“Did you hear that, Vataf?” one of the men asked.
“Yes, I heard it.”
“What should we do?”
“Move the women and children into the communal hall. They can resume there.”
The man saw to it. He and the others herded the women and children inside. Just as the last one went in, the heavens opened. Rain like they had not seen in years fell in a deluge upon them.
The vataf and many of the other men took cover, but remained outside. They looked up to the hills, knowing something was not right. A storm had erupted higher up in the forest. It was like nothing they had ever seen. A tornado-like funnel rose up from the trees to the night sky. It uprooted dozens of the pines and tossed them through the air. The men feared it, but stood firm. Karul joined them outside.
“You have woken, then?”
“Yes, Vataf,” Karul answered, his face serious.
“Look at that,” the vataf said, pointing to the swirling mass.
Karul gave his leader a knowing look. “Yes, it is to be a night of surprises.”
“You had a dream?”
The elder nodded that he had.
“Then speak to me.”
“There is an army only a few days away.”
“To whom does it belong?”
“A boyar named Caliu.”
“Who is he?”
“He is a friend of the voivode, Radu cel Mare.”
“The son of Calugarul?”
“Yes, Vataf.”
“Are they coming here?”
“Yes, to kill us one and all.”
“Do you know the reason?”
“It is no secret that we once served Dracula. They want to purge us for that. For that, and for the colour of our skin.”
“That was a long time past. Our people serve no master.”
“It matters not, Vataf. They are coming to kill us all.”
“Do you know how many men?”
“Five times our number.”
“Then we need to prepare. We must take the women and children to safety.”
“We have one other option, Vataf.”
“You have my attention. What is it?”
“Dracula.”
The vataf screwed his face into a scowl. “Are you mad? What option does he give us?”
“He shall soon be here.”
“You have seen him?”
“Only in my dreams. He wants a return to the old days.”
“I am confused. He is dead.”
“Vataf, you know he walks among us again. He passed over and came back.”
“He has designs on the throne?”
“No, but he wants the closeness with our people restored.”
“After all his kin have done to us?”
“Yes, we have little choice.”
“It is not good for our people.”
“It might be all that saves us.”
Dracula’s mind was a haze. The weather forced him and the others to remain at ground level as they moved down the valley. Should they rise above the level of the trees then they risked the force of the winds sweeping them away. Thoughts of the old gypsy filled his mind. Even now, he could not drown out the voice of the elder.
Why did Lucifer not tell me of this? He should have prepared me for it. Anger replaced his fear for a moment. It soon gave way to reason. Perhaps Lucifer did not know. He thought of this for a moment and then back to the elder. There was no resemblance between them that he could see. Yet he knew the elder had spoken the truth. He knows me. He had expected me to come.
It worried him. For sure, it had put a whole new perspective on things. There was one who could challenge his supremacy over man. This one was going to be born over and over again.
He mulled over the conversation. How could the elder read my mind when I could not read his? Are the powers that be redressing an imbalance? It was the only reason he could think of. He had powers that no man could match. It was certain that the elder’s powers were more of the mind than the body. He had received them from the other side, though. From God. And that worried him.
He moved at a breakneck pace through the trees. The other two struggled to match it, and Varkal took more care now to avoid a repeat of his earlier misfortune. They sensed his thoughts and fears, and felt them too. The turn of events had equally troubled them. Dracula consoled himself with the fact that the elder was still a mortal. He could kill him. As he entered the Maglak village, he vowed he would one day destroy his new foe.
The Maglak men stood out in the rain with swords poised. It continued to hammer down, and the winds from higher up the valley drove it into their faces. They stood firm, though, expecting the imminent arrival of the three vampires. It still startled them, to a man, when the vampires touched down close by. They moved into battle stance. These monsters were not claiming any of their loved ones without a fight.
The vataf motioned to them to hold. Dracula scanned them all as he approached. He saw they were prepared to die to deny him. They had not changed. Even after twenty or more years, they remained the same brave and noble warriors who had served him so well.
In spite of their courage, their fear of him filtered through. It touched his every nerve and sinew. He found it intoxicating as always, but he put it out of his mind and turned to the vataf. Hurting them was not his reason to be here. He gestured to the vataf with his hand as the tribal chieftain met his gaze through the rain.
The vataf glared at him, defiant to the last. In spite of what Karul had said, he did not intend to make it easy for the vampire. “You are not welcome in this place. What is it that you want?”
“We mean you no harm,” Dracula assured him. “I have come only to talk.”
The vataf looked beyond him, to the others. His focus fell on Varkal. “That is true of him, too?” When Dracula nodded, he said, “Then talk.”
“Our past and future are entwined. It gives us much to discuss.”
“I cannot see that we have much to say to each other.”
“That is where you are mistaken.”
“My people served you loyally for so long. Yet you have brought us only death.”
“This I cannot deny.”
“So why should I believe anything you have to say?”
“It is your choice. We can leave, if you prefer?”
“No, say what you have come to say.”
“It has been hard for me, too, to understand what I have become. That aside, from this day forward, I make a solemn vow. No person who carries Maglak blood shall suffer at the hands of any of my kind.”
“You know it is hard for me to trust you.”
“I would not expect you to feel any other way.”
“I cannot risk the lives of my people.”
“I know this, but my word stands.”
“Promises count for so little in these troubled times. Your promises, most of all, do not carry much weight.”
“Your father knew me well. He knew I was a man of my word.”
“I know this. He spoke of you often, but you are no longer a man.”
“This is true, though I retain my honour. That has not changed; nor shall it ever.”
“Only time shall tell.”
“Your days of living in fear of us are at an end. What we agree or do not agree on this night does not alter that. That is my word.”
The vataf nodded. “That one over there has brought much misery to my people. We have seen him. He comes like a wolf in the night.”
He turned to glance at his son. “He shall not trouble you anymore. From this day forward, it is his task to protect you.”
“You spoke of the future?”
“Yes,” Dracula said, smiling for the first time.
The vataf did not follow suit. “No one can see to the future.”
“The elder there can. I see he has the eye.”
Dracula scanned him. He saw the old man’s vision of an invading army.
“What of the future?” Karu
l asked him.
“Our paths are destined to run side by side,” Dracula said. “I shall give recompense. For your losses, and the loyal service your people have given me.”
“How can you compensate us for that?”
“I can save those of you who remain. Many of the boyars spit on your existence. Even when I ruled, there were those with prejudice.”
“Do you know something that I do not?”
“An army is on its way here to destroy you, but I am sure you know of it.”
“And you believe you can stop it?”
“Side by side, we shall kill every last one of them.”
“They number five to our one.”
“I shall observe them later. On the morrow, we can plan our strategy for battle.”
The vataf agreed. There was no other way his men could take on and defeat such a number. “You must want something from us in return?”
Dracula nodded. “I do not ask for much, but I ask it all the same.”
“What is it you want from us?”
“On the occasion I need you to watch over us by day, you must do so. That is it.”
The vataf agreed the terms. “You shall keep us safe, if we do the same for you?”
“Yes. There is more, but I believe the elder here can tell you of that.”
The vataf looked to Karul. Before he could speak, Dracula cut in. “For the now, I must take my leave. We shall meet again on the morrow, soon after sunset.”
“Well, Karul?” the vataf asked. “Is there more?”
“Yes, Vataf.”
“That is why you asked that question of him?”
“Yes, I wanted to know if he had seen it too.”
“Why did you not tell me?”
“I did not have the opportunity.”
“Then speak. I want to hear it.”
“In many hundreds of years, we are to leave this place.”
“We shall go with Dracula?”
“Yes, Vataf. He shall lead us across land and sea.”
“Do you know the reason?”
Karul nodded again. “One day, he shall rule over all mankind. When that day comes to pass, we shall be at his side.”
Chapter 26
WALLACHIA. THE MAGLAK VILLAGE IN THE
FOOTHILLS OF THE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS.
JANUARY 2, 1500.
The Maglak men waited for his return. Dracula said he would be there at sunset, and that time had come. The vataf ordered the women to remain inside. He did not want them to see any of this.
Dracula and the others touched down close by. “Good night, Jakab,” he said.
The vataf had discarded his old family name. He did not feel it in his best interests to keep it in this country. Their Christian names had stayed the same.
“My Lord.” He bowed, but his tone remained cautious. “You have news for me?”
“We have observed the army of Caliu.”
“They are coming our way?”
“They are, and their intent is clear.”
“Then we shall have to move the women and children.”
“There is no need. We have the matter in hand.”
“What is their number?”
“At a glance, I would say six hundred.”
“There are few more than a hundred men here.”
“It is enough,” Dracula said. “That is, if you fight as well as you did under me.”
“That has not changed. We still train hard to keep good our skills.”
He smiled. “Good, then we must draw our plan.”
“Where are they camped?”
“On the banks of the Dimbovita River.”
“Near Snagov?”
“Their camp was half a day south of Snagov. This army, I imagine, came from the east and passed through Bucharest.”
“So they are less than two days away?”
“Yes, that would be correct to assume.”
“What can you say of the look of them?”
“There are some good soldiers there, but many have not seen any bloodshed as yet. That is what turns this in our favour.”
“If we can surprise them?”
“Yes, we cannot engage them in open battle.”
“Then that is what we must do.”
“How good are your men with the bow?”
“I wager we can rival even the Vlach tribes in that area.”
“Good, for that must be the emphasis of the attack. One hundred fine archers can decimate an unsuspecting army.”
“Where and when do you propose to do this?”
“They are moving north along the river, and their progress is slow enough. The night of the morrow when they camp.”
Varkal spoke for the first time. “They are sure to cross the river south of Tirgoviste. Then they should follow the Arges to here.”
“There is a spot between the two rivers.”
“Yes,” Dracula said, knowing where the vataf meant. “With the heavy forests, they are sure to camp there.”
Varkal nodded. “It leaves them only a short march then to here. If they march out of the camp at dawn, they would arrive here by the noon.”
“It is the perfect place for an ambush. It surprises me they would camp there.”
“Why would they not?” Varkal said. “They do not expect any sort of an attack.”
“That is why it would work,” Dracula said. “You know the location well, Jakab?”
“Yes, My Lord. We know it.”
“Have the men in the trees around the area before sunset. Wait there for us.”
“How many men?”
“Bring a full one hundred. Leave the rest here in the village to guard it. My wife shall remain with them to watch over your loved ones.”
The vataf looked to Ilona, who nodded her head.
“In the meantime,” Varkal said, “sharpen your swords, and craft a healthy supply of arrows. You shall need them.”
Just before sunset, the Maglaks made it to the trees, where they had a good view of the area below. Here was where they expected the invading army to camp. From these three sides, they could hit their enemy hard.
The soldiers of Caliu had not yet arrived. The vataf hoped they had been correct in their assumptions. If Caliu did not set up camp here, then the plan was doomed to fail. That would mean the end of the tribe. Sunset came, and darkness fell over the field. Dracula and Varkal found the vataf soon after.
“There is no sighting of them as yet,” he said.
“Have no fear,” Dracula said. “They are on their way.”
“Good, it gives us time to prepare.”
“Bring the men together.”
Soon the hundred men gathered around. The moon shone through the trees, lighting the area well. Dracula took an elevated position so they could all see him.
“My son and I are to launch the first strike. We shall steal into the camp and kill as many of the enemy as we can, while they sleep.”
“Might they see you in the moonlight?” one of the men asked.
“No, but we shall see them. So the moon is to our advantage. Use it well.”
“We shall make our way towards Caliu’s tent,” Varkal said. “When you see it aflame, that is the signal to attack.”
“I do not expect there to be a strong sentry guard,” Dracula surmised. “They are not expecting us. It should allow us to wreak a lot of damage.”
“The fire shall cause a panic,” Varkal added. “When they see Caliu is dead, they should lose the stomach for a fight.”
“That is when we attack?” the vataf asked.
“Of course,” Varkal said, raising his voice. “Listen to me.”
“I want you to split into three groups,” Dracula told them. “As we discussed in the village, an attack on three sides should prove deadly.”
“And keep your calm,” Varkal warned. “No one is to fire till they see the flames rising from the tent. If I am struck by an arrow before I exit the camp, the man who fired it shall not be
returning home.”
“There shall be chaos,” Dracula reminded them. “So keep your heads calm and your aim true.”
“Men, take your positions,” the vataf ordered.
Within the hour, the enemy filled the field. They took a long time to set up camp, weary from the march north. Caliu posted sentries in the four corners. His other men lit fires around the perimeter before settling down. Few of them ate. They just wanted sleep.
Dracula watched and waited. It was hard on the Maglaks, where the bitter cold ate into fingers and toes. They had to remain still so as not to reveal their presence to the enemy. One of them moved up and down to keep his feet from going numb. A twig snapped beneath his foot.
The others shot him an angry glance. The sentries were sure to hear it. In the corner of the camp nearest them, the two sentries looked up to the trees.
“Did you hear that?” one of them said.
“It was most likely a deer,” his comrade answered. “The thought of it turning on a spit is enough to make my stomach growl.”
“We should go and check it.”
“What? These forests are full of wildlife. Some not so pleasant either, I wager.”
“It is our charge to check.”
“What? You think someone may be there?”
“There might be.”
“You are being foolish. It is the dead of winter. Who would be there at this hour with it so cold?”
“A hunter, perhaps?”
“Then what concern is that of ours?”
“He could see us, and our camp.”
“I am sure he would hardly care if he did.”
“He could alert someone that we are here.”
“I beg you, please stop. You have too active a mind.”
“I am trying to keep to the task given me.”
“Well, if you wish to take a look, go ahead. I shall remain here and keep watch.”
“You wish me to go alone?”
“Yes, if it concerns you so.”
“I am not going into the trees alone. There might be wolves.”
“I know. So ease down, and we might have a quiet night.”
The Shadow Box: Paranormal Suspense and Dark Fantasy Thriller Novels Page 163
