Chronicles of Loong: Vlad the Impaler Chapter 26 Finale

The end of a legend

26.

Dracula stood there in defiant facing an army that was three times his own. His army was smaller compared to the previous one that he led; only five hundred calvary on the mounts with the lances ready, and another two hundred archers to the rear. His foot soldiers the single thousand-odd consists of the veterans of the conflicts, to the sickle armed peasants that he managed to press onto the service.

Dracula rode on a dark mount with the dark armor that he had his lover sewn for him; the chain mail was dipped in tar and the leather there painted dark. He carried his sword that was the only colored item with the dark shield. On his head was his wrapped piece and the bejeweled pearls.

For a long time, he was without his friend at his side; Janus was assigned another task.

“My Lord, we are ready.” The commander of the cavalry rode up to Dracula. The commander’s face was covered in the dark paste and his armored was like that of the Lord.

“Are the lancers ready?” Dracula asked. He looked to the five hundred mounted men of which rode with him in the last war.

“They are, my Lord.” Dracula was told.

“We will ride ----” Dracula stopped then when he saw the rider that arrived from the other side was seen approaching him.

“I am Kolgasi Sajak of the Janissaries. I come with the offerings of the Sultan. We are five thousand strong, and armed with guns and lances. I am to bring the Volvode of Wallachia to the land and have him restored to the rank. I ---”

“I am Vlad III but you may call me Dracula. You ride back to the one you called Volvode with my compliments here.” Dracula produced the container from his mount. “This is fresh blood for him. Tell him I had my drink and now willing to share with him.”

The Kolagasi was stunned and glared at Dracula.

“Are you mad, Dracula? Who in his right mind will drink blood?”

“Many of the warriors drink it. The Arabs drank it from the neck of their mount when there is no water. The Mongols I was told do it too from the herds. Why can’t I do it from my enemy body? I think they taste the same.”

“Here, try it yourself.” Dracula offered to the Kolagasi. The latter turned his mount to ride back to the column of Janissaries. The bulge went out and the Janissaries trod their mounts forward formations.

“Greet our foes now!” Dracula called out. The archers released the arrows with the pierced ears on the stakes. The arrows flew far and landed short of the Janissaries.

“Kolagasi, that looked like ----ears. Could it be----” The Janissaries lost their scouts sent ahead. The sight of the ears riled them up but the discipline of the Janissaries kept them in line. They marched on, followed by the foot soldiers with the guns. The Janissaries stopped and let the foot soldiers step forth. The distance was within the range of the guns.

“Fire at will!” The Kolagasi called out but the enemy had retreated. The range was too far to reach the Wallachians.

“Stop firing! Charge at them!” The Kolagasi called out. The mounted Janissaries galloped into action. The sound of the hoofs thundered in the field as rows of the Janissaries rode in line. On the other side, the calvary split down the middle and rode to the side leaving the exposed foot soldiers including the archers.

“Shoot the arrows!” Dracula was among them. The arrows with the various ranges went out with the veterans' reach further but five hundred archers were not effective. The Janissaries rode on in the line. Then the mounted picked up speed and was approaching the Wallachian.

“Retreat!” Dracula gave the command but it was not needed. The foot soldiers were already fleeing. The Janissaries saw the panic in the foot soldiers broke rank and galloped ahead. Dracula tried to shoal up the courage but the enemies were on them the rear stragglers. He did then call on his surprise.

“Get the stakes! Hold it firm.” Dracula's command went out. The foot soldiers held their ground and picked up the wooden stakes on the ground. It was cut from the trees to impale the enemies but then put for other uses. The foot soldiers spread out and the stake ends went deep into the ground with the sharpened end above.

“Stakes!” The Janissaries warning went out but the forward lines were caught in the trap. The stakes lowered at an angle pierced the mounts or the riders. It was a battle of the lances then with the Janissaries trying to move their mounts around.

Then Dracula called in the mounted cavalry to attack from the sides. It was a pincer move and would have succeeded if he had a true army.

Some of the foot soldiers panicked and flee to the rear. With the broken line, the mounted Janissaries had the space to move. The veterans stood to fight but the mounted Janissaries have guns which they fired with precision. The Janissaries at the side welcomed the mounted calvary and met the other as they did in training.

Lances were lowered and the thrusts made with the mounts and riders screaming then.

“My Lord, we are ---” Dracula heard the commander of the calvary.

“We will fight to the last.” Dracula cut in. “To the death or victory.”

It was then the reinforcement came.

A hundred mercenaries roared from the left led by the one named Janus. The hundred-odd riders armed with lances and swords charged into the Janissaries.

“For Wallachia!” Janus roared out.

“For the sake of my ducats!” Another roared out.

It was a striking moment but the numbers mattered then. Janus found himself surrounded and shot in the face while he was riding. He flipped over and fell to the ground. He was dead not having to reach his Lord.

“Move the Janissaries to the right.” The Kolagasi called out. His trained riders took formation and countered the mercenaries. Without Janus to lead, the mercenaries retreated and the move by Dracula was reversed on him.

“My Lord, we are ---” Dracula had enough of his commander. He stabbed the other in the chest. He then turned to his bulge rider. “Sound the retreat.”

The call went out but not for Dracula. He rode towards the enemy and slashed at the ones who were in his way. He suffered a few cuts but was able to ride on. He went past the Janissaries and was approaching the foot soldiers. He saw the Wallachian turncoat seated on the mount there.

“Let him through.” The Kolagasi called out to his men.

Dracula reached the one he detested.

“Basarab Elders, you turncoat. Face me like a true man.” Dracula was wounded in him but sat upright in the saddle. Basarab Elders leaned forward and say to Dracula.

“You are a demon. I will battle any demons.”

The swords clashed when both riders met in battle. Dracula was wounded and was never a good fighter. He fought on with his might but the wounds slowed his reflexes. The other took on the offensive and Dracula lost his sword when he was to fall off his mount. He reached for it, but the other had stepped over it. Basarab Elders dismounted and faced Dracula.

“You are no the man who deserved the rank of the Volvode. You are a demon.” Basarab Elders roared to Dracula. “Your army is in disarray. I will have you killed like your father and brother.”

“Let me die with dignity.” Dracula looked at Basarab Elders. “Impale me as I have done the others.”

“I want to but the Sultan wants your head. I will have to deliver it myself.” Basarab Elders looked at Dracula. “Why does he favor you? I knew your brother was his companion.”

“I did, and learned from him that the Turks are cowards.” Dracula roared out. He then looked at the Janissaries. “How many of you are Turks? Serbians? Hungarian perhaps? How can you serve your ---”

Dracula was kicked in the chest by Basarab Elders. He then called on the guards of his to remove the Lord’s amour. They did and sat the Lord on his knees.

“Dracula, I will cut you into pieces and send your head to the Sultan.”

That was how Dracula was slain and his blood flowed into the ground, the very ground that he swore to protect.

“I am foremost Wallachian.” Lord Vlad once declared to his people. “I will die on this land. My blood will feed the soil and the growths will come from it bearing my name.”

Notes to the tale.

When I researched this character, I found little or few references to Vlad III except for his fame as the blood-drinking Lord, and some extract of his life when he was in the Ottoman’s care. There was little to read on but I managed to get more insight as I dug in deeper.

Lord Vlad III was not whom he was described. He was a patriot of the nation he belonged to. He was not given many choices. When he needed assistance, he was denied and when he fought, he did it with valor. He was always at a disadvantage so he created a persona that will strike fear in the enemies.

In the previous ages, there were such leaders; Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, and even Tamerlane. Even in ancient times, the Spartans were as vicious and there were the Romans. It was just Dracula was an exception by the hand-down rumors that he was a blood drinker. The prevalent rumors were by the Saxons he persisted to battle then. (https://historycollection.com/12-unexpected-facts-about-vlad-the-impaler-the-real-dracula/6/)

I created Janus, the companion of Vlad III to give him depth. I did give the impression that Vlad was moved to the bloody act by the fictional character then.

That was not the reference I had to use. They are listed below:

https://www.livescience.com/40843-real-dracula-vlad-the-impaler.html

https://historycollection.com/12-unexpected-facts-about-vlad-the-impaler-the-real-dracula/6/

Vlad II Dracul - Wikipedia

What did Vlad Tepes eat? – The culinary habits of Romanian rulers - RomaniaTourStore

Basarab II of Wallachia - Wikipedia

Mircea II of Wallachia - Wikipedia

Major general - Wikipedia

Radu the Handsome - Wikipedia

Ottoman Empire - WWI, Decline & Definition - HISTORY

János Hunyadi | Hungarian general and governor | Britannica

(PDF) A candidate to the Walachian throne. Vlad Ţepeş and his exile in Moldavia (1449-1452)