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fruitful. How glorious that day shall be for them both.
    There is much yet to prepare for this night’s dinner for the Boyars. Elisabeta will not be attending, at Vladimir’s request, as it for the Boyars and their Knights. He had requested that Mordecai and I attend along with the Wallachian Guard. An announcement of great importance this night is to be made, he has said, one that will change Wallachia forever.
     
     
    Evening-tide
     
    “Come Ahbrim, sit next to me,” he said as dinner began.
    His mood appeared somber as the Boyars gathered, taking their places around the large table in the dining hall. Their numbers were nearly one hundred as they gathered with their sons. Vladimir spoke little throughout the course of the meal. He appeared to grow more agitated as the evening progressed while he observed their every action, angered by their lack of manners and greed as they continuously served themselves again and again without first asking their host. He stroked his moustache as he glared slightly, a silent indicator of his displeasure. Even Mordecai took note of his rising anger.
    Suddenly, Vladimir rose from the table without warning. His guard stood to attention at his standing, startling the Boyars as they ate.
    “Tell me, as a Regent Boyar each of you, how many in the House of Baserab have you served, or how many Princes have you seen pass?”
    He circled the table, his arms behind his back, his hands interlaced as he paused behind each Boyar.
    The first Boyar was more aged than the others. His four sons surrounded him.
    “I have seen seventeen in the House of Baserab serve, Prince.”
    “And yet you have continued though each of them has fallen. This is true?”
    The Boyar nodded his head in silence.
    Vladimir cast his eyes downward before I saw the slight nod of his head as he slowly raised his eyes to his guard before moving onto the next Boyar.
    “What manner of madness possesses him?” Mordecai whispered to me.
    “I am not certain, Archbishop. Let it unfold as it will. Brilliance manifests through ways I myself often do not understand.”
    His progression and line of questioning took hours until he reached the final two Boyars, each of them young men in their years compared to the many who surrounded them.
    “How many years a Boyar have you lived?”
    “But seven years, Prince Vlad.”
    “And in such time what was the greatest tragedy you witnessed?”
    “Is it the truth you wish to come forth or what they wish me to speak?”
    His candor I could see greatly impressed Vladimir. He pushed the elder Boyar next to him from his chair, knocking him to the floor, and took the chair next to the young Boyar.
    “This man who sets next to you, his resemblance is strong. He is your brother, I assume.”
    “He is my lord.”
    “And what house do you serve?”
    “We serve the House of Baserab. We are born of the House of Nasady.”
    “And what truth would you speak to me?’
    “The truth, Prince Vladimir, is my people starve under heavy taxation. My brother and I sought to eliminate this, but were faced with staunch opposition, with only one supporter on our side: your brother Mircea, may he rest in peace. I sit at the end of the table not because I am the youngest, but because I am ostracized.”
    “What is your given name and that of your brother?” Vladimir asked as Mordecai and I looked on.
    “I am Nicolai; my brother, Velascon.”
    They were the only two Boyars who sat at the table over which Vladimir did not nod. He also did not nod over the sons of the Boyars who sat at the table.
    “Come Nicolai and Velascon; join Ahbrim and Mordecai at the head of the table where men of honorable intentions are gathered.”
    All eyes were on the Nasady men as they passed. Curses and insults were uttered beneath the breaths of the Boyars. My worst fears were realized as I watched Vladimir lift his right hand to signal his guard.
    “Kill only the ones who will not be able to labor,” he said without emotion