Bioan had finished training outside the castle and was about to go to the soldiers' barracks to rest, but then a soldier approached him and told him the news: someone had tried to assassinate the Voivode. If that was the case, Bioan also remembered that Angelina was with Vlad, and he was worried that something had happened to her. He was informed that the assassin had been captured and was being held in the dungeons. 

Since Bioan was a lieutenant, he had more responsibilities within Vlad's castle, meaning he was responsible for extracting information from the assassin.  Not only that, he hoped to know information about the attempted assassination. He and the soldier went toward the dungeon; it was a path Bioan knew all too well. Alexandrei threw him there, but it was also where he first met Angelina. The closer he got to the dungeon, the more anxious he felt. 

The dungeon's doors opened, and a couple of torches illuminated the interior. Bioan saw a group of soldiers speaking to one another outside a cell. One of them saw Bioan and informed the others. "Lieutenant," they said in unison. 

Bioan nodded as he stood before them. "I was informed that there was an assassination attempt against the Voivode. What news do you bring about the situation?"

"It happened so suddenly, lieutenant. We believed that everyone who entered the tavern was there to celebrate, but we were fooled. The assassin brought a bow and arrow, but the Voivode was not struck, the woman was."

"Woman?" Realization slowly hit him, and he realized that it was Angelina who was attacked; his heart was beating rapidly. "What!? Is she still alive!?"

"We do not know, lieutenant."

The urge to kill the assassin was strong, and Bioan walked inside the cell to confront him, but stopped. His eyes slowly widened. The assassin was a teenage boy, likely between thirteen and fifteen years old. The adolescent looked gaunt, and his skin and clothes were filled with dirt and sweat. His dark brown hair was sweaty, and he had a few bald spots. Upon examining the adolescent's condition, it appeared that he had not eaten for days. 

"He is just a boy. Why would he do such a thing?" Bioan walked closer, but the adolescent looked down at the ground. "What's your name, boy?" There was no response. "All I asked is for your name. You do have a name, right?"

"Why should I tell you my name? I will be put to death."

Bioan knew that the adolescent knew his fate. Vlad wasn't merciful, especially when it involved Angelina. He hoped Angelina would survive, but Bioan couldn't understand why he felt sorry for the adolescent. "Every action has a consequence, boy. You should have known it when you decided to try to assasinate the Voivode. Did you believe that you would have been successful?"

"I would have if that cursed woman didn't push him out of the way. I had a clear shot, I would have killed him! I-" The adolescent boy didn't have the opportunity to finish his statement since the door to the dungeon was forcibly opened. 

Vlad had finally arrived, and he was seething with rage. However, he wasn't alone; his brother ran after him. "Brother, please calm yourself!"

Bioan and the other soldiers violently flinched at the sudden sound. As he and his brother arrived at the cell, they moved out of the Voivode's way. The suddenness also made the adolescent flinch. He tried to look down at the ground and not express emotion, but the boy was horrified when he met the Voivode's eyes. Before he could react, Vlad grabbed the adolescent by the neck and violently pushed him against the brick wall so hard that small cracks were made. 

Vlad looked at the assassin and realized he was just a sickly adolescent. However, he remembered the arrow struck Angelina; his rage returned, and he squeezed him slowly. "Who sent you!?"

The adolescent's lips shook; his throat and mouth became dry. He knew that if he were caught, it would mean instant death, but when face-to-face with Vlad, the outcome was different. Seeing Vlad was like seeing the actual devil; he had an aura that could instantly destroy a man's courage. "I-I-I-"

The slow response enraged the Voivode, and he dropped the adolescent to the floor. When he made an impact, Vlad began to kick him in the face. The adolescent covered his head, but Vlad kicked him in the ribs. Everyone watched silently, and Vlad the Monk watched the whole scene unfold. He didn't expect the assassin to be a young boy; he returned to reality and entered the cell. "BROTHER, ENOUGH!" His brother didn't stop, and the boy's painful yelps were unbearable. Vlad the Monk got to his brother and roughly pushed him away from the boy. 

"Y-YOU DARE-!?"

"Yes, I would dare to do so!" Bioan and the soldiers silently stood as they watched everything unfold. The brothers glared at one another; Vlad the Monk quickly glanced at the boy, who was in a fetal position in pain. "He is but a mere boy!"

"A boy!? A BOY!? HE IS A KILLER WHO WANTED TO KILL ME! HE-!"

"We have to know his reasons, brother! For once in your life, listen!"

Vlad wanted to talk back, but his older brother's words went to him. Listen. The Voivode was used to screaming to get his answers, but he never took the time to listen to reason. He slowly calmed himself, but he was still seething with rage.

Vlad the Monk knew his brother was trying to calm down, so he looked at the boy. He knelt and tried to help him sit up. "Listen to me and listen well. I know that you understand that your consequences can lead you to your death, but you forget that death is not always immediate. I know my brother will find ways to ensure that your death is slow and torturous. You may think of yourself as courageous, but even the most courageous person can be broken. You are not as strong as you think you are. Will you be able to handle the slow and torturous punishment a slow and painful death where you beg to die?"

Bioan was amazed at Vlad the Monk's tone. He seemed calm and almost sincere, but as he calmly told the boy of his fate, acting unconcerned was chilling. 

The boy couldn't look anyone in the eye; the chilling revelation of his possible fate slowly got to him. "I-I-I wanted to kill him!"

"Yes, but why, lad? Are you a spy for the Sultan?"

"N-No! He killed my father! That day of the fire! My father was burned alive! I watched everything, and I could do nothing but see my father burn alive and scream in utter pain! I-I-I-I-!" The adolescent slowly cried. "M-M-My father used to be a soldier in the Voivode's army! He fought for him when going to war with the Saxons! He and our family were just farmers, but my father was commanded to join, even though he did not wish to do so! My mother, brother and I could not maintain the farm, and we got into debt! My mother became a prostitute for my brother and me to be maintained!"

The brothers and everyone listened. Vlad silently stood as he listened to the boy's reasoning. His father was among those he burned alive. "How did your father become a beggar?"

"My mother died of disease, and I was the only one to help raise my younger brother, but it was difficult to find work; we were starving, and my brother eventually perished due to starvation. My father eventually arrived back home from the war, but he was a changed man; his left leg was lost during the war. When my father realized that he lost most of his family, his mind snapped, and he was no longer the father I knew! I worked on many duties to help him, but he would not listen! He drew himself into the streets, believing suffering was his fate!"

Bioan felt terrible for the adolescent, as he understood what soldiers went through during wartime. 

War was hell itself.

War could destroy a person.

"I-I only wanted to avenge my father, my family! I wanted to make the Voivode pay for the false promises he made to all of us!" The boy wept.

Vlad was silent, and his anger dissipated. He felt conflicted. The boy reminded him of himself, and he was filled with anger and a desire for vengeance because he felt robbed and wronged. The Voivode slowly walked out of the dungeon without saying a word; no one spoke or stopped him. Vlad eventually exited the dungeon and slowly walked in the hallways; his mind was blurry.

"Voivode!" Vlad emerged from his fog of confusion and noticed Sorina running toward him. "Voivode! Glorious news! The physician cured Angelina! She will live!"