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Disclaimers: see previous chapters.
CHAPTER 7: OPORTUNITY
Buda, Hungary 1452
King Janos Hunyadi of Hungary had been correct in taking Vlad and Stefan under his care. He knew that both of them would finally try to take their lands back, and if they would succeed it would be more beneficial for him to be their friend than enemy. Although both Wallachia and Moldavia were nothing compared to the Kingdom of Hungary, Hunyadi had more pressing concerns. After Mehmed II had become the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Hunyadi was certain he would try to succeed in his father's dream and conquer the Europe and Christendom. Some petty quarrel with neighbour countries could not come and distract him now.
Of the two men Vlad especially showed amazing amount of hate towards the Turks. Hunyadi could only imagine what the young man had gone through during his years in Thrace. Vlad was more than eager to share all of his information about the Turks and their methods and trainings. With Vlad's information Hunyadi now had a far better idea of their enemy than ever before.
However Vlad, as useful and promising as he was, also worried Hunyadi. It wasn't that he was eager to prove his loyalty to Hungary by overthrowing Vladislav II and taking Wallachia for himself. Hunyadi knew how to deal with that kind of eagerness. With some smooth talking he was able to keep both Vlad and Stefan from doing anything they were not ready yet. It was Vlad's interest to something totally else that surprised him.
Hunyadi didn't know how, but somehow Vlad had encountered the unspeakable evil that only few believed and lesser had stood against. Vlad revealed in his subtle questions about creatures of the night and the pendant XIII. Hunyadi sighed and traced the pendant he had earned many years ago then with his fingers. When he had been younger he too had been fighting against the darkness, but after becoming the King of Hungary, other things had taken his time. He wondered if Vlad too, before he would sooner or later take the throne of Wallachia, would rise against these monsters. It certainly wouldn't hurt to have a capable young man as him on their side.
Still, Hunyadi was hesitant in bringing Vlad closer to the secrets of that world which was hidden. For months he tried to direct Vlad's attention to other things. Their mutual hate towards the Turks helped first, but in time Vlad had already told everything valuable he knew and since there was no battles to come in near future, Vlad's attention returned to what he had encountered and he once again started dropping the subtle questions to the King. Hunyadi's next method had been trying to befriend Vlad and Stephen with his first son Laszlo who was about their age. However this too only worked for a time being, for though Stephen and Laszlo came along well, Vlad refused to let go of his curiosity. Hunyadi's second son Matthias was ten years younger than Vlad, and therefore Vlad saw him still as a child. Thing angered Matthias greatly who was far more clever than most of his age.
In the winter of 1452 King Hunyadi finally found a way which he believed was safe to satisfy Vlad's curiosity. He told Vlad he wanted to talk to him privately and when he pulled his XIII pendant and said he was going to tell about it, Vlad's eyes began to sparkle.
"You must first promise me, Vlad, that you will not mutter a word about this to anyone. This information is only for the privileged few ones. Not even all the rulers of kingdoms know about this" King Hunyadi said, his voice commanding.
"I swear by my mother's grave I will not tell anyone about this" Vlad said. At this point he would swear anything.
Hunyadi took a breath and prepared himself in telling some of the most highly guarded secrets of the world.
"Vlad, you have probably heard about people talking of strange creatures that pray humans at night. Monsters that get their supernatural powers directly from Satan. Werewolves, witches…and vampires" Hunyadi started.
"They are not folklores" Vlad stated. It was not a question.
"Unfortunately they are not. Every story, no matter how unbelievable, has a little bit of truth behind it. Unholy creatures that should only exist in nightmares and hell do roam the earth. They are called midians".
Vlad was quiet. He had concluded as much. "And the people who wear the pendant…you hunt them, don't you?"
"Yes. This is the pendant of the Brotherhood of Iscariot, also known as the section thirteen of Vatican" Hunyadi told.
Vlad's eyes winded. "Vatican? This brotherhood works under Vatican? And is named after Judas?"
"Yes. It is a secret society that has specialised in exorcist, witch hunting and destroying midians. Most of its members are Vatican priests or knights from the noble families, but sometimes also those commoners that have faced this evil and survived, find it in themselves to fight against it and they join Iscariot. And Judas, unlike the bible says, was also a hunter of these creatures" Hunyadi said.
"Now, Vlad, have you ever heard of a place called Scholomance?" he suddenly asked.
Vlad raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Yes, I've heard of it. It is said to be a magical school where the devil teaches the secret of black arts. Is it…is it true also?" Vlad couldn't help but ask.
"The school of Scholomance does exist, Vlad. It is located in the Carpathian Mountains, very near of your birth country Transylvania. It is not run by the Devil, I assure you. Though the headquarters of section XIII is located in Vatican, it has training and teaching facilities all around Europe, wherever sightings of midians have been made. The school of Scholomance is one of those facilities, working here in the area of Carpathian. That is were the existence of black arts and how to defend from them is taught".
Vlad's mind was spinning. So close to his birth place has been something like that and he never even suspected. But of course I would not, he thought, any sign of these midians are been destroyed by Iscariot so the world would not know.
"Would you like to visit Scholomance?" Hunyadi suddenly asked.
Vlad was sure he had heard incorrectly. After a moment when he had reassured himself he had not swallowed his tongue, he managed to say "Excuse me, sir?"
"One of our own brave knights, young Istvan Bathory, the second son of the late palatine Istvan III Bathory, is travelling to Scholomance to be taught and trained for the next three years. I can write a recommendation for you to travel with him there".
Vlad felt the same sensation that he had felt that night come to him. One part of him was terrified and the other curios. "Would that mean that I would have to join Iscariot?" Vlad asked.
"Not unless you want to. You will not go there as an actual trainer but more of an observer. It is good for a future ruler to know how to defend his country from these creatures of hell".
Vlad pondered for a moment. Now that the opportunity he had waited for over a year already finally came he felt nervous, hesitant. But if I do not do it now I might never get another chance. And could I live with that?
Vlad held his cross tightly in his hand as he spoke. "Yes, sir. I would like to have your permission of travelling with Istvan Bathory during his training" he finally said.
--
Two days later Vlad bid farewell to Stefan, the only friend he had had.
"You are so terrible, Vlad. Abound your friend here in the mercy of that little termite" Stefan joked while subtly pointing to Matthias. The younger boy's intelligence often unnerved Stefan.
"I have confident that you can handle him. If not in a game of chess then give him some sword classes. That should put a fear of Lord in him" Vlad said.
They both laughed at that. "Take care of yourself, my friend. I am expecting to have you one day as my fellow ruler" Stefan said.
"Believe me, Stefan, I am not planning to die anytime soon".
"Are we ready to go?" came a voice.
Vlad turned to look at Istvan Bathory. He was a year older than Vlad, with short black hair and strong face. He was already on a horse, waiting not so patiently. Vlad walked towards his own horse and while he was trying to get up to his horse he glanced towards a wagon that was coming with them. For a moment he saw a face looking out of the wagon. It was a woman's face, younger than Vlad, with black hair and bluest eyes he had ever seen. They seemed almost glow.
For a little moment the two looked each others. Then the woman's face disappeared.
Vlad turned to Istvan. "Who is the lady?"
Istvan didn't even turn to look Vlad when he answered. "Isabel Mortte. Her father is working in Scholomance. We are to escort her there".
To be continued…
Historical changes: The school of Scholomance is a fictional legend, of a school in Transylvania where Devil teaches his black arts. Bram Stoker mentioned the school in his novel and hinted that Dracula would have studied in there and used the knowledge he learned to bring himself back from the dead. As you read, the Scholomance in my fic is not run by the Devil but by Iscariot, so I've changed that, but I wanted to have the school in my fic, because no movie version of Dracula has ever mentioned it. Also I didn't have much for Vlad to do during his time in Hungary so this also nicely filled the void.
This also shows my incapability to make new names. I already had a character named Isabella Mortte in one of my previous fics, "The Dearest Fiend", but I assure you this Isabel has nothing to do with that Isabella. Isabel is fictional character, slightly inspired by real events in Dracula's life. Istvan Bathory is based on a real figure of the same name, but is mostly fictional in my fic.
Also, I have a very important math exam coming within the next two weeks and I must dedicate my time for studying, so there will be no updates until the exam is over. I promise to update as soon as possible after it!
Till next time, and please, keep reviewing!