[2 July, 1504. Suceava, Moldavia.]

"Bogdan.... My son...." Skin pulled taut over the bone, Stephen's hand raised to point his deathly finger towards Bogdan. Bogdan stepped forward, an adult man in his own right, and kneeled beside his dying father. "Yes father? What is it?"

"You... You must seek aid from the Turk.."

"The Turk? But father what of the Poles, and-"

"The Poles... Bah! The Poles hold Pokuttya and never did want to give it back... The Lithuanians are weak and the Russians too far. No... No, it's the Turk. Come to them willingly, and Moldavia will survive."

"Save your strength father.." Bogdan pressed his hand on his fathers chest, gently relaxing him back into the bed.

A cough wracked Stephen's body. "Indeed, I must rest....." The words drifted lazily from him, as if he were already halfway to sleep. "Leave me now.... and prepare for what is to come, Bogdan..."

After Bogdan had long since left the room, Stephen the Great, Prince of Moldavia, passed away peacefully in his sleep.

[11 July, 1504. Lithuania.]

[17]

The court at Vilnius is abuzz. Rumors swirl among the aristocracy of a special session of the Lithuanian Seimas to be called to discuss an important matter - a treaty, apparently intended to be secret, signed by the Grand Duke Alexander and Stephen the Great of Moldavia!

Rumor has it that the treaty contains shocking terms, such as an alliance against Poland and the cession of the Princedom of Kiev to Moldavia!

While it's also rumored that Michael Glinsky had a hand in the creation of the terms of the treaty, the main focus seems to be on the participation of the Grand Duke.

Catholics across the court are already seething at the idea of war with Poland, and it could be a while yet before the Seimas can begin session. If the Grand Duke is to survive this, he'd better act fast...