Leinas afforded herself a single huff of dissatisfaction, and tightened her grip on the spear in her hands. The only sign of the irritation boiling inside her, just below the surface as she surveyed the hodgepodge force that she had arrayed before her.
Half of her constables had been bitten and hence compromised, but she'd gained nearly double that number in workers and mercenaries from the tavern. Not ideal, but better than it could have been. Much better in fact, and that thought made Leinas need to consciously refrain from rubbing at her neck where the vampire had attempted to bite her.
The workers and mercenaries, though varied in the quality and quantity of their arms and armour seemed more battle hardened and experienced than any of her constables were. Or, had been. She wasn't sure what to do with her bitten men. She wasn't versed enough in vampire lore to know if they would be freed from the affliction were she to kill the Lord of these lesser creatures, or if she would need to grant them a quick death. Questions for a later time though, she had to focus on the task at hand.
Her abdomen and side still ached, even with the impromptu healing and bandaging. Such a wound, even with a healing potion needed time and rest to heal properly, time that she simply did not have to give unfortunately. She still wasn't entirely sure that they should even be making their move while it was still dark out and when vampires were at their most powerful. Normally, it was foolhardy if not suicidal to do so, but the alternative would potentially pit them against an entire garrison of legionary thralls. Given the potential outcome of both scenarios, she had picked the one that gave them the best chance of success. She hoped at least. She couldn't shake the feeling of having made a mistake, but she had committed herself and her forces to the endeavour.
Leinas had made sure to send every messenger bird in their possession, save one, in the hope that they made it back to Arwintar and informed the Empire that there was indeed an infestation of vampires. She had been clear to say that her success was not guaranteed and to send a larger force equipped for purging such abominations. She sincerely hoped that she was merely being pessimistic, or preparing for any outcome, and that the relief force would not arrive to avenge her posthumously.
Including Leinas, there were twenty of them marching down the street, making good time as they made a beeline for the commandant's quarters. So far they hadn't been challenged and no alarm had been raised, but Leinas couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched and followed from the shadows. Leinas' emerald eyes shifting back and forth from the confines of her adamantite helm. Fingers flexing on the shaft of her spear, ready to bring it up in an instant to defend herself. To keep those damned teeth away from her neck.
Every alleyway, darkened home, and foreboding doorway held potential danger. The one storey wooden shacks filled to the brim with threats waiting to rip them to shreds, glowing eyes peering out from every shadow draped alcove, courtesy of Leinas' imagination. Even armoured as she was, Leinas felt her hair standing on end, expecting another abomination to come at her as unnaturally as the vampire in her room had done. She kept waiting for something to rush out from the shadows, or else swoop down from the moonless sky at her. Ears listening to the gentle breath, imagining hearing leathery wings beating in the dark, carrying abominations to steal her away into the night sky. Leinas very much so doubted that she would be able to sleep alone or in the dark for quite some time to come. That is, if she was ever able to sleep again. She suppressed a shudder and kept the pace quick.
The smell of excrement, both human and animal was strong, but not overpowering. Better than some poor villages she'd been to, much worse than others unfortunately. She imagined that before the vampire menace arrived in its murderous fury, the mine had lost nearly as many slaves to disease as it had to cave ins and other such accidents.
Such squalor was not uncommon, indeed, there were many such accounts of people living in filth that not even animals would allow themselves to be subjected too. Much had changed with the arrival of the gods, and though they had left them to forge their own path, the teachings remained.
The streets were dark and vacant, scattered fires around the periphery of the mine could be seen the closer they got to the gaping wound of the open strip mine. Dim silhouettes standing out against the dancing flames at each fire. It seemed that the garrison troops preferred to huddle together and cling to the comfort of firelight, rather than patrol the streets of the village work camp. She would have called such a move cowardice just yesterday, but now it seemed like prudence on behalf of the garrison. She wondered if she would behave any differently, were the burden of rank and title not upon her. Were her face not healed.
A part of her, an honest part, knew that she would have fled the moment she had been attacked, leaving her men for dead were her face still a ruin. Had she not begun to regain her sense of chivalry, and gained a reason for existing beyond vengeance or curing her affliction. Her hate had given her the strength to survive, but had also poisoned her soul and rotted it as ugly as her face had been.
Leinas noticed that there were no drunks or beggars hanging around either. The latter was not too shocking, considering that those who did not work or provide at the mine would likely not be tolerated, or else more likely forced into service. Those injured in the mines would either die in the event that maimed them, or else forced from the working camp. The law for treatment and compensation was one thing, the application was another.
The lack of drunks on the other hand was telling. There was always drunks. Rain, shine, summer, winter, or even a siege. Drunks were as assured as the sun rising, the tides, and taxes. So for them to be absent meant that either they were fearful enough to seek shelter, even in their drunken stupor, or else preyed upon first. After all, who would miss them? If anything, many would quietly breathe a sigh of relief that they were now gone. Drunkards were tolerated as labourers to a point, but there were limits and their disappearance would not raise alarm or be suspicious. Too inebriated to defend themselves as hot breath that smelled of graveyard soil washed over them, it would be assumed they had merely wandered off, or were on a bender as drunkards were likely to do. Leinas felt a shiver as the all too recent memory became as real as the spear she held in her had. Red eyes hovering over her. Drunkards or not, it was not a death fit for anyone.
Leinas wondered if she would have noticed the lack on drunkards had a vampire not tried to assault her as she slept. Her pride said that she would have picked up on the clue given the information that she had been armed with, but her more truthful side answered once again that she would not have noticed. After all, people went to great lengths to ignore such unfortunate souls when they were around, why would she be on guard about their absence unless looking for a nefarious reason for it? If anything, she'd be grateful for their absence in the fulfillment of her duties. Shame needled her at the thought.
With a force of will, Leinas forced herself to pay attention to the task at hand. Eyes snapping to a man stepping outside of his wooden shack, hands fumbling with his tunic pants, before spotting Leinas' detachment. Seeming to decide he didn't need to piss as bad as he had thought, he disappeared back inside, the sound of the door being barred with a wood board soon following. When no other sound or activity followed, Leinas' party continued their quick march.
They had stuffed rags into the joints and between the plates of their armour, doing their best to limit the rattle or weapons or scuff of leather on leather or steel. It lessened the sound they made, though one would need to be deaf to not hear a party of twenty armed warriors approaching. Those wearing chainmail may as well have been shaking bags of coins for all the good it did them. Wrapping the rings in cloth had done little to silence their jangling. Their weapons shone at any glimmer of light, courtesy of the holy water they had been doused in. Under Leinas' adamantite gorget, she wore a scarf wrapped securely around her throat that had been fully submerged in the holy liquid. It did little to calm her nerves or fears though, the fresh memory of the hot breath on her neck and the fangs waiting to snap shut sent a chill down her spine even still.
Titus was at her side, the soldier turned cleric had a round shield bound to his arm and his old cavalry sabre at the ready. He had a few blessed totems adorning his wargear, but for the most part, there was little to differentiate him from a regular legionnaire. He was slightly bow-legged she noticed now. She'd missed it at first, but now it was clear, and acquired from a long career spent in a saddle. She sabre still seemed out of place in the hand of such a squat, muscular man, but he handled it as skilfully as an artist with their brush.
Elwin on the other hand stepped so quietly, Leinas wouldn't have know he was even with them had she not been looking directly at him. He had a hood raised to cover his bright starlight hair, and he had a scarf wrapped around his face. The earthy colours of his clothing letting him blend into the dark of the night, his short bow strung and in hand, ready to loose an arrow at any threat that may emerge. Daggers sheathed at his side ready to spring into his hands lighting fast. Leinas was trusting the elf's keen senses to warn them of dangers that they could not see. She was reminded once again that had Elwin not been intent on defending his wife, he could have stalked her through the forest like game and likely killed her just as easily. She wondered not for the first time what his duties had been in the Kingdom of the elves.
The commandant's home was a rather modest villa. Well, modest by Arwintar's standards anyways. Anywhere else, especially in this mining town it was a veritable mansion.
Two storeys, walled, and a balcony that stretched around the periphery of the central building. Clay tiles the colour of copper shingled the roof of his home and that of the surrounding wall. A row of neat, leafy trees stood on either side of the cobbled walkway leading to the main entrance. Two guards stood at the thick wooden doors of the white washed exterior walls. Their helms were open faced, with a nasal guard and they wore chainmail hauberks as opposed to the plate of the legions. Short swords were sheathed at their hips, while kite shields were strapped to their arms. Their spears were of a simple, cheap design, though looked of adequate steel.
Leinas halted her party out of sight, enforced a policy of silence as she gestured for Elwin to come over to her. The elf seemed to glide through the darkness as he made his way to her, footfalls nearly silent until he was next to her.
"How long would it take you to reconnoitre the villa?" asked Leinas.
The elf cocked his head, mulling over the question before giving his answer.
"It depends how long you want to give me. A few hours and I could sneak through the whole compound and tell you how many there are, their equipment, and where they sleep. Twenty or thirty minutes and I could do a quick survey of the perimeter and peek over the walls, but not much more than that. Give me a week and I'll let you know who has money troubles and which one has the smallest cock when they go to take a piss."
The deadpan delivery and barest trace of a smile on Elwin's smile took Leinas aback, and she cleared her throat to prevent herself from letting out a chuckle.
"We don't have the time for a proper survey I'm afraid. We need to be quick. What can you do in ten minutes?"
"Sprint up to the walls, hop over, hop back, and sprint back here," said Elwin dryly.
"What if you could see if from the air?"
"Like a bird?" asked Elwin, starlight brows furrowing in thought. "I could give you the layout of the compound, see how they patrol, how many there are, and I suppose if it looks like they have any secret escape routes nearby. You have a mage in mind?"
"The Furt girl, though I'm not sure if she can use fly, or at least well enough to carry you."
"Only one way to be sure," said Elwin, following Leinas as they approached the worker party, crouched silently, weapons and armour darkened with soot from the tavern's fireplace. They watched her approach expectantly, though Leinas couldn't help but notice that Valens and Arche were holding one another's hands as they waited. Despite herself, Leinas felt a surge of jealously at the teens' affection to one another."
"I have a task for you," said Leinas simply.
"What would you like your ever loyal workers to do for you?" asked Hekkeran, the feather toting leader impishly.
"Arche, you can cast fly, correct?"
"Yes, I know several third tier spells," said the doll-like teen nodding.
"Can you carry someone while using it? Like Elwin?"
The teen looked the elf up and down, pursed her lips and put her hand to her chin thoughfully.
"For a short time yes, longer if he doesn't have his weapons and armour. How long do you need?" asked Arche.
"Just long enough to get a view of the Villa."
"I can do it," said Arche standing. Elwin already doffing his weapons and armoured vest. He was slim, but athletic, and though Leinas had never before fully considered elves attractive, she was now reconsidering her past judgements.
"Fly," said the Furt girl, and moments later she and Elwin disappeared into the night sky. A handful of tense minutes passed, with Leinas casting glances skyward and checking on the status of her troupe. They were ready, or as ready as they were likely to be able to be on such short notice. Titus having taken the time along with the other Worker cleric to make more holy water and offer blessings to those who wished for them.
Elwin and the Furt Girl returned, she looked flushed from the exertion, but Elwin wasted no time in donning his weapons and armour again, before taking on of his daggers and drawing some quick diagrams in the dirt.
"There's no escape tunnels or secret doors that I could see," said Elwin. "The most they have is a small garden door that leads onto the edge of the hill face overlooking the mine. Unless they're willing to free climb down a sheer rock face, they won't be fleeing that way. There's two guards at the gate entrance, two on the inside of the gate, and at least four more walking patrols around the walls inside. Lantern light moving between windows and rooms in the servant quarters means there's a staff of at least seven or eight in the villa itself. Plus more guards, though I couldn't see how many. At least another two patrolling inside the villa. It looks like there's a detention cell below the manor, so at the very least there's a jailer inside. Guards are armed with spears, shields, and hauberks. No bows that I could see, and I didn't see anything that looked like a trap. Pitfall, darts, or otherwise. Miss Furt saw what looked like some magical sources in both the cells, and coming from the master bedroom on the second floor."
"There was too many obstructions in the way to read it properly, just the flickers of magic," offered Arche, the flush slowly leaving her cheeks. "The source in the basement was stronger though, of that I'm certain," she added.
"So how do we want to do this? I'd prefer we try to avoid spilling blood if at all possible," added Titus, the older veteran having stayed silent up till this point.
"We outnumber the villa garrison, and there is a chance, no matter how slim that the Commandant had nothing to do with what transpired at the inn. If we scale the walls and storm the gates cutting down all in front of us, we're sure to only have a violent response from the rest of the garrison if they manage to sound the alarm."
"Want to just go knock then?" asked Elwin.
"Might as well, after all, who would refuse a lady shelter as such an ungodly hour? Keep a rearguard though, I don't want surprises coming up behind us, And no one goes anywhere alone for any reason," added Leinas.
Without much further ado, Leinas gathered her forces and like they were on parade, marched up to the guards at the villa, the pair straightening up as Leinas' party approached.
"Halt! Hark now and name thyself," commanded one of the guards, voice sounding unsure at seeing a party of twenty armed and armoured people approach.
"Ser Leinas Rockbruise of the Emperor's Four Knights, here to see Commandant Psellus," said Leinas, voice radiating authority.
"Ser Rockbruise, we were told that you would not be arriving until tomorrow," said the other guard, looking at his compatriot for reassurance. Having his quiet and boring night interrupted by an official of a rank he had never had to deal with before, and likely never would again.
"I have changed my mind. I will see Psellus. Now," said Leinas in a tone that brooked no argument.
"We will need you to wait while we rouse the commandant," said the guard who had challenged her.
"You will need to do no such thing, other than open the door and bring me to him," said Leinas flatly.
"He will not be presentable Ser Rockbruise."
"So long as he is present. Now, do not make me repeat myself again. Open the door," said Leinas.
"We were told no visitors allowed until morning," asserted the guard again, taking a confrontational tone.
"Isaac...she's one of the Four Knights. I...this is far above our station. Let the Commandant deal with this," said the second guard, nervousness dampening his voice.
"You will man your post!" barked the first guard, standing taller and giving his companion a scathing look. "And you will wait for the Commandant," he added turning to Leinas and she felt her anger bubble up at the disrespect.
"Legionnaire. Listen now, and listen well, for these are the last words I will waste on you," said Leinas, standing near nose to nose with the guard, venom dripping from her words. "My men and I were attacked not an hour ago as we slept. We are meeting with the Commandant posthaste and if you impede me any further you will languish nailed to a cross by my own hand. Open. The. Door."
"I don't take my orders from some whore from the capital," sneered Isaac. So close to him, even in the torchlight, Leinas could see that he was middle-aged. His face scarred and weathered from a hard life of campaigning and fighting. Muscle still clung to his frame that time had yet to be strip or negligence to cause to turn to flab. A veteran of the legions no doubt. A pity.
"Seize him," said Leinas simply and the quartet of constables at her side grabbed the man, a cry of alarm dying in his throat as a truncheon clanged off of his helm. Forced to the ground, the second guard held up his hands in a placating manner, spears levelled against him from her own party.
"Check him," Leinas heard Titus command and the garrison guard, struggling against the constables had his helm removed and the chain coif soon followed, revealing his neck. A healed scar reminiscent of the barkeep on his neck. Framed and illuminated with a lantern for Leinas' viewing. The vampiric corruption had been present longer than even Leinas had presumed. Or perhaps this guard had been one of the first turned? Either way, to be so long healed heralded great trouble.
An old veteran on a night watch far from any frontier or thought of danger. A man still earning a living, but leaving the hard life and uncertain battlefields the legions trod to the younger men more eager to prove themselves. A peaceful retirement for an old soldier ended early by a crimson kiss. A pity.
"He's a thrall," said Titus grimly.
"Then he died long ago," said Leinas simply, and drove the point of her spear through the back of Issac's neck, killing the man. The guard shuddered and twitched as he died, the ammonia smell of piss soon following. An old veteran meeting his end at the point of her spear in a pile of piss. An abominable end for anyone, and Leinas was surprised by the flash of grief that passed by her for the man.
The clang of a helm hitting the cobbled stones underfoot soon followed as the second guard doffed his own helm, coif soon following and he was roughly inspected, but no wound was found.
Leinas gave a nod to Elwin, and deftly the elf scaled the wall, hopping over to the other side, while the Furt goal invoked flight magic, carrying the lighter half-elf of her worker party over the wall with her.
"What is your name trooper?" asked Leinas to the guard who yet breathed, little more than a youth.
"E-Evaristus," said the man, voice sounding tight and strained. Cracking ever so slightly, betraying both his youth and fear.
"There is a taint of vampirism here Evaristus, the Empire requires your services. Are you prepared to serve?" asked Leinas.
"Y-yes, Ser Rockbruise," said Evaristus, nodding quickly.
"Good. Don your helm and prepare yourself," said Leinas as the was a click of the door being unlocked, preceded by a short struggle. A simply dull clang that could have been a careless guard letting his helm slip from loose fingers.
The doors opened to reveal the trio Leinas had picked, who had gone over the wall, Elwin holding one of his long knives to the throat of another guard while the first laid sprawled on the ground unmoving. The pair of workers, the Furt girl among them, stood at the ready and looking further into the courtyard for any other guards or alarm to be raised.
"Check all those we come across and gather them in the central courtyard," commanded Leinas to her constables, while her retinue rushed into the villa, disarming confused guards as Leinas herself made her way to the commandant's quarters. The men either unwilling, or too unsure about drawing arms against troops led by one of the Empire's Four Knights.
"Where is the Commandant?" asked Leinas to Evaristus.
"Mos-most likely in his quarters, we rarely see him now though. The orders we receive are through his second, Nox Ogygios. We've been told that the Commandant has been too busy as of late. Pressing matters to do with the mine," added Evaristus, speaking more easily the longer he conversed with Leinas. A tremor returning to his voice whenever Leinas fixed him with her piercing emerald gaze.
"Too busy to deal with a matter that requires my attention? While his second's name literally means primeval night? At least the creature has a sense of humour," opined Leinas.
With Elwin, Titus, Evaristus, and a pair of her constables flanking her, Leinas approached the central and most opulent structure of the villa, quickly breaching the entrance of the manor and heading straight to the master bedroom. A startled maid carrying a candle in a holder stuttered a greeting, as she was pulled to the side by Leinas' constables, before being forced out into the courtyard.
They followed the staircase to the second floor, A pair of guards in chainmail hauberks standing with their spears at the ready at the far end of the hall, outside the door to the master bedroom. Hunched behind their shields, ready to face Leinas and her cohort.
"Halt! No one," began one of the guards posted outside the commandant's door, trailing off at seeing the drops of blood still beading and falling off of the tip of Leinas' spear.
"I am Leinas Rockbruise, one of the Four Knights of the Empire and sent here at the behest of his Imperial Majesty Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nix. There is taint here and I aim to expunge it. The commandant shall make himself ready to myself immediately."
Leinas' voice was hard and tone sharp, years of command and noble upbringing honing it, allowing her to wield her voice as well as any other weapon in her arsenal. It was the tone of someone who demanded that they be obeyed immediately and without question, lest you suffer the consequences.
She spoke as she strode down the hallway, black adamantite armour seeming to make her nearly disappear between the shallow pools of light put out by candles set in holders along the wall. Hard, armoured boots echoing off of the wood as she devoured the distance between herself and the pair of spear wielding guards.
"H-he hasn't been feeling well Ser," began one of the guards, him and his fellow casting nervous glances at one another. "Captain Ogygios has given strict orders that only he's allowed to see the commandant ever since the healer Zimira slipped him poison."
"Then I am overriding the Captain," said Leinas plainly. "Now, drop your weapons and remove your helms. Do not question, do not resist, or else I will have no choice but to assume that you are involved in this conspiracy.
The guards both gave each other a quick look, silently deciding their next course of action, before bowing their heads in submission. Yet, Leinas felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck as she drew near, sensing danger. Seeing even in the dim light as their muscles tensed under their hauberks.
It was a sudden explosion of movement that seemed to happen in slow motion as both guards lashed out with their spears towards Leinas. Murder on their faces, yet at the same time seeming to lack the intensity of a man making the conscious decision to kill.
There was a whistling hiss that passed by Leinas' face as an arrow streaked by; black feathers on a shaft of wood lacquered a dark royal blue almost seeming like a trick of her eyes in the dim hallway. It fit itself perfectly between the eye-slits of the guards helmet, ending his life before he had finished his lunge.
The other, Leinas reacted as she had long trained and drilled herself to. A flick of her wrist sent her aggressor's spear off course and created an opening that she ruthlessly exploited to send the head of her spear into the gap between his helm and hauberk. A gurgling croak and strangled gasps escaped the man's lips and gaping hole in his throat as he struggled to breathe as Leinas followed through and drove him to the ground. Twisting her spear to sever the spine and cease the man's spasms. The light slowly leaving his eyes as Leinas examined her kill, finding healed scars on the man's neck, Elwin doing the same as he retrieved his arrow from the other.
"Th-they, I n-never thought," stammered Evaristus, staring in horror at the two now deceased thralls in front of him. Face paling and pallor taking on a sickly tint.
"Prepare yourselves, I imagine that the Commandant will be much the same," said Leinas, standing upright again, before lifting an armoured boot and kicking in the door to the commandant's bedroom. With a shower of splinters, it swung inwards and Leinas' constables rushed inside, weapons at the ready, Leinas, Titus, and Elwin following hot on their heels.
"I said no visitors," said a raspy voice from the darkened interior of the bedroom. Casting her gaze about the room, Leinas noticed that a coating of dust rested upon the gathered furniture, a pitcher of water stood upon a silver tray, but the goblet upon it was also covered in a thin film of dust. A great bed stood opposite them, the curtains drawn on the sides of it, hiding the occupant within.
"Commandant Psellus, I am Ser Rockbruise here on behalf of our Emperor Jircniv. You have vampiric corruption present that must be addressed, and yourself checked for it as well," added Leinas.
"I am ill, have Captain Ogygios deal with whatever concerns you have. I must rest," said the voice from within the four poster bed.
"You will stand to receive me Commandant, if you are ill we can help you stand, but you will stand," said Leinas, letting an edge enter her voice as her constables moved to the bed, while Elwin and Titus stayed by her side. "Your men have already assaulted me, and you will answer for it, one way or another."
There was silence for a time, before the man from within the curtains answered again.
"I said no visitors, I do not feel well. Leave me be."
"Commandant, this is not up for debate," said Leinas, confusion at the Commandant's actions making her furrow her golden brows. Did he truly think he could hide away like a child in his sheets and that Leinas would simply disappear back into the night after having two separate attempts made upon her life?
"Captain Ogygios will deal with any concerns you have, I must rest, please see yourself out."
Leinas nodded to her constables and together they ripped back the satin curtains, revealing the commandant sitting up in his sleeping clothes, resting against a stack of pillows with the covers drawn up to his ribcage.
His hair was thin and lank, scraggly almost and...the man looked half a corpse. Almost like he was being dried out like a piece of jerky. His nails were long and beginning to curl, and his eyes were sunken and vacant, without recognition that there were armed individuals beside him. His skin looked sallow and waxy, stretched too tight like a hide over a tanner's rack.
"I said no visitors, Ogygios will handle your concerns, said the Commandant, head not moving, nor eyes tracking Leinas as she moved, staring straight ahead instead.
"He's not breathing," said Titus simply, sabre at the ready in his hand. An edge in his voice ready to rival the edge of his blade.
Leinas realized that he was right, the commandant stood motionless, chest only rising when he went to next speak.
"I am ill, leave me be," said Psellus again, not looking at anyone or anything, not so much as shifting his position in bed.
Leinas was about to have her constables grab the commandant, but stopped as she saw something wriggling exit Psellus' nose. The glossy carapace of the insect revealing itself as it crawled out of his nose, before crawling down to his lip and disappearing inside his mouth. Revulsion surged through Leinas' body the same time as the realization. Commandant Psellus had been dead a long time already.
Extending the tip of her spear like a child using a stick to poke a dead body, Leinas pushed gently at the side of the Commandant's head. The waxy skin cracking and parting away like vellum, but no blood spilled forth. Instead, the entire head lost its prior unknown and precarious battle with balance, and nearly fell off entirely. The spine and a seam of skin and desiccated muscle all that held it in place. The ghastly wound to the neck having been done by a blade so fine that Leinas had not even know that it was present.
Involuntarily, Leinas leapt back, spear up and ready as several skittering insects emerged from inside the wound, crawling and falling over the bed and body.
"I...il...be," came the raggedy attempt to speak, the mouth working like a fish out of water and air wheezing from lungs that crackled like crumpling parchment.
"Burn this abomination, and bring me to the Healer Zimira," said Leinas, disgust heavy in her voice.
Xxx
She was a beauty, the filth covering her and rags she was dressed in could not hide it, Nor could the dark bags under her eyes detract from their allure. She was also dangerous, Leinas was sure of it. From the way that she watched her every move as Leinas entered the impromptu jail beneath the manor, to the way she reminded Leinas of a coiled serpent ready to strike.
"I take it you are not with the vampires then? No, you have too much will of your own. They don't appreciate that, they prefer domination. You'd think such long lives would breed mellowness, but alas it seems to only insecurity festers with those creatures of the night."
She had a prim and proper way of speaking, an accent from a foreign land, but she carried herself with dignity and respect.
"So you work for the creatures then?" demanded Leinas.
"Did I say that? I don't believe I did. If I do, they treat me most terribly then."
"I have no time for you being coy, or for games. There is a blight that needs excised and I need to move quickly. If you can help you are of use, if not, then you are simply another wound that needs cauterized."
"Cauterization is such a poor way to treat wounds," opined Zimira, eyeing the drying blood on Leinas' spear. "Though I can see that you don't much care either way. As to your question, I was contracted for my services, and offered a great sum to do so. I suppose I should have been more suspicious, but in my line of work, most of my clients are questionable to begin with."
"You were contracted to heal, then?" demanded Leinas, only to be hit with a harsh rebuke of laughter.
"Goodness no, I am no healer, though I can treat wounds if the need arises. That is not why I command the prices I do for my services. No, I offer more...illicit services."
"She uses dark magics," said Titus, the veteran turned cleric tightening his grip on his sabre and starting daggers of absolute hate at the dark-eyed beauty.
"I prefer the term ancient magics, but your summation is correct," said Zimira.
"So you were contracted to deal with Commandant Psellus then?" asked Leinas.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I was."
"Then you are a murderer," said Titus hotly. For the fist time, something like fury made its way across Zimira's features at the accusation.
"I am no such thing," she said indignantly. "The only lives I ever take are in the service of preserving my own. Your Commandant was already well and truly dead when I was introduced to him."
"So you made him into that puppet, thing we saw upstairs then?" asked Leinas.
"Yes. Not my best work, but I was adequately happy with it. To make a zombie able to speak, not hunger for flesh, and slow rot and putrefaction of flesh is no mean feat. A cadaver more fresh, more time to prepare, and more time to conduct my work would have seen a better end result of course, but as always one is never given perfect working conditions."
"You defile the dead and commit sacrilege upon their souls," spat Titus.
"Do I? My magics animate the corpse, the vessel is empty of the soul and I make no attempt to trap or enslave someone's vital essence. I work with rotting meat and bones, all divinity is long gone from the vessel when I happen upon it."
"Lying witch! Necromancy by its very nature uses the life essence of the deceased to power its vile sorcery. You torture the souls of those you force to serve you, allowing them no peace in the next life."
"Oh, I'm sorry, are you here to levy insults against me or to find out about the vampire trying to take over this mining town?"
"Titus, that is enough," said Leinas Curtly, and the old veteran huffed, but nodded in acquiescence, stepping away from the necromancer in the cage.
"Ah, a sensible young woman, I think we will get along much better," smiled Zimira.
"What is Nox Ogygios' real name?" asked Leinas and Zimira merely shrugged her shoulders.
"He introduced himself as Nox Ogygios, I called him Nox Ogygios. I don't pry in my line of work, so long as the money is good. It's healthier not to. I did tell him it was rather too on the nose, but he found it rather amusing. Childish sense of humour, but it was charming in its own way."
"Why did he need you then? Why not make the Commandant a thrall instead?"
"Look at you asking the pertinent questions. He tried, and failed much to his chagrin. Those with exceptionally strong wills can resist the red kiss and act against their new master, it is just...uncomfortable to do so. Commandant Psellus was one such individual, and he very nearly was able to sound the alarm about the whole situation, which is why," said Zimira trailing off and drawing a finger across her neck, before miming letting her head fall limply. "Which is also why my services were required. They needed to buy time since they broke their toy."
"Why are you in this cell then if you were contracted?" asked Leinas.
"Because Nox is a paranoid vampire, and didn't want to risk me running off or blabbing about the work I had done. Not that I would considering the proclivity of people to be rather judgmental of my line of work," added Zimira, casting a look at Titus who looked very much like he wanted to run her through with his sabre.
"Why not make you a thrall then?" asked Leinas.
"Because to do so would be...costly. Not to say that he doesn't very much so wish to do that. Which is also why I haven't been getting my beauty sleep. Unexpected company always seems to arrive whenever I close my eyes. Odd wouldn't you say?"
Images of red eyes and white fangs filled Leinas' minds eye and she had to work to suppress a shudder.
"Ah, you had visitors too then did you? I can surmise they weren't well-received," said Zimira, noticing Leinas' discomfort. She was perceptive, too much so for Leinas' liking, and far too glib. Either too familiar with the kind of situation she now found herself in, or else her personality itself was obnoxious and dismissive. She rather hoped it was the former, or sleep deprivation.
"Then why not kill you?" asked Leinas. "What benefit do they have to keep you alive?"
"Maintaining my work upstairs mostly, and the fact that Nox seems keen to keep me on retainer. Permanently. Well, that and if I am sure that I am going to meet my end, then Nox's little secret operation here won't be able to hide anymore."
"What exactly pray tell can you do that would give a vampire such pause?" demanded Leinas.
"That is a secret that I believe I will keep close to my chest, I hope you can understand."
"Very well, then what does Nox want here in this town? I can't imagine this is the most ideal place to start his coven. It's isolated, but not enough and too important to escape notice for long."
"Not going to press me for my secret? Threaten me perhaps?" asked Zimira, a smile tugging at the edges of her mouth.
"What purpose would it serve? You know the power I hold over you, that I could kill or torture you if I so chose. The implication is there, but the time is not. I need cooperation and answers more than I need to break you upon the wheel."
"You are smart, I knew I liked you," said Zimira, practically purring. "This sounds like you're willing to make a deal Ser Rockbruise. A deal I'm sure that one of the Four Knights has both the authority, and the integrity to make and hold true to. Would that be correct?"
"If you are expeditious in getting to your point and answering my questions, I could be so inclined," allowed Leinas.
"I suppose that's as good as I can expect. I want freedom. My freedom, body and soul intact, just in case there was any confusion," Zimira added, looking over at Titus. "None of this freedom from earthly troubles as my head tumbles from my shoulders."
"You want a pardon for necromancy, illegally practising sorcery, consorting with vampires, and tax evasion in addition to the plethora of others?"
"Tax evasion?" asked Zimira, before letting out a peal of laughter. "I suppose I had never considered that crime, but yes. All of the above and more. I want to leave this town a free woman, with no Imperial bounty upon my head, with a horse and supplies to sustain me. If you promise me this, I will tell you what I know of Nox's goals."
"Then we have an accord," said Leinas, seeing the fury on Titus' face out of the corner of her eye, but the old veteran having the discipline to hold his tongue when his superior was speaking. Leinas admired that trait. There was nothing so galling as having to follow orders that with all your being you wanted to ignore, or else degraded you. She would have to remember to thank him for his understanding after this. As a man of the cloth, every part of his being must be screaming at him to rebel.
"Good," said Zimira simply, crossing her legs as she adopted a more relaxed sitting position on her cot.
"So far as I have been able to ascertain, Nox is looking for something in the mine. Ore of some kind. Not the orichalcum that is mined here, but something else. I heard him muttering something about prismatic ores. Do you know anything of those?"
"No, I've never heard of them, even in passing," said Leinas truthfully.
"Neither have I, and I would like to imagine that I am something of a worldly traveller. He seemed utterly obsessed with finding a trace of these ores, digging deeper, losing miners to cave ins, and having any rock that didn't look like orichalcum brought to him. The part I find most interesting, is that even though Nox seems to be a powerful Vampire in his own right, he appears to be doing the bidding of another. If I read his agitation correctly, he is also on something of a timetable to find a sample of this prismatic ore. His master is not present though, if anything they sounded far away. He said a few names, but the one that stood out was Shalltear. No idea who that is, but he seemed absolutely terrified at failing them."
"How powerful is he?" pressed Leinas.
"If I had to guess? I'd have to say approaching the power of an elder vampire. He can walk in daylight if he needs to, though it drains him to do so, and his ability to control so many lesser vampires and their thralls supports my supposition."
"What is the disposition of his forces?" asked Leinas.
"If I had to hazard a guess, at least a dozen lesser vampires and their thralls with accompanying households. Maybe more."
"So at least ten lesser vampires still to deal with," said Leinas and Zimira smiled at her words.
"The Emperor's Cursed Knight showing herself worthy of her position, though I fail to see this curse. Metaphorical?"
"The curse was very real, and very recently lifted. Now tell me, where is Nox now?"
"If I had to guess, he's coming to kill you. He has the garrison with him, thralls or not, though mostly thralls. The ones who aren't he leaves on perimeter duty and they'll stay manning their posts away from the fighting. You've killed two of his gets, cut the strings to his puppet, and uncovered all of his nasty little secrets. He can't let you live, or rather, can't let you live with free will. He will do his best to turn you into a thrall, so you can at least have the advantage that he won't try to outright kill you from the start. If you can find that a blessing."
"He may find the task harder than he anticipates," said Leinas, iron in her voice. A dark smile graced the necromancer's face.
"You have yet to see the speed and power of an elder vampire, Ser Cursed Knight."
"Then you had best hope that we emerge victorious," said Leinas.
"Oh, you'll be in my prayers, but I believe that I will exit posthaste with that horse you promised. I aim to make this place a very distant memory, not for the company mind you, you've been nothing but pleasant."
"Oh, of course you'll be provided a horse and supplies, as befitting a free woman travelling through the Empire. Yet, as a free woman in the Empire, you also fall under its laws and authority. My authority, specifically the authority that allows me to conscript those within the Empire's borders to aid it in times of need. Congratulations on your newfound freedom, now prepare yourself for battle," said Leinas, unlocking the cell of the necromancer.
"I may have spoken too soon when I said your company was pleasant," said Zimira pouting.
"So long as you stay in my company, I am satisfied," answered Leinas simply.
"It is marginally better than that of a vampire, so I suppose I should feel flattered!" called Zimira after Leinas. Titus and Elwin following her out as the constables saw to freeing the Necromancer.
"Our odds aren't good," said Elwin quietly.
"No, no they're not," agreed Leinas. The thought crossing her mind to flee, take the fastest horse they had and try to get away, but the time for that had long passed when they had made for the Psellus' manse instead of the open countryside. They were committed now, but she wondered if her decisions had just seen to condemn them to death.
"I would say our best chance would be inside the Villa, but they could just burn us out," added Titus. "Our next best chance is to hold the courtyard and try to funnel them when they breach the gate. The wall isn't overly high, but it's enough to make it inconvenient for them when they try to scale and jump down. They won't be in formation, not that they're proper members of the Legion. The vampires are another story, however. If they can fly, or hover as the others could, then we'll have to defend from above as well."
"We have good fighters, but most aren't drilled, nor trained to fight vampires properly. I was never trained to fight vampires," added Elwin.
"You did well enough," said Leinas.
"That was fear and savagery carrying the day, not any understanding of how to kill something already dead," rebutted Elwin, and Leinas realized that the elf really didn't think they had a chance of living out the night.
"Then our goal is to survive till dawn and flee when they retreat from the morning light."
"How much time do you think we have?" asked Titus.
"Not enough," said Leinas, looking down the sloping hill from the villa, seeing a procession of torches approaching. The glint of hauberks and spearheads illuminated by the torchlight.