Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 9

 

9. 

 

In 1448, Vlad Tepes was assisted in his invasion of Wallachia. He was at the head of the army consisting of the Janissaries and the others of the Ottoman Empire, the Sipahi, heavy cavalry, and tribal horsemen in the Ottoman army. The other was the Akinci, used as raiders on the frontiers of the Ottoman Empire, subsisting totally on plunder. His army was huge and managed to rout Vladislav from the seat of Voivode.

His victory was a military one, and not of the people. Vlad was not well received by the boyars, the feudal lords of Wallachia. The peasants viewed him as a conqueror rather than their hero.

“Voivode Vlad Tepes, the gates of the city remain open for you to come in.” The boyars lined up at the gate to welcome their prodigal son. Vlad rode in with the Janissaries, a force of over two thousand, while the Sipahi and Akinci had their plunder outside the city.

“I do not see some names here.” Vlad read the list of boyars present in the hall of the Voivode’s home. “I see …”

“Some of them had died, my Lord. Some have left for Hungary. Some have …” One of the boyars stood out to tell Vlad. He was seen by them as a young, arrogant bastard who was to topple the rightful Voivode. Vlad II may have been the previous Voivode, but he had ceded to the Ottoman Empire, a shame for the Wallachians’ name.

“I am here to reclaim my father’s land,” Vlad announced to the boyars there. “I …”

“And the land is now being plundered by your army, yours.” Another boyar found the courage to speak on the action of the conquering army. “Are we … Can you stop this?”

Vlad remained silent. He was inexperienced to reply then. He held the command of the army, but his real command was only the Janissaries. He held no direct command over the others.

“I will speak to the commanders.” Vlad struggled to reply.

“Are you to do so? Our families are living in fear. Our homes were invaded. Our wives and daughters were violated before our eyes.” Another boyar cried out. “Our men … Our boys are … impaled on stakes.”

“I …” Vlad struggled to reply.

“Yet you are here.” It was one of the commanders who spoke to the boyar. “You moved them here to avoid the slaughter.”

“Aye, I did.” The boyar looked at the commander. “I did it for my family. Would you not?”

“I will have your tongue for the pigs.” The commander drew his sword, but Vlad stopped him.

“Have the army move to the borders. There they will await my orders.” Vlad told the commanders. “Only the Janissaries will remain here.”

“Vlad ….” The commander protested. Vlad held up the scroll that proclaimed him as the Supreme Commander, signed by the Grand Vizier.

“Heed my orders, or answered the Grand Vizier.” That was the ultimate command given then.

The commanders bowed to Vlad and left the hall.

“Boyars, long have you survived on this land. I have returned, and to my dismay, the treasury is empty. I want your contribution to fill it once more. The wealth will be … distributed to the peasants.” Vlad saw the discontent among the boyars.

“The ones who had fled or died will have their lands forfeited to the Voivode.”

It was a partial victory to appease the peasants and for Vlad to pay the Janissaries. Vlad sent words to his brother, Radu.

“My brother. I am now Voivode of Wallachia. The bastard, Vladislav, is not here. He has fled to Hungary. Come home, brother.”

Across the land, the bastard named by Vladislav met with John Hunyadi at his home in Transylvania. They met at the library of the Lord. John Hunyadi, claiming noble blood, also claimed to be the son of a boyar from Wallachia with a daughter of a Hungarian noble family. Vojk, John's father, took the family name of Hunyadi when he received the estate around the Hunyad Castle from King Sigismund in 1409, ennobled as count of Hunyad.

Hunyadi's victories in 1441 and 1442 made him a prominent enemy of the Ottomans and renowned throughout Christendom. He established a vigorous offensive posture in his battles, which enabled him to counteract the numerical superiority of the Ottomans through decisive manoeuvre. He employed mercenaries from recently disbanded Czech Hussite troops, increasing the professionalism in his ranks and supplementing the numerous irregulars mustered from local peasantry, whom he had no reservations about employing in the field.

“My Lord.” Vladislav looked to the other. “I had to retreat here when the army of mine, eight thousand strong, fled the battlefield. It was not that we were weak, but they …”

“Lack the will to fight, or was it your leadership?” John asked the Voivode. “You were in the Balkans, fighting the Ottomans there.”

“Yes, I was. Under the banner of yours. Wallachia was undefended, and the pretender took the seat. I had taken my men back there. We were evenly matched, but the battle was to the Ottomans. The Wallachians; some turned sides and some joined the pretender, while others fled.”

“And you fled too?” John looked at Vladislav, who remained silent. “Tactical withdrawal, perhaps.”

“Yes, my Lord. Tactical withdrawal.” Vladislav looked to the other. “I did assist you in the Balkans…”

“I will need some time to consolidate my army. We will ride back to Wallachia and kick the pretender back to his Sultan. I will recruit my army from the best. Genoa’s hold good soldiers.” John eased the pain on Vladislav.

“I repay my debts, Vladislav.”

“I will do my part too.” Vladislav meekly replied. “I …”

“Do what you think you can.” John ignored the man. “I have letters to send and sponsors to meet. The war will not be free from them.”

“I can offer them land. The boyars who are dead or fled will have their lands forfeited.” John told the other without looking up from the desk filled with papers. “Now, please go. I need the space to work.”

Words of the impending war reached Genoa, and one of the keen persons was Lord Gencio Capulet. He got the news from the other traders, and there was trade to do. He could join and be a commander. The latter will give him the influence to direct trade to his friends and himself. He rushed to the recruitment centre when he met Dante.

“Surely, Lord Dante Montague will not compete with me to be commander?” Lord Gencio Capulet smirked at the other when they were at the square.

“Commander? Me? No, I am not a soldier. I am no fighter. I am a trader and a lover”. Dante Montague heard of the recruitment of mercenaries to fight under the Hungarians’ flag. “I have much to do. I am to wed Juliette by the end of autumn.”

“Hell will freeze over then, Gencio.” Lord Gencio Capulet mocked the other. “Are you sure? We are a blazing duo in the social circle, and with you wedded… I will be the devil there all alone, holding the flaming torch.”

“You can have Hell and Heaven, Lord Gencio Capulet. I am to wed my love.” Dante laughed. “Do me a favour. Die in the war, or do not come back at all. I hear Wallachia has a lot of ladies keen to have you as their lover.”

Lord Gencio Capulet was hurt that Juliette was to wed the rival of his. She had avoided him in those recent days and did not answer his letters.

“I will fight for John Hunyadi. I was told that he held large tracts of land to give as tributes. With that, I can cease to be a trader and manage my land. I can then... What is her name? The sister of Juliette? Was she not staying in Venice until recently?”

“Angeline. Yes, she is with her family here. She was staying in Venice with their aunt. She …” Lord Dante Montague was interrupted by Antonio Meli, who was between the two and looked at Dante.

“Tell me, Dante, were you at the recruitment centre?” Antonio was the usual brash idiot. “Are you mad, or was it love unrequited?”

“It was me who needed some new actions. Are you going too?” Lord Gencio Capulet asked. “We could ride together.”

“No, I am not. I must trade in my new wares from Spain. Once I sell that, I will return you the ducats I owe you.” Antonio looked then towards Gencio. Antonio’s promise was as good as his ships arriving on time. “Are you going too? Then God will be looking after me. I will have two fewer traders to compete with.”

“Assuming your wares arrive on time.” Lord Dante Montague was to strike at the trader. “I must be on my way.”

“What is his hurry?” Antonio asked.

“He wants to get wedded to Juliette.” Lord Gencio Capulet replied. “She had decided.”

“That vixen.” Antonio smiled. “If I were …”

“If you do, then Dante will have your head on the docks for all to see.” Lord Gencio Capulet looked at the other. “Do not look little on Lord Dante Montague. I had seen him fight on the trade routes. He is a good fighter, and Mercy does not write well with him when he defends his own wares.”

“I heard of Lord Dante Montague’s prowess in fighting. It was not his wares I was referring to, but the sister of Juliette, whom I had seen, is a beauty in herself. I am in line to fight for her.”

“Who is she?” Lord Gencio Capulet asked.

Angeline Dubier. She was brought up in Venice and recently returned to Genoa. She is …” Antonio smiled with his devious expression.

“Shut your bad thoughts, Antonio. You have enough coins to spend at the brothels. Do that before I do the works of Dante on you… for free.” Lord Gencio Capulet walked to the recruitment centre. He paused there, for his mind was on Angeline. He wondered what she looked like.   

“Next!” Lord Gencio Capulet heard the call.

 

Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 8

 

8. 

The Janissaries, when they were to ride to battle, had their code of dressing. Their headgear was the Uskuf cap, or better known as the bork, the white hat with the long tail at the rear. Their uniform was a brightly coloured long tunic, a wide cloth belt, and a cape for protection from the heat and cold. Each Janissary carries a musket, the ‘trench gun’ as named by many. The Turkish weapon, "7 to 9 palms long," was used with great accuracy by the Janissaries, in which their firing outclassed that of the defenders by a long way.

When the time for the charge came, the Janissary soldier would sling his musket across his back and use his sword or dagger. The swords carried by them may be several: the Kilij, Pala, and Yatagan. They were light and greatly admired for their ease of use in battle. They also hold the Jamila dagger, a reliable weapon for close combat. They were made of steel and approximately six inches long. The daggers often had gold or silver inlay inscriptions and floral motifs. The variety in weaponry can be attributed to the fact that the individual soldier had to provide his own, and equipment could well have varied greatly from man to man.

Vlad and Radu were given the standard attire and sword. They had no muskets because their training was not complete. However, they were assigned the lance to use. The column consisted of a hundred Janissaries, of which a third were "yeni-cheri."

It was a test of their ability to be a Janissary. All the "yeni-cheri" carried the lances. The Şehzade of the Sultan administered Konya; the formerly independent principality of Karaman was annexed by the Ottomans; Mehmed II appointed his son, Mustafa, as governor of the new eyalet, with his seat at Konya. The Sultan assigns the Janissaries there to train in real conflicts.

Odabaşı (Lieutenant) Yuseff, a senior in the ranks, rode at the helm of the column. He was a veteran of many battles and was to lead his third column to rout the bandits there. He knew that the real task was to train the young ones in battle. These are all young men of the multinational ties, and their real loyalties are unproven yet. The officer surveys the terrain ahead. He halted the column and studied the surroundings.

It was a narrow valley with hills on both sides. It would be an ideal location for an ambush. The janissaries do not fear an attack, but they want to be prepared for any. He calls for three of his veterans to ride ahead on the right hill.

“Ride there, and do the lookout. Signal with the musket if you see an ambush.”

The scouts rode ahead and hiked up the hill. They reached the top and then looked to the other hill for any signs of ambush. The bandits are not trained to fight like the janissaries, but they are familiar with the hit-and-run methods. The veteran saw the hidden bandits, numbered at fifty-odd figures, huddled behind the bushes there. He then looked to his side of the hill and saw the twenty who were armed with muskets. He left the other two behind to keep watch and reported to the Odabasi.

The bigger threat was the musket bandits; they could cause damage to the column numbers. The others were fair numbers to be slaughtered.

“Take a group of twenty veterans to the hilltop. Fire on the musket holders. I will lead the "yeni-cheri" on the left hill to attack the ones there.” The Odabasi gave the orders.

“The others will ride into the valley as if we are not expecting any trouble. Once the battle begins, they will form the flankers to shoot at the bandits from their position. We will form the claws of death for them.”

Vlad had lost his lance and pierced the bandit in the torso. He could not pull the lance out from his mounted position on the horse. He had ridden uphill, and it was difficult to hold the reins while plunging the lance. He released his grip and kicked at the horse to climb. He then drew out the kilij with his right hand, while his left hand held the reins. He saw the bandit with his back to him, fighting off another janissary. Vlad rode to the bandit and slashed from the right to the left of the nape. It was a killing move.

The kill was done, and he was onto the next bandit. The bandits were retreating then, for they were outnumbered, and worse, their ambush had failed. Vlad spurred his horse to pursue on for the kills. He was relentless in his slashing, and his anger vented at the bandits. It was built up from the years of being held as a hostage and dreading the moment when his life was forfeited by the Sultan. He had seen others dragged away in the night or even at training.

“Vlad!’ The call reached his ear. He turned to look and saw Radu had dismounted. The latter was tending to a wounded "yeni-cheri."

“Jacques is wounded,” Radu called out. “He needs medical attention.”

There were a few healers among the Janissaries in the column, but in the heat of the battle, they were fighting for their lives then. The wounded must wait.

“Mount your horse, "yeni-cher"i.” It was another veteran who stopped by Radu. “He will learn not to get careless in battle. Now mount up.”

Radu looked to the veteran and then approached his horse. Vlad had retrieved the horse and handed over the reins.

“Jacques……” Radu looked at his brother.

“He is dead.” Vlad tossed the reins over to his brother. The reins were covered with blood—not of Radu’s but of the bandits killed by Vlad. Radu turned to look and saw that Jacques was dead. He had succumbed to his wound. He looked to the other Janissaries, who were then pursuing the fleeing bandits. He looked to the other hill and saw a similar scene.

“Blood everywhere…” Radu sighed. It was what he told Aylin soon after they returned to the palace. “There were all killings. The enemies were surrendering, and yet we killed them. No mercy was given.”

“No mercy was allowed in battle.” Aylin had taken the seat across from the young man then. She cannot be seen in public near him. It was prohibited by their faith. She had taken the excuse to bring the ointments to the wounded and sneak off to meet Radu at the far corner.

“Why must we kill?” Radu had questioned the acts. “Are we not to be merciful?”

“Mercy is the death we can offer them. If they are captured, they could be subject to a more painful death.” Aylin looked at the man. She had known him for some years, from a gentle lad to a younger man.

“Aylin, why must we kill?” Radu asked once more.

“Kill or be killed. You learned that in your training. That is the way of life here. For you or me, we are to do what others may do upon us.” Aylin sighed. She was not of the palace, but she was of the Ottoman Empire. Her family was well-to-do, traders of the wares, till her father was imprisoned and said to be a traitor to the Empire. He was tortured by the guards and made to sign a confession that he told the enemies of the military whereabouts. No denial was acceptable, and death was the mercy given. His family and business were forfeited and banished to the borders. It was the Sultana who knew the family had intervened and was given the one choice: select one who would serve you. She did, and Aylin, the youngest, was safe, as was the mother’s plea to the Sultana. The fate of the others was never known.

Aylin was under the protection of the Sultana and given some freedom to move around. She met the Wallachian brothers several years later and had since then grown her affection for one.

“Radu, I heard news that the Sultan has gathered a force to battle one named Juhn Hunyadi. The Hungarians had launched a military campaign against the Ottomans in the autumn. One named Vladislav, a Wallachian, accompanied him.”

“Vladislav is a relative of mine. I do not know him. We never met.” Radu looked at Aylin. “Does this mean that Vlad and I are …?”

“To be executed? I am unsure. The action of your relative may not reflect on you.” Aylin had fear in her voice. “We will not know.”

“I could appeal to the Sultan,” Radu said.

Unknown to him, Vlad was summoned to see the Vizier.

“The Grand Vizier Çandarlı Halil Pasha was summoned to see the Sultan because of one named John Hunyadi.” The vizier there addressed the young Wallachian. The Vizier there reports to the Grand Vizier, and it was the line of command of the palace. Vlad Tepes, a hostage of the Empire, was not privileged to meet the Sultan or the Grand Vizier. However, he was granted an audience with the Vizier.

“The Empire will not tolerate the action of the Hungarians against its people.” The vizier looked at the man who was prostrated on the floor. The Vizier had summoned the hostage there in his main hall. It was a grand hall, designed with the drawn motifs of the achievement of the empire and annotated with religious verses that claim to link the empire and God.

“I …”

“Silence, slave.” The Vizier cut off Vlad’s words. “I am to speak, and you are to ……. I was saying that the Hungarians had invaded our land. He rides with one named ….”

“Vladislav……” Vlad uttered the name. “He …”

“Silence, slave.” The Vizier once more cut off Vlad’s words. “I am to speak, and you are to ……. Why do you interrupt my words, slave?”

“I am not a slave, your excellency. I am a hostage of the empire. My father is Vlad…”

“I know, Vlad Tepes. I knew of your father. I was there when he surrendered you and your brother as guests of the Empire.” The Vizier looked at Vlad. “Your life here depends on the mercy of the Sultan.”

“I …” Vlad was to speak once more.

“One more sound from you, Vlad Tepes, and it will be your head impaled on the stake.” The vizier cautioned the young man. “Today may be your best day. God had mercy on you and your brother. Both of you will leave for Wallachia with the column of Janissaries and battle the Hungarians. You will defeat the Hungarian, and... I am unsure. Return here or stay there; that is up to the outcome of the battle.”

It was an opportunity for Vlad, but Radu declined it.

“I am not going. You may ride without me.” Radu said. “I refuse to battle my own people.”