Magus was sitting on a fallen tree facing the carriage in front. A book called ‘Racial compendium of Teranmea vol. VI’ was in his hands. A few other books were stacked on a cloth to the left of him, many of which were encyclopedias like the one he was reading at the moment, though some were simple fairy tales or dictionaries; incidentally he already read the volume IV and V of the racial compendium.

“Succubus…succubus…” He flipped page after page until reaching the end without finding any information on this self-proclaimed demoness. Disappointment sullied his mood, not because he didn’t find what he wanted, but because he wasn’t allowed to witness her dine. He long wished to see cannibalism take place…

Placing the thick leather book down he picked up another. This time a way thinner one called ‘Eating habits of Saunier Kingdom’. Many of the words he didn’t quite get, like ‘serving the table’, even with the help of a dictionary.

What does that even mean? Why would anyone serve a table…?

Taking note of this bizarre, even for an undead, slave race, he continued reading. Time slowly passed as a golden watch ticked loosely on his wrist, signaling that the woman was already two-hours-in her supper. It was probably the only useful invention of humanity as the undead didn’t have a sense of time at all.

He raised his head, finally finished with his reading, and looked at the dark carriage. The windows of it were misty, hiding anything inside, and no sound came through. It alarmed the undead for a few moments before it realized that the living presences weren’t gone and still going strong. Though one did seem on the verge of exhaustion. The sun was setting and it was tired of waiting, the man lived long enough.

Open the carriage. It ordered mentally to the nearby zombie guard who obeyed. The door wasn’t locked and the…queer, for the lack of better word, sight of her ‘eating’ was exposed.

“So… that’s your… preference? But not this?” Magus said pointing at the carcass of a dissected canine.

The woman, who’s beautiful body was back to its natural plumpness, raised her head at the sudden lack of privacy and breezy wind. Under her messy hair a provocative smile lingered, one undead could not comprehend. She sighed at the usual boldness of her captor, having momentarily forgotten he was not one of the living, and tried her best to cover up her exposed body.

“We, succubi, feed on life force, not…” She went pale at the sudden memory of the past week’s menu.

“But you are human. I checked. These ‘succubi’ do not exist,” he responded, not caring what she had to say. She looked at him and the book he was showing.

“Naturally you wouldn’t find that in human literature…” With trembling knees, she stood up, no longer covering herself as the masked man obviously didn’t have any interest in it, and reached for her coat. “This is proof of what I am.” She added, finally remembering her meal, or whatever’s left of it.

There, on the cold wooden floor, lied Henry, who’s state was nothing but miserable, even to the eyes of the undead creature. His limbs bent in weird directions, while bone itself shattered to thousand pieces, the man was unable to die. The dried up, wrinkly skin was slowly withering along his even greyer hair, turning pale and peeling with every squirm he made. Eyes full of madness looked at the roof above, as if watching, looking for something, while his pupils constantly expanded and contracted, just like the trembling of his ruined manhood. Across all his body, blood slowly trickled along the ridges of nail marks that marked him for life as the victim of the vile creature.

“Proof or not, he’s still alive,” he gestured towards the movement of the man’s chest. “why not end him? He looks like a lich now…”

Finally dressed up, the woman gently exited the carriage, and shivered in response to the falling temperature. Night was coming.

“I’m not into that.” She said with that smile of hers.

“So you were picky after all.” He said matter-of-factly and snapped his fingers, to which the undead listened and began moving.

***

Meanwhile, near the eastern border of Saunier, a land called Troena, an army was gathering at the castle Troe. It, being built half a century ago, still remained the biggest fortification in the kingdom’s history and an important gathering ground for the war to come. At the moment seven divisions stayed here, while three more were on their way.

“Just like that. Keep your stance at all time!” Ulrich encouraged his men. Unlike other lords who held up in the castle and enjoyed banquets all the time, he preferred the life of a warrior and spent most of his time with the soldiers. Especially now, when his personal guard was fresh off the training ground of the Academy, where sons of nobles learned, he had his work cut out for him. “You’ve only got till’ spring, keep it up! You don’t want to end up in a belly of a beast, do ya?”

He himself did not train, as his age got to him recently, but the master-work plate of armor still covered his body. It was the heirloom of Flamberge family, the same set his ancestor wore in the Battle of Many Names.

“Sire, I have returned.” A voice spoke to him, to which he immediately smiled and turned eagerly.

“Nik! Good to see you, my friend!” He hugged the man as a bear would its prey. It was this simple difference in height that earned them the nickname of ‘Bear and Fox’.

“Good to see you too… Sire.”

“Stop that,” he scowled. “Just call me by name. It’s easier that way.”

“Fine, Ulrich.” Just like that Nik’s face changed from uninterested to cheerful. The old Duke was used to the sight and showed even more of his golden teeth in response. “I’m back from Cortona. It would seem that they caught wind of what’s coming and began to raise their levies.”

Ulrich was unfazed by the news. “Nothing can be done about it, they had to notice eventually. Though I am surprised it took them this long.” He looked at the way younger man than himself. “I figure you had done something.”

“Sadly not. For some reason they expected me and I had to work from the shadows…” He scratched his head and smiled. “We’re lucky someone else did the job for us.”

“Roland Rossou…” Ulrich frowned at his own words, doubling the wrinkles on his face. “Is the Empire making its move?”

“I’m not sure what they’re doing. I thought they’d go for Luca, but it seems he might be greedier than we thought.” Nik paused momentarily, returning to his usual face. “Either way, this time it wasn’t them who caused this, well, excluding the whole court thing.” He sighed at the memory of hiding for months inside the slums along the beggars and plague carriers. “A dragon awoke in the Red Mountain, a big one as well. To my sources the Grand Duke Augustus of Cortona hired a thousand or so adventurers to solve the problem.”

“What?! A thousand?!” Adventurers were known for two things. One: their skill. And two: the price they asked for. A dragon hunt was as expensive as it got.

“They are professionals after all. If I was them I’d ask even more…” A castle wouldn’t even be enough to risk one’s life against a beast of that caliber. “This was partly the reason they failed to respond. The Dukedom is just too poor, on the verge of collapse in fact, much like Augustus himself.” He smiled awkwardly. “It’s only a rumor, but I’ve heard his health deteriorated… might not even last till’ summer.”

“Damn…” Ulrich turned, hurrying towards the castle, Nik followed him closely.

“What will you do?” He asked.

“Gotta send a letter to His Majesty,” he grumbled. “We’ve no time.”

Nik nodded his head, seemingly understanding everything. “If they split no-”

“Our claim will be void,” Ulrich cut him off. “And Empire takes all…”