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Disclaimers: see previous chapters.
CHAPTER 12: A MESSAGE
Targoviste, Wallachia 1461
Five years Vlad III Dracula had been ruler of Wallachia and transformed the country to one of the most law abiding and peaceful countries of the entire Europe. People could leave all of their belongings to outside a whole night without fearing anything would be stolen. The impaled bodies had brought the message to people that all lawbreakers would be severely punished.
Of course, Vlad had always known peace wouldn't last forever. Unlike his father Vlad Dracul and Vladislav II, Vlad had completely stopped paying taxes to the Turks. Those taxes had kept Turks from invading Wallachia in the past, but they wouldn't put up with Vlad's rule for long. And so it was in the winter of 1461 that Ottoman Empire send their ambassadors to demand answers from Vlad.
Vlad sat on the throne, the room surrounded with his closest men, when two Turks were let in. They both had beards and were dressed in expensive looking clothes with gold and jewels and had turbans on their heads. They both looked Vlad hesitantly. Vlad wasn't sure if he had ever in his days of captive met either of the two men, but if he had, they probably only remembered a sixteen year old young boy. Now they saw a thirty year old man.
"Lord Dracula", other man started finally, "we have been sent by our Sultan to demand an explanation".
"An explanation for what?" Vlad asked with a bored tone, though he paid attention to their every movement.
"Of why you have stubbornly refused to pay taxes for our Sultan" the man said.
"Wallachia is not under the rule of Ottoman Empire. I owe nothing to little Mehmed" Vlad said.
The other man, who hadn't yet spoken, gasped when hearing Vlad using the name of the Sultan. "You insolent dog! You will feel the wrath of our Sultan and your country will drown in its own blood!"
Vlad pretended to yawn. "Bold words from men who even refuse to remove their turbans when addressing a ruler of a foreign land".
"Ah, but surely you know, Vlad, that it is their custom to keep Turbans on their heads. You should remember their customs, even after all those years" said another, surprising voice from behind the two ambassadors.
The ambassadors turned around to reveal a man, who was dressed in similar Turkish clothes, but had no Turban. His long black hair was free and he had a handsome face. Even after 14 years Vlad still recognised him.
"Radu?" Vlad whispered, not believing his eyes. The bastard Sultan sent my own brother here!
"It has been a long time, Vlad" Radu said, having a small, confident smile on his face. He turned to ambassadors. "Maybe it will be better if I speak to him alone".
The ambassadors seemed to consider for a moment and then left the room. Vlad whispered something to one his guards who also left the room. Then Vlad turned back to Radu, who was still smiling.
"You must have lots of nerve to come here, Radu, to this country where our father lived" Vlad said, his voice dangerously low.
"Our father sold us to Turks, Vlad. You of all people should know that" Radu answered calmly, showing no signs of worry.
"True, but I never sold myself to the Turks. Look at you. If I did not know better I could swear you are a born Turk".
"It is better to be Sultan's lapdog than enemy. His enemies never have a pleasant end. And neither will you unless you realise your situation, Vlad, and start paying taxes" Radu said with sterner voice.
Vlad smirked. "Is that brotherly worry I see, or are you just afraid Sultan might take his anger on you?"
Radu sighed. "Vlad, you know that Sultan has his men gathered on the other side of Danube. One word from him and they'll attack. What possible chances would you have? You should think about your position. The new King of Hungary, Matthias Corvinus, is said to not prefer to even hear your name. Be friend with the Sultan and your place is secured. Think of yourself, Vlad. Think of your son".
Vlad was quiet for a moment. Then the guard he had sent away earlier came back and whispered something to his ear. Vlad rose from the throne and walked towards Radu, smiling.
"Come with me, Radu, and you shall have my answer" he said.
They walked out of the throne room. Radu took one look outside and stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide. He saw how Vlad's men were holding the two ambassadors, who had huge nails hammered through their turbans to their heads.
"See, brother, did I not respect their customs? I even made it easier for them" Vlad said, an air of humour in his voice.
Radu turned from the dead ambassadors to Vlad. "You madman! You condemn yourself and all of Wallachia!"
Vlad's smile disappeared and he walked very close to Radu, speaking with a low voice. "You listen to me now, Radu, and what I say you can tell to Mehmed. I will never, ever, bow to Turks, to Sultan, to Ottoman Empire. And I especially will never bow to you, Radu. I will fight till my last breath. I will destroy everything that comes to my way and sacrifice all that is needed. I will fight until I am killed. And when someone kills me, he better make sure he kills me good" he whispered.
Vlad took a step back and smiled again. "Now, run off to your Sultan".
With a slightly terrified expression on his face, Radu left.
--
"There is no turning back now" Isabel said, later that day in their bedchamber, as Vlad told her what had happened.
"No, there is not. I have already given word to my generals to start assembling our troops by tomorrow morning. We will have the element of surprise by our side" Vlad said, as he followed with his eyes the maids who took their two year old sleeping son Mihnea away.
"Are you certain?" Isabel asked, sitting down on the bed, next to Vlad.
"It will take time before Mehmed gets Radu's news, and after that it will take time before he sends a word for his troops to attack. By then it will be too late".
Isabel was quiet for a moment. "And when he realises what has happened he will save no expenses in attacking".
Vlad nodded. "True. I can count on Stefan to help me, but that is all I can count on. Matthias Corvinus of Hungary most likely will not offer help". Vlad turned his head to look Isabel. "Did I commit a terrible mistake?" he asked.
Isabel shook her head. "No, my husband. Mistake would have been to repeat the mistakes of your predecessors you have vowed not to repeat. Mistake would have been to give up this country that you have shaped the way you wanted to those you hate the most. Mistake would be to give up".
"What will I do if the moment comes when all hope seems to be lost?" he asked.
"You will put your hope into your country, in me and in God" she said and touched the cross around Vlad's neck.
Vlad looked at his wife for a moment that seemed to last forever, before he laid them both down to the bed.
--
2 weeks later:
Adrianopole, Thrace
Sultan Mehmed II, leader of the Ottoman Empire and the conqueror of Constantinople, had been summoned out of his personal chambers due to an important matter. A man, wearing uniform of his army, had been brought to his palace. The man looked tired, hungry and as if he had went to hell and back. When seeing the Sultan the man fell to the ground in front of him.
"Speak up. Who are you and where have you come from?" Mehmed demanded.
"Oh, your Majesty, I was amongst those who had camped on the shores of Danube in Serbia" the man spoke.
Mehmed raised an eyebrow. "I had sent an order for that group to attack Targoviste. Why have you returned like this?"
"Your Majesty, I…I am the only survivor".
"What?" Mehmed asked, certain he had heard wrong.
"We are the only survivors. The Tepes…Tepes attacked us in the dead of night. He had sent neither warnings nor messengers. He and his group came so fast. And he fought like the devil himself. Our captains and comrades were all cut to pieces or impaled and left to birds. I…I alone was spared".
"Why? Why would he spare you?"
Man raised his fearful eyes. "He ordered me to deliver a message to your Majesty" man spoke and handed a single piece of paper.
Mehmed took the paper and opened it. Five words were written with blood.
Catch me if you can.
To be continued…
Historical changes: The killing of ambassadors with nails through their turbans is true, recorded fact. If Radu was with them, I don't know. I don't know if Vlad ever saw Radu again after fleeing Adrianopole. Fact is that Vlad made a sneak attack on Sultan's troops on Danube. Letter is my idea. Since we know how Alucard loves to taunt his enemies, I figured it is a habit he had already when he was human.
Till next time. Remember to review!