Ingeras was lying on the ground, anxiously tossing and turning. Horrible, gut-wrenching images morphed together in his imagination: what had happened to his wonderful Momma, Vlad losing his temper after the people tried to kill him in the blacksmith's shop, his sister trying to save him then being ruthlessly stricken before his very eyes…"No...no! Papa! Papa!" Ingeras cried, then he opened his eyes. Where was he? "P-Papa?" He blubbered, glancing at his surroundings.
He was in a large tent with fancy furnishings. But his hands were still tied, and he was lying on the hard ground. Everything came back to him and he shuddered. He wanted his Momma, he wanted his big sister, but above all, he wanted his brave father. Ingeras was heartbroken, and so scared. Everything he'd loved and known had been stripped away from him, and so quickly! And now he was all alone! "Papa, please come find me. Please find me!" He curled up into a ball with his arms hugging his knees, tears streaming down his small face.
"Ah, good. You are awake." Mehmed sighed as he stepped in. "I trust you had a good sleep?"
"Let me out of here!" Ingeras begged. "I want to go home!"
"Already? But that would spoil all my plans." Mehmed shook his head.
"I don't want to be here. Your soldiers killed my momma! And you kill...killed my sister! You and your soldiers!" Ingeras cried, looking up at the sneering man with grief in his eyes.
"Aye, your mother was a beautiful lady." Mehmed commented in a patronizing tone. "Too bad she was in love with a monster. Your father is the one who killed her, boy. He could've saved her. So, why didn't he?"
"NO!" Ingeras cried out in anguish. "No, he didn't!"
"Then how come your mother is not alive now?"
"She was kicked to the edge." Ingeras said. "She slipped. Papa tried to save her!" Ingeras wept. "You killed my sister! I saw you! How could you do that?"
"She got in my way." Mehmed said nonchalantly. "Too bad, really. She was very pretty. She would've made me a rich man. I could've made a real fortune with her. I know some people who would give a year's tribute for a girl like that...particularly a prince's daughter? And the daughter of the most terrifying warrior in existence? Though I don't think I would've given her up that easily. No. She would've been my present to enjoy around here, had she lived. I'm afraid I acted in haste on her part. A most unfortunate turn of events." He shrugged.
"Sarai..." Ingeras whimpered. "My father will be angry when he finds out."
"And that is just what I am counting on." Mehmed grinned. "Vlad was quite a fierce warrior once. The greatest of armies fled in terror at the mention of his name. What a shame that he turned soft. He will come for you, lad, I have no doubt. And when he comes, I will kill him."
"NO!" Ingeras wailed. "Please, no! Don't kill my father!"
"He defied my order. Someone has to pay the consequences. It might as well be him. His head will be on display under my father's roof, as a tribute to my father's time as sultan."
"NO! NO!" Ingeras screamed his heart out. Mehmed stooped down next to him. "Please don't!"
"You see, if he had just handed you over to me in the first place, he could've avoided all this trouble." Mehmed said lightly. Then with a swipe of of his arm, he slapped the young boy, knocking him to the ground. "Oh, your father will come looking for you, have no fear. I can hardly wait." Mehmed sneered and marched out.
Ingeras lay on the ground, curling tightly up into a ball. He just wanted out of this! "Papa!" He sobbed. "Papa..."