((Chapter heading is a line from the Within Temptation song Hand of Sorrow. I can't get the bloody thing out of my head and it fits – in a figurative way as well as a cruelly literal one.))

Chapter 19
The Hand That Serves You

It was a fool's errand, Thaler couldn't help thinking, to follow Delia to an abandoned oubliette. He was familiar with the place, or at least he knew it existed. He knew Pont Vanis, almost every nook and cranny. It wasn't something he liked to contemplate, the time before he was in Foltest's service … chasing for some hint where Trina was and then for whoever had murdered her. And yet, here he was. Back where she had died, where someone had decided that she shouldn't have married a man who was rumoured to be part elf, whom she had loved so dearly. He had found the oubliette then, had searched for hours to find some way inside, and had finally been forced to give up.

Now, however, he found himself at an entrance, or whatever passed for one. The wall had been corroded by wind and weather – and probably some help by thieves or similar people that found the deserted place convenient enough to assist time in its effort to ruin the structure. The damage hadn't been there the last time he was trying to find a way inside that wasn't overlooked.

'If I were you, I wouldn't go in there unarmed.' The quiet voice came from the shadows inside the building.

Thaler was half surprised to find that the vampire had chosen the same place to look for Shani. The trace of surprise came from the lingering suspicion that it was Regis who was responsible for her disappearance. And even though it made no sense for him to be here if he'd killed her, to look for her, a nagging voice said that was what Thaler would do: pretend to search for her and make sure that someone noticed him doing it. 'I am hardly unarmed, vampire,' he said at last. 'I know how to handle myself.'

'Fleeing from a necrophage that is as wide as the corridor it's running around in is one thing. Fleeing from them in a wide open space … Thaler, if you don't care about your own life that's well and good, but you have someone else with you.'

'There goes the starry-eyed idealist, protector of the innocent. I don't buy it, and I certainly don't need you here. There's only one monster here, and it's not a necrophage.'

'We can fight. Or we can work together.' Regis stepped out into the open, followed by a man Thaler didn't know. He was old and didn't look like he could fight anything bigger than a rat.

And yet, at the sight of him, Delia gasped behind Thaler. 'Kill him!' she said sharply. Regis glanced from her to the old man with raised eyebrows but didn't react otherwise. 'He's a traitor, Thaler, the vampire's a traitor! He's with the Preservers.'

'Delia.' The old man's voice was calm and weary. 'Do you truly worry about the captive? Then do not try to make these two men my murderers. I'm on their side. But are you, I wonder?'

Thaler looked from him to the thief and tried to put the information he had together. Each accusing the other of betrayal … he didn't know anywhere near enough about either of them to figure this out. 'You know each other from the Preservers, I take it? Who're you then, and what do you want now?'

'I am Talan. I'm a high ranking officer of the Preservers, that is true, but your friend here is not a traitor.'

'He's not my friend.'

A low chuckle came from Talan. 'I tried to gloss over the spark of animosity. Excuse my feeble attempt.' The humour fled from his face and he stepped into Delia's personal space, a knife suddenly in his hand. 'I may be old, but I am not yet dead. Tell me, young girl. What's your angle?'

'Talan.' Regis placed a hand on his shoulder. 'Would you trust yourself if you were she? I don't think so.' He shook his head. 'Delia, Talan here gave me very clear details about the exact position of the holding cells. Do you have this information as well? If so, share it. It should match.'

'I … only know the entrance.' A slight blush coloured Delia's cheeks. 'I don't even know if Shani even is here.'

'None of us do,' Talan told her.

Thaler felt like every word was one more stone on Shani's grave. 'Enough. Delia … I believe you should go back to the inn. Talan … why the fuck would we trust you?'

Talan eyed Delia. After a moment of hesitation, he shrugged. 'I was once a member of The Raven. And it turns out, I cannot ignore that they need me now. I have nothing to lose, but I can help.' He gestured at Regis. 'He knows the way. He can also fend of anyone malevolent, although I think this oubliette is all but forgotten.'

Regis smiled. 'The oubliette is forgotten. I have to remember that one.' He looked at Talan. 'You bring her to the inn. We can handle this.'

'I'll handle it alone,' Thaler said. The mere thought of having only the vampire for company made him sick.

Regis closed his eyes and massaged his forehead with two long fingers. 'I'm not going anywhere, and let's face it, you can't make me. So, well. You can choose to find your own way, or you go with me. At this point, I don't care anymore either way.'

Ϡ

The darkness, as near-complete as it was, had to be almost impenetrable for a human. The result would be an amplified perception of sounds, seeing things where there was nothing, and a sense of deep-rooted insecurity with every step taken. Regis could hear the fast heartbeat of his human companion, could smell the undercurrent of fear, hear the uncertainty in his walk. He could well imagine what the man must think: If he is a murderer, how far will he lead me, before he takes my life and leaves me to rot? If he is not, does he still hate me enough to lead me to my death? He decided to give voice to his thoughts, if only to distract himself. 'It's brave of you to follow someone you consider a cold-blooded killer into the middle of nowhere.'

'I had no choice.'

Regis smiled, even though the human couldn't see it. 'Yes. You did have one. You could have left. I don't like you, but I have to admit you have honour. I can appreciate that.' He shrugged. 'And maybe you'll believe me, too, if we're successful.'

'How do you know Talan?'

'I didn't. He found me. He met with the Raven and ran into me on the road. He led me here. What took you so long?'

'Delia. She didn't find the entrance at once. She'd only heard tales of where it was.'

'It is well hidden. She's got good eyes.' He heard Thaler stumble. 'Careful. The path is a little uneven. Walk close to the right wall, it's better there.'

Thaler answered with a grunt, but did as Regis had recommended. 'Shouldn't we try not to make a sound?'

'There is probably no-one here. They drop their prisoners in the cells, lock them, and almost literally throw away the key. This isn't a place to sleep it off. This is a place to die. I have a feeling that Talan left out some details, but I have no doubt we'll find out.'

'Then we should be able to follow the scent of those that were left for dead before.'

Regis sighed. 'I am afraid you are right. Your senses cannot pick it up, yet, can they? Well, it won't last. I half hope Shani is not here. Being ditched in a place surrounded by corpses isn't fun.'

'There might be necrophages, too, if people are just abandoned here.'

'There are wards against monsters.' Regis huffed when he heard Thaler snort. 'I am not a necrophage, you said it yourself.'

They continued in silence, climbing over debris, walking through stinking sludge, with only the reverberation of every small sound, amplified and cast back from all directions, for company. It was an improvement. Regis had gathered himself, but he wondered how far Thaler was able to drive him. For one horrible moment, back in the inn, he had wanted to kill him, had craved to spill his blood and feast on it. He knew he wouldn't have, even if the three Raven men hadn't interrupted him. And yet … there was something dark inside him, something he'd had under more control before he'd given in to his lust in Vilgefortz's castle. He was not cured of his addiction, and he would never be human, no matter how much he wanted to help them extend their feeble lives, how much he tried to live among them for some semblance of normality. Sometimes he wished he didn't have a conscience and could let himself fall into the abyss of blood and death. 'I love her,' he said, his voice quiet. 'I know you try to protect her, Thaler, and I understand you, but you don't need to save her from me because I love her.'

Thaler was quiet for almost a minute. 'What is a human to you?'

'Fleeting, Thaler. I try not to contemplate it.'

'I try not to contemplate the stench.'

'Well. If you need to stop to throw up, let me know.'

'Don't worry, vampire.' Thaler's breath became shallow, as if he was trying to breathe as little as humanly possible.

Regis almost pitied him, but at the end of the day, the stench of decay was a good sign. They were getting closer. 'Anyone there?' Regis shouted.

'Are you out of your mind?' Thaler hissed into the echo of his call.

'How often do I have to tell you that no-one's here?'

'Because Talan said so?'

Regis spun and faced the human, wondering if he could even see his expression in this light. 'Partly. Also because I am fairly certain that you and I are the only people walking around here because I'd be able to hear them. Shani will recognise my voice and answer if she can. I don't care who comes running. Anyone who does is welcome to try to stop me.'

'And here I thought you were a pacifist.'

'If I had a choice, I'd be sitting by the fireplace in Reyne with Shani in my arms and a piece of bread with yew jelly. But I'm here, trudging through this mess, because maybe, just maybe, she's here somewhere. I have no choice about being here or about having to deal with guards.'

Thaler faced him, eyes fixed on his. 'You have as much of a choice as I do.'

'Point for you then.'

'Let's go, Regis.'

They emerged from the ruinous structure into a part of the building that seemed at least less in danger of collapsing. There were rows of cells ahead of them on either side. It was still dim, but the darkness was not quite as dense. The air was miasmatic with mould and death. Thaler's breath hitched and he halted for a moment, a fist pressed to his mouth.

Regis looked at the sheet-white face of a man who was too old for such shenanigans. 'I know. I can go alone from here, Thaler.'

'I don't doubt it.' His voice was strangled. 'Shani! Shani, we're trying to help you. Where are you?'

And then Regis heard an answer. It must have shown on his face because Thaler grasped his left arm and stared at him. 'You hear her?'

Regis nodded, trying to distinguish the direction the voice had come from. 'There,' he said, pointing to the left, and they both ran. The human developed a speed he would have thought beyond him, but eventually, he took over him. In some of the cells he noticed bodies, but their faces were half eaten by rats and he ignored them. At last, he saw a bundle stir and skidded to a halt. Hands clasping the bars, he pressed his face against them as if he wanted to shove his head into the cell. 'Shani?'

The reddened eyes in the pretty young face told a story of pain and fear. He'd never seen her frightened before, not even when he had revealed his nature to her. She had been scared, but she'd hidden it behind anger. Now, the fight had gone out of her. 'I've lost my mind.' She turned away. 'Good. Maybe that's good.'

Regis had enough. He heard Thaler talking to her, but his words didn't reach him. Gathering his strength, he pulled at the bars on either side of the lock until the door sprang open. Shani's face turned to face him again abruptly. He walked inside and fell to his knees in front of her, oblivious to the Temerian behind him, oblivious to the cloying stench and the smell of blood. 'Are you hurt?'

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. She offered a single nod.

Gently, Regis cupped her face. 'Are you afraid of me?'

A shake of her head. 'Never.' It wasn't more than a whisper, but it was convinced. 'Regis, leave me, I'm not … You can't take care of me like that.'

'I'm going to carry you out. We can talk when we're safe.'

'No!' Her voice was suddenly sharp, almost an octave higher than normally. 'What do you think why they can just dump people here? How they make sure that no-one escapes?'

Dread filled Regis, and he shook his head. 'I supposed they just took all their things to make sure they have nothing on them that they can use as a lock pick or a file of some description.'

Shani shook her head again. The smell of blood – her blood, he could tell that much – was nearly overwhelming, and there was nothing even remotely appealing to it. Maybe he wasn't a lost cause after all, but right now … right now that wasn't his greatest concern.

'Shani … what did they do to you?' He hardly recognised his own voice.

Or hers, when she answered. 'They took my hands, Regis.'

Ϡ

Talan arrived with Delia well before they had to leave. The tension in The Unknown was visible. 'There you are,' he said. He looked at Talan. 'Thank you.'

From the moment she entered, Delia had her gaze fixed on the big man, eyes wide and blue and innocent. Will leaned against the wall behind him with his arms folded and a scowl on his face that spoke volumes.

'Delia … you need to do something for The Raven.'

'I'll talk to her.' The Unknown approached her, his face serious. 'You need not do this. Actually, I'd rather you said no.'

'To what?' She smiled, but somehow it didn't look happy. Not even relieved. 'What do you need, Unknown?'

'Your help.' He tore his gaze away to Talan, who looked back at him squarely. 'No better idea yet?'

The old man sighed. 'Sorry. None. Maybe Thaler and Regis find Shani, that would make it easier, but we won't know that in time. You need to face the leader assuming that she is still their captive.'

'She will not be a collateral damage caused by an unnecessary provocation,' The Unknown said sharply. Will had a feeling that statement was directed at him, but on one of the chairs, Hirad sat, looking pointedly innocent as well. At least he wasn't the only one being cautioned. 'Delia … we will meet with the commander … or leader, or so of the Preservers tonight.'

'I will come,' she said quickly. 'You need … you need me for a deal.'

'Are they going to kill you, Delia? If that's the case, we're not taking you.'

She shrugged. She'd gone a shade paler at the question. 'If you make it clear that I was a captive, and a useless one at that, maybe not.'

'He knows that I arranged the meeting,' Talan said. 'The safest statement for Delia will be that you wanted to question her further but that since she wasn't forthcoming you didn't just get rid of her and instead want to trade her for Shani instead.' He smiled faintly. 'She'll likely be sent to me. Our fearless leader wants to seem like the benevolent one. He leaves meting out punishment to his underlings, and that includes me. Possible treason isn't something he'd have dealt with by someone of a low rank, so the chances aren't that bad.'

'As a point of interest,' Jandyr said, 'what sort of punishment do the Preserver consider appropriate?'

Talan shrugged. 'Everything from a couple of hours in the Carcer, which is a small prison for mild punishment, over whippings, to expulsion. That last usually means that someone from a rank close to yours will kill you and take your belongings and your place in the hierarchy by taking your scale. A token, you see, all of us have. You take my token, you may take my place, if you're allowed. Death sentences are rare, but expulsion isn't and it amounts to the same thing. Sometimes, I sent the people I should punish on to Lan Exeter as spies. It's one way to recruit, you see, and the chances anyone would notice that a low-ranking thief shows up there although they're supposed to be dead were very slim. The few cases where severe punishment was dealt to someone of high rank … well, I couldn't do much for them.'

'You won't harm her,' The Unknown said.

'Of course not.'

'Delia. It's your call.'

She seemed to steel herself. 'I'll do it,' she said at last. 'I'll come with you.'

((I have to admit that I had this planned. The events of this chapter have been in my notes for a long time now, I think even before I knew that Regis would even be in the story, as is what will happen in the next one (unless that decides to gallop off elsewhere).))