The Duke's Bride

[Hanza koshack]

I see the others in the distance and hurry my caravan to meet them. I'm not as quick as I once was and the Scottish climet is much colder then my desert home. Still my Tova is in danger and these friends will help sav3 her.  I pull my wagon ahead and meet the wild scot at the head of this.

"Shalom, I'm rabi hanza koshack. There are still hours befor the sun warms the earth and our friends could use some rest and you could use the knowledge I have. Come let us pull off here and rest, I have bread and honey to share." I say gently

[Lance Roidmet]

"Don't need food," he pants, then grits his teeth a bit as he swings off the horse. It's been a while since I rode that far and long. "Horse needs a rest. Water, I suppose."

[Hanza koshack]

"Come sit" I say tuning around on the bench and tapping the wagon behind me "you are a man of honor the least I can do is share food and drink with the man who would join an army to free my daughter." I say smiling uncorking a water skin and offering it to him

[Lance Roidmet]

"Ah. You're the father." He moves to sit, letting someone take his horse to water and brush while he takes the water skin from Hanza. 

[Hanza koshack]

"Now my friend, I assume you have a plan but there may be a problem with that. My daughter has sent out a call. A call to god themselves and all their angles and demons to bring down this castle in two days time. Or sooner should they die in their ordeal. Now Eliana has put out a call for the day after tomorrow but I'm sure you have your own plan. So tell me friend what is it?"

[Lance Roidmet]

His face is stormy. "She can do that?"

[Hanza koshack]

"She is yadvashem righteous amongst nations. She has walked through the land of demons and angles and come out unscathed. She is gods profits made flesh. She and any of us here can do such. Maybe not as quickly but she is young and torture is a good sacrifice to add speed to heavens time"

[Lance Roidmet]

"Then what are we all doing here, if she's so powerful she can just--! Why doesn't she just solve this herself?"

[Hanza koshack]

"Because she can't do it now. Her suffering has to build over time. And she is bound with special ropes to inhibit her power. Diplomacy is the best way forward though by the look in your eye you were planning on a duke at least."

[Lance Roidmet]

"Why don't you just cut the ropes and let her loose?" asks Lance, bitterly. 

[Hanza koshack]

"Because suffering is a sacred act. To come between Tova and her pain would be to take the opportunity of growth from her soul! An act so cruel and wicked as to birth the demons of intitlment. It would be a fate worse than death to end the suffering of another before their time, especially as she did not call for help but instead vengeance. It would dishonor her wish to suffer......." I say in the most salon tones "Also we cannot get in." My face breaks into a wide grin and I can't help but laugh at his somber face. "My friend it is a joke! She has asked for help but made plans for if we cannot reach her. She knows how hard a siege can be. And as for just walking in well we are Jews and we are not welcome in your world."

[Lance Roidmet]

"I can get in," he says, in a low growl. "They won't dare bar the neighboring duke, especially if I challenge him to a duel."

[Hanza koshack]

"Ah a wise man uses diplomacy first an violence second." I say nodding. "Tell me friend once war is prevented what is your plan?"

[Lance Roidmet]

"I kill the duke in a duel, someone else takes over, I go home. What's to plan?"

[Hanza koshack]

"Tova tells me you are a man on a mission of revenge. Once that is done what will you do? Vengeance is not something one easily retires from. I learned that lesson long ago."