A Prince to be Feared: The love story of Vlad Dracula by Lancaster Mary

Author:Lancaster, Mary [Lancaster, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-05-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Visegrád, Hungary, 1474

It was inevitable that one day Stephen would come face-to-face with Vlad Dracula. The king’s prisoner seemed to roam largely at will during the day, although he was generally accompanied by the watchful Count Szelényi, and the castle and grounds were not so huge that they could miss each other forever.

However, it was the day Stephen prepared to leave hurriedly for home that the dreaded and looked-for encounter finally occurred. And of course it had to be when Vlad’s fortunes were once more up in the air, and the exiled prince had no cause whatsoever to feel gratitude toward the man who had betrayed him.

Stephen was hurrying through the gallery on his way to make a hasty farewell to the king, when he saw the figure striding toward him. Unmistakably Vlad. The sun beamed in through the high windows, momentarily dazzling him, and for a moment it was if the years rolled back. Nothing seemed to have changed about Vlad—he had the same lean but powerful frame, the same devastating dark green eyes and luxurious black hair. As he moved beyond the direct beam, Stephen could see that of course he had aged. There were more lines around his eyes and mouth, a fuller moustache and, surely, a wealth of patient pain in those fathomless eyes.

For a moment, Stephen thought he hadn’t been noticed and wondered cravenly if he could pass by without a word. But although the other prince didn’t break his stride, he did see him. And it seemed Vlad was the one who would pass without a word.

Stephen said, “Vlad,” and was annoyed by the ridiculous huskiness of his own voice. Vlad halted almost abreast of him and regarded him without expression.

“Stephen,” he returned, as if they’d parted only yesterday and he counted him of no more importance than a dog.

Stephen blurted, “I’m sorry things have turned against you again.”

“I’ll survive. I’m sorry things have gone badly for you too.”

Stephen stared. “They haven’t.”

“I heard you married my niece. It’s not good blood. And of course, the usurper Besarab Laiota has betrayed you.”

“No, he hasn’t,” said Stephen, more annoyed by that than the slur on his wife, Radu’s daughter.

Vlad smiled. It wasn’t a pleasant smile. “He will.”

Stephen knew it. As soon as he’d put Besarab on the Wallachian throne, the ungrateful bastard had started grovelling to the Ottomans. It was why he was here, negotiating with the king to try to restore Vlad, who alone had the right touch to keep a proper balance and resist the sultan. But he hated that Vlad knew it.

Vlad nodded ironically and passed on.

“Vlad?” Stephen said to his back. He paused but didn’t turn. “Marry the king’s sister and take Wallachia back. It’ll be like the old days.”

Vlad turned his head slowly, and Stephen was amazed to see an expression of total disbelief on his face. Pain and guilt smote him so hard he couldn’t breathe. Then Vlad turned back and carried on his way.

***

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