Author's Notes: Hey everyone, I hoped that you liked the last chapter and will like this one as well, as always I own nothing.
Karl wanted to give chase at once but the sun was coming up, which forced them to take refuge in the abandoned inn where they took refuge in the cellar. Once there Karl helped himself to a strip of dried meat while Helena drank from the flask. After she had put the flask away Karl, despite his reluctance, turned to address the vampire.
"So what is this carnival anyway?" She gave him a look of incredulity.
"You mean the wizard set us out here, on this gods-forsaken mission, and he did not even tell you? And here I thought the man trusted you." Karl growled in annoyance and her face lost its smirk. "I fear what I know is mostly rumor, the ones who know the most about it, or them, are the Witch Hunters," Here she shuddered at the dreaded name before she continued. "And as you can guess, they aren't famous for sharing."
"Well, what do the rumors say?" Karl asked.
"They say that the Carnival appears to just a troop of traveling players, nothing could be farther from the truth. They are followers of The Great Corruptor." Karl shuddered, a horrible feeling coming over him.
"You mean…"
"Yes, they are devoted to Chaos, specifically the Plague Lord Nurgle. When they come to a town they put on a show to draw the villagers in and then they unleash a plague upon them. From the few survivors that have been found the plague kills all the men, most of the children and the livestock. The women and the children who are still alive are taken."
"Why?"
"I don't know, but considering who's taking them I suspect we are happy not knowing."
"Well, we are going to find out because we are going to find them and we are going to kill them." He got up and stalked about the room, becoming angrier by the second. "Gods, their worse than you blood-suckers." Seemingly forgetting her fear of him Helena shot to her feet, her eyes and nostrils flaring.
"Don't you dare compare us to those creatures! We are nothing like them!" Karl snorted in derision.
"Why not?! You are! You both hide among humans and seek to destroy what they have made!"
"We do not! We seek to guide them!" In her agitation she began to pace back and forth. "Look at them! Stupid, ignorant…." For a moment she seemed to lose her ability to speak, after a moment she continued; "They would have destroyed themselves centuries ago or fallen to Chaos if we had not been there to guide them! For centuries we have worked to ensure stability and that humanity doesn't fall, either to the threat from the North or to its own stupidity!"
"And I am sure that your kind do all of that out of the goodness of your hearts." Karl said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. "Perhaps you should have told the humans that centuries ago, you might have been able to avoid the Wars of the Vampire Counts."
"Those were the von Carsteins! They are little better than humans! Even so, who is to say that they were wrong? The war of the Three Emperors was waging and the Empire was being torn apart! They barely united in time to stop the Chaos invasion! Under the Lords of the Night, led by the Queen, the Old World would never have been so vulnerable. Under our leadership the realms of men would know peace."
"Peace!?" Karl snapped, in derision; "Yes, peace. Peace as glorified cattle!" She actually laughed in his face.
"You think it is any different for them now?! Their human lords treat them just as bad, if not worse. They grind them down and tax them to the bone to pay for the noble's lifestyle. On top of all that, as often as not they fail to protect their peasants. They live in constant fear; of Orcs, Beastmen, the rat-men and a host of other horrors! And do the nobles protect them? As often as not they don't. Even when they care enough to try, and they can be pulled away from their feuds, they often lack the strength to do so. And the threats that lurk amongst them? They are too stupid to see them most of the time and as for their supposed protectors, the Witch Hunters? They are as much a threat to the people as the threats they are hunting. Do you really think that all the burning of old herb women will save anyone from the threat of the North?
"Under our rule they people would be kept safe. The legions of the dead could throw back the Orcs, the forces of Chaos and all the other threats. No more would people suffer from wars started by over feuds between lords that have nothing to do with them. Beings like you would not have to hide in shame from those who will never acknowledge what you do to defend them. Would not that be better than what is now?"
Karl wanted to argue but he could not find the words. There was much truth in what she said, at least as far as he knew, he had never had any education as it sounded plausible. He wanted to disagree with the vampire but he could not find the words. Seeing his silence she smirked triumphantly at him. Feeling his temper rise he headed to a far corner of the room. As he did so a thought came to him, a parting shot. He turned his head and delivered it.
"You may or may not be right about humanity under the rule of your kind. But you better pray that it never happens. You belong to humans now and if they fail I doubt that your former queen and colleagues will be overly magnanimous to one they see as a traitor."
Author's Notes: Hey everyone, I hope that you liked the chapter. What did you think of her arguments, any truth in them? Till next time please pray for a friend of the family who is undergoing heart surgery. Please pray for all those who need help and may Jesus bless you all.