Impaler

Radu the Handsome

Vlad arrived at his throne room and sat on his seat; guards surrounded the room, preparing for the worst-case scenario. Alexandrei stood beside Vlad; he knew that Vlad wasn't in a good mood. He wanted to tell the Voivode to have an open mind, but it had been years since the brothers had seen each other. Radu decided to stay with Sultan Mehmed, and there were rumors that Radu became the Sultan's lover. 

Everyone was silent until footsteps echoed outside the throne room. The footsteps got closer, and the doors were opened; a man was seen. Vlad was expressionless, but he was livid on the inside. "Radu."

"Vlad, brother. It has been so long since we have seen one another." Radu, a couple of years younger than Vlad, was considered the most handsome of the brothers. Unlike Vlad, his hair was shorter, and he didn't have Vlad's colored eyes. "Who would have thought that you would be sitting on the throne."

Vlad motioned his brother to enter, and Radu complied. The Voivode couldn't help but see what his brother wore, which enraged him even more. "You wear the Janissary uniform in the country of your birth."

Radu stopped in the center. "Indeed, forgive me, brother. I have traveled afar, and I did not take much in my travels," his voice was gentle and soft.

"I see. I am no fool, Radu. You are trying to send me a message, and it is very clear. It is also clear on who you support."

"You are quick to judge, brother. Mehmed and his father, bless his soul, have welcomed us even though we were hostages. They ensured that we had the best education since it was our father who asked for an alliance after being attacked by the Hungarians. Our father could have dealt with the consequences but sent us to suffer the consequences instead. Yet, you judge me for having an open mind to learning different cultures?"

Vlad knew that Radu tried to get a rise out of him, but he refused to satisfy his younger brother. "We were forced to learn their heathen ways; we couldn't refuse to learn if we wanted to. You accepted their ways because you were a young child, not knowing what was happening. You were manipulated."

The brothers looked at one another; Radu couldn't help but look at Vlad's eyes. He remembered how much life they once held when they were children. They changed while they stayed with the Sultan and after he left to get their father's throne. It was true that Radu was a child and didn't understand the politics his father was in, but he and Vlad were treated with kindness. "I heard stories on what you did to the boyars, and I agree that they deserved punishments but did you truly command them to be impaled?" 

Vlad smirked as he remembered the screams of the boyars and their wives. He enjoyed watching them become impaled and struggled to stay alive. "The traitors got what they deserved, just as the Ottoman dogs will soon get what is theirs." He looked at Alexandrei and the guards, "Leave."

Alexandrei was surprised and looked at Radu, who didn't oppose his brother's order. "Very well, Voivode." He snapped his fingers twice; the guards left the throne room. Alexandrei also walked out of the throne room, leaving the brothers alone.

It was silent, but the Voivode slowly stood up from his throne and walked down to Radu. Vlad stopped a couple of inches away from his brother. "Have you come here by the command of Mehmed or out of your free will?"

"I came before you as a brother. Word spreads wide, brother. Everyone, including Mehmed heard what you had done to the boyars. I'm worried what your actions will lead."

"You? Worried? I would have never imagined my brother would worry about my actions." Vlad walked closer to his brother, who took one step back. "You mock me, Radu. You mock everything that our family has ever stood and fought for. What our country has fought for. For what our mother fought for. You betrayed me, Radu."

Radu raised an eyebrow, and he could tell that Vlad was slowly losing his temper. I have come here to warn you that envoys will come before you. They will ask that you pay the homage you owe Mehmed when he helped you gain the throne. All Mehmed wants is what you owe him; the Ottomans helped us when we were children."

"BAH!" Vlad's voice echoed throughout the throne room, making Radu flinch. "You mock me yet again, Radu. You were nothing but a child eager to please. You were nothing but someone easily manipulated so that Mehmed and his council could have control over you. I know very well what Mehmed is after my kingdom." Vlad smirked as he never lost focus on his brother, who tried to contain his composure, but his nervousness got the best of him. "Don't think I forgot what I saw that one night. When I saw you and Mehmed in bed together. You are a disgrace to the Dracul and a man no less." The Voivode walked back to his throne; he had the urge to strangle his brother, but he was the only family he had. "I know about the envoys, and I welcome them arriving. If that is all you came here to do then you may leave." The young man bit his lower lip, turned around, and was about to walk away, but Vlad called out to him before he could. "This will be the last time you are to set foot in my home. If you come here again, you will have the same fate as those fools."

Radu slowly turned to look at his brother, shaking his head. "It saddens me that you are not open to reason, brother. You think I don't love this country but care for it. I want to avoid possible bloodshed, but you care more about your pride. Mark my words, your pride and lust for blood will be your downfall." He opened the doors and left the throne room, leaving the Voivode alone. 

"He's truly under Mehmed's control; it is too late for him to be saved." Vlad's thoughts were interrupted when there was another knock on the door. "Enter."

The door opened, and Alexandrei and Ioana entered. Ioana immediately walked before Vlad and bowed. "F-Forgive me for the intrusion, Voivode, but I must tell you this with great urgency. It is Lady Minah; she has gotten mad!"

"Mad? Meaning?"

"She has tried to hurt others and herself! I fear that her mind is lost!"