The chilly summer air of the Styrian mountainside slid under the buttresses of the castle walls before wafting into the council meeting room through the open window. Isaac looked up for a moment from the maps laid out on the heavy set and ostentatious looking table to take a moment of reprieve and breath in the cold air juxtaposed with the sun on his back. The sun was never too warm in Styria and the air always held a little chill in it. He liked the cold, he always did, and it was so far removed from the heat of his homeland and the memories that came with it. This country suited him, and in the past few days he found himself wondering once or twice that perhaps he was always meant to be here. He seemed to belong in Styria.
That was until he remembered the disordered mayhem of his life in this country during the last fifteen days since the battle. He was used to the chaos of the world uprooting his life and shifting his purpose, but he was not used to having to bring order to this madness. Never before had he held back the need to restock his army with the first humans that he met in his travels; never before had he curtailed his instinct to kill every vampire or human who seemed disloyal because they may be useful in the future; this was all new for Isaac, but he was learning because this time he intended to build and not destroy. And all of this was in a country filled with unfamiliar faces, except for one.
Hector was deep in conversation with the cartographer in the shaded section of the council room. The cartographer was a thin, reedy looking vampire, with his long braided hair pulled into a high pony. They were lucky that he survived the fight, although Isaac held no sympathy for the vampire for having abandoned his queen during her time of need and hid in the library like a coward. Hector had later found him locked up in the dungeons and requested for his release so that he could help Isaac consolidate his power over the territories of Styria. Isaac had allowed it; disloyal coward or not the vampire was useful, for now.
Isaac was mildly troubled by the fact that although he had promised Hector that he could live out his life in peace undisturbed by the machinations of politics, he had been relying on him far more than he would have liked. He had originally meant to keep that promise but he would be lying if he said that Hector's help and presence was not appreciated. Through his help, Isaac had understood the lay of the castle, gained a personal knowledge of atleast half of the twenty seven vampires who survived the fight and were locked up in the cells within the lower dungeons and rounded up the magical weaponry that was available to the Styrian royalty.
His former comrade and one-time target of his quest for revenge had been forthcoming with his help despite Isaac's reservations on accepting the same due to his original promise to allow Hector a peaceful retirement. A fleeting thought that he might have some ulterior motive did cross his mind before being quashed by the growing understanding of his companion. Perhaps, even friend?.. Dracula would be pleased that they were getting along.
He speculated that maybe Hector felt the need to help due to his guilt over the human lives that had been sacrificed in trying to resurrect Dracula. Hector had informed him that he had tried contacting after their initial confrontation in order to stop the ritual but by then it was too late. Many human lives had been lost; although the one saving grace was that Lord Dracula was not forced to endure a painful existence in the world once again. He mused whether that was weighing on him and was driving Hector to help with settling the affairs of the new reign. Either that or his lady friend was requesting him to do so, in order to keep herself abreast of the information regarding affairs of his court. Or maybe, possibly both.
Both Hector and he had spent the last several days converting the viable bodies of the dead human mercenaries that were guarding the castle during the skirmish, into night creatures. Hector was shocked when he had allowed him to practice his craft to create the demons of the night. He had refused even, but Isaac had learned on his long journey, somewhere between Tunis and Genoa that trust begets trust. He recalled the ship Captain that trusted him, treated him well and shifted his story ever so slightly in ways that was insignificant at that moment. But given time had surely made a lasting impact.
'If you don't have your own story, you become part of someone else'
And so he had allowed Hector to forge, he wanted his trust and his loyalty. Most of the bodies had been too mutilated to be of any use, anyways. But the replenished numbers of his troops was significant enough to fend off any force that may try to take the castle from him. One of his night creatures that went scouring after the battle had informed him of a large contingent of vampire army that was headed west. He had spied on their whereabouts using the distance mirror and found that they were marching away from Styria led by what seemed to be, two of the ruling council of Carmilla. They were not going to be problem, for now at least. And even if they came with any reinforcements, he was certain that his army would be sufficient to hold this castle. Was it sufficient to hold this kingdom? Isaac was not sure.
So far the news of Carmilla's defeat had spread to three of the counties closest to the castle, likely due to some travelling merchants or riders that had witnessed the battle. One of them had surrendered right away and the vampire lords who still appeared to be in control of the major city in that county swore fealty immediately. The second one was engulfed in a mutiny that was currently at an impasse between the vampire lord and his significant number of soldiers and the human population now emboldened by the fact that there would be no support for their vampire rulers from a human king. He had received letters from riders on both sides stating their oath of allegiance for the new king and beseeching for his support.
He was inclined to support the humans and send small army of night creatures to take down the vampires, despite the human cost of such an endeavour. But he was apprehensive that such a move might show his hand to the other vampire vassals, which would make them harder to control and leading to the entire country erupting in revolt. This hesitancy bothered him; he never had to hold back before for fear of backlash, he only ever did due to courtesy. Isaac smoothed the corners of the map before rising from his chair. He also never had to protect and preserve before. Atleast, not more than one person.
He approached Hector and the vampire; they turned to face him before the vampire did a squeamish little bow, his entire manner nervous. No wonder he hid during the battle.
"King Isaac", the vampire rasped. The title still gave him a pause; this will take time getting used to.
"I was just explaining forgemaster Hector of the arrangement of the city of Graz", he said holding out a map of the Styrian city drawn and marked in a neat penmanship.
"That is the city in the third county that we were talking about earlier that has found out about the Carmilla's defeat and change in power." Hector added in, "We believe the vampire lord of Graz, may have barricaded the city when he learned of your victory and the human population may not be currently aware of this change. The night creature that I sent there last week has not returned and I think that it may have been killed. We could send in a rider tomorrow if you want, with your royal decree and also to assess the situation."
"Did you try the distance mirror, Hector?" Isaac accepted the map from the vampire and swiftly studied the entry and exit points for the city. Every part of him wanted to rage and lash at the city that was defying him. He however, kept his fury under control in front of the vampire.
"I was able to view the vampires in control but I am not able to contact any distance mirrors they may own as I am unfamiliar with its owner. Our only option is to send in a rider."
Isaac nodded before rolling up the map and presenting it to the vampire, "Make multiple copies of this city, and also the city of Weiz that is under a standoff between the vampires and the humans. I shall want them by nightfall tomorrow"
The vampire made a small bow before walking out the exit with a strange gait. Isaac turned to one of his night creatures, "Make sure you keep an eye on our royal cartographer", he tilted his head and indicated towards the door. He was not going to allow the vampire make any schemes of his own or go around freeing his brethren, although he doubted if the man had it in him to do such a thing, nonetheless he could not risk it. The night creature wordlessly followed the vampire out the door.
"You shall have to address the human merchants that are currently situated in the castle later today. I spoke with them this morning and made a list of all pertinent information. The list is on the table. You should know that some of them are getting restless", Hector spoke redirecting Isaac's attention back to him.
Isaac held back a groan. These merchants were another problem that he could not turn into night creatures. They were mostly those who supplied weaponry and other goods to the castle, that have been holed up in here since that battle and a new one seems to arrive every other day from a different part of the country. He would have to soon decide whether to let them get back to their towns where they would spread the news of the battle and thereby inciting a situation that demands his attention or he would have to keep them in the castle till he has the country under his control.
"I shall speak with them and decide on what to do with each of them individually based on the towns they are headed back to and the goods they trade in. Maybe even offer some of them a position in the court depending on their skills".
"Right", Hector agreed "What are you going to do the situation in Graz and Weiz". Unspoken behind the question was, what was he was going to do about the vampire situation in those cities.
"I could send in a party of night creatures to Graz and beat them into submission, which would have an added benefit of sending a message to the vampire lords in the other counties", Isaac gritted out. The fact that they killed a night creature sent to their city angered him.
"You could. But that might also not go as we wish and the other vassals may rise in mutiny. There would be unnecessary bloodshed. And this may set the precedent for your rule. Also we don't have sufficient numbers to handle all the counties at once."
"You think I shouldn't make a show of force. If I don't trounce them now and defeat them, they will always be looking for opening. Appearance of power is just as important as its use Hector", Isaac turned around to head back to the grand table.
"You have already shown your strength when you defeated their queen", Hector reasoned.
"I cannot allow those vampires to make a mockery of me. I do not mean to wipe them out but I have no allegiance to their kin. So if it means that I need to make an example of one of them, then so be it. I will not lose any sleep over it", Isaac stated as he sat down.
"I know. But Dracula had this unquestionable power and you saw first-hand the type of people that were attracted to his court because of it. This will determine the type of people you shall attract to your court as well Isaac. You cannot intimidate everyone into submission. There is no harm in checking your strength atleast in the beginning."
"You think unbridled of display of power would corrupt me as it did Dracula. What was the old adage: power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. You think if I am not checked right now I would be corrupted. Given time, Is that it?", Isaac felt his ire rise at Hector.
Hector stayed silent for moment before reaching out to clasp Isaac's shoulder using his mutilated hand, "Perhaps I may have felt that way at one point. But lately I have realised that power does not always corrupt, power reveals. When you have enough power to do what you always wanted to do, then you see what the man always wanted to do".
Isaac exhaled lightly, surprised by Hector's persuasion. He had always thought of Hector as a man-child, too naïve for his own good. Where did that Hector go? Whoever this is, was not the same man he met at Dracula's castle. This Hector understood the world, although his view was still tempered by a natural kindness and geniality of his soul. Perhaps that was not so bad after all. Hadn't he meant to teach the world more kindness?
"And this is your moment of revelation Isaac", Hector released his shoulder before straightening up. "And you do know there is someone in the castle whom the vampires might listen to and who could probably even access the distance mirrors of the different vassal states."
Oh. He knew. The only remaining member of Carmilla's ruling council in Styria was never far from his mind. But she was someone of questionable loyalty to him and even to Hector in his opinion, although he kept the later part to himself. And loyalty was something he could not forgo and he would not bend on it even in the slightest. But perhaps, her continuing animosity towards him itself, spoke volumes of her loyalty to her sisters. Despite the fact that if Hector's rendition of the events were true the vampiress had found her sister's plan distasteful.
He had sometimes noticed the red haired vampire looking at him from her tower when he was taking a walk around the castle grounds or when he was forging the night creatures out of the salvaged bodies. Neither of them acknowledged each other during such moments, like two predators assessing a threat from afar, ready to swipe at the first sign of threat. Although, he noted dryly her claws were most certainly clipped.
Isaac was not surprised by Hector's suggestion, which however reasonable was still heavily tilted by his emotions. Hector was, smitten by her to put it gently. It could even be love on his side; he had found both of them atop the courtyard fountain a few days ago, their laughter waking him up from his light sleep. From his reading of the pair through his bedroom window he could tell that it was probably love and loyalty from Hector's side but of the lady's intentions he was still heavily doubtful. Whether it was from his very valid distrust of her kind or because of what she had done to Hector, he was uncertain.
He noticed that Hector was still waiting for a response, "I shall think about it Hector. I make no promises though".
Hector nodded before heading out towards the door. "Hector, I know that you have some affections for her.. But.. do you trust her?", he called out halting Hector in his footsteps.
Hector hesitated turning around before glancing sideways. After a pregnant moment he locked into Isaac's gaze before stating firmly, "I do, Isaac". With that he left him in the company of his night creatures shutting the door gently on his way out.
Isaac sighed before leaning forward to clasp his hands on the table. This had been a heavy couple of days, tiring because there was no singular goal to attain; no solitary will to follow; no united front to lead; instead there were a hundred different options; a thousand different concerns and a million lives at stake. Everything was coloured ever so slightly by the shade of grey. Maybe this is what it means to be the ruler of a country. Or maybe this is what it means to rule well.
But some concerns were more immediate than others. And in all of those immediate ones he had to figure out the vampire situation. There was a person in the castle of noted untrustworthiness who might be able to talk down the vampire forces. The question was, Could she be trusted on this?
"FlysEyes", He called out to the philosopher from Athens reborn as his solider from hell. He disliked the name, but that is what the night creature had wished to be called and lately he has been in a generous mood.
"Inform the merchants to come and visit me in the council room now", He ordered looking at the merchant list provided by Hector.
"As you wish my King", the creature turned to leave, his translucent wings sweeping the floor in large arcs.
'What power reveals' a voice echoed in his mind, sounding surprisingly like Hector's.
"And one more thing FlysEyes, tell the guards to inform Lady Lenore of Styria that I want an audience with her tonight."
NOTES:
Hector's 'Power reveals..' line is by Robert Caro on his book on an American President (Highly recommend all his work).
This chapter was more fun to write than it had any right to be. I guess, it is because I seem to enjoy armchair philosophy and also because I wanted to check out Styrian maps and ended up in a rabbit hole where I spent two hours looking at pictures of gorgeous countryside in Austria.
I am not sure how Isaac came across though, hopefully I captured him adequately.
As always, all comments and criticisms are welcome.