Book I: The Three Dynasties
Chapter XV
The Abstracts
Gates of the Pest Settlement: 582 AD
A thunderous horse charge came to a sudden stop as a dozen armed riders reached their destination, the few traders and travelers still at the gates at this hour of night felt a wave of terror grip them. The mighty black steeds and their armored riders seemed all the more terrifying, with a pack of barking and screeching hounds running at the horses feet. A single grey haired man approached the mysterious awe inspiring riders, a sword clutched in one hand, a lantern in the other "Who goes there?" He asked nervously.
The only one of the riders not wearing a helmet jumped down from his horse and approached the old man, he did not need a helmet, his brooding face adorned with an eerie blue paint, etched with ancient Celtic spells "Who are you?" He hissed menacingly.
"I… I am the night watchman." The terrified man replied
"Leave him be Soren." The lead rider called out, as he removed his helmet and shook his long black hair over his shoulder, he allowed his horse to trot right up to the old man, so that he towered over the solitary watchman. He did not say anything for a time; instead he bore his fangs and looked straight at the frightened man "Do you know what I am?" He finally asked
"V…V… Vampire." The old man trembled.
"Well then that should save me some time." He grinned slightly "My name is Kraven, I have been sent here by his Excellency Lord Viktor to find out who has been foolish enough to attack us. Now I understand you have a job to do, so I am going to give you a choice… either you try and stop us from entering or you tell us to have a good night, and stand aside."
"Ha… Have a good night." The old man stuttered as he stood clear of the riders."
"The same to you sir." Kraven smiled as he rode past "Get back on your horse Soren, we have work to do."
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Fortress Corvinus: Pest Settlement
The doors to Henry Corvinus's throne room fly open as an out of breath messenger rushes to find his master.
"My Lord…" He breathes heavily
"What is it?" Henry demands
"Vampires My Lord… in the settlement."
"How many?" Markus Corvinus speaks up
"Maybe a dozen."
"A dozen?" Henry spat "I expected more."
"There will be more brother." Markus answered him "This must be a scouting party or an assassination squad…. The vanguard of Viktor's army."
Henry sat in silent contemplation for a moment "Alexander!" He called to his brash son.
"Yes Father."
"Take your men… kill them all."
"We should send my men." Markus interrupted "They are Vampires, they are stronger."
"It matters not." Henry sighed "Viktor's men have never seen any of our blood line before, we will have the element of surprise. Now Go."
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A triumphant Kraven lead his band of dark warriors on their slow trip through the Pest settlement, their destination… Fortress Corvinus. The old night watchman aside the scouting force had encountered no opposition, the handsome noble was growing ever more confident… too confident. Out of the shadows another party approached, decked out in light armour, and riding in a loose formation the Vampire warriors hardly flinched.
"Merovingian's?" Kraven asked, turning to the blue faced man at his right hand.
"I do not believe so My Lord." Soren replied coldly, his voice like a winter frost "Markus would have turned them already." As the riders came closer Soren flared his nostrils and took in the riders scent, as the chilled winter breeze carried it towards them "These men are not Vampires."
"They do outnumber us though." The young nobleman noted, his voice becoming more concerned.
"No matter." Soren shrugged "They are just locals."
"Very well." Kraven sighed "Dismount."
At their masters command the warriors dismounted and formed a phalanx in front of Kraven, who remained seated on his steed. The next minute or so seemed to drag as the vampires awaited their guests. Kraven allowed himself to smile as the leader of the riders dismounted and removed his helmet to reveal a shock of long red hair.
"Definitely a Corvinus." He grinned slightly
"My name is Alexander Corvinus!" The leader called out defiantly as he reached over his shoulder and produced a mace from his back.
"All grown up." Kraven nodded "I knew your Grandfather… the man you are named after… and I knew your father… and your uncles… and let me tell you something son, you are not them. So why don't you take your little band of men, gallop back to your fortress and deliver your uncle Markus a message. Tell him Lord Viktor is coming for him… tell him that Lord Viktor will show him mercy if he surrenders himself to us now, and delivers to us the Merovingian's that attacked his home. If he does not, the entire strength of our bloodline will pour into this settlement and raze it to the ground."
The young Alexander nodded as he considered Kraven's offer. "I will be sure to pass on your message, although I imagine it will fall on deaf ears. In fact I guarantee it will."
"Well then I guess we will have to do this the hard way." Kraven sighed as he shook his head "That is a pity. I will inform Lord Viktor."
"I am afraid you won't." Alexander grinned slightly "None of you are leaving here alive."
"Do not be foolish mortal." Kraven half laughed as his eyes turned an intense shade of cobalt and his fangs extended "You are but a man."
Alexander allowed his grin to develop into a laugh as his own eyes and fangs mirrored Kraven "Oh no Vampire… I am so much more than a man."
Kraven swallowed hard as the eyes of all of Alexander's men turned an identical shade of cobalt, but that would not be the end of Kraven's misfortune, for emanating from the dense forest around their gathering dozens of pairs of cobalt eyes stared holes through the Vampire intruders. "Shit" Kraven swallowed hard as Alexander lunged at him mace in hand.
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Pest Settlement: Dockland area, Three hours later
He sits in the captains quarters of his gargantuan long ship, more a like a galleon of antiquity then a Norse raiding ship. The weathered captain strokes at his grey beard as he considers the task at hand. However the old mans musings were soon interrupted by a light rapping at his cabin door. "Enter." He sighs.
"Lord Corvinus." An armored soldier bowed as he remained in the doorway.
"Well what do you have to report?" He sighed in frustration
"Our scouts have reported that the first skirmish has taken place. It would appear that your grandson and his men attacked one of Viktor's envoys. We do not know if anyone survived."
"Then there is to be war?" The old man groaned.
"Yes My Lord."
"Prepare the men… there will be a lot of cleaning to do."
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Viktor and Amelia's base camp, just outside Pest settlement: 3 hours later."
In the make shift throne room of Viktor and Amelia's base camp the old warlord thumbs over maps and reports with his oldest advisors and commanders. He knew there would be war, and he loved it, it was just the waiting he hated. He was so used to being the sole commander of an army, but his legion was not yet complete, half of his forces were not his, they belong to his ally, Amelia. He cast an annoyed glance over to his co-commander, she was the exact opposite of the Warlord, in firm contrast to his armour and battle readiness the Princess Amelia lounged across a luxurious couch, in a near sheer silk gown, as her raven hair fell about her bare shoulders. However rather than concentrate on Viktor's battle plans her attention is focused on the young hand maiden feeding her grapes.
"Must you do that in here?" Viktor snapped at her "What is she doing in here?"
"This is Apilania." Amelia smiled seductively as the olive skinned hand maiden placed another grape in Amelia's mouth "I found her in Constantinople, my Viceroy was kind enough to turn her for me… seeing as I am forbidden from siring any of my own progeny. She keeps me company."
"You are making a scene!" Viktor sneered, as her Viceroy looked on disapprovingly.
"Oh please Viktor…" She sighed in annoyance as she reclined even further "… we are going to war soon Viktor will you deny more all of my comforts?"
Before Viktor could answer her a guard hurried in and stood to attention "My Lord!"
"Speak!" Viktor barked at him
"Kraven and the Hibernian are back…its just them My Lord."
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"Where are men!?" Viktor bellowed as Kraven stood with his head hung.
"We were taken by surprise My Lord." He half cowered "Soren and I were lucky enough to get away alive."
"Only because you ran." Amelia interjected with a scathing tone causing her hand maiden to giggle slightly.
"We were outnumbered… we had no way of expecting this."
"You let Markus's Vampires get the drop on you… you were foolish!"
"They were not Vampires My Lord." Kraven nervously confessed.
"Mortals?" Amelia hissed, as she sat bolt upright pushing Apilania out of the way "You were bested by mortals?"
"No they weren't mortals…" Kraven quickly spoke up, feeling his masters rage upon him "… at least they weren't men."
"What nonsense!" Viktor spat "Excuses!"
"The incompetence of your underlings is becoming most taxing Viktor." Amelia sighed in frustration as she sank back into her couch and snatched the bowl of grapes back from Apalania.
Viktor took a deep breath and loomed over Kraven menacingly "Listen to me carefully Kraven. At nightfall tomorrow Amelia and I are taking our army to the Corvinus' fortress, and I need to know what we are up against. Now if they are not vampires, and if they are not men…. What are they?"
"I really do not know My Lord. Kraven sighed "They are something all together more… abstract."