Impaler

Envoys

Vlad was in his throne room and proudly sat on his throne. Beside him was Alexandrei, who stood nervously. Whenever glancing at Alexandrei, Vlad had the urge to kill him right there and then. However, it wasn't time yet. It was time to meet Sultan Mehmed II's envoys.

He knew that the Sultan wanted and refused to give his enemy anything that rightfully belonged to him. While waiting, Vlad looked at one of the many windows and noticed the cloudy skies; it looked like it was about to rain. It suited him fine since he loved the rain and enjoyed its sound. "It is a sign," he thought. 

Alexandrei, however, was anxious about what was about to occur. He wondered if Ioana would ever wake up and if she genuinely saw Daciana as the one who pushed her. If word spread, he would be suspected, but there was also the possibility of no suspicion. "It won't matter! That woman was dealt with. All that is needed is for this meeting to go well." When taking a glance at Vlad, he noticed that Vlad held no emotion; his eyes were still while looking at the door. 

"Deep in thought, Alexandrei?" 

The nobleman cringed as he got out of his gaze. "Y-Yes, Voivode. I could not help but wonder what will become of this meeting."

"I see you have doubts, Alexandrei. I cannot help but believe that you think that I will be the cause of the meeting's failure."

"Not at all, Voivode. You know what it is best for Wallachia."

Vlad smirked and noticed the door opening. One of the guards entered, bowing his head. "Voivode, the envoys have arrived."

"Have them enter."

The guard bowed as he walked out of the throne room and motioned three men to enter. The three men were middle-aged, bearded with turbans on their heads. Vlad relaxed his back and was slightly surprised who the three envoys were. The envoys were emotionless as they looked at Vlad. "Prince," said one of the men.

Vlad noticed that the men did not have the respect to take their turbans off and bow to him. They were in his kingdom, his land. He knew the men since the three were younger sons of nobles and viziers of the previous Sultan. When they were all children, Mehmed's father ordered some of the sons of the viziers to befriend him and Radu. Vlad knew the boys were to spy on him and Radu; if he refused to have them as 'friends,' he would get beaten. More memories filled him when he remembered that, as children, the three envoys before him would beat and torment him. Vlad couldn't do anything to defend himself, or it would have led to more punishments. 

Silence reigned within the throne room; the guards were still, but they were focused on what was about to happen. Vlad smirked. "Cemil, Daud, Fahir, it has been a long time, has it not?"

Daud, who had previously spoken, walked forward. "It has been very long, Prince Vlad. The last time we saw you was when you returned to your homeland."

"Indeed, the last time I have seen you was when you and the others threw stones toward me."

The men stilled and glanced at one another. Alexandrei noticed Vlad's low tone; he was angry. The nobleman stepped forward. "We welcome you all Wallachia. You have traveled far to come here. We appreciate your dedication and patience, my Lords."

Vlad glared at Alexandrei. He used 'we' as if he was permitted to mention Vlad. "Although, they have not traveled far just from the kindness of their hearts. Now, enough of formalities; I know that Mehmed did not send you here for no reason."

"You are correct, Prince Vlad. The Sultan wants to make peace with you," said Fahir, who appeared to be the oldest of the envoys. 

The Voivode let out a quick laugh. "Peace. Ah, so going to foreign lands to convert them to your horrid beliefs is peace? I am no fool,; Mehmedwants homeage. Tell me, Fahir, what would happen if I refuse to pay him homeage? What then? Will there be war?" Vlad's rage intensified while looking at the men. He despised them after what they made him go through. 

"Prince, there is no need to act rash. We want peace between our countries. You and our Sultan must think of the greater good of the people so no more bloodshed will be spilt," said Cemil. "All what our Sultan wants is homeage. He is sowed such after you promised him to pay him back if he helped you regain your throne."

Vlad sat silently, focusing on the men; Alexandrei noticed and spoke. "Yet, the Voivode is grateful for the assistance and-"

"Enough," Vlad commanded while standing up from his throne. He put his hands behind his back as he slowly walked toward the three. "Your Sultan helped me for his benefit. His father kept me and Radu hostage to control us, believing that we could be tamed. Your scoundrel of a Sultan didn't do it out of the kindness of his heart and for the good of his Allah. He did it for himself." Vlad stopped before the trio as his eyes never left them. "How can I pay back homage if he didn't do it with good intentions?"

"Prince, he-"

"Silence. I am not finished speaking. Action speaks louder than words. I did not choose to be educated under your blasphemous teachings. Have you all forgotten what you and the previous have done to me? What your Mehmed did with Radu." Cemil was about to speak, but Vlad stopped him again. "You all speak of homage, but none of you had the respect to take off your turbans and bow to me."

The three men were surprised and anxious. They noticed that Vlad's voice had a hint of venom. Fahir gathered his courage and spoke, "Prince, forgive us, but the past is the past. We were just boys, and our fathers ordered us to do what we did. You also know that taking off our headpieces is a sign of indecency when done so in public."

Vlad laughed slightly but immediately died down. "Yes, following your father's orders as you cursed my god, family, and homeland. Yet, one always has a choice like I had the choice to keep onto my teachings and traditions." He walked closer to the trio. "You wish for homage, take off your turbans, bow, and show me the proper respect when you are in my homeland."

Alexandrei was about to intervene; the meeting was going wrong. "V-Voivode, surely they do not mean any form of disrespect. They-!"

"Guards, keep Alexandrei silent. One more sound from him and you may cut off his head."

Two guards ran to Alexandrei and held him down to the ground with swords beside his neck. Alexandrei wanted to yell out but refrained himself, fearing his death.

The envoys saw everything unfold, but they were shocked to do anything. However, Cemil feared the consequences and slowly took off his turban and slightly bowed to Vlad. His actions shocked the other two men. Shame overwhelmed Cemil, but his fear overcame him. "Y-You are disrescpecting our belief, Prince. We understand that you will not pay homage; we will inform the Sultan of your answer," said Fahir angrily.

Vlad smirked. "You still have the audacity and the entitlement to ask for homage after coming to my homeland and disrespecting our ways: you Ottomans and your ignorance. However, only one of you can send Mehmed the message. There is no need for all three of you to go, for I have my own message to send him. Guards! Seize them!"

A dozen guards entered with swords in hand as they forcibly grabbed the three men who tried to fight off the grips. "What is the meaning of this, Vlad!? Don't you know the consequences if we are harmed!?" yelled Daud.

"Of course, henceforth, my next course of action." He looked at Cemil and pointed at him. "Let him live, but he will watch his friends as they suffer their terrible deaths. Once the deed is done, have him ship back to his master. Take them away and carry out their sentence. They will do nicely with the other impaled."

The men looked terrified and screamed for mercy, but their pleas went on deaf ears. Vlad watched as they were taken away while screaming for mercy. Once their voices were no longer heard, he focused on Alexandrei, who watched everything unfold. "V-Voivode? I-I-"

"Everything will come to light. We still have the festivities, but it would be best if you rest in the dungeon. Take him away." The two guards forced Alexandrei to his feet and dragged him out of the throne room as he screamed to be let go."

Vlad stood alone in the throne room as he closed his eyes, and that was when he heard the distant scream of agony. The impalement began; Vlad knew he had declared war against Sultan Mehmed II.