A day and a half later, in the last hour of the night, the nine would-be Sarafan went over their strategies. The suspected location of the Vampire Camp was about two hours travel away, and the warriors were about to make for it.

Raziel idly rubbed a finger on the side of his forearm blade. "One more time, then. By the time we reach the camp, assuming we meet no unexpected problems, the sun should be fully in the sky."

Rahab rubbed his chin. "Vampires are weakened or destroyed by the sun, aren't they?"

"The weaker ones can not bear the light of day, but stronger ones are only weakened." Neve confirmed. "The strongest are said to be merely irritated by it."

"Remember, the camp will surely have defences for a daylight attack." remarked Lania. "The stronger Vampires, possibly enslaved human guards. And, of course, there may be supernatural defences."

Turel chuckled. "Such is the life of a Sarafan. So, a three-pronged attack, then."

Raziel pointed to the map on the floor of the large tent. "The most likely placement of the camp is here, under this small cliff. It is in the shade, and there is only one easy way to enter short of flying. Turel and I will take Rahab and Neve to make a frontal attack. Lania will go with Melchiah and Zephon, and when the monsters come out to meet my force, you three shall launch an attack from the side. That should confuse their defences. MeLoom, you shall go to the top of the cliff with Malek, and use that Earthquake spell you were boasting about yesterday to bring down as much rock and rubble as you can onto the camp. With some luck, that will be enough to cause panic in their ranks. Once you have done this, the two of you will join the battle."

MeLoom smiled, glancing at Malek through the corner of her eyes. "A pleasure."

Raziel rolled up the map. "In that case, it is time for us to go."

The camp was broken in mintues, and the nine Sarafan were on their way. The three group leaders led the way, discussing last-second strategies. Melchiah and Rahab made small talk, while Zephon cleaned some imaginary dust from his blade and Neve walked in silence. Malek walked the makeshift path alongside MeLoom at the back of the group.

"A copper piece for your thoughts, Guardian?"

Malek shrugged. "Hardly worth the price. I was just mentally preparing for the battle."

"As is the enemy, I'm sure."

Malek looked at the Sorceress in suprise. "You believe they know we are here?"

"The way we are trudging through these woods, they would be truly incompetant if they did not."

"You sound as if you disapprove."

MeLoom shook her head. "Of the battle plan? No, it is sound. But of the approach? We have a group trained in the ways of battle and magic. But none of you have been trained in the ways of hunting."

"I take that to mean that you have?"

"My dear, if you were to litter these woods with loose gravel, broken glass and magical traps, I could travel without ever giving my presence away. Also..." MeLoom trailed off.

"Also?"

"We should never have stayed the night in the tavern on our way here. Lania, Turel and Zephon must have been out of their minds to become as intoxicated as they did, especially in a bar as unwholesome as the Wayward Ward was. I was sure I saw more than one character there take an unhealthy interest in the boastings of the three of them."

"Raziel already had words with them for that. And as I remember, you and he had a little conversation of your own."

MeLoom threw back her hair defiantly. "Raziel may be an expert warrior, but he knows nothing of..."

MeLoom stopped talking and whipped out her dagger. The rest of the Sarafan were alerted also. A large area of shrubbery burst open, and a young armoured knight flew through onto the mud path. Following him out was a light green skinned Vampire. The Vampire stopped on seeing the party and hissed. His hand moved to his belt, but daggers from MeLoom and Melchiah, as well as a fireball from Lania, took down the enemy. Malek was on top of the Vampire in less than a second, seperating his head from his shoulders.

"The first kill." Malek mused. He turned to the knight, who he was suprised to see was no older than himself. "And you would be..?"

The knight leaned against a tree, clutching his ribs. "Dumah."

***

Ten minutes later, Neve was healing Dumah's wounds, and her comrades were listening to the newcomer's story.

"I stay with a small Gypsy camp some way from here. We were expecting a supply train from Coorhagen that never turned up. We thought them to be delayed, and I was sent to meet them. On the way, I ran across a pair of Vampires, talking about Sarafan warriors. Something about them being sent to avenge the massacre two nights before. And one of them was wearing the bracelet of a good friend of mine. They were the reason the train never arrived. I...lost my temper, and jumped them. I got one of them, but the other did something to me. I was unable to move, right until the point where he cracked a couple of my ribs. Next thing I knew, I was being thrown through the air, and you were here...wait. Are you the Sarafan I heard about?"

Raziel nodded. "At least, Sarafan-in-training. As I feared..." he threw a glance at several members of his party. "...we must have let our intentions slip during our stay at that tavern. The Vampires believed us to be seeking to avenge the Gypsies. We are lucky indeed that they never made it back to the camp."

"If you are seeking to destroy those monsters, I'm with you."

"A noble offer, but I cannot accept. This is more than a battle - it is a test for the nine of us, a test of battle and strategical skills. All of this is being monitored by the Sarafan."

Dumah clenched a fist, and then nodded. "Very well. But I shall accompany you to watch, at least."

****

An hour later, Malek found himself on the top of the cliff over the camp, which had been exactly where Raziel had predicted. MeLoom took off her cloak and squatted at the edge of the cliff. Without the cloak, she was dressed only in a top made of leather strips and a short pair of leggings made from some mountain animal. Malek found himself gazing at the winding serpent tattoo, that flowed and wrapped around MeLoom's body in an embrace that seemed sensual and aggressive at the same time. He didn't even realise that MeLoom was looking at him until she spoke.

"You mind wanders from the battle, Guardian."

Malek's face reddened, and he quickly tore his eyes from MeLoom to the camp below. He tried not to think about the quiet chuckle from his companion, and concentrated on the camp. After a moment, there was a shout, and a bustle of activity. Raziel's team was attacking.

"And thus do wars begin, heroes emerge and enemies die." MeLoom was different now. Her eyes were wide, and her muscles tense. Malek had heard about how some mountain tribes went into a sort of battle trance just before a fight, almost like a controlled beserker state. MeLoom seemed to be in that state now, staring at the battle below, and whispering under her breath.

Another chorus of yells, and Lania's group joined the battle. The Vampire's forced seemed to stutter uncertainly at the second attack.

"Time to go to work, Guardian!" MeLoom stood up and spread her arms. For a moment, she seemed to float an inch above the ground. And then, the ground was no longer there. Huge boulders were flying to the ground, and MeLoom was following them, her mind only on the fight now.

Malek gripped his polearm and made to follow her. Then an image entered his mind. He saw the Pillar of Conflict, and for a moment he could actually feel the smooth sonty surface of it where his weapon's grip was. The image disappeared, but the feeling remained, and Malek leapt into the battle, filled with the spirit of Conflict.

In his first swipe, no less than three Vampires perished. Malek ducked a curved sword, smashed his polearm's hilt back, and span, decapitating the Vampire. He backflipped from his opponent's falling body, and felt himself come back to back with another. He span again, but this time found himself facing MeLoom, still war-excited. With the Conflict in him at a peak, he could understand how she felt.

"Care to rid the world of some parasites, MeLoom?"

MeLoom grinned ferally. "Yes! We shall drench this place with Vampire blood!"

The pair were surrounded by Vampires, mostly fledglings, and a couple of more experienced Vampires also. But the two of them cut through the horde like a knife through butter. In minutes, piles of inhuman bodies were all over the camp. For a moment, the two euphoric warriors found themselves without opponents. They both set their sights on the nearest Vampire - a fledgling, wearing a wine red tunic. MeLoom and Malek could almost have been one working body, as they both ran for the Vampire as if at the same signal.

But this time, the enemy would not go lightly into the abyss. The fledgling thrust out a palm, and lightning struck out, blowing both the Sarafan backwards. MaLoom sprang up, murder in her eyes, but again she was repelled. Malek charged again, and for a third time lightning struck - but this time, to no avail. Malek was barely aware that MeLoom had cast some sort of magical protection on him, his mind set on his opponent.

"Go, Malek! He's yours now!" MeLoom's shout spurred Malek on. He yelled and swiped at the fledgling with his polearm. Without his lightning attack, the fledgling had no chance.

At least, that is what Malek believed. Yet the Vampire blocked his attack with a sword that looked made out of bone. Malek pressed the attack, and though his opponent looked hard-pressed, he parried every one of Malek's attacks. Malek frowned. He had slain several Vampires in this battle that were obviously more evolved, yet this fledgling was a lot more powerful than the others.

Not that it mattered. His senses detected that the battle was waning, and the Vampires were being wiped out. MeLoom had joined his side, and several of the others were approaching too. The fledgling clearly knew this. Pressing against Malek, he suddenly flipped back, to the edge of the nearby forest. Malek pointed his blade at him.

"A powerful one, especially for a fledgling."

The Vampire growled. "I am over two hundred years older than you, human. And if you were less ignorant, you would know just what you were fighting so hopelessly against."

"Far from hopeless. Open your eyes - I am Malek, and I am the Guardian of Conflict. You never had a chance."

The Vampire narrowed his eyes. "Malek...I shall remember that name. And you will know mine. Remember the name of Vorador, child of Janos Audron, human. You will tremble at it soon enough."

Vorador's body split and morphed into a flock of bats. Malek swiped at them, and MeLoom sent a magical bolt into the swarm, but Vorador still managed to escape. A moment later, the others had joined them.

"Looks like you two have had a good time." Turel chuckled.

"One got away..." Malek said darkly. "Nothing less than the child of Janos Audron himself."

"Audron's spawn..?" Raziel said in suprise. "That would have made a fine kill. But do not concern yourself, Malek. He was the only Vampire to escape here. I would say that we passed here with flying colours."

Malek tuned out the cheers. He was troubled by Vorador. Him being made by Janos Audron explained his unusually high amount of power, but he was still little more than a fledgling Vampire. Malek didn't want to think about how powerful that monster could become given time. What if he grew up to hold cities in his grip as Janos and other legendary Vampires had and did? And Malek had failed to stop him on this day...

MeLoom touched his arm. "Raziel is right. You should not worry. If it will take your mind of your worries, I will let you see more of my serpent..."

Malek was taken back by this comment. MeLoom laughed as she took Malek's arm and lead him out of the camp, followed by several laughs and "encouraging" comments from his friends.

For the moment, at least, Vorador was no longer on Malek's mind.