Claws of Eternity ✔️

Chapter 26: Collision

VLAD

Nervousness crawled through Vlad's skin like he had never held a meeting before. He remembered the Battle of Salamis again, when he had to stand before Xerxes and tell him they would lose. It was because Xerxes wouldn't give in and they would had all died if Vlad, then – Axara, hadn't intervened. The same sort of nervousness washed over him now, and he didn't even need to stand before a great general, he had to face a woman without power, army, strategic planning or social status. Or at least everyone said so about Lerra De Noves.

But Vlad felt in his bones it wasn't true.

It was the nerve, Vlad realised. It was because she had the nerve to come here, to his home, and demand. That sort of courage would very quickly turn to foolishness if she didn't have anything to offer. For some reason, Vlad believed she wasn't that dumb.

He walked around the tower room, watching the new set of tables and chairs somebody put in after he broke the last ones. After they murdered Dinu, something he should've seen coming but hasn't. Just another piece of guilt to chew on his heart when he slept.

Lerra was alone when she entered. There was no doubt that she was extraordinarily beautiful. But it wasn't the beauty that other beautiful women possessed, it wasn't the beauty of a blooming flower, but the beauty of a sharp, silver sword.

"May I offer you some blood?" He asked, mostly because Sergey scowled at him for not being polite.

"Do you have ale? I swear to God, if I have to mysteriously drink another cup of blood or wine, I will vomit." Lerra said and sat on the sofa.

Interesting, Vlad thought, bailing on the power measuring contest right in the beginning. He was certain she would keep up with the act longer. He poured ale into a cup and brought it over to her.

"You came here to talk, so let us talk." Vlad said. He knew his encounter with Lucien left him on edge and that he wasn't at his best. He had to get a grip quickly.

"I want to know more about you. Tell me, who is Vlad Draculesti?" She asked.

"I believe you know very well who I am." Vlad countered.

"Ah, yes, what one might find out through spies and witches and history. I prefer learning through a conversation. I don't care what your name is, I want to know who you are. You know very well I wasn't around when you ruled the Monarchy." She flipped her left leg over the right one and sipped her ale.

It was a strange combination, a woman in a dress so revealing Vlad knew it must have been on purpose, drinking ale from a cup like she's sipping wine. Elegance and power, entwined in casual conversation. She hid herself through contrariety.

"That's a strange phrase: you weren't around. You weren't even born then." Vlad noticed. Lerra simply smiled.

"You won't indulge me in a conversation?" She asked.

"Alright, why are you here?" Vlad turned away from her to pour himself a cup of ale. But in truth, he turned around to frown deeply.

"I'm here to help." That was not the answer Vlad expected. He turned around.

"You know the Border is falling." He concluded.

Lerra smiled and waved her hand: "Everyone knows the Border is falling, Dracul, I believe you were the last one to figure it out."

"I dealt with the Ottomans and the..."

"Unknowns. Yes, I know." She interrupted. Vlad was getting angry and he believed a man shouldn't make decisions while he's angry, or negotiate, for that matter. He did not know how much he could tell this woman.