A whole year passed, a whole year of absolute bliss for Zephon. Never before had he felt so free, so full of energy when he was around Zarina, his beautiful consort, his twin soul. There were times when he reflected what his life would have been like without her, if he had killed her right from the beginning, but he dismissed such dark thoughts quickly. For once he was happy that he had not acted in haste as he usually did; Zarina would of never have been with him. But they were together and that is what mattered most to him. Zephon appreciated her sense of humour, the way she handled the Clan and its problems and was still the only girl that Zephon knew to have the courage to kick Turel, quite literally, out of the Silent Cathedral when he was acting a bit too 'playful' with her. He loved holding her in his arms and whispering kind words when no one else was present; more often than not Zephon would spend the whole day with Zarina and let the rest of the world fade from his eyes. It always did when he looked into the sorceress' eyes.
But as always, that bliss was about to be broken.
The Sarafan had once again risen up like the vile things that they were, and now their killing machine looked like it would not be stopped as easily as it had in the year before. Already Dumah's Clan, even if they were valiant warriors, had lost an alarming amount of vampires and Rahab's Clan was following in a similar fashion. The raids against human villages and towns had increased so the vampires could recruit new fledglings but then the Sarafan always managed to find the untrained vampires and do away with them before they could be a problem to the warrior monks. It was a vicious circle and one that looked like no one was going to be able to break out of easy. Unless something drastic was done, and quickly, then this war would continue for the Dark Gods knew how long.
"I say we make it a do-or-die mission!" Dumah pounded the table in front of him, causing his other brothers sitting down to jump slightly. "We hit the Sarafan where it will hurt them the most and the war will end."
"You forget, dear brother, that this 'mission' as you call it, might fail and then there will be even less vampires. We must all sit back and look at this from a logical point of view and not run screaming into battle waving swords in the air and you are prone to do." Turel pressed his talons together and gave a sharp look to the third son of Kain, daring him to find fault in his judgment. Dumah settled back into his seat, a sullen look on his face.
"We can always continue with our raids; send the fledglings far away for them to be trained. Rahab, you can speed up their training, can't you?" Melchiah's voice was hesitant but filled with determination; his view held some merit to it.
The Lord of the Rahabim Clan shook his head slowly. "Even if we do send all the fledglings away the Sarafan will still be able to find them, kill them and…it is too risky. Better than anything else that they stay close to their respective territories in case we are surprised. It may sound harsh but I rather sacrifice three fledglings as oppose to one adult vampire, who has more knowledge than they would. And we might even have to increase the raids and go out further to find prime breeding stock, even stealing little children in the night."
"That has never bothered any of us before," Zephon sneered at Rahab. "Or perhaps your Clan should just vanish for a while; lick its wounds and build up your forces. You already control most of the great lakes and rivers of Nosgoth with your Clan's talent, Rahab, and the Sarafan cannot swim underwater. Let us be grateful that the humans do not have a monopoly over that."
Raziel, who had been watching all of his brethren at the head of the black marble table and looking through reports from the spies, spoke. "Your Clan still gives valuable information as always Zephon, but I believe come the next battle against the Sarafan, your Clan will march to war with Turel's and mine." He held up a hand before Zephon could speak. "Yes, you have battled the Sarafan on your our territory but your Clan has been able to recoup from its losses and even come out stronger. Already there have been new reports from Clan Melchiahim that the Holy Order has begun to move towards the eastern mountains, into Dumah's territories, with a massive force capable of taking out all of Ash Village."
"That is what I have been trying to say! They are moving out all of their warriors, leaving only a skeleton force back at their HQ because they don't think we are going to attack them there," Dumah stood up and began to pace the room. "My plan is this; we take the best warriors from every Clan and send them into the Sarafan Fortress, killing off the military leaders which will no doubt be there. At the same time, all the Clans unite together at Ash Village and we will pulverize the Sarafan. Break them once and for all, then Nosgoth will be our forever." Dumah stabbed a claw down on the map rolled out over the table to emphasis his point.
"Your idea does hold great value," Zephon said, rising from his own seat and looking at the map, the black arrows indicating the human forces and the red, green, purple, blue, gray and yellow the Clans and their strategic positions. "A daring move, but it can be pulled off given the proper planning."
"But the question remains: Who will be part of the strike force infiltrating the Sarafan HQ and who will be staying with the main force at Ash Village?" Turel glanced around the room. "Not to mention that we will leave our other Territories undefended so how can you be so sure, Dumah, that the humans will not have another force lying in wait and ready to spring? We all say what happened with Zephon last year." Zephon gave Turel a dangerous look and growled deep in his throat; Raziel placed a restraining claw on his shoulder.
Raziel looked at the second eldest, a wise expression on his face. "Because they will not, Turel. Over the past year the Sarafan have become even more fanatical in their crusade to wipe our kind from this land and we all know that fanatics do not think straight. They want this war over just as quickly as we want it to be and they will commit everything to this mission, just as Dumah has pointed out in one of his brighter moments."
Dumah sneered at the favored son, but did not say a thing.
"So who will be going into the lion's den, and who will be defending against the wolves sent out against us," Rahab looked at everyone in turn. "I volunteer to lead the strike force against the Sarafan headquarters; my Clan and I can enter in by the sewers and gain access to the higher level within a few minutes."
Raziel nodded. "And I will stay at Ash Village to lead my forces against the Sarafan. But to the strike force I can recommend my two lieutenants, Kilik and Daurgon."
"As will I," Melchiah spoke up quickly, for once ignoring the dangerous look that Dumah gave to the weakest brother. "My lieutenants Fecour and Mecant are among the best in lightning raids but I will stay and help with the defense of Dumah's fortress."
"I do not need you to help me," Dumah snarled. "You might as well go with the strike force! I cannot waste a single one of my officers as they will be needed for the Sarafan."
Turel gave a chuckle. "Well, then it looks like I will have to commit all my best mages to go with me to the center of operations for the Sarafan! Nothing like magic to give the extra punch and I would relish being part of such an elite team. So Zephon, that leaves just you. Either you and your best officers can come with Rahab and I to the Sarafan fortress or you can stay with Raziel, Dumah and Melchiah as they try to hog all the glory on the battlefield."
A silence fell on the room as Zephon looked at the map, then into the yellow eyes of each of his brothers. He had already decided which role he and his children would play; even after a year of meeting the Sarafan he was eager to fight them once again but on his own terms and strengths. Zephon looked at Turel and Rahab. "While it is always good that someone can go in through the sewers and take the lower levels, and while someone can pound down the main gates with sheer force of magic, you will need someone to descend from above and scale the walls in places where it might be impassable for others. I will commit myself to the strike force."
Turel gave a laugh and jumped out of his seat, grabbing Dumah's claws and whirling around the room with him. "We're going to war! We're going to war! Finally we will have no more boredom, no more long hours of absolutely nothing to do!" Dumah shoved Turel away from him, sending the vampire mage into the wall.
"We must also tell this to Lord Kain," Raziel interjected. "If there is anything that we have overlooked, then he will be able to find it for us."
"This plan is fool-proof," Dumah smirked. "Nothing can go wrong."
"Casualties might still be high for us but the rewards will be great," Melchiah spoke cryptically. "And either way, one vampire fledgling is worth two of their foot soldiers. Is that not what you said once, Zephon?"
The Lieutenants looked at his youngest brother. "I am surprised that you remembered that, Melchiah, but do not expect that you have gotten into my good favors."
"Let us go and see father right now," Raziel said as he turned to leave the room. The five Lieutenants followed after him with light hearts, but Zephon was the only one who was troubled. What would Zarina say about this plan?
* * *
Zarina sat quietly as Zephon finished telling her the whole plan, swirling the blood in his goblet before he drank it down, unease written easily across his face. Bowing her head for a few moments, the young sorceress contemplated everything she had been told, and finally speaking.
"You cannot go alone, Zephon. Where you go I will follow, as you have promised me since the last battle. And I know the layout of the Sarafan headquarters better than some of your spies would, if memory was to serve me correctly and no changes were done."
"Be reasonable Zarina, you cannot go. You are not even-"
"I am going, my lord, whether you want me to or not. What happens if you are wounded once again, or human magic is needed where vampire magic is not? My love, I am your consort and I am to stand beside you throughout everything that might happen. I will be a part of this strike force and I promise not to slow you down at all." She gave Zephon one of her measured looks and placed her hands over his own.
"You might be injured as well, Zarina. I cannot have that happen to you, my lady. The Clan might need you here or up in Ash Village, which would be a safer choice because of all the vampire warriors being assembled." Zephon hoped that she would see the reason behind his words but Zarina would not be budged from her position. That was the one thing Zephon admired about her above everything else: her determination.
"Zephon, I am coming with you on this strike force. I have every right just to defend my home as you do and I refuse to be kept locked up here."
"Damn you wench, you always have a way with words," Zephon picked Zarina up and kissed her full on the lips. "But I do want you to come with me, to ensure that you will not cause any trouble that will make me worry for you."
Zarina brushed a hand through the vampire lord's hair. "And I am coming to make sure that you do nothing reckless. In a whole year of peacefulness, a side of me cannot wait to go back into the fray with you by my side as it should be."
"This strike force will commence in under a week. There is much to be done in such little time. Come, we must prepare." The lord and lady of the Silent Cathedral moved down the halls to organize the troops for hopefully the final battle against the Sarafan.
* * *
In a secluded chamber untouched by time, Kain stood, eyes locked on a screen in front of him that showed all that passed in Nosgoth. His arms were folded across his muscular chest and a blank expression on his face. "And now it has truly begun. The first pebble has been released and soon the whole mountain will tumble." His remark was prophetic, but no one save himself would have been able to decipher it.
Once again the bells of war could be heard, tolling silently.
But as always, that bliss was about to be broken.
The Sarafan had once again risen up like the vile things that they were, and now their killing machine looked like it would not be stopped as easily as it had in the year before. Already Dumah's Clan, even if they were valiant warriors, had lost an alarming amount of vampires and Rahab's Clan was following in a similar fashion. The raids against human villages and towns had increased so the vampires could recruit new fledglings but then the Sarafan always managed to find the untrained vampires and do away with them before they could be a problem to the warrior monks. It was a vicious circle and one that looked like no one was going to be able to break out of easy. Unless something drastic was done, and quickly, then this war would continue for the Dark Gods knew how long.
"I say we make it a do-or-die mission!" Dumah pounded the table in front of him, causing his other brothers sitting down to jump slightly. "We hit the Sarafan where it will hurt them the most and the war will end."
"You forget, dear brother, that this 'mission' as you call it, might fail and then there will be even less vampires. We must all sit back and look at this from a logical point of view and not run screaming into battle waving swords in the air and you are prone to do." Turel pressed his talons together and gave a sharp look to the third son of Kain, daring him to find fault in his judgment. Dumah settled back into his seat, a sullen look on his face.
"We can always continue with our raids; send the fledglings far away for them to be trained. Rahab, you can speed up their training, can't you?" Melchiah's voice was hesitant but filled with determination; his view held some merit to it.
The Lord of the Rahabim Clan shook his head slowly. "Even if we do send all the fledglings away the Sarafan will still be able to find them, kill them and…it is too risky. Better than anything else that they stay close to their respective territories in case we are surprised. It may sound harsh but I rather sacrifice three fledglings as oppose to one adult vampire, who has more knowledge than they would. And we might even have to increase the raids and go out further to find prime breeding stock, even stealing little children in the night."
"That has never bothered any of us before," Zephon sneered at Rahab. "Or perhaps your Clan should just vanish for a while; lick its wounds and build up your forces. You already control most of the great lakes and rivers of Nosgoth with your Clan's talent, Rahab, and the Sarafan cannot swim underwater. Let us be grateful that the humans do not have a monopoly over that."
Raziel, who had been watching all of his brethren at the head of the black marble table and looking through reports from the spies, spoke. "Your Clan still gives valuable information as always Zephon, but I believe come the next battle against the Sarafan, your Clan will march to war with Turel's and mine." He held up a hand before Zephon could speak. "Yes, you have battled the Sarafan on your our territory but your Clan has been able to recoup from its losses and even come out stronger. Already there have been new reports from Clan Melchiahim that the Holy Order has begun to move towards the eastern mountains, into Dumah's territories, with a massive force capable of taking out all of Ash Village."
"That is what I have been trying to say! They are moving out all of their warriors, leaving only a skeleton force back at their HQ because they don't think we are going to attack them there," Dumah stood up and began to pace the room. "My plan is this; we take the best warriors from every Clan and send them into the Sarafan Fortress, killing off the military leaders which will no doubt be there. At the same time, all the Clans unite together at Ash Village and we will pulverize the Sarafan. Break them once and for all, then Nosgoth will be our forever." Dumah stabbed a claw down on the map rolled out over the table to emphasis his point.
"Your idea does hold great value," Zephon said, rising from his own seat and looking at the map, the black arrows indicating the human forces and the red, green, purple, blue, gray and yellow the Clans and their strategic positions. "A daring move, but it can be pulled off given the proper planning."
"But the question remains: Who will be part of the strike force infiltrating the Sarafan HQ and who will be staying with the main force at Ash Village?" Turel glanced around the room. "Not to mention that we will leave our other Territories undefended so how can you be so sure, Dumah, that the humans will not have another force lying in wait and ready to spring? We all say what happened with Zephon last year." Zephon gave Turel a dangerous look and growled deep in his throat; Raziel placed a restraining claw on his shoulder.
Raziel looked at the second eldest, a wise expression on his face. "Because they will not, Turel. Over the past year the Sarafan have become even more fanatical in their crusade to wipe our kind from this land and we all know that fanatics do not think straight. They want this war over just as quickly as we want it to be and they will commit everything to this mission, just as Dumah has pointed out in one of his brighter moments."
Dumah sneered at the favored son, but did not say a thing.
"So who will be going into the lion's den, and who will be defending against the wolves sent out against us," Rahab looked at everyone in turn. "I volunteer to lead the strike force against the Sarafan headquarters; my Clan and I can enter in by the sewers and gain access to the higher level within a few minutes."
Raziel nodded. "And I will stay at Ash Village to lead my forces against the Sarafan. But to the strike force I can recommend my two lieutenants, Kilik and Daurgon."
"As will I," Melchiah spoke up quickly, for once ignoring the dangerous look that Dumah gave to the weakest brother. "My lieutenants Fecour and Mecant are among the best in lightning raids but I will stay and help with the defense of Dumah's fortress."
"I do not need you to help me," Dumah snarled. "You might as well go with the strike force! I cannot waste a single one of my officers as they will be needed for the Sarafan."
Turel gave a chuckle. "Well, then it looks like I will have to commit all my best mages to go with me to the center of operations for the Sarafan! Nothing like magic to give the extra punch and I would relish being part of such an elite team. So Zephon, that leaves just you. Either you and your best officers can come with Rahab and I to the Sarafan fortress or you can stay with Raziel, Dumah and Melchiah as they try to hog all the glory on the battlefield."
A silence fell on the room as Zephon looked at the map, then into the yellow eyes of each of his brothers. He had already decided which role he and his children would play; even after a year of meeting the Sarafan he was eager to fight them once again but on his own terms and strengths. Zephon looked at Turel and Rahab. "While it is always good that someone can go in through the sewers and take the lower levels, and while someone can pound down the main gates with sheer force of magic, you will need someone to descend from above and scale the walls in places where it might be impassable for others. I will commit myself to the strike force."
Turel gave a laugh and jumped out of his seat, grabbing Dumah's claws and whirling around the room with him. "We're going to war! We're going to war! Finally we will have no more boredom, no more long hours of absolutely nothing to do!" Dumah shoved Turel away from him, sending the vampire mage into the wall.
"We must also tell this to Lord Kain," Raziel interjected. "If there is anything that we have overlooked, then he will be able to find it for us."
"This plan is fool-proof," Dumah smirked. "Nothing can go wrong."
"Casualties might still be high for us but the rewards will be great," Melchiah spoke cryptically. "And either way, one vampire fledgling is worth two of their foot soldiers. Is that not what you said once, Zephon?"
The Lieutenants looked at his youngest brother. "I am surprised that you remembered that, Melchiah, but do not expect that you have gotten into my good favors."
"Let us go and see father right now," Raziel said as he turned to leave the room. The five Lieutenants followed after him with light hearts, but Zephon was the only one who was troubled. What would Zarina say about this plan?
* * *
Zarina sat quietly as Zephon finished telling her the whole plan, swirling the blood in his goblet before he drank it down, unease written easily across his face. Bowing her head for a few moments, the young sorceress contemplated everything she had been told, and finally speaking.
"You cannot go alone, Zephon. Where you go I will follow, as you have promised me since the last battle. And I know the layout of the Sarafan headquarters better than some of your spies would, if memory was to serve me correctly and no changes were done."
"Be reasonable Zarina, you cannot go. You are not even-"
"I am going, my lord, whether you want me to or not. What happens if you are wounded once again, or human magic is needed where vampire magic is not? My love, I am your consort and I am to stand beside you throughout everything that might happen. I will be a part of this strike force and I promise not to slow you down at all." She gave Zephon one of her measured looks and placed her hands over his own.
"You might be injured as well, Zarina. I cannot have that happen to you, my lady. The Clan might need you here or up in Ash Village, which would be a safer choice because of all the vampire warriors being assembled." Zephon hoped that she would see the reason behind his words but Zarina would not be budged from her position. That was the one thing Zephon admired about her above everything else: her determination.
"Zephon, I am coming with you on this strike force. I have every right just to defend my home as you do and I refuse to be kept locked up here."
"Damn you wench, you always have a way with words," Zephon picked Zarina up and kissed her full on the lips. "But I do want you to come with me, to ensure that you will not cause any trouble that will make me worry for you."
Zarina brushed a hand through the vampire lord's hair. "And I am coming to make sure that you do nothing reckless. In a whole year of peacefulness, a side of me cannot wait to go back into the fray with you by my side as it should be."
"This strike force will commence in under a week. There is much to be done in such little time. Come, we must prepare." The lord and lady of the Silent Cathedral moved down the halls to organize the troops for hopefully the final battle against the Sarafan.
* * *
In a secluded chamber untouched by time, Kain stood, eyes locked on a screen in front of him that showed all that passed in Nosgoth. His arms were folded across his muscular chest and a blank expression on his face. "And now it has truly begun. The first pebble has been released and soon the whole mountain will tumble." His remark was prophetic, but no one save himself would have been able to decipher it.
Once again the bells of war could be heard, tolling silently.