Opening the Dortol Plains

This story starts roughly 200 years after Kain raises his Lieutenants. The usual disclaimer about the fact I don't own any of the characters of Legacy of Kain. Currently working on the rewrite of the story. Thanks to all the reviews. I can't get better if I don't know what to fix :)

Kain was used to vampires appearing and making requests, but a human? The woman had waited outside his citadel for three days now. She had set up a camp on a ledge just in view of the Sanctuary, but made no move that was threatening. Vampire hunters had never ventured that close. One of the younger vampires had appraoched her earlier that day. She told him, that she would only speak to Kain. Curiosity had finally taken a hold of Kain. He ordered Dumah to bring the woman in.

She entered the court holding her head high, but when she approached the throne she bow to one knee. Dumah had confiscated her weapons. She did not speak. She waited for Kain to speak first. Kain could smell the fear on her.

"You have waited out side for days now. What is your purpose?" Kain asked her.

The woman did not rise. "I have come to speak you, Lord Kain. For I would like to negotiate an alliance between my people and the vampires. We have a common enemy and hopefully a common purpose. I am the Steward of our Southern Counties, but I have been commissioned by my ruler to speak on his behalf."

"Your name?" Kain asked. He studied the woman. She was powerfully built, someone who had known hard labor. Her hair was brown, thick, and woolly; pulled back from her face. She was wearing clothes that were unknown to him. There were still places that the vampires did not tread. This woman may have came from such a place.

"Esie Sauwran. My ruler, King Sauwran, hopes you accept our offer of hospitality. We would welcome you to our lands. The Dortol Plains, to the North." She bowed her head slightly.

Some of Kain's lieutenants looked slightly taken aback. The Dortol Plains were not the easiest place to get to. They laid far to the north. Farther north than Janos Audron's old estate, and further north then the old kingdom belonging to Nemesis. The only humans that had survived there, were almost legends. They were not as weak-willed as most of the humans that lived in central Nosgoth. Rumors abound, about their ferociousness in battle, their near severity of life style, that they might be the last descendants of the Serioli, and that they had some secret traditions involving blood.

These were the only tribe of humans that Kain had not bothered to conquer. First, their land was difficult for the vampires to travel to. And Second he had no fear of them raising a rebellion. Any humans that tried to hide from the vampires in the Dortol Plains did not survive long. It was not a hospitable place. The people who lived on the outskirts of the Plains, were wary of strangers, but when vampires met them, they bowed and showed respect. The Seripham had hunted them in the past as well, mistaking their traditions for true vampirism. If this woman was one of those. Then her story was far more interesting than what Kain had originally thought.

She continued. "I can only offer what I have brought with me. If you listen to our plea, and accept our alliance, then it is yours."

Kain looked at Dumah. Dumah shook his head. Kain looked at the woman. "You brought nothing."

"Only myself. I offer my servitude for payment." The woman looked at Kain then. Her eyes were very serious. "Perhaps you should see our enemy." She reached into a bag she had attached to her hip. She pulled a head out of it. It was a Hylden.

Kain sent the others away, so he could listen to her story without interruption.