- The Escape Act I - Fortress of Dalmatia.-

Days passed silently. Croatians were quiet ever since they lost every single battle on Serbian soil. Only loud thing was the screams of their wounded and the lament of their women.
It was time, they were ready. Prepared as much as possible during short time they spent in Croatian prison.

They decided to make groups in their escape, give Croatians as many targets as possible, and create much confusion in their ranks. Stefan Dusan and his friend Lazar were together, as always. They knew each other best, each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Night of first december, light snowfall and strong wind. It made the snow go sideways, into eye of those who watched anything but their feet. Perfect for them, who wished not to be seen.

Their plan was for Lazar to act wounded and dying. Stefan Dusan hitted him on the temple with a leg of a stool. That wound is not mortal, nor serious but tends to bleed much. Dramatic effect was just what they needed.

As Lazar creeped out all bloody into the common room with 2 guards, they rushed to help him. Lazar grabbed first one by the balls and with his other arm hit his neck severing his ability to shout. By the time that second guard knew what was going on, Stefan Dusan sneaked behind him and chocked him out with little effort. Monsterous was his strength, even now during captivity.

They took the uniforms off the guards, leaving the stone hall filled with checkered banners behind them and used their knowledge gathered during 4 months long captivity to pass undetected, as they knew well the language spoke in Croatia and with help of darkness.
At the gates, the gatekeeper asked what business they had outside, which met an answer that its none of his business and to open the gate, which he quickly did. Apparently acting as a noble and giving orders ruthlessly was more then enough...
Alas, Lazar did not notice a lump and stumbled upon it, making his helmet fall down. It revealed his injury and bloody temple,apart from his face, at which time it was obvious to even dumbest of guards, that something is not right. Gatekeeper yelled for alert but Lazar slayed him with a sword stolen off the guard. Yet it was not quick enough, alarm was raised, many guards rushed to them, it was clear they had no chance to escape without horses...

Stefan Dusan slayed the one closest to them after which he was pushed by Lazar, who looked at his brother... It was his mistake that they are in trouble, and it was him who’s going to fix it.
He yelled to Dusan: "Run brother, you shall come and rescue me soon, i have no doubts, now live free!" Dusan nodded, there was no time to argue, he said: "Live free, or die well brother!" Lazar smiled with the thought, you will not get rid of me so easily.

He cut the ropes holding the gate open and charged the guards...
- End of Act I -

...Everything was set, everybody were ready...It was that night, that night - or never. The plan was simple; so simple that it could not fail.

As the nightfall drew nearer, Stefan Dusan Nemanjic, War Minister of the Empire, stood on the top of the great southern tower, overlooking the bountiful lands of the south. Pastures and clear valleys that were so green yesterday, now, under heavy, gray skies, seemed dark blue...The water of the castle moat was darker than ever before, while the cold northern wind swept everything in its path. The air smelled of snow.

Dusan stood there for hours it seemed; but truly, it was only a bit more than an hour. The night came, and with it the guards that were supposed to take him to his quarters as every other day. He did not resist...It was all part of the plan. They escorted him back to his chamber, and then left-but after several minutes, Dusan heard the key turning in the lock. The door opened, and in the low yellow light of a candle, the worrying face of Zlata, one of the castle maids, showed up.
The Minister smiled, remembering how the conspirators obtained her help. Lazar was busy lately, trying to get to someone that could fill up the last blank spot of the plan-someone who could actually unlock the doors of their chambers on the night of the escape. He slept with half of the castle, and got lucky finally with Zlata. She was soon so deeply in love with him, that she said she would do anything...And it was just the thing they were waiting for.

Dusan thanked Zlata for doing this, took the keys from her, and told the shaken girl to go to bed. She was reluctant to do so, as she wanted badly to see her beloved again, but the War Minister did not want to hear of this. It was dangerous indeed, and if the guards saw her with them, they would have to take her with them on the escape, which could direly undermine the success of the plan...So she had to be satisfied with the promise that her dear Lazar was going to come back soon. When she vanished in the blackness of the hall, Dusan silently ran through the empty hallways like a ghost, until he reached Lazars room. There was no guard in front of the door, as usual...They were all rounded up in common room, drinking and playing cards.

He unlocked the door, and opened it. In total darkness, he saw a silhouette, darker than the dark itself.
-Time to play. - Dusan said, smiling.

...They did everything according to the plan. The part with the injury really played out well - the guards bought it completely. When both of them laid on the floor of the common room, Dusan said:
- Only the Croatians could fall for the same trick twice!
Their strong laughter roared throughout the room like an avalanche.

Disguised as Croatian soldiers, Dusan and Lazar went right up to the southern gate. It snowed densely outside, while they walked through the inner courtyard; thin, white crust already formed up on the batted ground. Two Serbs never hesitated. They entered the Gatehouse, and called for guards to open the gates. Their tone was ordering, but the bluff paid off - the guards ran down the stairs and started lifting the pole. In that moment though, their cover was blown. Lazar stumbled upon some lump, making his helmet fall down.When his helmet fell off, the guards spotted the blood, and started yelling, before the Serbians could shut them down for good. Dusan slayed one of them, severed his right arm in the shoulder line, but the other one fled like the flogs of Beelzebub itself were behind his heals. He wanted to run after him, but Lazar pushed him back. Dusan looked at his friend surprised, but in the next moment, Lazar yelled:
- Run brother! You shall come and rescue me soon, i have no doubts, now live free!
Dusans face became stone like, but his eyes burned. He nodded.
- Live free, or die well, my brother.
Lazar answered with a nod, took up the sword, and went back into the inner yard, from which the yells and voices of many guards were coming. Soon, he disappeared in the white curtain of snow, and Dusan was left alone under the grand arch of the gate.

...While he ran later on, Dusan thought about his friend... Will I ever see him again?, passed through his head many times...But right after that, another thought, stronger one would clear his mind. I will see you again, my friend...Not yet, but I will.

He ran like a deer, jumping over the tough terrain...He crossed two icy cold rivers on his way south, and two big galleys, always keeping close to the trees, to cover his flight. He knew the Croatians would send a search party after him (and any other Serbian noblemen that succeeded in escaping) but they were no match for him in the woods. The hardest thing was to keep his bearings clear, as the sky was covered in clouds, and the snow was dense, but guided perhaps by the hand of the Almighty himself, he succeeded.

Hours after, dawn approached slowly, but so did the mountains on the horizon...Dusans garment was torn, he was covered in sweat and almost delirious from hard efforts, but he managed to get to the thick forest that he saw so many times from his position on the southern tower. He knew that if he reached that point, he would be safe.

Darkness began to diminish as the light appeared slowly on the eastern skies...But under the trees, it was still almost pitch black. Dusan now walked, as he was tired as hell. He crossed some unknown mountain creek, and as he lowered himself to clench his thirst, a strong voice called somewhere from the woods.
- Who goes there?!
Tired, Dusan answered.
- Depends on who asks the question.
After a short pause, he got an answer.
- For the Tzar!
War Minister smiled...
- For Holy Mother Serbia.

It was a cold afternoon with a great fog dropping on the Dalmatian valley. The fog was so dense it seemed as if you could cut trough it with a knife. The ground was filled with the red blood and lifeless bodies’ that produced a horrific stench in the air. The battle was over and the valley was all dead-like as are the men lying on top of each other, it was a massacre. But still you could hear wounded men barely moving, some of them yelling for help or their mates.
Croatian scouting party came very soon, lost in the fog and with all the silence in the air they never thought that they have wandered into the field in which just a few hours ago a battle was raging in all its horror. As they could not see a thing, the sound of the battle was their orientation. Approaching the field they were confused by who won the battle. There was no man standing. It was like a huge horde that just went over all of them knocking off everyone in its path.
Not much time had to pass for those Croatian men to figure out that they just won the battle for their Nation. His Imperial Highness, Car Ljudislav and his brave men were all wounded and taken to the Dalmatian castle in custody where they were held as a bargain for their new truce with the Serbian Empire. But Ljudislav sent the message to the young Prince Gruffud not to sign any treaties with the foul Croatians and fight, as it’s in Serbian blood to fight for justice and freedom.
Small Serbian army that was returning from conquest in Italian peninsula tried two times to storm the castle, but without any success. As winter came so did news of Gruffud’s progress in defending the homeland. Serbian Imperial forces including Hungarians have defeated Croatian and Italian royal forces, including notorious Irish army that even got imprisoned together whit its queen. Only a month has passed when the Serbian banners could be seen from Dalmatian castle.
Sound of drums, men howling and singing brought big happiness in to Car’s heart while walking trough Dalmatian castle walls. As the Car was respected even in Croatia, he was able to move freely within the castle walls. Suddenly a racket could be heard, like someone was fighting within the gate. Ljudislav ran right behind the guards toward the gate as he thought his men have breached the Castle.
Stop! – Yelled Ljudislav, it was Knez Lazar fighting the guards. As Lazar saw Ljudislav he dropped the spear and bowed before him thus letting the guards take him in prison.
If you harm him my men won't be merciful to you when they breach this Castle! – Shouted Ljudislav knowing it will have a great impact on them. Then one of the guards approached His Highness and politely told him it would be best if he would retire to his quarters.
His heart thumping like crazy with all the adrenalin in his blood, Ljudislav never the less decided it was still not the moment to strike. He listened to the young guard and went back in to the Castle.

-The Escape Act II - Reunion of Brothers -


Lazar has been kept under very close guard since the escape attempt in which several Serbian Nobles escaped shackles of imprisonment. Not a single moment was he alone to attempt any mischief. But it did not matter, reunited with the Serbian elite, the forces of Serbia helped by noble Bisha of Sicily were gathering on outskirts of Dalmatia.
It was only a matter of time, Lazar and the rest of imprisoned nobles had no need to risk their lives in escape attempts, victory was imminent.

That day came, forces of Croatia, greatly outnumbered at their fortress of Dalmatia were swarmed by vast amount of dedicated warriors, with their eyes set on revenge and liberation of their comrades in armes.
End result was... Serbian and Sicilian army had more battle ready men after the battle, standing, then Croatia had when the fight began.

Truly a miraculous victory, the determination and cause that brought these men together helped them defeat their enemies without much problem, even at a might Fort, like Dalmatia was...

First, to storm the halls of the castle, and first to open the gates of Lazar's cell was Stefan Dusan Nemanjic, as promised. Lazar was calm, he smiled gently: " What took you so long? "
- I've been delayed, now get up ! - Dusan responded through laughter.
- I think i'll lay down a bit more, i'm tired of doing nothing. -
- We have Ban and his dog in chains - Dusan's eyes glimmered in the dark.
- Skipper? -
- No, Borna - They both laughed.

It was 18th december of 1031st year of our Lord.

Lazar almost jumped on his feet and charged towards the street. There was Ban, in chains, his spirit clearly broken. He was no longer king, if he ever was in Lazar's eyes.

The army began reinforcing the Fort, clearing up the trash and preparing for the rest of the campaign. But Lazar and Dusan, under the order of Gruffudd, recently crowned Prince of Serbia, had to escort Ban, chained, through the streets. They kept their distance, as peasants were tossing many rotten fruit and vegetables at Ban Moroplovac. The language tossed was even harder then the apples.

Ban's "retinue" smiled all the way, cheerful at the sight.

Ban was taken to the dungeon and Lazar spoke to him: " Don't worry Ban, i shall come to visit you as often as I can, so you do not feel lonely " .

And he did keep his promise... Many of Ban's nights were filled with joyful cling of Lazar's sword on the iron bars of the cell, but that story is for another time....

- End of Act II -