Claws of Eternity ✔️

Chapter 35: Viva la vida

VLAD

Vlad heard nothing but buzzing in his ears. That, and the muffled sounds Codrin made trying to get his attention. But he was fixated on the terrible sight in front of him, which he watched from the tower. The former beautiful, radiant day turned into the darkest shade of grey. Vlad watched the steep cliffs under the castle and the fields that collided with dark forest, as he heard multiple voices trying to reach out to him.

All he thought about was how many of them were going to die in the days to come.

His steady heartbeat joined the buzzing and his already overwhelmed mind could barely take it any more. Vlad tried taking a deep breath focusing on his raging counsellors, but he couldn't. His mind kept on counting every single mistake he had ever made that led to this moment. 

The Border was an invisible line and Vlad never thought he would actually see it fall, but he did. Veil of dirt and dust swirled in the air where the Border used to stand.

"Vlad!" Finally, a voice managed to find its way to Vlad's ears. It was Codrin, but he wasn't alone. Vlad turned around slowly and looked at his outraged counsellors standing behind him.

"Scouts returned," Andryj began, once Vlad focused on them, "the Unknowns are coming."

"Of course they would strike right away, I would, too." Vlad murmured.

"What do we do, Voivode?" Codrin asked.

With one final glance to the darkened fields, Vlad switched into his general mode, the calm and ruthless. He gestured with his finger for his counsellors to follow him as he exited the tower room.

"Petre, find Sergey, tell him to get his soldiers ready. They will wait within the castle until I say otherwise." Vlad said, not sparing him a glance. He moved forward, his steps determined.

"Yes, Voivode." Petre said and disappeared quickly.

"Voivode, Bran Castle is filled with blood. We can wait out a siege." Anton said and Vlad simply nodded.

"I doubt there will be a siege. The Unknowns don't seem like the patient kind. But do me a favour, get every single disciple within the walls. If I see anyone outside, I will murder them myself." Vlad commanded and soon, only Codrin and Andryj walked down the hallways with him.

Vlad proceeded to the great hall of Bran Castle, where dozens of disciples waited for the next command. He was delighted to find them all armoured and ready to fight. Perhaps, he was making a change in this world after all. Vlad noticed a bulked man running towards him and he recognised him as one of the scouts. More bad news, Vlad guessed.

"Voivode..." The man began.

"Tell me." Vlad cut him off. Oh, how he hated when people stalled.

"There's... so many of them. And we didn't even see the entire army!"

Vlad walked past as if the man said nothing. There was no time to be frightened by numbers right now, they had a strategy to plan and they had to do it fast. They reached the balcony above the great hall and Vlad noticed everyone he needed there. He pointed his finger towards Lerra and the wolf and called them over.

"Defence or offence?" Vlad asked.

"Offence every day." Lerra said immediately.

"There's thousands of them." Devan reminded them. "We have a shy of three thousand."

"Defence, then offence?" Lerra suggested.

Vlad pulled a table from the corner and put it between all of them. Codrin took out the map he most likely carried with him at all times.