Claws of Eternity ✔️

Chapter 33: Control

VLAD

Moscow fell. Vlad stared at the letter in his hands, clutching it tightly. All the outer parts of Europe lost their strongest defence, the Border. Even Erik Ulvsson, of Kalmar Union, sent a letter saying they will evacuate Stockholm, since the Border around it might be the next to fall. Vlad doubted, he was certain the Border around Bran would fall sooner. He looked through the window and smiled bitterly.

"I keep staring through this window like a damn pigeon will fly in with all the answers." He said and threw the letter out of the mentioned window.

"Whom are we waiting for, anyway?" Anton asked. Vlad turned around and looked at his loyal counsellors, he felt a sting in his heart remembering only a month ago Dinu was with them. Now, he was dead. Surely, he wouldn't be the last to die in this upcoming war.

Anton, Codrin, Andryj and Petre sat around the table with the world map on it, drinking from an essential flagon of mead. Sergey Durov was there, too, sitting on the lavish, red couch in the far corner of the room. Unlike Vlad's counsellors, all in brownish robes, Sergey had a black, silken one on. His neck, hands and fingers were decorated with onyx jewellery.

"Her Highness, Madame of the House De Noves." Lerra entered the room in her usual, attention consuming manner and Vlad couldn't help but smile. She scooped her red gown in her hands and joined the men at the table.

"And his chivalrous self, the wolf." Devan Roua came in right after her and sat back on the couch next to Sergey.

"I suppose introductions are in order." Vlad sighed and gestured towards Lerra first.

"Hello, I'm Lerra. I hate Englishmen and Christians. Give me a cup." Lerra spread her hand over the table and Codrin poured her a cup, utterly confused.

"Only a few months ago, you swore you wouldn't work with these people, Voivode." Petre commented.

"Yes, well, a few months ago I didn't have enemies on my doorstep and a dead counsellor. So there's that." Vlad wasn't in a good mood, especially since he knew what this meeting meant.

They had to come up with a plan and they had to do it now, otherwise the Unknowns would catch them unprepared and he knew how dangerous that was.

"If no one else has a smug comment, I suggest we take out the Bran Castle map." Vlad rubbed his eyes, so tired of pretending he had all the answers, that he knew what he was doing. Codrin listened and spread the map over the world map. They simultaneously leaned over it.

"We can expect the attack as soon as the Border falls, but we cannot predict when that will be." Andryj said and pointed towards the woods on the map. "We can assume they will come from the woods, because they did that the last time."

"We cannot be sure." Sergey jumped in, getting up and approaching the table. "If I were them, I wouldn't. It's the most obvious thing to do."

Vlad pondered over his words, unconsciously biting his lower lip. His beard itched, he shaved it yesterday to make himself seem put together.

"Sergey, how many men do you have?" Vlad asked.

"Five hundred." Sergey said and looked at Vlad apologetically.

"Five hundred," Vlad thought out loud, "with two thousand of my men and the disciples that are fit to fight, that makes it..."

"Not enough." Lerra interrupted.

"And where is your army?" Petre jumped in immediately.

"In Cardona, keeping my borders safe." She answered quickly.