Book I: The Three Dynasties
Chapter XVI
War
Fortress Corvinus, Pest Settlement: 582 AD
As night descend over the savage lands, the looming structure that is fortress Corvinus sets the stage for what is sure to be a decisive battle. At the threshold of Henry Corvinus' fortress a grand army stands assembled. In the moonless shroud, an entire legion on horse back eyes their target. At the head of this dark legion two figures stand apart from their men. One atop a white steed, her slender frame clad in the armour of the Eastern Empire, her eternally youthful face, obscured with a veil of silk, with only the faint emerald glow of her vampiric eyes betraying her anticipation. And sat beside her atop his jet black steed, the old war lord Viktor Teleki, the greatest commander the region had ever seen. Both sat silent, this was new territory for them, although they had rode into battle together many times, tonight was very different. They were not fighting an army of men, nor a hoard of mindless beasts, tonight they went to war with one of their own, the man who made them both, Markus Corvinus.
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From atop a heavily fortified watchtower two men stand side by side, one mortal, one immortal, but both immensely powerful, Markus and Henry Corvinus. Brothers. Sons of the first immortal, and here they stood ready to face what could be their last night. Although neither of them said anything, there was one of them was missing, William was conspicuous in his absence. "So there they are." Henry sighed as he looked upon the vampire legion that besieged his fortress.
"There they are." Markus nodded
"I feel so powerless brother." Henry confessed as his withered face seemed to disappear into his long grey hair and beard "Here I am decked out in my old armour, yet I can not fight, what little fight I had in me left me years ago… I am an old man now Markus, cursed to watch the greatest of battles from the sidelines."
"Your son will lead your forces to victory alongside mine Henry." Markus reassured him with a gentle pat on the back "You taught him everything you know there is pride in that."
"I hope so brother." Henry nodded
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"Our forces are ready my lady." One of Amelia's commanders reported to her.
"Viktor?" She asked turning to her companion.
"Mine are ready." He nodded coldly "We should move quickly before we lose anymore of the night.
"We must be cautious Viktor." Amelia warned him "We have no way of telling which are vampires and which are these… Abstracts Kraven encountered. They fight like Vampires."
"But they fall like Mortals." Viktor snapped at her "This night will be ours."
"Would you like to do the honors?" Amelia asked coldly.
Viktor raised his sword high above his head "ATTACK!"
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The silent night seemed to be consumed by thunder as the heavy cavalry of the vampire legion broke ranks and charged at fortress Corvinus. Like a tidal wave the dark, armored warriors approached their targets, eyes burning electric blue as their fangs became visible through their helmets.
"ARCHERS!" A series of voices screamed from the fortress as entire divisions of bowmen appeared on the walls and ramparts of the fortress. At their masters commands the archers let loose their deadly missiles. Some sent flaming arrows into the hearts of the approaching warriors, some fired thunderous cross bow bolts into the bodies of Viktor's warriors, sending them flying, others shot at the horses bringing the vampires crashing down with their mighty beasts. And yet the charge continued, to the amazement of Markus and Henry, those riders of the horses who had been brought down had gotten up and begin to run on foot behind their comrades.
Henry and his son Alexander looked amazed, for the first time since they could remember, the archers had been ineffective.
"ARTILLERY!" Henry screamed.
At his command trebuchets began to fire heavy rocks and flaming pots over the fortress walls, however their actions were too late, most of the riders had already reached the moat. It did not matter that the draw bridge was up; Markus knew what was coming next. The riders leapt from the backs of their horses across the stretch of water that separated them.
"They can not possibly make it." Henry swallowed hard.
In mid air the soldiers unhurled their grappling hooks, everyone making contact with the fortress walls. The abstract soldiers immediately unsheathed swords and axes and began hacking away at the ropes, many fell. However that did not matter, and Markus knew it, the Vampires only needed the ropes to swing across the moat, they did not need them for climbing, and now, most were on their side of the water. The vampires immediately leapt at the fortress walls, clinging on like spiders and scurrying up the side. Boiling tar was immediately poured over the edges; some of the attackers were forced down with searing pain. A few of the abstract archers were able to loose off flaming shots igniting a few of the tar soaked stragglers. However many of the vampires were simply too quick.
"They are in the fortress Markus." Henry swallowed hard.
"I know brother."
"You must fight." Henry pleaded
"Someone must stay here and protect you brother." Markus dismissed him.
"I will my Lord." The newly turned Merovingian spoke up.
"You are not a warrior Lestat."
"No My Lord, but thanks to you I am strong now. Please, we need all the vampires we can spare defending the castle."
"Your loyalty will be rewarded." Markus assured the young nobleman as he raced off too fight the intruders.
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"We are in." Amelia smiled as she watched from a distance.
"They will not be able to much damage by themselves." Viktor replied, his mind constantly going over tactics "Send the second wave and the archers to back them up now."
"I agree."
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Carnage. The only word appropriate for what was to take place at fortress Corvinus. The second the vampires had made it over the wall they were set upon, swords, axes and pikes, cut and thrust at them from all directions. The warriors loyal to Viktor and Amelia found themselves facing an untold number of enemies, what made it even harder was the fact that the Merovingian soldiers and Sanctuary guards had abandoned their own uniforms and had donned the same armor as Henry Corvinus's men, making it impossible to distinguish which was Vampire and which was abstract. The Vampire invaders fought their way into the grounds of the fortress, fortunately Viktor had sent the second wave, repelling them occupied much of the army. As the Vampires regrouped an entire division of men with heavy black shields seemed to appear from nowhere and form a phalanx. Both groups seemed ready to face each other until the enemy phalanx parted and a single man emerged from the centre. He had fiery red hair and carried a heavy black mace. "My name is Alexander Corvinus." The young man sneered as he displayed his fangs. "And this is my home."
"They're just abstracts." One of Viktor's men laughed. Before he could finish the young Alexander lunged at him, smashing his skull with his mace, "I am not just anything." He sneered.
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The fighting continued to rage as more and more of Viktor's legion continued to come over the wall, and while Alexander and his men were able to hold them at bay the Vampire legion were winning the day. However things have a habit of changing. From the roof of the fortress men began to leap at Viktor's line, they were all quick, clearly vampires, but one of them was different like a one man army. His sword was a blur, decapitation after decapitation was dealt out by him, with many others being disemboweled. Soon a circle of Viktor's men had formed around this man, although they all had their weapons drawn none of them wanted to fight him.
"What are you waiting for?" The flame haired warrior goaded them as he switched his sword from hand to hand "Which one of you has the fortitude to take me on. Who here is man enough to take on Markus Corvinus."
There was no answer, those amongst the vampires that were not scared of fighting Markus, were afraid to lose their immortality if they killed him. They were at a stalemate.
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"What is happening in there?" Viktor barked as the sound of steel meeting steel, and battle cries had stopped.
"We have lost momentum." Amelia sighed "Do I send more men?"
"No." Viktor choked in frustration "We do not have the time, the night is dwindling."
"You said this would be a most brief campaign Viktor." Amelia chastised him.
"And it will." He spoke firmly "Another day or to, Markus will be our Prisoner." Viktor hung his head and brought his hand to his brow, his next action would pain him more than any other "Tell the pipers…. To the sound the retreat."
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The Vampiric legion marched away under cover of arrow fire, the sound of celebration coming from fortress Corvinus burned in Viktor's ears. "Just a few more days." He hissed under his breath
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Three Months Later
"They're back." The young Alexander Corvinus sighed, as he stood in one of the watch towers of his fathers ruined fortress.
"Of course they're back." The handsome young Vampire standing next to him smiled "They have been here every night for three months."
"Is this what you thought being a Vampire would be like Lestat?"
"No." He laughed slightly "But I do not plan to do this forever, as soon as this war is over I look forward to an eternity of self indulgence."
"An eternity of self indulgence?" Alexander sighed
"Jealous?" Lestat grinned
"Not at all." Alexander stated boldly as he picked up his mace and began to climb down the watchtower "Eternity is entirely too long for my liking."
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"Father!" Alexander bellowed as he burst into Henry Corvinus's war chambers "The Vampires are forming a line again."
"What a surprise." Henry sighed as he turned to his immortal brother "Are your Vampires ready."
"Of course… but I have already lost more than twenty men, brother your legion has been reduced by half, we can not keep going on like this."
"We have to hold!" Henry snapped "We have no other choice!"
"Father please!" Alexander pleaded "Our fortress is crumbling, our walls can not protect us for much longer."
"Then what do you suggest." Henry sighed as he sunk back into his seat.
Alexander approached his father eagerly and crouched down by his side "We take our legion out to meet them, in head to head battle."
"Are you mad!?" Henry snapped "They are vampires!"
"True." Markus spoke up "But their legion has been weakened, if we throw everything we have at them while we still have the numbers advantage, we could destroy them."
"It is a terrible risk brother." Henry replied through gritted teeth.
"What other choice do we have father!?" Alexander exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air "Are we to just wait here and let them pick us off a little at a time."
"Brother" Markus pleaded "Viktor's legion has been on the offensive for three months, they will not expect a direct assault."
"What do you suggest?" Henry asked, finally coming around to the idea.
Markus and Alexander both breathed a sigh of relief as Markus went on the explain his plan "I will take the rest of my Vampires and lead them in a direct assault on Viktor's front line, try to scatter their ranks. Then Alexander takes the bulk of your infantry and decimates their weakened legion."
"Are you too lead the charge personally brother?"
"Yes." Markus nodded, his voice full of determination "Tonight I'm going to kill Viktor."
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"And here we are again." Amelia sighed, as she brushed the mane of her trusty steed. "Will this siege ever end Viktor?"
"Of course my dear." Viktor beamed with confidence "It is just a matter of time."
"Are we to breach their walls again?" Amelia asked as she studied the now familiar fortress."
"Well how else are we going to get in? You see the key to success in a siege is…"
"Viktor" Amelia interrupted
"One moment my dear" he dismissed her "Let me finish, the key to siege warfare is…"
"Viktor" She repeated herself , this time her voice taking a sterner tone.
"Amelia you should really listen to me." Viktor chastised her "If you want to breach an impregnable fortress you must…"
"VIKTOR FOR GOD SAKE WILL YOU JUST LOOK AT THE DAMN DRAW BRIDGE!"
Viktor's head snapped around, and his cobalt blue eyes immediately illuminated, Amelia swallowed hard as she turned back to the old warlord "Looks like there is more than one way to enter an impregnable fortress." Her voice trembled slightly as the draw bridge to Fortress Corvinus lowered and more than a hundred riders spewed forth from its depth."
"TO ARMS!" Viktor bellowed
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No sooner had the drawbridge made contact with the ground had Markus began his charge at the legion he had created. His Merovingian soldiers rode behind him as he locked eyes on his target "VIKTOR!!" He screamed holding his sword high into the air.
The old Moldovan warlord allowed a grin to form as his stare remained locked on Markus's charge "He dares challenge me."
"We can not afford to kill him Viktor!" Amelia snapped at him "If he dies we all die."
"Oh he will live… he we live at my heel forever. ATTACK" Viktor screamed as he rode off to face his foe.
"VIKTOR HOLD THE LINE!" Amelia screamed as Viktor and his bodyguards raced off to face Markus's charge "HOLD THE LINE!" She screamed at the rest of her men in a desperate attempt to maintain some discipline.
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Viktor and his men rode straight at Markus; neither side seemed to flinch as their charging horses brought them closer and closer together. Although hundreds of men were involved in this charge Viktor and Markus saw only each other. After what seemed like an eternity of charging, the two finally met… neither man flinched. Their horses smashed into each other at unfathomable speeds sending the first two vampires flying to the floor. As horse back fighting broke out around them, as the clang of steel and the thunder of hoofs filled the air the two Vampires quickly regained their footing "Time to die Viktor." Markus goaded him
Viktor allowed himself to laugh slightly "Markus when am I done with you, you will beg me for death. A request I will never grant."
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As Viktor and Markus fought, the second stage of Markus Corvinus' plan was about to begin. The night sky straddling fortress Corvinus was suddenly illuminated, as wave after wave of flaming arrow shot into the sky. "My Lady!" Kraven called to Amelia.
"Put your shield up!" Amelia screamed back to him as her bodyguards rushed to protect her.
"My Lady what is happening!?" Kraven yelled as arrow after arrow slammed into his shield.
"Well, I can not be sure but I am pretty sure the Abstracts are coming."
As if on queue the young Alexander Corvinus lead his massive infantry force across the drawbridge of fortress Corvinus. Under cover of archers they made their way across the expanse, being careful to avoid the fierce cavalry battle that was already raging.
"Shall I take our infantry to meet them My Lady?" One of Amelia's commanders asked her.
"No." She replied simply "Let them come to us. Just remember, they are weaker, they are slower… and they are mortal."
"They are still dangerous My Lady."
Amelia's eyes glowed their vampiric green as she rolled her tongue across her fangs seductively "It wouldn't be fun if they were not."
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Markus drove his knee into Viktor's gut as the old Warlord swung his sword at him. Viktor doubled over allowing Markus to drive an elbow into the side of his skull. Viktor fell to the ground dropping his sword as he did. Markus hesitated for a moment as he watched his enemy writhe on the floor. Had he been his father he would have decapitated Viktor by now and left his army without a leader, however tonight he was acting more like William…tonight he wanted to savor it. As he sauntered over to Viktor the first Vampire would soon regret his decision. A thunderous kick to the ankle caused Markus to stumble, Viktor slammed both of his fists into the ground, propelling himself back to his feet. As Markus regained his footing Viktor slammed his claw like fist into the side of his head, sending Markus crashing to the floor. Markus did not stay for long, flying at Viktor he clasped a hand around his throat, Viktor reciprocated with a choke of his own. "This could take some time." Markus choked.
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The massive abstract army descended on what was left of the Vampire legion, their superior numbers had given them confidence, perhaps misplaced. Alexander Corvinus swung his mace wildly at the leader of the Vampire legion, the Princess Amelia. The beautiful Vampire utilized all of her grace and with the slightest movement avoided his attack and with a single blow sent the flame haired warrior flying off to one side. "Foolish boy" She practically purred at him "I have destroyed entire empires on a whim, and you would defeat me with a mace." She turned to the rest of his infantry her vampiric features in all their glory "I do hope your army is more of a challenge."
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From a lonely watch tower, Henry Corvinus, the first of his kind watched the carnage that has unfolded. The old Warlord watched as his bloodline fell one by one to the swords of the vampires. He could stand no more, though his armor was heavy and his body ancient, he was resolute. He would share the same fate as his children.
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Amelia's sword was a blur as she cut swathes through the abstract army, there seemed to be no stopping the Princess. However hers was not the only battle to be waged that night. As her soldiers became swarmed by a powerful, superior enemy force each of them would have their own story to tell. One of these stories would be of the blue devil that fought amongst the vampires. The Hibernian with the painted face… Soren. With a hand axe in one hand and a dagger in the other, the Irishman carved his own path through the abstracts, unlike his comrades whose faces betrayed their fear, excitement and blood lust his remained an icy stare, never once flinching to the massacre around him. Fighting by his side the Moldovan noblemen Kraven, whose metal in battle had been tested more times than he cared to remember.
Amelia had lost count at the amount of men that had fallen to her sword, mortality certainly had its drawbacks. However she would soon find out that pride comes before a fall, as her latest Victim fell a blur shot across her line of sight, before she could react she fell a cold dull thud on her forehead. Her vision became blurry as she felt her body hit the ground, there was shot after shot as she felt her bones crunch beneath the heavy metal weight. She had never felt such pain, as the haze cleared she began to make out a form clubbing her repeatedly, his heavy black armor, his flowing red hair "Remember me?" A sneering voice asked as Alexander Corvinus reined blow after blow of his mace upon her.
For several moments she could not move, he was certainly stronger than she had given him credit for. The arrogant young abstract placed a foot on her chest and grinned "Well, well, well… the great whore of Constantinople laying at my feet, who would have thought…" The warriors sentence rant was cut short as he began to choke on his own blood, a single vampire, one of the hundreds of unknown soldiers had grabbed him from behind. Holding his head with one hand he brought his short sword to Corvinus's throat with the other. The cut took no more than a second, however its effects would last forever. As the abstract fell to the ground clutching his throat, death fell swiftly.
"Are you alright my Lady?" The soldier asked.
"NOOO!!" A croaky, raspy voice cried out before Amelia had the chance to answer.
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Markus had proved to be the stronger of the two, he had broken Viktor's grip and forced his enemy to his knees. Hatred boiled in his eyes as he felt Viktor's neck bones crack in his hands, his hatred would be his weakness, the ice cold Viktor would not allow him to make another, flexing his right arm, a dagger emerged from his gauntlet and found its way to Viktor's hand. He thrust it deep into Markus' side causing the first Vampire to release his grip. Viktor stood back up twisting the knife round and round as he did "This will not kill you Markus. I only hope it hurts as much as it looks."
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"NOOO!" The raspy voice screamed again as a frail old man scrambled across the battlefield "MY SON!" He cried as he embraced the fallen body of Alexander "YOU KILLED MY SON!"
"Henry Corvinus." Amelia spoke coldly as she recovered her sword "Time has not been kind to you."
"My Son." He wept into Alexander's hair.
Amelia stepped forward and held her sword to his throat "Tell your men to surrender."
"Never." He hissed, his fangs showing, "Kill me."
"I will." She assured him "And then I will find the rest of your family… your wives… your children… look around you Henry, your men are falling fast."
"So are yours." He spat
"True." She nodded "But mine are getting back up. Save your family, save your bloodline, you can not win this war."
"CEASE FIGHTING" He screamed "CEASE FIGHTING! Drop your weapons, all is lost."
A cheer went out amongst the vampires as the abstracts dropped their weapons and surrendered with their leader… the night was all but theirs.
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Viktor continued to turn the knife as the order to surrender was called. "NO" Markus hissed as he struck Viktor square in the face, sending him staggering backwards "Brother no! We must fight on!"
"It appears all is lost!" Viktor laughed "I will accept your surrender now!"
"Never!" Markus spat "TO ME MY BRAVE WARRIORS!" At their master's command, the Merovingian's and William's guards broke away from whatever fights they were in and regrouped around their sire.
"You are outnumbered." Viktor laughed "You really think you can hold out until sunrise?"
"Enough Viktor!" Amelia called to him as she joined her two male counterparts. "Too many of us have died already Viktor."
"All the more reason to end this now." Viktor grinned
"You can not kill Markus!" Amelia sighed in desperation "As long as we stay at each others throat we will fight this same battle again and again for all time… or until we are all dead."
"What do you suggest?" Markus asked her.
"We have to find a way… some way to rule our people, all of our people. Let us move on past this… or the word Vampire will be nothing but an unpleasant memory."
Viktor hesitated for a moment "As much as it pains me to admit it, you are right. We will shelter in their fortress tonight, tomorrow we go back to my territory, this madness can not endure."
"Markus?" Amelia asked nervously.
"Agreed." He nodded "This madness must end."
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Day break
As the morning sun washed away the darkness the true horrors of the previous night became apparent. The dozens… hundreds of bodies that had fallen began to burn and sizzle in the morning rays. Vampire and Abstract lay together in defeat. While the survivors had retreated into fortress Corvinus for the day the deeds they had committed remained in the open for all to see. Amidst the silence the sound of footsteps could be heard, men, mortal men in armor began to survey the area, however one man remains still and silent. His heart is heavy knowing that it is his blood that has started all of this. "Lord Corvinus." One of his men asks. "What would you have us do?"
"Clean up this mess."