For years Vlad had fought relentless enemies to defend his realm, his people, and the sacred tenets of his religion. In tribute to his father and in steadfast service to the Order of the Dragon, he had endured countless battles, wading through rivers of blood, his sharp mind and unyielding defiance carrying him through the most desperate of conflicts. Yet now, the Turks were advancing with numbers greater than ever before, their threat looming larger with each passing day. With only his family by his side, a severely depleted army, and a small band of travellers he could barely trust, the question loomed over him: would he fall, captured and subjected to unimaginable torment, or did a darker, more cunning path lie within his reach?