https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/399272323194702504/

Note to Readers: Lol, someone could have told me about the missing horses.

Greatsword burning with heat underneath his fingertips, Gregor did not much like the idea of being trapped here of all places. But that did not matter to him so much as to why the vampires would openly recruit mercenary companies if they were only going to turn them into mindless kindred? Monsters bent upon flesh and blood. It seemed such a waste of talented sellswords, but he supposed that was one way to keep costs down if they were building themselves an army. And judging by what he had seen out in the countryside, there must be hundreds of them out there, openly recruiting. He’d seen that with the orc in the abandoned village. And if the kindred continued to spread their disease, there’d be a whole new war to fight. One in which Gregor would be forced yet again to kill for survival. It was bad enough he was a stoneless mercenary that barely had two gold pieces to rub together, but a world shattered by war, would bring the kind of bloodshed he could only imagine occurred in his nightmares.

Mind churning at such a thought, he saw Gauldryon suddenly turn and stare out the window, his face pale and sickly as he whispered, “the Lightbearer would never allow such a thing to happen. He would never abandon us. Not to this.”

But Gregor having just had about enough of this cowardly mudsap’s whining. Wanted to yell, Were they heroes or were they not? If all it took to discourage them was a little bit of bad news, he was surprised that they had lasted this long. The world was full of evil, and either you fought it head on, or you let yourself be crushed by it. It was something his father had taught him long ago, and one of the reasons he was still alive. Or at least it had been before he had found a new purpose.

His body literally quivering with rage, he grabbed hold of Gauldryon by the arms, swung him around, and brought the man face to face with him as he growled, “Where’s your stones, boy? I thought fighting evil is what you lived for?! Where is your hunger for battle?!”

Too stunned to speak with his mouth gaping open, Gauldryon stared at Gregor in shocked silence, before Daria broke in, her expression livid with rage as she thrust Gregor back away from him. “How dare you accuse my lord of cowardice?!--” Her prepared harangue, cut short as Gauldryon held up an fist to stop her. “He is right.”

His head downcast, the young paladin looked over to Pelwar, Tileya, and Glindol, who stood there waiting, their expressions grim with tension as he asked, “what say you?”

Hand brushing through what was left of his gray hair, Pelwar let out a heavy sigh, his rugged features suddenly tired. “Whatever you decide, my lord, we are with you.” Glindol, and Tileya nodding their heads in approval as Gaudlryon finally turned back to him. “And I suppose you have another plan?”

Mouth widened into a broad grin, Gregor nodded his head. “Well as matter of fact I do. We go out there and kill anything that gets in our way.” And to his surprise, Gauldryon let out a light chuckle, before he smiled back at him, his handsome face glowing with renewed energy. “Very well then, gather what you can. We leave in one hourglass.”

The room suddenly filled with excitement and pent up tension, Gregor was relieved to see the fight return to these fools, perhaps they were worth saving after all, when a woman’s husky voice seemingly spoke to them from out of nowhere. “Now that, I can help you with.” The gorgeous female vampire that stepped out from the wall opposite them, dressed in fine opalescent green silks that hugged her impressive curves, had a low cut bodice line, and around her neck and arms, intricate golden jewels that wrapped around her. She was, in a word, breathtaking, with long flame coloured hair, golden eyes, and moist red lips that looked ready for kissing.

If not for the fact that he had just learned kindred and vampires were out to kill them, he would have just stood there, drinking in the mere sight of her, before he realized the danger he was in, and drew out his greatsword in a flash. The rest of the party, almost as shocked as he was, quickly doing the same, when Furgas, his eyes wide with terror, cried out, “hold! She’s on our side. This is Lady Drusel, our benefactor and protector.”

Not sure what to make of her sudden appearance here, Gregor would still have liked to keep his greatsword handy in case of trouble, but as was usual, the fool lordling, immediately sheathed his blade. “Put up your swords. Can you not see we are in the presence of a lady?” He then lowered himself in a bow. “I thank you dear lady for your aid. I hear it is you, we have to be thankful for our lives.”

Almost wincing at the way he kept staring into her eyes, Gregor heard the woman release a throaty chuckle, and hold up a slim hand to her mouth as she smiled at him. “My aren’t you a deliciously gallant knight. I am so pleased that I was able to help in some small way. It is truly unfortunate what is happening in our beloved city.”

“Then why not do something about it?” snapped Daria with an annoyed look at Gauldryon who returned the feeling with a dark scowl, before he snipped back, “I’m sure the lady is doing all she can, Daria.”

But if that was meant to appease the large barbarian woman, all it did was anger her as she folded up her arms across her chest, and sniffed her nose at him. Whereas Gauldryon, splaying an apologetic smile on his lips, glared at her in irritation. “I must apologize for my companion’s lack of manners, we have been too long on the road, and have not had proper company for some time.”

Her hand waved dismissively up in the air, Lady Drusel shrugged his apology aside, her yellow eyes growing concerned. “There is no need, my dear. She is of course quite correct to be angry with me. My people should indeed be doing more to put an end to these awful atrocities. But unfortunately for us, there are few too willing with the resolve to stand up and fight the High Circle, and their cronies, the True Believers. Fools who believe that if we do not ally ourselves with the underworld will result in us being doomed as well. Prophetical nonsense that has been passed down from generation to generation. It also has not helped our cause that the demavali are in their pocket, and each night the kindred are let loose in the city to hunt down heretics and the unblooded. But enough my sweets, you must be off if you are to arrive safely. I’ll ensure my servants prepare you with proper supplies for your swift journey.”

And with a flick of her wrist, she summoned two pretty human females that materialized right beside her, each one dressed in simple white robes who bowed their heads low to Drusel. “Liseal, Felsa, would you two be so kind as to fetch our guests some equipment and supplies for the road.”

Heads bobbing in unison, the pair of girls quickly scurried off down the hallway, while Gregor stared around him in amazement, wondering how many more vampires were watching them? When Gauldryon, his eyes still glued to Drusel, slammed a fist into his chest. “I must thank you for your generosity, lady, if there is anything that I can ever do for you. I swear on the light that I will do it for you.”

Which again caused Daria to sniff her nose at him,, while Gregor tried to hold back a laugh at the fool's clumsy attempts at gallantry. But if anything, his words brought an even wider smile to Drusel, who tilted her neck to the side, before she replied softly, “Well, there is one thing that you can do for me, Sir Knight. I wish you to deliver a message to a dear friend of mine. He currently resides at Dragon’s Perch, and I so long to see his face again. Tell him this from me, will you?”

Stunned, confused, and if not a little envious judging by the twitches in the young knight’s left eye, Gregor could feel Gauldryon’s jealousy like a fiery hot beacon, his golden skin flushed a deep red, before the knight bowed his head again. “As you wish my lady.”

However, by then, the lady’s attention had turned back to her serving maids who had returned and had begun handing out supplies from their knapsacks. Food packed into tight bundles, potions that sparkled with magical energy, and most surprising of all spell scrolls. Tools invented by the mages to aid warriors in battle. It was also one of the few gifts that only worked for those without any magic, and would usually cost a fortune in gold to both buy.

Hands gingerly cradling the precious bundle in his arms, he looked down at the three pieces of parchment marked out with runes in black ink, and couldn’t believe his luck. If he sold these three, he could probably live a life of luxury, but then his thoughts turned to the struggle ahead of him, and decided then that he should probably read them first.

Unfurling each one of them, he recognized the sinuous black runes drawn onto the brown pieces of parchment. There was the symbol for strength two ‘C’s linked together, the symbol for agility, an ‘A’ with a slash across the top, and the symbol for light, with a ‘T’ on it’s side. And to Gregor’s stunned amazement these were just any old scrolls, but the rarest kind. Ones that could imbue the user with incredible abilities for a short amount of time. And in that long drawn out silence as everyone else in the room realized the gravity of their gift, Daria looked both sheepish and embarrassed as she mumbled, “thank you, lady.” Which fortunately enough for Drusel, she did not take for granted.

Her perfect lips curved into a smile, Lady Drusel nodded her head. “It is the least I can do for you. Farewell, and do not forget my message, Sir Knight.” She then whispered a word, and just like that, they were out in the middle of cold, wet streets, snow melting off of rooftops as howls filled the night sky. The white star that shone high above them highlighting shadowed alleyways all around them as Gregor took in a deep breath, looked back at Gauldryon’s disappointed face, and began to move off. They didn’t have much time.

With the elf quickly taking the lead, they wound their way back towards the city gates where Gregor assumed the horses would be stabled for the day, when he heard the first screams echo from the walls all around them, their chilling cries sending a jolt down his spine as they rounded a bend, and heard movement up ahead of them. Tileya’s graceful progress slowed to a crouch as the elf waved at them to go back the way they had come.

Not waiting on her to return to them, they quickly retraced their steps, when the elf flew past them again, going up another side street as she urged them to hurry.

With Lost Flame in hand, he jogged side by side with Daria, while Pelwar watched their rear. Gauldryon, more vulnerable than he had ever been, crouched down in between them as they continued to meander their way in between buildings. Till, finally with a few more turns they reached the now abandoned stables where Biter whickered nervously. The howls, now joined by screams, and shouts as voices lifted up into the air. Tonight it seems would be a night of blood, and Gregor couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement as his blood began to boil. It had been so long since he had felt the proper battle. Still, he thought it would be best if they tried to avoid most of the fighting.