The thunder of hooves rose from the din of pain and horror as Vlad's lieutenant and guard galloped to his side. Astride a mighty warsteed, his armor covered in blood, ichor dripping from his lance, Vlad drank in the sight. Wailing cries arose from men sinking upon stakes, flames rising above in the night to cast a sheen of hell in this valley of death in the aftermath of battle. It had been a slaughter. Light cavalry had it's advantages but was useless in the face of his heavy horse if they could not maneuver. The Seduction of Vlad
The enemy had grown bold with Vlad's feigned abrogation of the treaty of Galain. It had been a ruse. They took the bait of the caravan and rode right into his trap. They had tried to flee when they realized who they faced, but their speed was useless to them when they had nowhere to run and his firewall had taken care of that. Once again they paid the price of Vlad's wrath.
"My liege." Vlad's lieutenant reported. "The villagers have brought you this." He indicated a woman of matronly years carrying a large basket sitting uncomfortably behind one of the guards, upon a warhorse that would as soon kill her as carry her.
Bravely she slid off and took a few hurried steps away from the beast before approaching Vlad with her head bowed. She curtsied awkwardly but deeply and held out the basket. "Great lord," she intoned, "We at the inn have prepared this meal for you. It is the best we can offer. We have also slaughtered three bison and prepared loaves with which to feast your men. Our village would offer you its hospitality." There was but the faintest tremor to her voice as she addressed the most feared man her time had ever known.
Vlad looked at her a moment and asked in a deep voice, "Whose idea was this, woman?"
"I am head of the village, Lord. My people will follow my example." She replied.
Gravely he said, "You are a wise woman." He took the basket. She curtsied again and backed away.
He addressed his commanders, "The cavalry shall eat in the village tonight, as it was they who did most of the fighting this day." He affixed them with commanding gaze. "Pass the word. No one is to forage from the village." He ordered, and knew it would be obeyed.
He ate while still mounted and watched as the last of the prisoners were brought near to be impaled slowly. They were insane with terror. In pairs they were seized and stripped and forced to the ground. Twelve foot long stakes were inserted hard into their anuses to their accompanying shrieks. They were then lifted high into the air by the stake and firmly thus affixed. The shock of the rods being hammered into place to anchor the stakes drove the stakes deeper into their guts and their cries turned to weeping wails of anguish.
Finally they were almost done and the last two prisoners were grabbed by the torturers. "No!" Commanded Vlad. "For these last two, strike off their right hands and cauterize the wounds. Then give them food and water and release them."
The two were dragged off, gibbering with fear for their impending amputation as well as their relief at their reprieve. Thusly was their fear spread amongst the enemy.
The throne room of the kingdom of Tarla was filled with worried faces. Tarla was quite close to Vlad's domain but devoid of any strategic importance. The kingdom did not control any mountain passes or command important river crossings, nor were they large enough to field powerful armies. In essence they were powerless to oppose the ever encroaching enemy and had nothing to offer in alliance.
"Is there truly nothing that you can do father?" Sasha asked of her king. The King shook his head dejectedly. Sasha was a young woman but of stately grace, her luscious body ripe in its prime.
"The emissary to the church, was he not successful?" She tried. The King shook his head again.
"What of the mercenary Germans?" She continued, " Can we not entice them?"
Again the King shook his head. "The coffers are empty my love." Tears were evident in his eyes. "I am sorry. I am so terribly sorry. I have tried everything." He reached to touch her hair, emotional pain wracking his body.
Sasha took a deep breath, "And what of Vlad, father? What of him?"
"All the realms of Rumania beg him for his protection." The King replied. "He cannot spread himself too thin and so offers alliance to only those who can strengthen him."
"But surely father, he would not be weakened by us. Fear of him alone would keep the enemy from our gates. He would need to fight no battles for us." Sasha persisted.
The King looked patronizingly through sad eyes to his princess, "My sweet, you do not understand the ways of politics. If Vlad were to extend to us his protection without something in exchange, everyone would expect the same. He cannot protect us all, and he cannot appear weak to either the enemy or anyone else."
A prolonged silence was exchanged between them. The King looking into the not so innocent eyes of his eldest daughter with helpless shame. The Princess looking to her king in frustration for lack of but a glimmer of idea. "Go love. Enjoy what time you may."
She went to the watch tower from which the whole of her father's domain could be surveyed. It was a small kingdom that could have been rich if it were not raped by war. The town that nested in the presumed protection of the Kings castle was a pretty one. She herself had seen to its improvement with paving and a brick lined well in the town square. It had cost half her dowry. The people adored her as she loved them. And she was helpless to protect them.
Unless... An idea dawned on her and was immediately rejected. She stood for hours thinking, desperately trying to figure a different way, but in the end she knew she had but one thing to try. There was a way, it's price one she was willing to pay. Her father would be hard to convince, but she knew she could, for the King too loved his people and he would know that this was a price they had to pay.
She went to her study and wrote her letter, signing and sealing it with her own mark. She summoned the messenger and placed the scroll in his hands and held it there a moment looking at it. Finally with a deep breath she let go and said, "Go."
Vlad stood alone in the heart of his citadel, he had ordered the vaulted chamber cleared of petitioners. Bats fluttered high above the silence. He clutched Sasha's scroll in his fist. He had met her once a year before at court as she was presented to the assembly for her maturity. She was an immensely desirable woman of extraordinary physique and long thick hair. She had impressed everyone with her grasp of the needs of her people.
She had made him an offer he found terribly exciting. They were no secret, his perversions, indeed he deliberately fostered the reputation they engendered. She had offered to him the fulfillment of one of them, indeed the fulfillment of his greatest. Accepting her offer could only further the fear the enemy held him in. They believed him to be an inhuman monster who drank blood and could not die, so it could only help if he was to prove them right. The other Lords would say nothing, for he was too powerful and far too essential for their defense.
He would accept. Tarla would have his protection and the rest would be in awe of the price that must be paid for it.
To be continued...
This story is not yet finished. It has been waiting for its conclusion for a full year. Perhaps if I get a few letters from you of encouragement, it might soon find the inspiration.