized the magistrate and was about to speak when the prince continued.

‘Officer Maurice was assaulted during a break-in, and of course his injuries were aggravated by the falls in the basement. However, he did report on one other matter that interested me. He told me that there were talks of a group of Turks in the city holding watch on a house here.” Prince Escalus looked at the magistrate. “I was just asking the… right questions. Your officers are well versed with the happenings in the city.”

“However, he was not to know more. He, however, told me the house belonged to the Capulet.” Prince Escalus shifted his focus onto the lord. “I did some checks and found it was true, and a family lived there. It was the family named Vlad Tepes, or you may know him as the Impaler.”

Lord Gencio Capulet was stunned.

“Nasty person, but he was released by the king to battle the Turks. He did but was reported to have died. Well, he is very much alive here in Genoa, but not at the house. He was taken away by the Turks to another place of hiding.”

“How did I know of this? Well, the servants do talk when they are paid well.” Prince Escalus smiled. “I do pay well.”

“The question remains, where was he taken to, and why would he interest me?”

“For one, he is a fugitive from the King, and I am obliged to capture him. Second, he is Radu Tepes's brother and the last known person to see the jewels. Third, the news I got was Vlad Tepes is protected by one named Chorbaji Tarmuk.”

“Genoa is a huge city, but the talk of the dwellers is astounding.” Prince Escalus smiled.

“I will get onto the task.” Magistrate Javier felt embarrassed that another had to tell him how to do his tasks.

“Soon, but I am not done. I have my friends check on other matters. For one, one named Lorenzo Capulet had booked passage to Spain to sail tonight.” Prince Escalus looked at the lord. “The stewards at the wharf are…good servants.”

“I will stop him.” Lord Gencio Capulet stood up.

“Please stay calm, my lord.” Prince Escalus said. “I was wondering why the Capulet stepson was leaving so soon. His other brother is in hiding, and yet he leaves. Does he have the… something I want? Perhaps a set of jewels?”

“My son… stepson does not have anything to do with the jewels. He knows not it.” Lord Gencio Capulet defended Lorenzo. “He may be …… coincident to leave. His mother will know. Maybe visit a relative there.”

“With another, I am curious. Perhaps he was leaving with Romeo? They have the jewels and are about to abscond with them… of course with your blessing.” Prince Escalus said. “You may be hiding them all.”

“I know …… I did not. You knew of my son’s so-called involvement in the death of my relative and other Montagues. You told me that I could bargain for my son’s release.”

“Yes, I did. Lord Gencio Capulet, you are powerful in Genoa, and with that, you could upturn Genoa easily to find your son or even get the release for your son, but you did not. You stalled for time.” Prince Escalus hit back. “I offered you a chance to get back your son … in good faith.”

“I could not find him… nor the jewels. I am still looking.” Lord Gencio Capulet uttered. “I know nothing of them.”

“And to you, Lord Dante Montague. You could have done the same but did not. I was puzzled by that. However, the rumour of your daughter involved with the Capulet linked you here. What baffles me is the excitement of the lady to search for the lad. Love is ever powerful. Or perhaps, the riches of the jewels bind them.”

“My daughter and my family affairs are my own, Prince Escalus.” Lord Dante Montague argued. “I have no involvement with the Capulets nor the jewels.”

“Yet, you met Radu Tepes before his… death. How odd can it be that the Tepes appeared to be dead but turned up later as undead? Is he dead as dead? No one seems to remain dead anymore.” Prince Escalus stared at the lord. “You …… Yes, I knew. The servants talked. You also met Vlad Tepes.”

“I will not stand for these ……. Accusations.” Lord Dante Montague once again stood up.

“You will.” Prince Escalus stared at the lord. “I had your daughter followed and whom she meets. There were a few; one was named Lorenzo, and another was a friar, a man of the faith. And Ms. Belmont. She is leaving Geno soon, as I was told. Maybe she lied about the jewels.”

“I had them followed and learned of the things I just said. But the friar was elusive. For a man of faith, he was good. He has shaken off my informants several times, but he may get careless. As all of you did.”

“All of you are somewhat linked to the Tepes’ family and from there to the jewels. However, you may come to my aid. I will pardon you and even get the magistrate to drop the charges.”

It was then a servant appeared.

“Ah, good news, I hope.” The prince leaned in and listened to the whispers of the servant. He then looked at the gathered.

“I found Vlad Tepes.”