Chapter 43
Hermannstadt (Sibiu)
Southern Transylvania
The airship slipped through a large blanket of fog. It disappeared, reappeared, and disappeared again as Matei Basarab watched from the protection of his personal guard. He thanked God that Usan Hussein was not at his side. For this meeting, he did not need the roving eyes and ears of the Sultan passing judgment on his decisions. In truth, Matei didn’t know what he was going to do. The knife in its sheath on his belt craved blood, Lupu’s blood, and how easy would it be to have his guards seize that bumbling buffoon, cut his throat, and watch him bleed out? Then, perhaps, Matei could broker a peace with the Diet of Transylvania, with Bohemia. Perhaps, then, he could escape his terrible dreams.
The Chaldiran appeared again and, this time, descended in a slow, deliberate manner until mooring lines were tossed out of the gondola and tethered to the ground by men waiting below. When secure, a rope ladder was tossed out.
Matei stepped forward and waited as Vasile Lupu’s round form was helped onto the ladder. Following him was a well-muscled, heavily armed Janissary. Matei had been around enough Janissaries now to know one when he saw one. But that was all. No other protection.
Bold, Matei thought. Stupid.
Matei gripped the hilt of his knife tightly as he approached his partner in this ill-advised endeavor. For his part, the voivode of Moldavia jumped off the ladder with an extra spring in his step, a contented smile on his puffy lips.
“You fool!”
It was not the planned initial response that Matei wanted to deliver, but it was either that or draw the knife. “How could you do it? After you promised no direct attack against George.”
Vasile’s joyful expression turned hard. Gone was his smile. In its place, a cold stare that told Matei that the man had changed, that he had tasted too much military success of late, despite word that the Moldavians and their mercenary allies had suffered a terrible defeat against the Sunrise near Déj.
“I did what had to be done,” Vasile said. He paused to allow his Janissary guard to join him, then said, “In your heart, you know it had to be done.”
“I should turn my columns back to Wallachia and leave you to the wolves!”
Vasile sighed. “The situation has not changed, my friend. When you retreat to the comfort of your court, please inform the Sultan of your decision and await his bloody response. There was never a choice here, Matei! The minute your man Stroe Leurdeanu read Murad’s order, our fates were cast. Now, the only thing left for us is victory, and I have greatly improved our chances on that score by killing the prince of Transylvania.”
“He is not dead.”
“Not yet, which makes the matter even better for us. Chaos and confusion now rule their politics. Their prince’s life hangs in the balance. Who will rule when he dies? His oldest son, George Junior? His wife? One of his brothers? A Jewish general from Bohemia? Confusion will lead to indecision. Indecision to inaction. Inaction to defeat.
“I have given us a real chance for victory. I. Not you or your Janissaries or your Ifrit fire tanks. Me. The only thing left now is for us to move onto Gyulafehérvár and quickly bring this matter to a conclusion. The capital is ours, Matei. Transylvania is ours…if we’re man enough to take it.”
At this moment, Matei wished that his mother, his father, had raised him to be more ruthless. This nagging sense of decency and fair play was an impediment. His best move was to agree with Vasile Lupu, put aside his doubt, his fear, and press forward. Life would be so much simpler if he saw the world through a more practical, financial lens as did Vasile. He’d certainly sleep better at night if he did.
Matei closed his eyes, shook his head, sighed, and said, “Where is your army now?”
“It awaits in Schäßburg.”
“And these…Impalers of yours?”
Vasile smiled. “Everywhere.”
Matei raised his brow. “It’s my understanding—from my sources, Vasile—that their efforts have met with severe resistance north of the capital.”
Again, the voivode of Moldavia shook his head vigorously. “Silly rumor and hearsay. I’ve been assured that whatever resistance they have experienced is minor and inconsequential. The citizenry of Transylvania is flocking to our ranks to help us defeat this Sunrise before it reaches the capital or, at least, cause it enough harm to make its effectiveness less so. Do not worry about unfounded rumors, my friend. The Impalers will do their job.”
Worries? Matei had plenty. “Is your army ready to join ranks with mine?”
“Oh, yes indeed.” Vasile seemed to relax. His belly now pushed against the gold cloth of his dolman. His shoulders relaxed and lowered. “I’m waiting on you to give the word, and then I’ll order my men forward.”
How clever he is to now shift the burden, the decision to march onto me, Matei thought. He nodded for show and ran through the operational situation in his mind. Hermannstadt had fallen relatively easily, but the citizenry was less than cooperative. Small pockets of resistance harried his army everywhere. Perhaps the citizenry of northern Transylvania was falling into line, but not the Saxons of the south. Like their Impaler counterparts, they were aggravating the Wallachian supply line at every turn, causing Usan Hussein all sorts of trouble. More bee stings than hammer blows, for sure, but still, a matter that would need to be addressed before moving forward to link arms with the Moldavians.
“I’ll give the word soon, Vasile,” Matei said. “Within days.”
“I await your order,” Vasile said, taking a step backward toward his airship. “Send it soon. The weather is beginning to turn. Fall is here. Winter will arrive soon. We do not want to lie in winter quarters. We must strike now. Now is our time, Matei, before the Grand Army of the Sunrise reaches the capital.”
Vasile said nothing more and turned. Matei watched the fool reach the Chaldiran and climb aboard.
He turned from the field as well, his mind racing with myriad problems and tedious details. He burped and felt the sting of stomach acid in his throat, on his tongue. He spit.
Life was so much easier just six months ago.