The son of the devil

Parting ways

There was silence for a short while, while they tried to bring Tanase back. They tied Dan up so they would be spared the effort of watching over his every move. He was morose. It took a while for him to recover enough strength to open his eyes and look at them.

Vlad and Diana were ignoring him, all their worry concentrated on Tanase. Finally he started to stir back to life. With a moan, he opened his eyes and squinted up at their worried faces.

"Well now, that's kind of embarrassing. I guess I've lost my edge lately."

He turned his eyes to Vlad, who retreated when he started talking.

"I guess you already know everything about what happened and our little conspiracy. I just wanted to say I'm sorry for lying to you. I can see your disappointment with everyone of us. I understand it and I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit for my crime of deceiving you."

Vlad nodded while he talked. He seemed to think the situation over, trying to reach the best conclusion. Finally, after some time in silence, he sat down next to Tanase.

"I admit, it was bad when I heard what all of you said. But I started thinking and realized you weren't at fault. The fault was mine for not realizing who was what."

He turned his face to Diana and smiled.

"So you're the one I'm supposed to marry. Strangely, I don't find the idea as annoying as it was in the morning. But as you must have realized by now, we're in a conundrum here. After what happened earlier both to you and your brother, I don't think I'm as welcomed in your house as a couple of days ago. But, that doesn't mean I'll abandon you or the child. Now that I know a bit about what is going on, I'll let you choose the path you want to walk. But before you make that choice, you have to keep in mind a couple of things. That baby is mine, nobody has anything to comment about it. When I'll return he'll be my heir and you'll be by my side no matter what..."

"Your heir? What if it's a girl?" Diana smirked.

Vlad scratched his chin while smiling.

"Then she would be my heiress. Her mother is an example of how that can be a thing."

Diana looked at him and nodded grinning.

"As I was saying before being interrupted, you and the child will be mine, no matter who will try to interfere. The paths you can choose are: either you will come with me, sharing a life of danger and lack of luxury, or you go home to your family and wait for me to return with help to reclaim my throne. These are your choices. But think carefully what you choose. Any of those choices have advantages and disadvantages. If you come with me, you and the child might be in danger on the road. If you go home, you might be under pressure from your family and I might not be able to persuade them to act accordingly. After all, I've lost my political and military strength. But don't worry, if you choose to go home, you will not go alone. I'll send Tanase to take care of you and the child."

Tanase frowned hearing the last words.

"Master, I'm sorry for speaking against you, but I can't just leave you to wander alone. I'm thinking all of us should come with you."

Diana nodded her head forcefully.

"Exactly. Besides there will be no threat to both me and the child. Remember I still know how to use a sword. If anyone tries to harm us, that would be the last thing they would ever do on the earth. And with that, the decision is taken. We're coming with you."

Vlad had mixed feelings about her decision. Happy about her coming. And a bit worried about how her family would act when Dan would tell them everything. Because he had no doubt that he would. He will not be coming with them. He was petty and wouldn't miss a chance of throwing mud at others if that would make him feel better for a moment.

He looked at him thinking to end the threat before it started. But Diana was quite perceptive. She put her hand on his arm, shaking her head.

"Don't. Please! Remember he's my brother. Let him go. Consider it a last favor for our family. After this, if he still works against you, I won't interfere anymore."

Vlad looked at her and finally nodded.

"Very well. I will exempt him this time. Even though I know I will come to regret it. He is not worth your time. But I am willing to do it for you."

He then walked to him, crouching beside him. Dan was looking at him with wide eyes not saying a word, jerking at his bonds.

"This is the last time you have crossed the line and manage to get out without a scratch. But I made a promise to your sister and I intend to keep it. You are free to leave as soon as the ties are gone. But remember, this is the last time. No more foolish behavior."

Dan kept looking at him. When he cut the ropes, he simply stood and massaged his hands. Then walked towards the place where his sword was and wanted to pick up. Vlad approached him and took it off his hands while smiling sardonically.

"This will remain with us. Also your horse and whatever valuable you had before belong to me now. But you're free to walk away from here. I'd say good luck and all that, but we both know I won't mean it. Leave now!"

If looks could have killed him, Vlad would have been rolling on the ground in agony. But he only smiled at Dan's furious glare. Seeing he was not welcomed anymore, Dan started walking and soon disappeared under the cover of the trees.

Vlad turned back to the others when he was sure Dan really left.

"I think it's time for us to leave this place too. Don't want him coming back during the night. Might find help and give us unnecessary trouble."

While the others packed, he took Mutt and put it back atop the saddle. It still struggled, but once up, it stood still.

Then, he walked towards the girl and in order to keep her calm, raised his arms.

"Look, I'm not trying to hurt you. Just want to know what you want to do after we leave this place. Of course we'll take you out of the forest first, even though I'm not sure where exactly we are myself. But the others will manage, I'm sure."

She looked at him for a few moments thinking about her options. Finally she said.

"I can't return to my life from before. I'm not welcomed anymore. My family sold me and the lord's family won't accept me after what happened. I don't want to return to that kind of life. I think I would be better off if I joined you in your journey. That is if you want me to come. I could be madam's servant and take care of her during the travel."

Vlad looked at her and thought about it for a bit. Then nodded.

"I'll talk to her about it, but I'm sure she'll be happy to have a female at her side to confide in instead of two clueless men. At least I'm clueless. I'll just stop talking now and go tell her."

She nodded and he walked towards Diana. Seeing him approaching, she felt a bit strange. For the first time she was in the open without anyone or anything else interfering in their talks. And now he knew what and who she was as well as the fact she was carrying his child. Earlier she didn't have the time to think about what that meant for them, but now she was a little scared about what he would be thinking about her. But when he started talking, she was a bit disappointed when instead of talking about them, he started talking about her taking the girl as a personal maid during their travels, explaining she had no further chances of returning to her previous life.

She nodded and turned her back at him, trying to return to her work of packing. But the sigh of frustration still escaped her lips.

He nodded smiling at the girl and went to talk with Tanase, who was currently gathering the extra weapons and bundling them in a blanket. He simply lifted his head, letting the fire illuminate his scarred face for a moment before returning to his work.

"And that one was your first mistake, my boy. Good luck fixing that one."

Vlad looked at him, not knowing what he could have done wrong.

"That one was actually turned to a few mistakes bundled into one. You're still new. Hope you'll figure out what you did wrong. Otherwise, your life will just be a lot more difficult. As I said. Good luck!"

Vlad stood there gawking for a few moments. Then felt his hair on the neck stand. Turning his head he saw Diana turning her head, not before him noticing the slim line of her lips and the furrowed eyebrows.