Bioan tried to contain his heavy breathing since he had run when he was told the news about the surprise attack. He knew telling the Voivode the news would be terrible, especially on his wedding day. 

He noticed Angelina by her son's crib, but looked in his direction when her husband was informed about the attack. Bioan hated that he had to ruin her happiness in a short time. Her eyes widened in horror. When looking at Vlad, he was expressionless. Bioan walked backward to give him space to process the news. 

Everything was going to go wrong. 

"Which village?"

"Viscri. A church was burnt, killing two priests."

"How was it known that the Ottomans did this?"

"Two soldiers stationed at Viscri arrived with proof that the Ottomans instigated the attack. They wish to speak with you."

Vlad never once blinked, but Bioan felt his rage. "Call upon my generals, commanders, and loyal boyars to the meeting hall."

Bioan bowed, quickly glanced at Angelina, and went on to follow his orders.

Vlad stood silently, his back turned to Angelina. The young woman put her hands together, pleadingly. "Vlad, please..." Her husband didn't respond, but she slowly walked toward him. "We don't know if that was an accident or a trap. Don't assume the worst." When Vlad didn't look at her, Angelina felt he wouldn't listen to her. He was going to assume that the Ottomans attacked immediately. She stood behind and hugged him tightly. "Please, Vlad. My love. Don't go. Don't leave us alone. I love you." Angelina didn't know what else to do or say to make her husband stay. She hugged him tighter, afraid of letting him go. 

Vlad then gently got her hands and slowly opened them. He felt his wife trying to hold onto him, but it was futile. He could get out of her grip and move away from Angelina. "I'm sorry, Angelina. I must go. Watch over our son." Vlad immediately walked away as Angelina tried to get to him, but she could not. She couldn't leave her son alone without the wet nurse. 

The happiest moment of their lives was cut short. Angelina wanted to call her husband, but didn't have the energy to do so. Suddenly, Radu started to whimper; he felt it too. He knew that he might not have his parents together.

Meanwhile, the Voivode quickly walked to the meeting hall. He felt rage rush through him at the thought of Mehmed attacking his territory. However, it should have been expected since Vlad killed two envoys and refused to pay his debts. Still, his brother paid in his stead, but he still attacked. He arrived at the meeting hall, where everyone he called upon was present. Everyone looked grim; they watched as their Voivode walked and sat on his throne.

Everyone bowed; no one dared to speak until ordered to do so. Vlad looked at everyone. "I assume you were all told of the situation." Everyone nodded. "Where are the witnesses?"

Two young men stepped forward. One looked in his mid- to late thirties, while the other looked like an adolescent. They bowed their heads. "Voivode, we have come before you to report the alarming event."

"Speak your names."

"I am Cristian and this Mihail, a soldier-in-training."

"What happened?"

"Voivode, we were keeping guard at Viscri Village; we were in the outskirts of the village, but I found Mihai unconscious and as I was checking on him, I felt a strong force that I too became unconscious. When we woke up villagers were in disarray, the church was on fire. Everyone did their best to put the fire out on time, but we weren't fast enough. We found the bodies of two priests. They were badly burned but we noticed that their hands and feet were tied."

Everyone murmured, enraged that two priests died in such a way in the house of God. 

"How can we be sure it was the Ottomans? The Saxons still have a hatred toward me."

"We thought of that possibility, Voivode. When taking the bodies to put them to proper rest, we found this cold medal. It has the Ottoman Empire signia." Cristian took out the golden medal, walked, and handed it to Vlad. 

Vlad grabbed the medal and looked at it carefully. It felt and looked like real gold, and it had the Ottoman Empire signia. He recognized it very well since he remembered how Sultan Murad II wanted his people and everyone in his conquered lands to hold and have something to remind them of who their ruler was. 

It was a sign of pride. 

He squeezed the medal so hard that he felt as if the medal was going to go through his skin. "So Mehmed II made his move and he did it as a coward."

"We all should have expected this from a heathen, Voivode! The Sultan already made his intentions clear as he killed two men who only wished to spread the word of God! This cannot go unpunished!" one of the generals stated. 

Vlad knew that his people would eventually hear the news of the attack and wouldn't want that to go unpunished. He contemplated deciding whether to renounce his title as Voivode, but it would be impossible now that Mehmed II had made his move. He was put in a precarious position. Still, Vlad knew he was also to blame since he killed the envoys and refused to pay his debts. 

A decision was made.

Everyone watched as Vlad stood up from his seat and tightly held onto the golden medal. "The message is clear: Mehmed II declared war. War is what we shall give him. I would rather fight and die to keep Wallachia within Christianity. With God's guidance and protection, we will prevail. We shall return the favor! Gather the troops to ready themselves!"

"Yes, Voivode. Shall we attack Bulgaria as planned?" asked another of the generals.

"No, not yet. We shall attack other parts of Mehmed's territories. Once he hears of the attacks, that is when Mehmed will attempt to take my life. We will begin by attack his territories and we will wait for his attack!"

Everyone cheered as they were ready to prepare for war.