“A carriage has shown up outside the wall?” I questioned the sentry.

The young man was in his late teens, probably one of the village peasents that joined up with the castle guard. He looked green and far to young to have experienced war. He would soon learn of its horrors, I was sure about that.

“Yes my lady, it was driven by a young girl who handed in this scroll.” The sentry presented a wax sealed scroll, the seal was immediately recognised as my own.

I knew the contents before I broke the seal. It was a letter of admittance to one Emily and her father Johan into Wildholds School of Wizardry. I didn’t want to call my fledgling school after myself or my family. So I decided to name it after my castle.

The name Wildhold was rumoured to be given by my late father, to hold his wild child as I was known. In truth it was actually named for the fact we were on the border of the forest of Nar Woodar.

“I thought I had sent out enough letters warning my future students to stay away from the battlefield.” I stated more to myself then to the sentry.

“Bring them in, they likely didn’t receive my letter and are now stuck here. Have them taken to there rooms, there carriage and horses stabled.” I ordered and just as I was about to leave, the young man signalled there was more.

“Yes sentry?”

“She claims her father was attacked by a vampire and that same vampire helped them get here. I am not sure what she was talking about, but her father has wounds consistent with a vampire attack.’ The sentry quickly explained.

“By the Abyss, the bastards are attacking the roads already.” I cursed. “Get him into a healer, take him to Senior Gerald, he is familiar with spells to treat ghoulism. But keep your sword ready if he turns.” I added; commanding the young sentry.

He blanched in horror, the idea of a ghoul being inside the castle walls. He bowed and soon left to fullfil my orders. Making two steps before I delivered another order.

“Have the daughter sent to my office, I wish to speak to her.” I commanded, raising my voice so he could hear me.

This was not want I wanted, having my conflict with my brother effect my future students. Building a school of Wizardry had always been my dream and I had sent out letters of invitation to several prospective students noble and peasent alike. Talent for Wizardry had always been rather diverse when it came to social status. But I ended up with a modest roster of farmers and fourth born minor nobles that would inherit nothing.

I shook my head at the ill timing of my brothers vendetta. Standing in the castles courtyard, observing the bustle of men at arms, castle workers and zombies, all working towards the defence.

I sighed, recalling my current meagre roster of potential of wizards. Three new students that came early last uropian month, barely trained in the basics. Two seniors I managed to wrangle from Towmond. Senior Gerald a Thaumaturge and Senior Wilhelm a Sorcerer. And let’s include the Necromancer Belus, for as long as that shifty death monger stays loyal.

I thought upon what my demon said. “Actually if my bound demon is to believed, he is a rather skilled wizard himself. With Emily we may have a school yet.” I laughed at the absurdity of it all.

A school of Wizardry composed of four ill trained peasents, two competent seniors, a crazy necromancer, a third order demon pyromancer and little old me to teach them.

Life was getting more absurd by the day. And soon it will be getting bloody, as this was a sign a siege was imminent. Scouts report the army is camped not to far and is waiting for the night, probably tomorrow night. With there attacks on caravans they likely have blocked off all roads. We are trapped, but we are not without our advantages. I looked to my binding link, cast off towards the Abyss and my third order demon.

I sighed, turning to the inner castle and made my way to my office. Passing through corridors of bustling servants and Castle guards. I found the forever serious Sir Felmun with his deputies, planning the castles defence. Belus was there as well, seated off to the side, possibly sleeping, might be dead.

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They had appropriated my office for there war planning. I didn’t mind, since I had no clue how to plan a war.

As I entered Sir Felmun and his people bowed respectfully, even Belus gave a curt nod of a respect. So he wasn’t dead, good, I don’t have time to deal with a lich right now.

“A carriage has arrived, the occupants are a father and daughter duo. The daughter is a prospective student that didn’t get my warning to stay away.” I explained as I entered and collapsed on my vacant chair. Damn this thing was comfortable.

“A student?” Felmun said phrased like a question.

“Yes she is.” I cut off my words as I dug through my desk for the appropriate papers. Withdrawing a ledger, the room waited patiently as I located the girls name. “Emily of Southmond, where ever that is, probably south somewhere. She is a Thaumaturge, excellent we need more healers in the days to come.” I added as an after thought.

“It was lucky that the enemy hadn’t got to them before they arrived.” One of Felmuns deputies said, I think his name was Gregor.

“Unfortunately they did, but oddly they let them go.” I said, shocking the entire room.

“Let them go?” Felmun wondered.

“We shall see what the girl says, then we can discuss it. She should be attending my study momentarily.” I reassured.

It wasn’t long before she arrived, a servant guided her in and the young girl was seated opposite the desk. I ordered out most of the occupants as to not overwhelm the child, leaving only Sir Felmun and Belus. I would have preferred the necromancer to vacate to, but his expertise was needed.

“Greetings Emily, I am Mistress Ephemia of the Wildholds School of Wizardry. This is Sir Felmun my personal retainer and this is Belus an associate.” I decided not to introduce him as a necromancer, likely she did see the zombies but still best not to identify their creator.

“Greetings mistress, I am glad to be here.” She muttered quietly, clearly she had been through an ordeal. Yet she was a lot calmer then I would have expected.

“Please be at ease, we just have a few questions about your ordeal. And before you ask, your father will be fine, we have our top healer tending to him.” That seemed to raise her spirits and she smiled. It was quite cute and I smiled in return, genuinely.

“You mentioned to the sentries that your carriage was attacked by vampires?” I queried, getting to the meat of the situation.

She nodded. “Only one vampire, the rest were zombies I think. They stopped our carriage and took me and father. The vampire attacked father, but stopped when I asked him to.” The girl explained and I frowned.

“The vampire stopped his feeding?” Belus chimed in, his curiosity likely peaked.

“Yes, Erik said he was sorry and tried to help father get better. Then he helped us get aboard and took us close to the mistress castle.” She replied to Belus.

“Erik?” Sir Felmun queried.

“That’s what he said his name was.”

“That is very odd, why would he tell you his name?” I said rhetorically.

What followed was several more questions from each of us. It revealed very little, the encounter she had with this Erik was very brief. Probably because fierd was rising and the vampire needed to go to ground or risk ashes.

The interview took only an hour and the girl was sent to her quarters to sleep. Meanwhile the three of us sat in silence. Each digesting the situation and trying to come up with an answer to explain things.

“Anyone got an answer?” I queried the two.

“Perhaps it is a ruse or a trap. Maybe the girl is under a spell?” Felmun suggested.

“She wasn’t, I checked during our session.” I cast a few spells in secret and examined her with wizards sight. If she was under a spell it would have to be something beyond my skills.

“Do you have an answer Belus? You are the resident expert on the undead.” I asked the necromancer.

He sait quietly for a moment, either sleeping with his eyes open or pondering his answer. Eventually he spoke after a full minute. “It’s possible this Erik is a fledgling, new to vampirism.” He suggested.

“What makes you say that?” Felmun asked.

“From what the girl said, this vampire seems to lack control, likely newly turned. And it has been documented that vampires newly turned still have a shred of there former humanity. They tend to have difficulty with the thought of drinking blood. It’s possible this Erik had a similar reaction and acted out of remorse for his actions.” The necromancer explained, it was an explanation that did fit the narrative.

“That seems odd, why would they send such a new vampire?” I asked Belus.

“It is probably because Drelem the cursed leech is hard up for volunteers. He likely needs to fill his ranks quickly ever since I destroyed his former sycophants with a cloud of disintegration.” Belus explained as if it was an after thought.

“You did what?” I questioned, shocked at his admittance.

“You know we are rivals, enemies if you will. The fool tried to turn me when I refused his offer, tried to make me his lackey. So I destroyed much of his bloodsuckers before escaping. Then I joined up with you after I learned he was working with your brother.” The necromancer explained something he really should have told me days ago.

“So he is recruiting new vampires for the army. That is actually good news, we will have less experienced vampires crawling up the walls.” I smiled as I discovered a potential advantage in the upcoming battle.

Belus nodded and then shrugged when our combined glares descended upon him.

“Can we use this Erik perhaps?” Felmun questioned Belus

“It is possible, if he is new he will likely not be as loyal as the others. Depending on the corcumstance of his turning. But since Drelem is not known for his patience. It is likely he grabbed some poor fool from a war tent and forcibly recruited the poor lad.”

His words sank in and we soon fell into discussion about the enemy and the upcoming siege.