A week had passed in the Topkapı Palace, and Sultan Mehmed II was meeting with his council regarding the status of his empire and Vlad. 

The surviving envoy returned, traumatized as he told the Sultan everything that happened with his other two comrades: tortured and impaled. Mehmed II listened to the disturbing report about Vlad's viciousness. A chill ran down his spine at the thought of anyone enduring a slow, torturous process. Mehmed II looked at Cemil, who was looking down at the ground. He couldn't fault him for becoming meek. "Cemil."

Cemil slowly raised his head. His eyes looked hazy, and dark circles were under them. "S-Sultan?"

"Thank you for your report and I must apologize profusely for sending you to Vlad. I wouldn't have imagined that Vlad would do what he did. Go and rest; you will be relieved of your duties until you are healed and well-rested." Cemil was about to speak against it, but Mehmed II knew that the trauma was going to affect him. The Sultan motioned his hand up, refraining Cemil from speaking. "I have spoken. You need rest and time to pray to Allah for the healing of your ruh (soul). You will eventually return to your duties but now it is not the time. You may leave."

The councilmen remained quiet as they watched Cemil tremble, but eventually he seemed to have accepted the order. He bowed to the Sultan and left the council meeting.

Mehmed sighed, massaging his forehead. "So it would seem that Vlad has made his decision: he will not repay the homepage that I lent him to take back his home."

"This is an outrage, Sultan! That infidel has forgotten all the splendors we have given him and his brother, Radu! The late Sultan, your father, was generous and merciful even though the Prince and his brother were considered prisoners! To think that he was also trained along with the Janissaries!"

"Him impaling the other envoys is far enough, Sultan. We must act now against the infidel!" said another councilman. 

The councilmen had their views on how Vlad's situation should be handled, but the Sultan knew he had to tread carefully. If Mehmed II had not allowed Vlad II to pay back the money, he would have appeared weak, especially to his people.

There was a knock on the door; a guard entered. "What is it?" 

"Sultan, Mustafa Bay wishes to speak with you."

The Sultan and the councilors were confused and surprised. "Mustafa Bey? I thought he was supposed to stay in Wallachia to watch the Prince's movements?" asked one of the councilmen.

Mehmed II had spies placed throughout Vlad's territory. There was the possibility that Mustafa had something urgent to speak to him about. "Let him enter." The guard bowed as he went outside and motioned with his arm. Mustafa Bey entered with his hands together and stopped before the Sultan, bowing his head. "Mustafa Bey, I am surprised that you have left your post. I imagine you took the risk since you have something important you wish to speak of."

"Sultan, forgive my impertinence, but my men and I have come back urgently. I have brought someone who has more information." When given permission, Mustafa looked at the guard and nodded. Everyone in the meeting was surprised to see a disheveled man being forced inside by two Janissaries. "I have brought you the former Lord Alexandrei, who happened to be the Prince's former servant."

"Alexandrei?" Sultan Mehmed II was shocked to see Alexandrei brought before him. Mehmed II was cautious but decided to get information. "So, you must be Alexandrei, the one who has been sending me messages about Vlad."

Alexandrei didn't respond;  he was exhausted and hungry from his journey. One of the Janissaries hit his back hard enough, making him yelp. "Y-Yes! I am Alexandrei, S-Sultan!"

"Well, I must say that this is another surprise. If I had known you were coming, I would have given you a more proper welcome to my palace." The councilors quietly chuckled. "Now, since you are here, I assume something went wrong."

"N-No. I-I was speaking too much against him, and the Voivo-I mean, Vlad, had enough and wanted to sentence me to death. Mustafa Bey and his men rescued me." It was a lie; Alexandrei didn't want to tell the Sultan the truth about why he was supposed to be sentenced to death. He would die of embarrassment. 

"I see. I assume you have much to discuss if you have spoken out much against your Prince. What news do you bring?"

Alexandrei was about to tell the Sultan, but stopped and wondered what would happen if he told him everything. Was there a guarantee that he would live? He couldn't entirely trust Mehmed II. "I will tell you, but only if I have your reassurance that my life will be spared."

"You dare try to make demands to the-"

Mehmed II motioned his hand out, silencing the councilman. "Worry not. I had no intention of killing you since you have much information about Vlad.  However, what are your intentions?"

"Vlad has gotten out of control; he was never fit to be Voivode; he has killed many of his people. Vlad must be eliminated; Prince Radu is more fit to become Voivode." Everyone looked surprised. "If Radu comes into power, he will be able to pay back your homepage; there will be peace among our lands. No more lives will be lost; Prince Radu has the right temperament to rule."

The Sultan agreed that Vlad was unfit to become Voivode and that Radu would be a better choice. The young man was reasonable and vulnerable, making Radu easier to control. Still, the Sultan had soft feelings for his lover and wanted what was best for him at heart. "So all you want is peace?"

"Yes, Sultan."

"You had the heart to betray Vlad, so how can I know to trust you."

It was a trick question, but Alexandrei had something to catch the Sultan's interest. "I understand your distrust, and if I were in your position, I would feel the same. There is something you must know that will catch your interest. Vlad has been communicating with King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, with whom he wishes to have an alliance."

The news was unexpected; King Matthias was Mehmed II's enemy, and they had always fought against each other. Vlad's trying to get an alliance with the King meant that Vlad never wanted peace among their nations. He would never repay his debt, and the fact that two of his envoys were impaled made everything clear. 

Mehmed II stood up from his seat, and everyone looked at him. "Our worst fears have come to light, and everything that Vlad has done sends a clear message to all of us. He has secretly declared war upon the empire. If war is what he wants, then war it shall be."