Vlad the Impaller Chapter 5

 The Lord returned alone.

5.

Lord Vlad mounted the mount and then turned to look at his sons. They were kept in the house for nearly a year, and then the words came that the Lord was to return to Wallachia but not the children.

“I have not met the Sultan.” Lord Vlad raised his objection. “And I want to take my sons.”

“They are still the Sultan’s guest.” The Grand Vizier announced to the Lord.

“It had been a year--- no, nearly one year. We came in winter and now it’s the beginning of winter.” Lord Vlad looked to the Grand Vizier. “We are tired. I can come back next season.”

“You may do so but Wallachia awaits you now. Go back and manage your land. I was told that another sat at your chair.”

“It may be my ---” Lord Vlad stopped there. He was to mention Mircea’s name and it may cause issues.

“Yes, another but not your son. His name is Lord Basarab II. He was set there by John Hunyadi.”

“That is a ---miscarriage of power.” Lord Vlad II was upset. “My sons will ---”

“They need to be here.” The Grand Vizier was displeased.

“As hostages will be the term, I believed.” Lord Vlad did not mince his words. “I know the terms well. I was one before.”

“Yes, I was informed. Was it in the court of Sigismund? Was it not as a guest? I never knew you were a hostage? I must correct my advisers.”

“I was a hostage and later became a vassal.” Lord Vlad told the other. “It was ---”

“That was why your reluctance to do the Sultan’s bidding then. You admired the Hungarian.”

“I ---do for I was one like them. I have lived with them, been like them, and even cohabit with them.” Lord Vlad made his cynical tone to the Grand Vizier.

“Yes, your lover, and mother to the children. She bore you three sons.” The Grand Vizier smiled.

“Do you have sons, Grand Vizier?” Count Vlad looked at the other.

“I have --- many ----” The Grand Vizier moved on from the trivial subject to the reason he was there. “The Sultan considered you as your --- his own. He needs you to return and served as his --- suzerain.”

“Servitude or in better terms --- slave.” Lord Vlad was displaying his annoyance.

“I will ignore that you made such an accusation at the Sultan. You are his vassal and be prepared to serve him.” The Grand Vizier looked to the Lord. “You will also not assist the enemies of the Ottoman empire.”

“I did not assist John Hunyadi to takeover the land then.” Lord Vlad II pressed on his distance from John Hunyadi.

“Yes, you did not or I won’t be talking to you now. However, upon your return, as the suzerain, you contribute an annual tribute and --- a retinue of --- five hundred Wallachian boys to serve in the Ottoman’s army. Your women are fertile with bearing sons. They won’t be missed.”

“I ---” Lord Vlad was to object but he knew that the Ottoman Empire had decreed that the conquered lands give up twenty percent of their male children to the state. The children were to be the subject of the Ottoman Empire; to serve and be converted and some become warriors under the Janissary colors.

Janissaries began as elite corps made up through the devşirme system of child slavery, by which Albanians, Armenians, Bosnians, Bulgarians, Croats, Greeks, Serbs included. They were enslaved, circumcised, and converted to the faith with the Turks, and incorporated into the Ottoman army. They became famed for internal cohesion cemented by strict discipline and order. Unlike typical slaves, they were paid regular salaries. Forbidden to marry before the age of forty or engage in trade, their complete loyalty to the Sultan was expected

“The matter is acknowledged and you will leave tomorrow at dawn. Say goodbye to the children.” The Grand Vizier excused the Lord then.

It was a tearful event for the two boys when they were told. Vlad was in his usual temperamental mood.

“I will kill the ---” Vlad was told to remain calm by his father.

“You will not utter those words ever again until you are back at Wallachia. You will learn from them. Consider it as training sessions as we did together. If one is to defeat the enemy, then the better way to do it is to study the other. Find their weakness and build your strength.” Lord Vlad looked to his sons. “I need the two of you to be brave, and braver when I am away. I will await you back at Wallachia.”

“Shed not your tears here. Shed them when you are home when you see your mother.” Those words were said, and the boys spend the night celebrating their father’s safe return. Lord Vlad did not reveal his fear to them for he was in the view that he may not make it back to Wallachia. He may be killed and his body disposed of in the wilds. He vowed that if he makes it back, he will defy the Ottoman.

“No more than I was to be born.” Lord Vlad recalled the words of Spartacus. He heard it from King Sigismund then when he was in the court of the King.

“Vlad, you are my ---guest. Not a hostage. I considered you as a friend too.” It was the extended hand of the Hungarian King. He accepted it and refused to partake in the killing of his own. It was his life then at the Hungarian Court.

“Come, Lord Vlad.” Lord Vlad's thoughts were disturbed by the escorting guards. “We need to ride now. The journey is far.”

The two boys watched their father turn the mount and rode without a second glance. Vlad held his brother’s left hand for comfort. He was frightened inside him, although his external expression was defiance.

“Boys, you are to follow me.” Vlad turned to look and saw the tall figure facing him.

“I am Mirliva Sajak, and will be your guardian from now.” The figure told the boys. “We will move to the camp where I am stationed with my columns.”

“Are you a Janissary?” Radu asked.

“I am. And you will join me there. We ride soon so be ready.” The Mirliva told the boys. “You will learn to live as I do. You will learn the life of a ---- Turk.”

“I will not be a Turk.” Vlad snapped back.

“That remains to be seen.” The Mirliva looked at the defiant one. “You are Vlad. I have been told about you. You are warrior-born. I will show you there is more to the qualities of a warrior than anger. There is the faith in the heart.”

“I will not be turned to become a priest.” Vlad was adamant about his ways. “And I won’t be tempted by your faith.”

“A stone when properly nurtured will produce water when squeezed.” The Mirliva then gave out the command to the boys. “We ride at noon.”

The journey of Lord Vlad was without any eventful issues except the reception of the people after the borders into the occupied lands. Lord Vlad saw the commoners there stood in fear of the Ottoman’s guards, and some recognized him. They rushed to him and offered food. He took it with relish and spoke to them.

“How do you all fare?”

“Lord Vlad, your land is now under a new Volvode. It’s Basarab II. He was placed there by John Hunyadi.” The elder who spoke to him. “Are you invading us with the Turks now?”

That shook the Lord of his position. He looked to the guards and asked that they let him go alone.

“I am no more the Volvode. I am a nobody now. Ride back to your Sultan and report this.” Lord Vlad told the guards. “Ride on with me and you will be killed.”

The guards with a column of a thousand were reluctant and then agreed to release him but they will wait for him at the border.

“We cannot return to Edime without delivering you.”

“Thank you, my protector. I will ride to my land and regain my honor.” Lord Vlad rode on but not towards Wallachia. He rode instead to see the King of Hungary who replaced Sigismund.

The King resided in Buda Castle, the official castle for the King. It was known as the ‘kiralyi-palota’ or the Royal Castle. It sat on the southern end of Castle Hill overlooking the churches, and public buildings. The castle held an astonishing series of royal chambers unrivaled by the others except for one in Versailles; the city where the King of France has his castle. A Gothic church was built over the old chapel by King Sigismund.

The meeting was held in the main Hall of the Palace, with the lengthy table laden with food and drinks, enough to feed a few families. There were thirty-two seats at the table with twelve candles sticks and served by fifteen servants. The walls of the Hall were adorned with the portraits of the previous Kings, and worthy Generals alongside the heavy draperies.

The King was seated at the end of the table with several other senior members of the palace.

“My King, I am Lord Vlad II ---” Lord Vlad II bowed to the King of Hungary then, King Ferdinand.

“The Volvode who was taken to the Ottoman and your land taken by another, as you did before him.” King Ferdinand looked at the Lord. “Is that the Wallachian’s way of becoming Volvode?”

“No, King. It was during my absence, that Basarab II with the help of John Hunyadi took the rank.”

“Were you not once his hostage? I meant not of the Ottoman’s but King Sigismund.” The King asked.

“Yes, I was. He was to trust me and made me his vassal. I was an officer in the army of the emperor, John VIII Palaiologos, and had access to the imperial palace in Constantinople. I was conferred the Order of the Dragon by the King.” Lord Vlad spoke of his time with the previous King to impress the current one. “I was loyal to the King. And now to you, King Ferdinand.”

“Yes, I remembered from the times I was there. Or rather here now.”  The King smiled. “You were at the left side then with the other Generals. I – I had to admit the group of them was ---- intimidating, with the swords and beards ----some of you had that then. Nasty habit for it does invite untidiness to the looks.”

“I was ---” Lord Vlad was to explain when the King went on.

“I guess, the ladies loved it. So, tell me --- the stay at ---With the Ottoman as a hostage.”

“My King, I was not a hostage. I was invited t

“There as a --- guest, and treated well. My King, I was ---” Vlad was cut off by the strong voice from the left side of the Hall.

“And yet you took off with the Ottoman when I asked of your assistance.” It was the voice of John Hunyadi who appeared then at the court of King Ferdinand.

“John Hunyadi---” Lord Vlad recognized the other. John turned to look at the King.

“That man assisted in the takeover of my land.” Lord Vlad II told the King.

“John Hunyadi, Volvode of Transylvania at your presence, my King.”

“Yes, John. I did ask for your attendance.” King Ferdinand smiled. “Since you are here now, we will proceed. Speak Lord Vlad II. You are to explain your ---situation with the Ottoman.”

“John, I did not take off. I was captured. My sons are still there as hostages.” Lord Vlad defended his stay with the Ottoman. “You took my land and placed the pretender there as Volvode of Wallachia, when I am the rightful one. You did that when I did not send my army to assist you.”

“I did not. I made sure Wallachia remained a Hungarian vassal and not of Ottoman.” John stated his defense. “Am I not right, my King?”

“I demand my rights as a member of the Order of the Dragon.” The Order of the Dragon was a monarchial order for selected nobility, created in Hungary in the late Middle Ages. The Order required its initiates to defend the Cross and fight the enemies of Christianity.

Lord Vlad II was a member of that Order.

“You are a member of the Order of the Dragon, and you may challenge for the rank and land in Wallachia.” The King looked at John then. “You may not intervene. It’s a Wallachian issue.”

“My King, Basarab II held the right to the rank. He is a descendant ---”

“And he shall defend it as all others with the same rank and proved himself to be the rightful heir. No one wants a weak leader.”

“I--- I understand, my King. I will not intervene.” John bowed to the King.

“And your army will stand down. It’s a Wallachian issue. Not yours.”

Lord Vlad knew his arguments will be fruitless if he pursued but he got what he needed then, and excused himself to return to Wallachia.