Vlad led the small party westward over the hills.  The plan was to journey between the well-defended cities of Tirgoviste and Burcharest, ford the Dimbovita and Arges Rivers, then swing sharply north into southern Transylvania.  There, in the southernmost provinces that were sympathetic to the Wallachian throne, he would attempt to raise an army to drive the Turks back.  If all went well, a defensive front would be formed with the taking of Brasov, King’s Rock and finally Castle Dracula itself.  Once regrouped with the remnants of Lord Tepes forces they could lay siege to Tirgoviste.

But these bold plans seemed flights of fancy to the exhausted, ragtag column.  It was unknown whether Vlad’s father still lived or had evaded capture, and rumors had reported the destruction of the royal...

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