Page 234 of Dragon Slayer

He fetched up against a table, leaned heavily against it. “That bastard,” he said over his shoulder, still growling, “has taken Giurgiu!”

It took a moment for Val to remember where that was. And then he had to bite back a laugh. He barely managed to suppress his grin. “I believe my father built that fortress.”

“He doesn’t even have enough men to pull off something like that!” Mehmet shouted.

Val shrugged. “So? He’s Vlad.”

Mehmet seethed.

“Perhaps,” Val suggested. “You’d finally like to face him for yourself, rather than send wave after wave of men for him to slaughter.”

The sultan glared at him, and Val knew that, in this small way, he’d won something. Not a war, but a skirmish.

“Pack your things,” Mehmet said, gathered himself, and stormed for the door. “And prepare your princely raiment, Radu! You’ll be a prince before the year is out.”

Or, Val thought viciously,you’ll be another trophy in the Impaler’s courtyard.

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