- XIV -

Marcus was content. The operation was progressing just as he had imagined. An hour ago, he had turned Milan to make him his general. He had ordered the man to report to his quarters again when he had recovered from the transformation and turned his foot soldiers.

In the meantime, the Hungarian crossed the courtyard, watching the blacksmiths work on silver plated swords, spears, and arrows, and the armourers forming helmets, breastplates, and chainmail. One of the workers showed him a freshly sharpened blade, and Marcus scrutinized it, checking the quality. Viktor's subordinates seemed to be good craftsmen.

He then proceeded to the tailoring. Some days ago the Elders had selected thick black hides, completely lightproof, to make tents of. When they wanted to track down William, they could not always be back at a building for the day, so they would surely need to camp in the open fields. Marcus examined the tailors' work, approving it, too. The tents would securely protect them from the deadly rays of the winter sun.

He would go to his quarters now and pack some things for the coming journey. By then Milan would return, so they could discuss strategies.

Amelia sat in the chair by the fireplace, absent-mindedly licking her lips. Thomas's blood had tasted sweeter than the animal blood she had consumed before. The few sips she took, however, had not really satisfied her. After the knight had collapsed and some minutes later woken up transformed, his eyes a pale blue colour now, he had bowed again and left.

Now she stared into the flames and a strange emptiness welled up inside her. Was she sick? But what kind of illness could afflict her now that she was an immortal? Maybe she just needed some more of the red, life-giving liquid. Amelia leaned forward in her chair. She would call for a maid to bring her some bull's blood. No, not some, she corrected herself in her thoughts, plenty.

When Marcus had returned from his walk, Milan hadn't been standing by outside his quarters as he had expected him to. He had waited some time for the knight to report back, but the man had failed to do so. After an hour or two, Corvinus had asked the servants and some other soldiers for Milan's whereabouts; however, no-one had seen him. Then he had searched for the general, but he was nowhere to be found. It also seemed that none of the already turned warriors had been bitten by Milan.

Now the Hungarian was pacing Viktor's sitting room, cursing under his breath. He was not as content anymore as he had been earlier that night.

"What happened here? Where has that idiot gone? Nearly all soldiers are vampires now, but none is a descendant of mine!"

"A negligible accident, my friend." Viktor tried to pacify him. "Is it really important who has been turned by whom? We are all immortals now. I assure you, we will fight against the werewolves as faithful companions."

Disheartened, Marcus stopped in his tracks and leaned against the wall, folding his arms. Viktor left him there, retreating to his study to fetch his map of the western lands. He would need it to work out a strategy in council with Amelia and his knights. While he leafed through his documents, a grin formed on his thin lips. Milan's blood had tasted delicious. Killing all those cowardly mortal soldiers had been the first time that he had broken his own rule of only feeding on animal blood, draining Marcus's general was the second time. It would not be the last time.

Corvinus headed for his quarters. When he passed Amelia's rooms, he saw a maid coming out, carrying a tray with empty glasses. He stopped and stared at the closed door for some time. It hadn't been an accident, when Milan had disappeared. Marcus was sure Viktor had something to do with it. The warlord was plotting against him. And the woman was on his side.

He hadn't wanted to turn her, but now it was done, and he wouldn't be able to reverse it. Maybe it had been unwise to show his disrespect towards her so blatantly. Maybe he would have had a chance to ally himself with her against Viktor's scheming, had he not offended her. But he had never been good in hiding his true feelings, not to mention diplomacy.

His azure eyes wandered from her door to the tips of his boots. Should he talk to Amelia? Try to change her mind? Apologise? Marcus bit down on his lip and balled his hands into fists. It would deeply hurt his pride to ask for her forgiveness. The Hungarian stepped forward, his fingers touching the door knocker.

The map in hand, his black coat billowing behind him, Viktor strode down the corridor to the guest quarters. Amelia would already have turned Thomas. If the general was still around, Viktor would include him in their conversation. Thomas once had traveled the west, so maybe he could contribute useful details about the geography. When Viktor turned around the corner, however, he didn't see Thomas, but Marcus near Amelia's door. He knitted his brow. What was Corvinus doing here? The Moldavian didn't attach great importance to him attending their meeting.

Marcus withdrew his hand from the door when he heard footsteps in the corridor. Of course it was Viktor. The original vampire growled. He would not apologize to Amelia in front of Viktor! The Moldavian had once again put an end to his plans. Marcus turned on his heel and strode for his own quarters.

Viktor watched Corvinus leaving. Hadn't he noticed him? Or did he avoid him? He hoped for the first, because the latter would mean the Hungarian suspected something. The warlord shook his head. He would have time to think about that later.

He knocked on the female Elder's door but there was no answer.

"Amelia?" he asked. "Are you there?"

Still silence. Worry lines formed between his brows. Dawn would be upon them soon. If not in her room, where else could she be? Without knocking a second time, he turned the doorknob and walked in.

Amelia sat in a chair by the fire, her head low on her breast, her arms on the armrests. She didn't take notice of him. The map slipped from his hand, hitting the floor with a rustle. With two steps, he was at her side, bending down to her.

"Amelia! Can you hear me? What happened?" He asked, not hiding his worry.

The rushing in the female Elder's ears was cut off. Was there someone speaking? She raised her head wearily.

"Viktor..." She recognized the person who had addressed her.

"You didn't hear me coming in. Are you well?" He put a hand on one of the armrests, and with the other he brushed a stray lock of raven hair out of her eyes.

"Not quite...", She said. "After I drank from Thomas, I wasn't satisfied, so I ordered a maid to bring bull's blood..."

How many goblets had it been? She couldn't remember.

"Maybe it was too much." She concluded.

A fatherly smile appeared on Viktor's pale features. "It is never advisable to have too much of something. At least not of animal's blood."

Amelia arched an eyebrow at that, understanding his reference. "You mean you have drunk from mortals before." It wasn't a question.

His aquamarine eyes began to glow excitedly, but he didn't feel obliged to answer.

"So you deceived Marcus when you forbade him to drink from me. You don't find it immoral to feed on unwilling mortals yourself." She said in a cool tone, folding her arms to keep some distance between them.

Their gazes locked, and the delight on Viktor's face turned into a caring, sympathetic and remorseful expression she had never seen on him until now.

"Yes, I have," he said, his voice most gentle and affectionate. "But only to save you, my dear Amelia."

She exhaled deeply and averted her eyes from him, watching the fire instead.

"Well..." she began, trying to sound indifferent. "No-one needs to know about it. I would be the last to tell Marcus."

He smiled again, touching her chin to make her look at him once more. Then he kissed her cheek. She allowed it, but didn't return his affection. Viktor straightened and turned to leave, contented. Tonight he would not bother her with the conversation about strategy anymore. But then he stopped again and peeked over his shoulder.

"Speaking of Marcus, has he been here recently?" he asked.

Amelia gave him a puzzled look. "Why would he?" she asked. "He has been avoiding me since the very moment he turned me."

"Well, I saw him prowling in the corridor outside your room," Viktor didn't seem amused about that, though he didn't comment on his observation further. "Good night, Amelia," he said and left her to her thoughts.