The benedictions and songs that evening made Gabriel sick to his stomach. He felt dizzy and worn as he had those nights in the Muslim prison but this time the knowledge that Dracula was no longer going to come and make it better brought despair to the torture. His entire body ached, and he felt cold beside Vladislaus, shying away from his friend's touch for the first time in his life. The ring on his finger burned Gabriel pulled it off and tucked it into Dracula's hand.
"Here," He whispered, "I have no use for this."
Vladislaus turned and watched him but said nothing. His hurt, confused look made Gabriel faint and he almost stumbled, feeling his will to remain firmly against Vlad fading.
Until he felt his aunt's hand on his opposite arm and knew everything would be better. He turned and met Catherine's all-knowing eyes. She leaned closer to him and stroked his cheek, lovingly and gave him a look that promised a private meeting. Gabriel's heart rose in his chest. She would help him as she always had. But he would have to wait.
For now, as the congregation was released, he and Vladislaus would have to present themselves to Count Valerious Dracul, called the Dragon.
Valerious was a strong well-made man whose body had begun to wax. Once hale and hearty, the great Warlord who had been King Casimir's prized soldier was old now and many years past the age most men should see a glorious end. Age was hard on noble men, but even harder on soldiers who were ill accustomed to being forgotten and no longer of use to their realm or adopted cause. Now his face was brown, old and weather-beaten, with thick lines that ran down his cheeks and dimmed his eyes. Deep scars, so deep they cut through his full beard were visible and always made Gabriel shutter. Valerious had his thick paw of a hand on his youngest son's head.
Valerious the Younger was as a source of pride and much attention from both his parents and it was easy to know why. Valerious was fair as his father was coarse. Handsome beyond his seven year, Valerious had the easy grace and delicate features of nobility from his mother Catherine. Put beside his elder brother Vladislaus, one could not tell they were related for Vlad too favored his mother's features.
And Gabriel had always assumed that secretly Vladislaus' resemblance to Meriya, both in appearance and devotion to the old ways, had been a source of tension between Vlad and his father, the Dragon.
"Whelp!" Dracula's clear voice broke through Gabriel's thought as he side-stepped just in time to avoid being caught by Vladislaus charging to find his little brother. He swooped Valerious into his arms and spun the boy till his childish laughter rang through the church. "Whelp, come here! Look how you've grown! My, you're almost as tall as me! Pretty soon I'll have to lock you away or you might steal Anne from me!"
Valerious smiled at his brother, and then stepped back into Anne's arms. Anne laughed as she wrapped her arms over his shoulders. She looked up and grinned at Vlad. "He's already taken me from you, my husband. Since you and Gabriel are always out making your war, little Val here is the only one who will go riding with me." She looked down. "Isn't that right, Valeri?"
He smiled, "I am going to usurp you, brother. Take your lands and your wife!"
Dracula narrowed his eyes, playfully in challenge. "A civil war it is, brother!"
"No wars shall be claimed in the House of God." Cried a cold voice as the Priest approached. Vlad rolled his eyes in disgust and stepped farther away from the coming Priest and it took everything in Gabriel not to pull him back to his place.
Father Kolos was a severe looking man, and even more so when dressed in his priestly garb. His robes were fine and white, with gold lace arching around the hem and cuffs. He carried a large Shepard's staff and with his hat seemed to give him confidence enough to carry himself as if he were the Pope himself. Gabriel knew Vladislaus despised Kolos and quite simply Gabriel didn't blame him. Kolos was a stern man with a large hooked nose that was always quick to blame misfortune on the sins of his heathen congregation. He cared nothing for the Romany he led, and inwardly despised the fact he had been sent to such an out of the way parish.
And behind Kolos was Feodor, Catherine's firstborn son and Gabriel's cousin, another of Vladislaus' adversaries. Feodor smiled at Gabriel pleasantly through the auburn hair that hung over his face and moved pass Kolos with a respectful nod, before pulling Gabriel into a tight embrace.
"Kolos had talked to sent letters to Court on your behalf," Feodor whispered into Gabriel's ear as he hung heavy arms around his cousin's frame.
Gabriel took great pains not to wince, even as Feodor's weight stung his still tender wounds. "Oh, Cousin?"
Feodor nodded. "Kolos has pulled some strings with the King's Archbishop, and they've secured an appointment with you at the Holy See."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Catherine called happily. "Gabriel finally, you can back to your priestly studies."
"Oh?" Gabriel repeated, only half-listening to his family's words. He was frowning as he watched Kolos approach Vladislaus and his brother. Dracula had playfully taken Valerious on a spar and the two brothers were dancing around in a small circle, shadow boxing in the middle of the Church.
"You should keep closer watch on your son, Valerious Dracul." Kolos hissed in his silky voice. "Vladislaus seems to care only for his wars and Muslims."
"It's not my war, Kolos." Vlad called as he stopped. His brother had stopped too, and nervously returned to Anne's arms. "It's yours. Pope Pius has charged me with this holy quest to burn babies in their mother's arms and make Kingdoms that have stood for thousands of years into salt. It is Pius who requires me to destroy the works of great men…in the name of God."
"Blasphemer!" Kolos cried. If he had meant to say more, it was cut short by the sharp sound and thud that followed as Valerious Dracul struck his son with the mighty paw of a hand. Dracula stumbled against the wall. He looked up, startled and scared, at his father as he touched gingerly his bleeding lip. Gabriel made a move forward but felt Catherine grip his shoulder tightly.
"This is not your fight, Gabriel." Feodor whispered into his ear. "This is between father and son."
"Apologize, son!" The Dragon demanded in his cold, throaty voice. "You may damn your soul with words like that."
"Father, I'll not endure…"
"You will endure!" He hissed. "You are to be ruler of Vaseria and I will not have you leading an example of blasphemy against the church. I fought too long to ensure peace to have it destroyed by a spoiled child!"
Dracula's eyes were ablaze as he struggled to contain the anger that seeped from him like a dark cloak. The air itself seemed to change to facilitate the Count's mood, chilling and becoming stale. He made a motion towards Kolos that caused the Priest to back step, almost in fear and only then did Vladislaus realize himself. He became aware of the eyes watching him (especially that of his brother's) and swallowed hard. He turned to his father, and bowed deeply even as his cheeks began to burn with humiliation and turned to Kolos to bow curtly to him as well. "Forgive me, Father." He struggled out the words and Gabriel could swear Dracula's eyes were watering. "I am tired from my travels. I have barely returned from the battle and am weary."
"No excuse," Kolos growled, now smug with the knowledge that the Dragon was on his side. "But I shall pray tonight to our Holy Father that he finds it in his heart to teach you the respect that will save your soul."
"Pray to the great Mother as well." He muttered. "That she in her grace will embrace me as a son."
Anne looked nervously at Gabriel who turned away, leaning closer to Catherine. Anne blinked, surprised but swallowed. "Husband," Anne called, walking forward and ignoring Kolos and the Dragon's steely glares. She bowed deeper then her husband who still had his eyes downcast, and wrapped an arm around his back. "Husband come…I grow tired of the air."
Kolos frowned and jutted his hand out. "Kiss the ring, and take my blessing…"
Dracula looked up with a glare, shaking from the anger that he could still not control. His cheek was beginning to bruise from his father's swipe. Gabriel knew his pride could not take much more of this and he longed to reach out and take it away.
As it would turn out, Anne beat him. Bowing deeply again, this time spouting out praise she leaned over and took Kolos' hand into her own and kissed it gently.
"Thank you for your mercy on your humble daughter, Father." She cried in a voice of sincere piety or at least, it sounded sincere. Kolos was frowning again, clearly having meant the sign of humbleness for Dracula but before he could clarify it. Anne had taken her husband's arm firmly and pulled him out of the church. "Come, Father Valerious, little Valerious. It is a beautiful day for a walk."
Catherine was laughing behind her hand as she pulled Gabriel away from Kolos, with Feodor on their heels. She looked back at Kolos' dour expression then turned to Gabriel, taking his arm in one arm and Feodor's in another. "Vladislaus doesn't deserve that girl."
"That is the least of what Vlad doesn't deserve." Feodor countered. He glanced at Gabriel's scowl and laughed. "And he certainly doesn't deserve your devotion, cousin."
"He saved my life in Jerusalem." Gabriel said shortly. "I owe him a lot."
"You were both soldiers. It was his duty…and if it wasn't for his brazen actions, you wouldn't have gotten capture in the first place."
"How did you know I was captured?"
"I told him." Catherine frowned. "I know many things, and especially in regards to my family. If he hadn't…"
"Can we talk about something else, Aunt?" Gabriel whispered.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm just worried about him…" He inhaled. "But I'm tired of worrying. Let us just talk as a family for a while. Keep the Valerious family out if for at least a short while." And of course, Gabriel turned his eyes back towards the opposite exit where Vlad and his family had exited. He could see them in his mind's eye. Valerious running ahead, while Anne walked with the elder Valerious and stealing glances at her husband who, refusing comfort, was sulking behind them. His heart shifted again and he cursed himself for his weakness. "I want to leave here, Catherine." He suddenly deadpanned. "I want to go far away from here."
Catherine's eyes dimmed, even as her lips curled into a smile. "If that is what you wish, of course, nephew. You can begin your journey to the Holy City day after tomorrow."
"Thank you, Catherine…forgive me. It's just with the paranoia we've come into and the prison…I just can't handle anything else. I'm so tired."
Whatever Gabriel was going to add was cut short by the shrill, panicked cry of a woman in the town's square. He felt Feodor grab his arm and hold him firmly in place as those in the Church as they were turned to glimpse outside. There was another scream, this time a child's yell, and then the harsh voices of men calling to one another. Gabriel paled for a second, remembering all his nightmares before the only words that could have spurred him to action was yelled.
"Men, to Arms!" Cried a thick voice. "Valerious blood has been spilled! It's the Count!"