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CHAPTER 10: Return to home
Buda, Hungary 1456
Istvan Bathory and Vlad Dracula returned to Hungary after Istvan's education in the school of Scholomance came to an end. The years had been interesting to say the least to Vlad also. Not only had he secretly become a husband during that time, he had also learned much about those that hide in the night: midians. Vlad felt a certain satisfaction in learning all these things, but he knew that time had come to put such things to the back of his mind. Things were about to change dramatically.
King Janos Hunyadi had made a successful invasion to Serbia and drove the Ottomans out of there. Victory however was short lived, for during that journey King had fallen seriously ill. While he laid isolated to his bedchamber, with only his doctors and servants permitted to enter, the entire Hungary was holding its breath, waiting if the old King would recover or not. His sons Laszlo and Matthias were busy in ensuring their place of power in the court, while various barons were also trying to decide who should be the next king, to whom they should put their hopes and money to. Ladislav of Bohemia had also set his eyes to the throne of Hungary.
And it was amongst all this confusion and uncertainty that Vlad saw his chance, almost like a ray of light in the darkness. No matter if the King would live or die this was the best opportunity for him to reclaim his place as the ruler of Wallachia. Vlad immediately got in contact with the only person in Hungary he could trust; his friend Stefan of Moldavia.
"I am telling you, Stefan, an opportunity like this might not come for a second time. The entire Hungary and all the neighbour countries are waiting to know what happens to the King. Nobody has the time or energy to do anything if they notice that few men have disappeared" Vlad explained to Stefan one night in his room.
"But even if we do so, Vlad, what makes you think you can take the throne of Wallachia with a help of just dozen men?" Stefan asked.
"Stefan, last year, while I was in Transylvania…" Vlad started to explain.
"And you still refuse to tell what exactly you did there the past couple of years" Stefan interrupted.
"Stefan, Lord's sake, I've told you I swore to keep it confidential!" Vlad gave a frustrated shout.
"Alright, alright, no hard feelings. I trust you Vlad. So what is this plan of yours?" Stefan tried to calm his friend.
Vlad calmed himself. "As I was saying, when I was in Transylvania, I send a reliable person to Targoviste to do a little investigation" he told.
"What kind of investigation?" Vlad now had Stefan's full attention.
"When I lived in the palace in Targoviste, where the rulers live, I discovered a secret tunnel leading out from the castle. I think some rulers had used in past to smuggle village girls in and out of the castle. However, it had been forgotten long ago and was full of cobwebs. I used that tunnel as a child to escape whenever I felt like it. I sent that person to investigate if the tunnel had been found by Danestis. And it had not been! Do you understand, Stefan? There is a tunnel that can be used to invade the castle that they do not know about" Vlad told excitedly.
"Can we be sure that this person of yours has not told anyone about the tunnel?" Stefan asked.
"Not to worry, my friend. I terrified him well enough when I send him to his journey and afterwards I made sure he told me the truth".
"How?"
"I tortured him".
Stefan blinked at the easiness that Vlad confessed of doing such a thing. However, he couldn't come up with anything to say and had always known that there was a darker side to Vlad.
"Alright then. But are you sure that we only need dozen men for this. I'm sure Danestis have a tight security".
"The men chosen have to be professionals. They have to be trained, capable and most of all, able to stay quiet. You have been here in Hungary so you must know people willing to do this. People who have needed talents and would be ready for a reward to risk their lives" Vlad pleaded.
Stefan thought for a moment. "I do know few people who might…but I would have to come also. They'd trust me but not you. And how big of a reward are we talking about?"
"Stefan, you can tell them this. If they are nice to me I am nice to them. If they cross me I'll show them things I learned in Adrianopole" Vlad answered.
Stefan shook hands with Vlad. "Very well, my friend. I am with you till the end. How soon shall we leave?"
"As soon as possible. I don't want to be here if King recovers and notices us gone and I don't want to be here if he dies and the power struggle begins".
--
Targoviste, Wallachia
Disguised as travelling merchants, Vlad and Stefan arrived to Targoviste less than a week later, with ten hired, trustworthy men with them. Vlad looked around him. He could still recognise most of the buildings and streets, even when it had been years since he had last been here. But there was one significant difference in the town. Wherever Vlad looked all he saw was injustice and crime. He saw how an old man was beaten savagely in the broad daylight and not a soul even lifted an eyebrow for it.
Are they all so used to things like this to happen? Vlad thought, feeling disgusted and for a moment actually thought of letting Danestis to have this revolting joke of a country. Right now a sight of a vampire army attacking would have been less alarming for him.
"We've talked to some of the men we've found. People here in Targoviste are not that fond of Vladislav II, so I am sure we can get a quite nice mob for ourselves by tomorrow" Stefan said as he approached Vlad. He then noticed his friend's foul mood. "Vlad? Are you alright?"
"No, Stefan, I am not. Look what those bastards have done to this country. My father may not have been much of a leader but at least he never allowed things to get this worse. I promise you, Stefan, I promise that God help me, once I am in charge here things will change. I will pull this country back from the mud it has sunken to the glory" Vlad spoke with almost maniac expression on his face.
"And how will you do that? No matter what people are always tempted by crime. How do you think you can make them stop?" Stefan wondered.
"I saw no criminality in Adrianopole, Stefan. I saw people obey the law and rulers. Do you know why? Because they feared the rulers. Fear is a powerful tool when used correctly. And I shall teach them the meaning of fear" Vlad promised.
The group rested that night and went through their plans the following day. Vlad thought very heard of how the exteriors of the castle looked like. He prayed he hadn't forgotten some vital detail or that Vladislav II wouldn't have done some huge changes around the palace. Then as the night came, Vlad led the group to the hidden entrance of the tunnel which was located very conveniently under an old bridge near the castle.
--
Vladislav II from the house of Danesti had been enjoying the company of one of his mistresses in his bedchamber, when suddenly two of his personal bodyguards rushed inside the chamber.
"Milord! It is an emergency! The castle has been invaded!" the guard shouted.
"What?! By whom?" Vladislav demanded as he quickly pulled robes around himself.
"We are not sure, milord. We do not know how they got in but they have invaded us from the inside. Captain of the guards is dead. Then they opened the gates and a mob of people ran in before we could even react!" the guard explained.
"How could you idiots let something like this happen?!" the ruler shouted, fear evident in his voice.
"I am sorry, mi-"but the guard never apologized for suddenly a figure had appeared to the door and struck him down with a sword. The other guard reacted to his friend's demise but was attacked by another man coming from the door and soon struck down also. Vladislav II gaped in horror how his bodyguards lied dead in front of him. His mistress was also trembling in the bed, covering herself with the sheets.
A tall man with long dark hair came forward, putting the tip of his blade right under Vladislav's chin.
"Good evening, you Danesti bastard. Do you know who I am?" Vlad asked, a smug grin on his face.
"A dead man and a fool!" Vladislav shouted.
Vlad grinned even more. "I've had enough of you Danestis stealing what does not belong to you. I shall take back what was my fathers, should have been my brothers and is now mine!"
Vlad pushed the sword through Vladislav II's throat. Vladislav's eyes winded, his mouth opened but no sound came out. Only blood did. As he fell to the floor, Vlad pulled his sword back, raised it and cut the man's head off. He took the head by its hair and marched out of the chamber to a balcony. On the courtyard he could see the people that they had gathered. He raised the head.
"Vladislav II of Danesti is dead!" he yelled.
The crowd of people who had for long held a grudge against their ruler cheered at the sight of Vladislav's head.
"Hear me! I am Vlad Dracula of the house of Basarab. My father was Vlad II Dracul! From now on let it be known that the reign of Danestis is over! From now on a new time shall begin and I shall sit on the throne of Wallachia! I, Vlad III Dracula, the Duke of Wallachia!" he declared.
The crowd cheered again shouting "Dracula! Dracula! Dracula!" over and over again.
Vlad smiled. A new age was about to begin…
To be continued…
Historical changes: I'm not sure what kind of invasion Vlad made to Wallachia so I just imagined him doing such a commando attack. Let's just say this chapter is fictional but heavily inspired by historical facts.
Till next time. Keep reviewing!