1 – Head Over Feet
I remember the first time I ever saw one of them. Mama took my brother, Vance, and I to a public execution. Vance was still very young at nine and I younger still at six, some might think this too young too attend such a spectacle but at this time it was encouraged to bring children to watch such things. They hoped that it would shock us into the realization that all vampires were evil and that the punishment for hiding them was dire. It worked of course for that day is forever etched into my memory.
I still remember the impassive look of emptiness on the priest's face as he said the feeble prayers for their eventual salvation though we all knew they would be damned. I remember the pleas and cries from the woman as they dragged her to her grisly end. The man walked with quiet dignity but she struggled and screamed against them begging the crowd to pardon her; but we all remained silent. But most of all I remember Lord Moebius' rousing speech calling us all to defend ourselves against this plague that was slowly destroying our land. Those words struck me to my heart and even after all these years I still recall each word, each pause, each cry that warned us all of the danger of these beasts that polluted our peaceful world.
When we all got home my brother and I both declared our intentions to become Sarafan and rid Nosgoth of this pestilence. Mama smiled proudly upon us and said she would talk to the head of the local order that very day and true to her word she did. He visited our home the following evening. I remember him as a short man; not at all what one would expect from a warrior of his caliber. He wore the Sarafan armor even when he was off duty giving him definite presence that commanded respect despite his un-warlike appearance. He smiled down at my brother and I and I could not help but notice that many of his teeth were missing. He explained that the Sarafan were always pleased to recruit new children. Of course we were both too young to join immediately, Vance would be able to sign up for initial training in a year where they would educate him and start teaching him the ways of the sword and from there he would be initiated into the Order where his professional training would commence. It would be six years before he would even be allowed out on patrol duty. I however as a woman was a different matter. The Sarafan had no female warriors however they did have sorceresses. I would start my education at nine the same age as Vance but I would be learned in the blessed and holy arts of magic that would be used to protect my Sarafan brothers during their battles. Until that time, however we would be permitted to visit the order whenever we wished to inspire and harden our resolve against the vampire scum.
Vance was initiated at ten and I followed him in three years later. My initiation was the happiest day of my life. Mama embroidered me a dress of pure white silk with the Sarafan crest above the right breast. She combed my golden hair over my shoulders and smiled upon me with pride. 'I looked as innocent as an angel', she said. It was most appropriate for what I was about to become. She took me to the local stronghold where that same man who had greeted us those years ago. Vance was there, he stood with some of his friends at the side with the same proud smiles that were beaming at me from every direction that day. Some of my friends had arrived to hang at the back of the room to watch. I remembered the days when I had tried to convince them to join the cause but they would not listen; they were too concerned with playing childish games than working for the well being of Nosgoth. Now I was reaping the benefits of the years I had sacrificed play for study. A priest kneeled to my level and presented me with the Holy Book the Sarafan lived by. I placed my hand on it, tiny by comparison and swore myself to the Order. I saw tears of pride stream down my mother's face as I committed myself body and soul to the Sarafan priesthood for all my mortal life.
TBC