VLAD

Vlad entered the tower room, noticing immediately how everyone is on the edge. Dinu was the youngest, but he had potential and he's been handling this life with envious grace, unlike Andryj who's been struggling with their customs all his life. These two were the youngest, Anton, Codrin and Petre were three piles of dust. And piles of dust were arguing.

"Of course you would suggest a massive manslaughter, you twisted old fuck." Anton said to Petre right when Vlad walked in.

"All I'm saying is that the Ottomans are vampires, we can meet them in the field and we stand a chance. If we wait for them to reach Bran, we risk students murdered." Petre argued. He was an interesting man, providing advice no one would dare say out loud.

"But," Anton got up, irritated, "they have never lived within the Border, they know how to survive outside. We do not. If we leave, we risk being murdered before the battle even starts."

"They are stronger outside, but they cannot win inside." Codrin added.

"The Border is falling anyway, might as well use it while it's still here." Anton said while draining the cup of mead he had in front of him.

"Yes, but we do not know how fast the Border is falling. For all we know, it might not be here tomorrow. If the Ottomans reach Bran and the Border falls down, we are all dead. But, if we intercept them on the field, there is a chance of keeping alive those who cannot fight yet." Petre spoke and that sentence left everyone in silence for a moment.

"Perhaps..." Dinu started, "they can fight." It wasn't an easy suggestion and Vlad knew it. Those rotten corpses had credit to say whatever they wanted, but Dinu was still young and couldn't afford to make mistakes.

"Andryj will be here soon, he can tell us what shape the students are in." Codrin said. Vlad sat at the table, pouring himself a cup of blood.

"None of those ideas is a bad idea, but everything is risky. What about Sergey Durov?" Vlad asked turning to Codrin.

"Him and his army are resting, they are not well, Voivode. And he lost more than half of his army, because they met Ottomans in the field." Codrin said looking meaningfully at Petre.

"They had less men than we do, also, we are much better prepared and quite a bit stronger." Petre defended himself. Vlad got up, feeling the need to walk in his bones. He could never sit when he was thinking, his father taught him the head is working better if the feet are moving.

"We are not trained to fight outside the Border, at least not if others come joining the fight. We cannot wait for them here because we do not know when the Border would fall. But one thing we know, within the Border, Ottomans are weak." Vlad reached the window, looking towards woods and the clear blue sky. At least it's not so damn hot anymore, he thought. "Have we learned anything about the Border, Anton?"

"I've managed to translate some of the scripts but all I could find is that the Border is consisted of combined trickster magic. It's not a one-time spell, it draws power out of every witch alive. The witches are weaker than ever and therefore, the Border is unstable." Anton said, suspiciously throwing glances all around the room. Vlad realised he wasn't sure what he could and what he couldn't say. Immediately, Vlad knew Anton had learned more and isn't sure whether he should share. The biggest liability in the room was Petre, he was a nasty guy, always in need to gain more than give.

"Dinu, I want Sergey Durov awake and ready to talk how to proceed considering Ottomans. Petre, I want information on current candidates for the throne, I want them fast. And someone get Andryj in here." Vlad kept staring through the window, watching Andryj command the students. He was good at that, he was stern, but he had patience.

"Voivode, I would need to send many letters, I do not think Messengers would operate that fast." Petre said, his smile devilish.

"Leave farm animals for them, that should do it. Steal some Alina's jewellery, she has too much anyway. Dinu, go get Sergey." Vlad waved his hand and men got up.

When Dinu and Petre walked out of the room Vlad held his hand up and Codrin and Anton stopped.

"Now we need to talk, friends. Bring some ale, I've had enough of this sweet poison. And some blood, we are going to need it."

The maid instantly walked in, almost like she could feel Voivode's need for her. Maids are amazing creatures, Vlad thought, so unappreciated yet the most important asset of every man's life. Someone should always be here to bring something to drink.

"Bring some ale, Heksa, and some blood. Wait a bit and then bring the girl in, it's time for my loyal fellowship to meet her." Vlad said and Heksa instantly nodded, picking up the mead.

When they finally sat and Vlad felt he could talk, without all kinds of ears listening, he began.

"Alright, gentlemen, there are things far more important than Ottomans right now. I don't have much time to explain everything, so I will keep it short. Two months ago, a girl arrived to Bran Castle, dead and in transition to become a vampire. She is Leona Solberg's daughter." Men kept quiet, waiting for an explanation.

"Leona planned it and we have some reason to believe she sent her here for a reason. We do not know much, but we do know the Border is falling and Sergey Durov's army claims they've seen lights in fields." Vlad went on.

"Voivode," Anton began, hesitating a bit, "I've been translating the scripts for the last two weeks. While doing that and going through Leona's stuff you kept, I've found something." He opened a folded paper he had in his hand. "It's a poem and it's written in Daemon Tongue. And apparently, Voivode, it's a message to you."

Vlad stood up, he couldn't help himself. When he realised the men looked at him strangely, he sat down.

"Read it, please."

"It may seem a little weird, but I did the best I could. Daemon Tongue doesn't contain same words our tongue does. But here it goes:

The Tree of Life calls for the Dragon

Its mortal form has been and gone,

The core is vivid and alive,

By the light of the moon it shall thrive.

The one called Rose has the key,

Keep it safe for the Tree."

Vlad sat very still, unable to think about anything but the first sentence. The Tree of Life calls for the Dragon. It was a message from Leona, Tree of Life was a Viking symbol and Leona was a Viking.

"What does it mean, Voivode?" Anton asked.

"It means Giselle is a trickster." Vlad got up again, rubbing his eyes and thinking of how cursed this life was, how he should've been dead already.

"That isn't possible." Said Codrin. 

It has never happened, indeed. But Leona was stronger than anything the world has seen after the Black and White War.

"She found a way to keep vampire blood combined with hers for nineteen years. Perhaps vampire blood has been inside of her while magic came to life. Perhaps they came to life together, the vampire blood combined with magic." Vlad thought out loud and he was happy only Anton and Codrin were in the room.

"Voivode, Leona's scripts point out one single prophesy, long forgotten. End is the same as the beginning, remember? The sky would open again and everything that went through it, would be drawn back. It's a prophesy about the end of all vampires, witches and wolves." Anton's voice belonged to a different time, a time even Vlad didn't know. The way he said it, shivers went straight through Vlad's body.

"We shouldn't believe prophesies so lightly," Codrin's eyes begged for reassurance as he dragged them across Vlad's face. "What if the end doesn't come from the skies, but from the ground itself? What if all the beasts from the tales exist?"

"Then I suppose we shall die on all fronts." Anton laughed.

The one thing Vlad couldn't comprehend was the motivation that kept these men going. They were so old it was a miracle they were still alive.

"Have you ever heard of anyone who's seen them? The Shadows, the Little Ones?" Vlad asked and both men sat in silence.

"My mother told me stories," Codrin said, "but when I grew up I sort of concluded those were simply that, stories. In my three thousand years, I have never seen them, or heard someone who's seen them."

Anton nodded in agreement and once again, Vlad didn't know what to think. He wasn't a man of faith, but he knew something was out there he didn't understand. Whether it was the trickster magic, or the origin of all of them, he never fully understood many things. And he found it better that way, because no man should live a life knowing where he'll end up or who exactly wrote his destiny.

"Anton, you will need to translate something else for me. Also, I will say now something I never thought I would, we need to learn how to train a witch."

Right on cue, Heksa knocked on the door. Vlad opened it for her. For the first time in a long time, he felt nauseous. He was good at handling the Monarchy and all parts of it, he was even better at handling wars and armies, but old prophesies and magic? He was lost there. It would've been easier if it hadn't been Leona in the centre of it all, right when he had almost forgotten. Giselle was confused, but she held her head high.

"Thank you, Heksa, you are excused," Vlad turned to Giselle, "would you like some ale?"

"I'd like some blood." She said and sat down next to a chair Vlad's been sitting on, away from Codrin and Anton, who looked at her like she's the strangest thing they have ever seen.

"These men here are Codrin and Anton," Vlad pointed at both of them. "You can trust them, because I trust them with my life."

"That's a far reach, Voivode, considering I don't even trust you." She murmured.

"That's too bad considering we're all you've got." Said Vlad. "Anton, give her the note."

Anton obeyed and handed the girl Leona's note. She was reading it for a while and then looked at Vlad, her eyes full of fear. Without a word, she reached into the pocket of her dress and took out notes. One of them, she handed to Vlad. It was the same note she did not give him earlier.

"The scale is tipped, power on one side,

The sign is picked, troubles there hide.

Light, as well as darkness, is blinding,

The answer always lies in binding.

Keep this key close to your heart,

For everyone else would be torn apart.

To a place where it was, it must return

Take this where hope goes to burn."

He read it out loud.

"Jorge calls me Rose, my mother left one letter for you and another one for me. I have the key, I don't know what it's for." Giselle explained.

"Do you understand anything else?" Codrin asked and Giselle nodded.

"Take this where hope goes to burn. Back in Carcassonne, there was the Inquisition Tower, they kept women and men they considered witches there. Jorge called it the place where hope goes to burn. So I went there."

"What happened?" Vlad asked. She wasn't saying everything, no human woman would simply walk into a place where they keep witches or she would end there herself.

"Apparently, I met a witch. She told me the story about the four figures."

"There are only three figures." Anton interrupted.

"So I've heard, but she said four. She also said she would lift something off me. A curse my mother put on me." Giselle said.

Vlad leaned onto his hands, massaging his forehead. Only out of respect for Leona would he make sure this girl followed what her mother meant for her.

"Leona placed a curse on you, probably to dim your magic. And the witch took it off. But the note said 'take this where hope goes to burn,' meaning either the note or the key." Vlad's mind was all over the place, he wanted to hunt something down. He hasn't had the need to in years, but suddenly he had thirst for flesh that is alive.

"I never did. I never showed the witch this note."

"That's either a very clever move or a very dumb one." Commented Anton and Giselle shrugged. She decided not to trust the witch, but she did decide to trust Vlad. Why?

"What is this key?" Asked Codrin.

"It's a large key, on one ending there is a key and on the other a cross. My friend from Carcassonne said it was a Byzantine cross."

Vlad paid closer attention to the girl sitting next to him. He hadn't known her well and that was a dangerous thing, he could not predict her behaviour. If she had Leona's magic in her blood, it made her a dark trickster, a dark vampire trickster, which their world has never seen. Witches' downfall was their greed, desire for more power, for they were stripped of theirs. And the vampire downfall was lust, for they were meant to roam the world forever alone, getting bored with everything that made them happy before. Greed and lust combined, Vlad thought, made her not only potentially the most powerful person in the room, but also the most dangerous. And she was simply a girl with brown doe eyes.

"The Monarchy resides in Constantinople. I humbly doubt your mother would've wanted you to ship the key to the Monarchy." Codrin smiled.

"I have three more notes." She said and all the men leaned in. "They are written in a language I don't understand, I can't read them." Anton stretched out his hand demanding the notes and Giselle took them out. Vlad couldn't believe Leona gave them riddles instead of saying what she wanted.

"This one I can translate," Anton lifted one note. "It's written in Daemon Tongue as well as the last one and I've gotten pretty good at it. But this one," he lifted the second note, "is written in the Old Witches' Tongue. Nobody speaks Old Witches' anymore and I have no scripts to compare. This basically means only an old witch could understand this."

"What does that mean? There is no way to translate it?" Vlad asked.

"Not unless we have material we can drag the alphabet from." Anton said and then died down. He stared at the last note and Vlad swore he saw him shiver. Anton spoke all the languages known to men, he could compare all sorts of letters and signs, but this note triggered something in him. He turned to Vlad, his face pale.

"I don't recognize this. I know every single human language there is. I can recognize every single language spoken by vampires, witches or the wolves. These letters are all... scrambled up. It resembles the Daemon Tongue, but some letters don't fit, or are differently written. It looks as if the blank spaces have meaning, some words seem unfinished." Anton looked all of them straight in the eye. "This note wasn't meant for any of the three figures."

"We needn't worry about that right now. Translate the one you can. It's time to focus on the problems we can solve." Said Vlad reluctantly.

Anton simply nodded and focused on the note he could translate.

"Gentlemen, it's time for offense. Once again, it is time to deal with the Monarchy. We need to plan." Vlad said, he was tired and irritated, he felt like a child that wanted sugar and couldn't get it until later. "I know you received an invitation to the Winter Solstice Ball, and I know you plan on going." He told Giselle. 

Her eyes were suddenly wide, staring at Vlad like an animal caught in a trap. He sighed and shook his head in disapproval.

"Luckily for you, it was about time for us to visit Cardona and find out what exactly is going on there. You will go and Andryj will go with you. You will find out what Lerra De Noves is planning on doing. If she tries anything, you tell her whose daughter you are." Vlad's voice was stern and for a moment he considered showing this girl who he really is, but that would only scare her away. Then she might start keeping other secrets. She didn't say anything else and Vlad realised how much that meant to him, some peace and quiet.

How could he focus? How when his life kept falling apart, everything he's been building, burying deep in his soul, it all came rushing back. Chickens came home to roost, he thought, it was time to face everything he's ever done.

Dinu and Andryj walked in followed by Sergey Durov.

"Here we are, Voivode, what is our plan?" Dinu asked. 

Petre wasn't there, yet, so they lacked information.

"Gentlemen, we have some work to do. Ottomans are at our door and our armies aren't strong enough to keep them outside. Our strongest defence, the Border, is falling. But it is not falling only here. My dear friend, Sergey, what can you tell us?" Vlad stood up, it was time to be the Voivode of Wallachia now.

Sergey Durov was a small man, with a round stomach, he was dressed in deep purple fabric and his deep brown eyes were looking at the men around him suspiciously. He held his gaze on Andryj a bit longer than appropriate and Vlad smiled. Oh, you smooth old man, thought Vlad, always trying to catch the prey that doesn't know how to defend. Sergey was a Lord of the House Durov, one of three men who established the Monarchy. And just like all others that have established this house of cards, Sergey was an outcast, as well. He mostly kept on the side-lines, but those lines have been moving closer to home, lately.

"The only thing I can tell you is one thing none of you would believe. As we had been defeated in our last battle, we hadn't been strong enough to move for a while, so we hid. During the night, my men and I have seen the battlefield lightened up with thousands of sparkling beasts. In the morning we went to check and the only thing we found were the heavy bones. As God is my witness, Vlad, we have seen the Parvae." Sergey told, his usual melodious voice was bordering on scared.

"What are the Parvae?" Giselle asked.

"The Parvae," Vlad turned to Giselle, "are creatures that exist in our fairy-tales. They are small and vicious, they eat parts of human bodies. Usually, they don't attack people, but I was raised to believe the Parvae will come for me and eat my nose or my ears if I don't behave. They were my biggest fear when I was four years old." Vlad smiled, but he was well aware fairy-tales are mostly some variation of the truth.

"I saw it with my own damn eyes, as well as they serve me. Either I've gone mad or we are in deep shit, my friend." Sergey said.

"I choose to believe you, Sergey, because one coincidence too many makes a pattern. And it's time we've done something about it." Vlad noticed his men have gone quiet, thoroughly thinking about everything that went down. 

Vlad went on. "First order of business, is to find as many men as possible that are well equipped to fight. Dinu suggested something dangerous earlier today and I've given it some thought. Andryj, how are our disciples doing?"

"Voivode, I'm afraid the disciples are weak. Fifteen of them failed the last test, I am hesitant whether to send them to the woods." Andryj said, his worried hazel eyes looking into Vlad's.

"The disciples must go to the woods. It's a usual test and I will not let them into the world without this experience. Those who survive, they are ready to fight." Vlad felt in his bones this wasn't a good idea, but he believed in them and he knew sometimes the real danger is the only thing that shows who you really are and what you're capable of. "But, Andryj, you are going to postpone the test, train them, make them fight, raise the stakes. Tell them the Ottomans are coming, tell them the Border is falling and whether they live or die, it's up to them."

"Vlad, I know your soldiers are stronger than mine, but I still don't think your army would do. The Ottomans are savage and trained in circumstances much more difficult than ours." Sergey shifted in his seat, showing gold bracelets and rings on his fingers.

"I am aware of that. That is why the second order of business are allies. We wait for Petre and we find out who wishes to sit on the throne. We have many enemies, gentlemen, and we will not wait for them to strike." Vlad walked around the room, keeping eye-contact with each of his men in the room.

"Voivode, this depends on whom you consider to be your enemy." Codrin spoke.

"Our situation is that much better, because the throne would soon be empty and a change of politics might step into place." Murmured Anton.

"Exactly. Which means we can try to change the course of events. Until we wait on Petre, we will discuss the third order of business and that is the Border. In other words, we need to find a witch." Vlad said. He noticed Giselle keeping quiet and once more realised he might have underestimated this girl's social abilities. The men murmured with either disbelief or disapproval.

"We both know the tricksters are growing weaker." Sergey spoke since no one else would. Vlad nodded, finally sitting.

"We do not need a strong witch, we simply need a witch. Details will be discussed with the first man that manages to track one down." He waved his hand, proclaiming the end of the third order of business. "And now, some of us must prepare to go to a ball, a Winter Solstice Ball in Cardona. We will find out whether the House De Noves is a friend or foe."

"Excuse me, Voivode, but I think it's a waste of time. It's a ball for the Monarchy, it's an apology ball. Madame of the De Noves House simply wants to be friends with the queen." Andryj said.

"You can think about that on your way there, because you and Lady Giselle are going." Vlad anticipated Andryj's frowns and simply smiled.

"Why would you send Giselle? You know Jack O'Neal took her away, wanted to bring her to..." Andryj protested and Vlad looked him dead in the eye. It was enough for Andryj to shut his mouth.

"I will go, Vlad." Sergey said suddenly. "Lady might not know where to look, I owe you one and Lerra De Noves might trust us more if I went as the head of the House."

Vlad nodded. Anton suddenly coughed and looked at Vlad.

"I've translated the poem, Voivode, perhaps it's time for me to read it." He suggested and Vlad thought for a moment. Since Codrin and Anton knew everything, Dinu and Andryj didn't care, he found it safe to talk. Perhaps it would be too late later and Petre wasn't here now. He'd fill Sergey in when he concluded whether or not he is to be trusted.

"Read it, Anton." Vlad encouraged him.

"I've tried my best to keep the structure of the song, but the important thing is the meaning."

Vlad nodded again watching over those that didn't know what exactly was going on here. He would have to tell them eventually, he thought the best thing to do was to keep them included. Only when a person in the pack feels like an outcast, does he start searching respect in other places. Anton read the poem.

"In a cold, cold land on a stormy night,

Up in the sky shone a pale blue light,

Behind the bars made of ice,

Where no man ever walked in twice,

The artefact of gold howled to a howl,

Attracting beasts ever so foul,

It's a price to pay, to be you, my friend,

For only honour can bring this to an end."

Vlad began thinking, it was a note meant for a friend, because he doubted Leona would simply use that word if it didn't mean anything. But to him, the note meant nothing.

"Isn't it nice to have such a warm welcome from so many kind people waiting for me all squeezed up in a small room." A voice came from the door and Petre walked in, bringing open letters.

"It's a good thing to have you here, Petre, what are the news?" Vlad asked right away.

"As we could've predicted, Aksana Egorova is applying for her second mandate, as well as Lord Augustin Bryce," Petre laughed out loud.

"Aksana is his puppet anyway, he doesn't mind if she rules for another fifty years. And people do like her." Sergey commented.

"Sure thing, but there is another person joining the game," Petre giggled like a little girl, the sounds he was making almost creepy. "Adam Adamov has joined the world of Night-Children and apparently, desires a crown."

Giselle choked on her cup of blood, her eyes meeting Vlad's. First time since they've met, Vlad saw nothing but fear. He knew the kind, the fear of your past life following you wherever you go.

"I suppose a husband would follow you to the afterlife." She said and Sergey was the first to reach for her hand.

"Don't you worry, darling, a scorned man is mad, but a scorned woman is evil." He said lightly.

"Adamovs are Bryce's opposition, we might be able to use that." Codrin was thinking out loud, his eyes wandering across the ceiling.

"Nothing from the House De Noves?" Vlad asked and Petre shook his head. "Good, it's time for us to join the elections."

"You cannot be a king anymore, Voivode." Anton said, hesitatingly.

"No, I cannot, Anton, but Codrin here had a wonderful idea. Giselle can be a queen." Vlad said and looked at the girl. Her eyes were wide and confused. Throwing a fast glance at Codrin, Vlad noticed his satisfied smile.

"Hold your horses, old man, I cannot be a queen. I wasn't even good at being a lady. I don't even like crowns, they are heavy and they ruin my hair." She blabbed.

"Your hair will be fine and so will the throne."

A knock on the door interrupted them. Vlad's maid, Heksa, opened the door. She looked embarrassed interrupting them, but Vlad knew she wouldn't do it if it wasn't urgent.

"I am so sorry, Voivode, but Messengers delivered two letters, one for You and another for Lord Sergey. It doesn't say who sent it, but your names are written in blood." The woman said and handed Vlad his letter and Sergey's his.

"You did well, Heksa, you may go." The maid bowed and exited. Both Vlad and Sergey opened their letters and read in silence. Vlad's heart began beating loudly as he locked eyes with a small man dressed in purple. Sergey didn't have to say anything, Vlad knew from the way he stared at him that they've received an equal letter.

"What is it, Vlad?" Codrin asked. Simply by using his name, Vlad knew everyone was past formalities. They were together in this, now that another enemy has voiced their existence.

"It's a message for the Monarchy." Vlad murmured and seeing as everyone waited for him to read the letter, he sighed.

"We are the children of those you've tortured and killed,

We are the victims of your prolonged crimes,

We are those exiled into the woods to die,

We are the Unknowns,

We are growing in numbers,

And we are coming."

Silence fell, dark and dense, as Vlad put down the letter. It's been a long time since Vlad felt that stirring feeling in his soul, the feeling of an idea, as dangerous as a fanged beast, shaping in his mind.

"Of a sole purpose of breaking this silence, who are the Unknowns?" Giselle asked.

"The exiled vampires, those the Monarchy deemed too rebellious and untamed to have them in our cities. They live outside the Border." Codrin whispered.

Vlad stood up and approached the window, looking over the dark woods. Some ideas are good and others are bad, but there are those, unclear and risky, those that break the fundamental laws of logic. Those ideas were perfect and they were dangerous.

"Send an answer, Codrin, we will have a meeting with the Unknowns." Vlad felt his heart in his mouth as men around him began protesting. It was mad, he thought. This was madness. And for that precise reason, Vlad knew he'd be the only one to do it.

"Voivode, with all due respect, it is not a good idea. They will murder us before Ottomans do." Spoke Sergey, his voice shaking.

"There is a reason the Unknowns sent this letter now. And this reason is very simple, the woods aren't safe anymore, they need shelter. My dear Sergey, you were right. Something has awoken in the woods and all the tales are true. The Unknowns are running away." Vlad sounded surer than he truly was, but he kept his face sharp and unreadable. They had to think he knew what he was doing.

"We spoke earlier about changing the course of events, about shifting the tide. Well, we are going to do what no other House would dare. We are going to open the Border and we will let the Unknowns in."