Vlad leaned back into the chair and took a swig of the hot coffee he watched as the waitress walked out the door he wasn't used to coffee shop running out as they please but then again in his little town they only ever had one waitress here he had counted about four he saw her name badge flash in the light as she opened the door it read Sarah turning back to John who was still in full rant about the nights events he let out a sigh<span style="font-style: italic"> if he keeps talking like this we'll never leave</span>he thought to himself.<br/><br/>Vlad sat there listening the the white noise that was John that he had grown so accustom to John was a great friend but by god the fool never shut up, Vlad remembered the first time he had meet John waiting for his ec girlfriend at the her school gates he saw John being picked on and beaten up badly they would say things like shut up you nerd and punch him suck original comments like that Vlad was always bigger than everyone in school stronger too but he was content on being gentle people didn't bother him or his friends then he was good, but it always pissed him off when people bullied others.<br/><br/>Vlad remembered walking over and picking up the biggest of the group up by the scruff of the neck lifting his feet clean off the floor and chucking him into the fence â€œyou boys wanna bully someone try me on for size I'll hit you all so hard you'll shit teeth for a week and if I hear any of you pick on my boy again I'll crush youâ€ he said to the group they looked at him waying up the options then looked to there friend now unconscious on the floor before running like girls Vlad let out a small tsk as they ran before pulling John to his feet â€œyou okay dudeâ€ John nodded and said thank you before walking off his bag slung over his shoulder with the one remaining strap, it turned out that John had defended Vlads ex in a class and were friends there after the ex never lasted very long non of them did they were just of no interest to him they started off promising but even John pointed out they all looked alike, they looked like the face he kept describing Vlad shrugged him off â€œ there just my type is allâ€ is what he would respond with.<br/><br/>Vlad snapped back to reality when he heard the door open behind him turning in his chair he expected to see the waitress come back but it wasn't it was the last person he had ever expected to see, Vlad turned back to John and put his hand over Johns mouth â€œDude shut up that's her, it's actually herâ€ Vlad said in a wispier John mumbled into his hand Vlad removed his had and John looked at him annoyed â€œdude the game plan you interrupted itâ€ seeing the actual look of half excitement half nervousness on Vlad's normally cool face John whipped his head around â€œshe's who dudeâ€  John said looking around â€œits the girl the one I keep seeing in my headâ€ Vlad responded â€œwait, so your not just mentalâ€ John said looking wide eyed â€œwould seem notâ€ Vlad looked over to her she was for a better word perfect â€œwell hell man go over and say hi for gods sake you've been dreaming about her your whole life don't let it slip awayâ€ John said reaching over the table and slapping him on the back.<br/><br/>Vlad stood not even thinking about what he was doing he had to meet her now, he picked up his coffee and walked over to her table she hadn't even looked up for her book her gorgeous green eyes just flicked along the lines of the book Vlad stood at the edge of her table and took in a steadying breath thinking what should I say<span style="font-style: italic"> Hey, I have dreams about ou.... yeah that would be a swift way to get a kick in the balls... settle for the simple</span>Vlad looked up at her and put on his apparently winning smile â€œHey I'm Vlad nice to meet youâ€ he said keeping his voice from shaking which he was most proud of as he awaited her response he grew more nervous he had waited so long to meet her.<br/><br/><br/>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Vlad knelt at the camp fire surrounded by his squad there were thirteen of them in total minus the young lad told to wait back in there land, he was to young for war and to under trained he spoke to his men as they all listened in silence he had drawn a rough drawing of the castle and the surrounding area in the dirt, â€œthe old lady (aka the empress) will leave the night before our whole forces arrive so that is tomorrow night, that scout who spotted us will deliver the message that we are coming so she will be gardened by there finest warriors, but are they a match for us I think not, there has not been a war we have not won, there has not an enemy we have not crushedâ€ the squad let out a chuckle before saying â€œno small part to you sirâ€ Vlad waved a hand at them â€œnow they will take a route around hereâ€ he drew a small parameter around the main road â€œthis is where we catch them off guard now a smart leader would send out a scout and that exact thinking will lead us to them and help us set up the ambush, we'll ride in the underbrush out of sight wait for her to stop to go back and we spear her, I'll take this duty we need her alive no self respecting commander would leave there man wounded, but nor would they walk into an obvious trap, so what do we doâ€ Vlad looked around the camp and one of the seasoned members said â€œwe cut off there optionsâ€ Vlad laughed â€œgood man, good man we cut off there options the oils you men have been putting down is a special oil hand crafted it is thick like tar so wont wash away, but burns high and hot no carriage will be able to pass back threw it no water will put it out, not the level of water they'll have at hand anyway, that is our pinch pointâ€ he slammed a hand down on an X on the road â€œwe cut off the head the body goes into disarray, now remember any shoulder that try to escape do NOT matter we need the empress dead, if they cannot protect there ruler they will lose hope, the people will lose hope in there men, and there deference weakened then we re group with the armada and we trash the townâ€ Vlad looked at them all steely eyed â€œyou are my finest men I trust you all like brothers we have a great war ahead of us we will be remembered for thousands of years, now to bed we are up at sun raiseâ€.<br/><br/><br/>Vlad Awoke first the next morning the sun just lifting on the horizon he went round and awoke all of his men who ate there bread and drank there water before making themselves battle ready Vlad strapped on his chest piece which now had no arms on it as he had ripped them off and pulled down a helmet that had the detail of the devils face and steel horn wrapping around the sides the general had deemed it fitting for â€œVlad the destroyer of kingdoms to wearâ€ Vlad pulled his large sword onto his back followed by a sleek throwing spear  and mounted his horse his men following him â€œlisten to me I promise you all if you fall in battle I will take your bodys home to your family so you can be given a fine burial so you can pass on to the next life and drink with your ancestors and dine with Odin and I will ensure you all your names will be passed on to our people children s children s children as long as our blood remains you will be known, now we ride to BATTLE!â€<br/><br/>Vlad rode ahead his men giving a roar shouting â€œFOR ODIN, FOR LORD VLADIMIRâ€ they rode hard and fast to the pinch point they had camped some way from it to hide there intentions Vlad made a flicking motion with his hand and half the pack galloped off to get to the other side of the pinch point one of Vlad's pack fell behind and he let a smile cross his lips Mike was not there best warrior but a damn fine archer he would light the oil on his site remain back and provide cover fire from behind the flames they all dismounted and tied there horses deep in the woods waling the rest of the way putting them selves in paces so they could see the road but not be seen themselves and waited a few hours after sun raise they saw a lone shoulder gallop towards them â€œthe scout the men whisperedâ€ Vlad slowly pulled the spear from his back and crouched he waited for his shot she had crossed the oil line and had gone up far enough that the carriage would have to cross the line to see her on the hill Vlad hurled his spear it slammed into the soft flesh of her side between the thish and the ribs were all riding armor was thin to allow mobility he watched her slide off the horse and moan Vlad grinned he was alive but her spine would be severed â€œgood shot sirâ€ one of the men saidâ€ the horse had just galloped off if it noticed the warrior fall it did not care to much. Vlad looked down the hill waiting to see the rest of the enemy convoy come towards them and let out a smirk it was soon to start, he licked his lips under the mask as they pass the oil a man on both sides would light the oil and war would start soon very soon it would start.