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.