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Chapter 95

After our lunch on the patio, Niko and I joined Joshua, Billy, and the dukes in their meeting, where they were planning my trip. Josh thought it was important that the Alphas of the world knew that I intended to serve, not rule, and he didn't feel they would trust this message coming down through the former ruling council members. I didn't focus on the details of the trip, but I did want to work on the planned message. I moved to a corner where Niko took notes of the things I wanted to make sure to discuss, while the rest of them worked out the logistics of planning an around the world, 6-week trip. I added to their problems when I said my mates and pups needed to join me everywhere I would spend a night, and I didn't want to use the ACJ-380 because it would draw attention. Niko and I left the room 2 hours later, and the planning was still going on.

We went to the residence and found Alexia and her cousins, along with most of my pups, watching a movie or gaming in one of the family rooms. I told Niko to join them, as I wanted some time with Vlad. I found him sitting alone in another of the family rooms, reading on a tablet.

"May I join you? Share some wine and conversation?" I asked as I entered.

"It is your home, Sire. I am just a guest."

I called for a footman and after he had delivered the wine and left us, I sat and said "If you are ready, I would like to discuss your past. The fact that you are my Great Grandfather does not weigh into things."

He looked at me, considering, then said "Might I suggest that you include your father, grandfather, and one or two of your pups in this conversation? It will allow you witnesses, as you will need to determine my fate."

I nodded, and after I had called for Joshua, Erich, James, Scott, Sam, and Billy to join us, we sat in silence, waiting. Once they all had joined us, I looked at Vlad and raised my eyebrows, indicating he was `on stage' as it were.

He looked around at his descendants, seemed to think for a moment, then said "There are so many issues I should address with you, I honestly do not know where I should start. Is there a specific issue you would like me to speak on first?"

I thought for a second, then asked "You are called Vlad the Impaler for supposedly impaling the bodies of those you had executed, thousands of them by some accounts. Is this true? And if it is, how do you justify such cruelty?"

I watched as he considered his answer, then he slowly nodded as he said "They say that the victor determines what truth is, when the histories are written. In this case, there is some truth, and much exaggeration. I did impale the bodies of some invaders, to discourage further invaders. The true number is a few score, possibly as many as one hundred, but certainly not the twenty thousand the Greek wrote of. As to how I justify it, I will simply ask you, what would you do to protect your pack? If you were facing an invading army ten times the size of your own, what would you not do, do protect your pack, your pups?"

I had stared into his eyes as he spoke, and I could see the sadness over the lives lost, but I also saw his conviction that his actions had protected his pack. I decided that, on this issue, I was not the proper judge to determine what was just, so I changed the subject. "And what of your attempts on the life of my father? Or the attacks on me?"

He lowered his head as he said "Much of that was selfish pride. I had heard the prophecy that I now know came from Chao Fen Yuan, but I had also heard a prophecy from an old man in my pack. When I was first changed, he would sit and stare at me for hours, and I finally asked him why, he explained that he saw a future King of all vampires in my descendants. On the day I came here, I had come to simply declare my noninvolvement in the explosion. When Radu, or Erich as he has chosen to name himself, spoke up, I was as shocked as everyone. During my time here, I have come to see that you are, indeed, the King our world has been waiting for."

"How did I not see this in your blood when I fed from you at the funeral?"

He gave a slight smile as he said "Reading someone through their blood is not an exact science, Greg. You will find the answers that you seek, but you can easily overlook other issues. Had you drained me, you would have known everything, but we would not be sitting here discussing this, as I would be dead."

"And your treatment of those vampires who had magic? Is that another exaggeration?" I asked, almost hoping he would say it was.

I could see the regret on his face as he said "I wish I could say it is. Again, the numbers might be inflated, and the severity of my actions might be overstated, but I have mistreated those of our kind who have magic for centuries. I can not justify it, and honestly, I can not even explain it. I have been doing it for so long, I can not remember my initial reasoning. You said it came from my jealousy, and that may be true, I cannot say."

"I am told that you killed magic users?"

"I did not kill them, no. By that I mean that I did nothing with the intention of them dying, but many did die due to the treatment they received at my direction." He thought for a moment, then added "I suppose I have to accept that I did, indeed, kill them."

The silence that followed seemed to go on for hours. Vlad had not evaded any of my questions, but had given thoughtful answers that I felt were honest. Finally, I stood and said "You have given me a lot to consider, Vlad Dracula. You will remain my guest while I weigh what you have said. You are free to roam the castle, but I must tell you, I feel obligated to met out some form of punishment for your actions."

He bowed and said "I would be disappointed if you took no actions, Sire. I willingly submit to your justice. If you will excuse me, I will retire to my room for the evening."

Once he had left us, I turned to my family and said "I am tired, and I want nothing more than a warm bed, and my mates. I will see you all at breakfast."

Scott, Billy and I stopped in the other family room to find that most of the pups had gone to bed. Niko and Alexia were in a loveseat, Christian, Gabriel, and Ariane were on a sofa, and Emmanuel was on the floor. I didn't recognize the movie they were watching, but they paused it when we walked in.

"Niko, I ask that you and Alexia use caution in what you do. Not only do you risk a child, but if you lose control, you could kill her before you realize it."

Niko nodded as he said "We know that, Dad. We talked and decided that we won't be alone, at least until I'm sure I can control my beast. And by not alone, we mean either a group, like now, or an adult vampire."

I smiled at them both and said "I think that's wise. Enjoy your movie. Pop, Papa and I are off to bed. I'll need you in my office at 9." We said our goodnights to everyone, then headed towards the bedrooms, where we found a footman and asked him to show us which rooms had pups. We made the rounds, kissing our sleeping pups, then joined Bea in our room.

As Bea breastfed Val, I held Millie as she sucked on my bleeding finger. We shared with her what Vlad had said, then asked her thoughts. She sat and considered her answer for quite a while, then finally said "I don't think we have a right to judge him for his actions as The Impaler. Trying to apply modern justice to his actions during a medieval war simply isn't fair."

Scott said "I agree. Even historians debate how much of the story is true. One side has declared him a criminal, while Romanians call him a hero."

Billy nodded and said "Alright, so we leave that issue for the history books to decide. What about his attacks on Greg and James?"

Scott pursed his lips as he thought, then said "If I saw someone trying to take something from my pups that they had been promised, I might resort to the same actions. He saw it as defending the throne that rightfully belonged to his family."

Bea shook her head, saying "I don't know. If he had done it differently, he would have discovered the connection, and never tried to harm James, or Greg."

I thought a moment, then said "He has lived through hundreds of feudal wars and three Russian revolutions. His first defensive instinct is to attack. I can understand his actions."

Billy leaned forward and asked "And his treatment of magic users? Are you going to excuse that as well?"

"I wasn't excusing anything, Billy. I simply said I could understand it. And no, I can't overlook his treatment of magic users. The question now is, what is just? Do I put him to death? Keep him in the dungeon for a century? Will that bring the dead back? Will it change anything?"

Scott took Val from Bea, bit his finger, and started feeding her as he said "In my opinion, he fully supports you, now that he knows the family relationship. I understand you have to do something, but putting him to death is extreme. There has to be a better solution."

Bea had stood and was pouring us some wine when she gasped, turned to us and said "I've got it! I've got the solution, Greg, and it's perfect!"

We sat and waited for her to go on, but she was so busy feeling proud of her solution, she forgot to tell us. Finally, I asked "Well? What is this perfect solution?"

She handed us our wine, and explained what she had come up with. She was right, it was perfect. So perfect that I decided to simply go with it rather than seek the advice of James, Erich, Joshua, or Sam.

Billy spent some time giving us an overview of our upcoming trip, then we put the girls in their cradles and curled up in bed. I didn't realize how much I had missed my girls until I woke to Val fussing at 7am. I smiled, and quickly changed my daughter's diaper, then finger fed her as I watched a tear run down Billy's cheek as he did the same for Millie. Scott and Bea showered, then took the girls as we got ready for our day as well.

When we got to the breakfast table, I asked Vlad, Sam, Dad, and Opa to come to my office at 9:30. I told Niko to contact Mike and have him there at 9. The mood at the table was subdued, as everyone realized a decision had been made. Our cousins joined the table, along with most of our pups, and the conversation picked up, though Christian and Gabe seemed to sense the tension.

When everyone was finished eating, Scott, Bea, Donna, and Mary were taking all the pups and our cousins to the beach, and we were told not to expect them back before midafternoon. That was fine, as it allowed me to deal with Vlad without interference. Billy, Josh, and I headed to my office while Niko went to get Mike.

In my office, I sat and cleared my desk of all items. I had Billy put a single chair directly in front of me. Then I had the space behind that chair cleared for roughly 10 feet. We were finishing these arrangements when Niko brought Mike in. Niko rolled to the side of my desk as Billy and Josh stood behind me. Mike stood in front of my desk and bowed.

"You summoned me, Sire?"

I nodded and said "I did. As Minister of Justice, you are responsible for creating, then administering the laws of Dracul. Is this your understanding?"

"I believe the creation of laws falls to the Crown, Sire. I feel my roll is advisory, until we establish things. Then, we will have to consider if I am advisory or jurisdictive."

I was considering what he had said when Andrew knocked, then opened the door to announce Vlad, James, Sam, Erich, and Sam Houston. When I asked why Sam Houston was here, he said someone needed to act as an advocate for Vlad and his rights. When I asked him how he was to argue a case when we had no laws yet, he explained that he would simply argue what he felt was right, and trust to my sense of justice.

I looked at Vlad and asked "Are you satisfied with our attempt to give you a fair trial? Do you accept my right to rule here today?"

He knelt and said "I accept your jurisdiction, Your Majesty. I know that your ruling will be just."

I pointed at the chair and told him to be seated. I asked James to relate our conversation from last night. When he finished, I asked the others that had been there if they had anything to add, or change, from what James had said. I then asked Vlad if he agreed that the conversation had been related honestly and fairly. He agreed it had.

"Advocate for the defense, do you have an objection to how evidence was presented? Will you require us to interview the defendant again?"

"I have no objection to how it was presented, Your Majesty. While I realize we have no laws written, I wonder if we are to force the accused to testify against themselves, or if we are to have the right to refuse to self-incrimination?"

I was about to reply when Vlad said "If I may, Your Majesty?" I nodded, so he continued "I did not feel forced or tricked into my answers. I feel certain I could have simply remained quiet. I appreciate my advocate's defense, but in this case, it is unwarranted."

I looked to Sam Houston, then to Mike. They were both nodding, so I asked "Other than what was said last night, Vlad Dracula, do you have anything more to add in your defense?"

"I do not, Sire. I await your justice."

I nodded, then said "Vlad Dracula, stand and hear the ruling of the Crown."

He stood with his chin held high, his eyes not quite making contact with mine, his face showing no fear, but there was no sign of arrogance either. He was simply an honorable man, facing reality.

I said "Vlad Dracula, the Crown finds we have no jurisdiction over the events in Walachia in the 15^th century, and we defer to historians to adjudicate the accusations against Vlad the Impaler. The Crown finds your actions taken against our family to be the actions of an Alpha protecting his pack, and as such, we find no fault. The Crown finds your treatment of magic using vampires to be a crime against your pack, and against the pack in general. For every vampire that was taken from their family, we find you guilty of kidnapping. For every act of brutality, we find you guilty of assault. For every vampire that died, we find you guilty of murder. Do you have anything to say before the Crown passes sentence?"

Vlad hadn't moved as I made my findings. He remained emotionless as he took a breath and said "As I said, Sire. I await your justice."

"The Crown has considered many factors before deciding on a sentence. These crimes occurred over many centuries, in many locations, demonstrating a pattern of abuse, and a lack of respect for the rights of others. As such, the Crown has no choice but to sentence you to death."