For a vampire lair, Crass had expected something more dreary and evil looking. But what they encountered further into the cave was simple and utilitarian. A desk, a bookshelf, three cots and a very nice looking alchemical station completed the furniture. He breathed quietly, keeping his eyes on the three figures gathered around the table. They were pale, and the individual closest to them had red eyes that shined dimly in the dark room.
Ted leaned close to Crass, sneaking behind him after extinguishing the torch further back in the cave. "Three of them are a difficult proposition. The two smaller ones are whelps; the other seems to be a bit more important." He closed his eyes to think to himself, wondering what the best way to approach the conflict was.
Crass waited. Wondering how well he would do with the odds lain out before him. At least this time he hadn't been useless like when he combated the Spriggans. He traced the runic outlines on his silver sword, the weapon he would have to rely on in the battle to come. The sweat from his palms quickly made the hilt slick.
After a few minutes of sitting in the dark quietly, Ted whispered. "You take the two little ones, and I'll attract the larger one to me."
Crass tensed, "Me against two vampires? How is that going to work?"
Shrugging, Ted replied "Those two little ones won't have the terrible magic the other will; I'm really doing you a favor actually."
Crass shook his head and sighed. "Fine."
Ted stood up in the darkness and looked down at Crass, "Be ready."
A dull glow began, white-hot and flickering in the darkness. The largest vampire turned, his fangs exposed and his red eyes widening. "What is-!" The blast of lightning struck him in the chest, launching him backwards and causing the two younger ones to scream in fury.
Crass popped up from the rocks, slid down a small hill and ended up facing the two beasts. The master of this pack was already on his feet again, staring intently at Ted with hate.
"Attack." The master growled, making the two whelps leap towards Crass while he slowly stalked to the watching Theodore. The wizard cast numerous wards and shields around himself, preparing for the inevitable conflict to come.
Crass was struggling to fend off the rapid attacks of both beasts, thus far he was doing alright, but one misstep or bad move would mean that his encounter with vampirism would be very brief indeed. He swung at the creature to his right, his silver sword swiping though the wrist, making smoke curl from the wound and the monster to yell in pain.
Meanwhile, Ted had pulled his sword out and set his staff aside. His left hand was curled, a fireball forming in his palm. His sword gently wavered back and forth in front of the eyes of the larger vampire. He could sense the enemy tensing, readying itself to spring at the slightest weakness or opening.
Crass was dodging and blocking with all of his skill and ability. He took his steel sword from his sheath and threw it like a spear towards one of the creatures, striking it in its chest and causing it to fall onto the table. He knew it wouldn't kill it, but at least now he could focus on one monster at a time. The second beast swung at him, dodging to the side to corner Crassinious. This was going to end up being a close fight.
With his teeth bared, he lunged towards the vampire, his sword held high over his head.
While Crass dodged into combat, Ted was still circling the master vampire further back in the cave. The creature's eyes kept flicking from Theodore to the sword to the ball of flame gathering in the wizard's left hand. Ted ceased his movement and decided to strike. In one smooth motion he threw the fireball at the feet of the monster, causing it to move forward and clash directly with his silver sword.
The vampire screamed at the trickery and violently clawed the air, but it failed in striking anything or anyone. Instead, he remained slightly off balance, and left himself open to an easy counter-attack. Ted dived in, thrusting the sword into the creature's stomach, making it howl in pain.
Crass heard the scream of the vampire and assumed that Theodore had finished his part of the bargain. This was confirmed even further when the impaled vampire burst into flames, setting the table he still lay on aflame and causing smoke to curl into the cave.
Crass blocked a swipe of the sharp talons from the vampire, using his blade to deflect and then riposte quickly with a swipe to the head. The teeth of the creature tried to latch onto his moving wrist, but his hilt slammed into the head as the blade cut through the neck cleanly, the silver cauterizing the wound immediately.
As the third creature fell to the ground, a stark silence descended upon the room. The only noise to be heard was the still crackling fire that consumed the second combatant. Crass turned towards Ted and smiled. "Well, that went well."
The wizard looked over and gave a small nod, "You did well. Not as well as me of course, but good all the same." He smiled and walked over to where Crass was leaning against a damp stone, catching his breath.
"How much was the pay?" Crass sighed, looking at his companion sideways.
"2,000 septims. A good payout." Ted said, leaning next to Crass.
He whistled quietly under his breath. "We should go back and get that. That much money would certainly be put to good use." He patted his friend on the back and grabbed the extinguished torch from where Ted combated the master vampire, relighting it on the flaming corpse of the whelp.
"Overall," Ted began with a smile, "I would say you did well on this one. But there are many more yet to come."
Crass looked over, "Oh?"
He nodded, "Yes, you will see soon enough."
They both departed the cave and began the long trip back to Falkreath.