After a moment, a few words were spoken inside. I didn't make out what was being said, and soon after, the wooden doors were opened; this was an excruciatingly slow and loud affair. As soon as anything inside was visible, my attention was fixated on the headless Osuliman messenger on the floor and the gaggle of maids cleaning the blood. He seemed to have been dragged to the side; a bloody line led to the centre of the throne room. There was also a line toward the throne, and the disembodied head was in the hand of the count. He proceeded to throw it towards the maids. The maids didn't react as if this was a common sight.
The Throne was propping up a man with pale white skin as if he had never seen the sun. His hair was Jet black with an intense gleam. An angular face with a sharp and handsome jawline. Wearing a dark red leather and fur trench coat. Eyes dark brown with a reddish gleam to them. He had a chilling smile on his face as he was staring at me, almost as if he was looking into my soul. The Count was intense and intimidating in a manner that felt deliberate and practised.
I felt incredibly pressured into showing some supplication as I was about to do a shallow bow. Ion took the lead and bowed. Ion had informed me precisely how to comport myself in front of this count. He did expressly tell me not to bow or lower myself in any manner, but the man in front of me was of a different calibre. He commanded a primal fear.
As I made eye contact with the count, I remembered that I needed to speak first, so I removed my hat and spoke out loud.
“Greetings to Lord Count of Dragoș,” I said with a tremble at the end.
”You don't need to be on edge, boy. Excuse my mistake; I meant Cosmin Heir of the Aureni Fiefs.”
Said the count confidently and carelessly.
”Let us depart this gloomy hall to better accommodations”, Indicated the count toward the furiously working maids to the side of the room cleaning up the blood. Simultaneously, two men pulled the corpse of the Osulimani messenger out of the hall.
Only now did I notice the blood dripping from the sabres sheath attached to the Count's Left. He was also spotted with blood all over, little droplets everywhere. The mystery of the earlier sound is evident in sight right before me.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I instantly asked a question.
”May I inquire as to the offence that the messenger committed to offend the Count so greatly” The count turned towards me and broadly smiled. That revealed a row of white teeth with some rather sharp-looking canines.
”The fool asked for my surrender and abdication of my titles, a ridiculous proposition, I do say so myself.” The count feigned an air of outrage as he began speaking.
”It would have been sufficient to bring me a war declaration. There is no recourse to suggest that I would be cowardly enough to run.”
”I Have missed the seasonal skirmishes stopped by that damnable truce.” Said the count with a brilliant smile and dead eyes. An incredibly creepy visage that gave me the chills.
On the other hand, this meeting has started to sound like more and more of a mistake. A bloodthirsty count meeting with a fraud heir of the Aureni. Is there a more evident mistake to make in my current situation?
Well, that is that. I did speak with Ion about the necessity of this meeting. He had made it clear that we needed some reinforcements until we got home to prevent any more assassination or abduction attempts at the hands of the Suikasti. It would be far too risky to continue as we were. Our defences had been lacking once already. My task would prove harder than I thought, as the declaration of war complicates my request.
”Follow me.” Said the count as he turned around and started walking without as much as a glance backwards, showing his confidence in his directions being followed.
We Followed behind the Count. While we followed him, I observed that the servants avoided him like the plague and would not even glance in his direction, let alone lift their faces to make eye contact. That indicated that this man was dangerous if the previous signs were insufficient.
I was broadly aware that medieval people and societies were far more accustomed to death and violence than our modern world. We became spoiled by the wealth and prosperity built by the hard work of our predecessors. The wealth had allowed for departure from the reality of starvation and violence that had driven people before us. But the casual execution of a messenger, even if I didn't witness it directly, had still shaken me, and I was still off-footed.
We start climbing a spiral staircase that seems to get narrower as we go, and a constant crisp breeze blows through, making me shiver slightly.
We arrived in a large room with a small balcony. As I approached it, I could overlook the city. As I Start observing the town, I see the people hard at work doing their preparations for the night. The sun is nearly set, casting long shadows that go on seemingly forever. The longer I look, the fewer and fewer people are milling about. The walls surrounding the city are patrolled by groups of three militia men walking at a relaxed pace providing a sense of security. Overall a fairytale feeling from the whole picture.
”A nice sight,” Said Count Dragoș. He was Standing in the shadow behind me, looking at the city over my shoulder.
That gave me a start, as I hadn't heard the count. He didn't make any noise while he was approaching me. I was beginning to believe that he liked being perceived as dangerous and menacing.
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”Yes, I agree, you have a lovely city Count Dragoș” After a long pause, the Count began.
”Altho I like the sight myself, I have a war to fight, so can you get to the matter. I assume you have come here for a good reason and are not wasting my time.”
”Ah yes, my apologies, Count dragoș. We are here to call for aid. While travelling from Cluj to The aureni Holdings, our group got ambushed by Some Osuliman Suikasti.” Leaving a long pause for building up tension, I began speaking again.” my father did not survive, and my brother was abducted.”
”Oh, that is terrible news; my condolences.”
The count Remained quiet with a thoughtful expression on his face. He was staring into the distance and not making any noise.
”Could Count Dragoș create a chase party to attempt to get my brother back?”
”Sadly, it is too late. There is an army invading Vlachia. They are only a day's ride away from Dragoș castle. The Suikasti that ambushed you were most likely an advanced scouting party, most likely.”
The news that we were in the centre of a soon-to-be besieged castle gave me a start.
In the day following my violent end and transfer to this place, I discovered that I could feel pain like I used to when I managed to trip on the flat road and fall facefirst into the mud. That had broken some of the ice in the group, as the men found it extremely funny. Even if the reality around me could be a simulation, I should avoid getting myself in dangerous situations believing it not to be real. After all, my recklessness got me into this mess, to begin with.
”Count Dragoș, would it be possible for you to dispatch a group of men to bolster our forces until we get to the aureni holdings? We are willing to return quadruple the number of men as you may see fit to do with for an indefinite period,” Said Ion.
”I would be agreeable to that arrangement regularly. Sadly in the current situation, every man I have is invaluable, and I can't even give you a token force. I can, however, loan you a horse per person; see it as a gift for the future lord. There aren't many uses for horses in a siege besides soup," said the count in a mirthful tone.
As we discussed the situation's particulars, a bell started ringing around the city; after a few rings, many more bells began ringing alongside it. The ringing awakened the people as many lights started to be light, and people were coming out of their homes right as the sun disappeared behind the horizon. Soon there was a churning of people as they began making their way to the central square. After a few minutes of shouting from the town criers, the people started to go back home, but there was a large mass left over that had started preparations for the siege to come soon. The barracks were fully alive as troops were moving around.
”Now, Regarding the marriage of your younger brother and my daughter, I will have it annulled as the Osulimani empire has abducted your brother, and they will induct him into the empire if he isn't freed soon. We can discuss the terms of our alliance once you manage to settle the situation back home” Said the count in a final tone.
”That is amenable, Count Dragoș once we are ready, I will send a message if the situation at the time will allow it” By the sounds of it, he doesn't believe that my position is manageable and that I will be able to take control back at the fiefs. Well, that isn't incorrigible. It is also impossible to receive the count's assistance in the fight for the throne as he is predisposed to an invasion.
”Now, If you wish, I could house you in the main keep, but I doubt you will be willing to wait out the siege.”
”Yes, we have important business at home, so we will depart with great haste.”
”Yes, I wish you success, Young Cosmin. May we speak again as lords.”
”Thank you, Lord Dragoș. I hope you are successful with your fight against the osulimani.”
”That is a given”, Said dragoș with a cold smile.”Follow the butler; he will show you the way to the stable” With that, he pulled a rope. A bell could be heard on the other side of a wall.
With that, the count turned around and began walking towards the balcony. I was spacing out and thinking of the future, and then I was startled by the Count stepping on the handrail and jumping down without as much as a word. That left me flabbergasted. I turned towards ion only to see him having the same reaction as me; he was speechless. I quickly went to the balcony and looked down, only to see nothing at the bottom of the fall. The only movement I could see was some people in a rush, no corpse at all.
While looking down in sheer confusion, someone entered the room. He was an older gentleman dressed uniquely but mainly in black and some accents of white here and there.
”Oh, I see that The count has left through the balcony again, Don't threat. He is fine. Now then, I believe you intend to go with utmost urgency, so follow me” He then stood still and looked at me.
While thinking of the whole situation and how absurd this meeting had turned out, it finally occurred to me. ‘He is a damn vampire. How was that not instantly evident? The menacing presence, brutality, confidence, and physical appearance couldn't be more evident. Maybe they are called something else here since I doubt they have heard of count Dracula from Transilvania. Oh wait! he fits the description very well.’
As soon as we approached the butler, he began leading the way through the keep down the stairs and into the throne room. The maids had mostly cleaned up the blood, and now they were cleaning the smaller drops that sprayed everywhere. Looking closely at them, they didn't seem mindful of their work. Something was lacking in their movements, making them dull and almost drone-like. If it had been only one of them, it could be just because they were tired, but if every servant acted that way, it made it much more curious about what was happening.
“Stefan, has there been a banquet last night? The servants seem to be very tired.”
“Ah yes, The maids have angered the lord, so he decided to punish them. They didn't have any rest last night, and neither will they this night.”
‘Well, that comment can be interpreted in interesting ways.’
“I have sent a messenger to your followers. They will be informed to gather at the main gate.”
We continued out of the keep and back down into the town. The closer we got to the barracks and stables, the more the people around us descended into controlled chaos.
Horses were being moved, and people ran with large packs on their backs to the walls. With the butler leading the way, we arrived at the stables, where we would pick them up. The butler then walked over to the stable master and quickly informed him of the horses the lord gave us.
The stable master didn't seem happy to have to give out a significant proportion of the horses in the stables to us, but he grudgingly arranged some stable boys to help us bring the horses out of the town and in front of the imposing main gate of the city.
Our group Got on the horses, and then a light torch was passed to some of the men to make sure we could see where we were going.