Remus strained against his bindings. His face held the unnatural expression of hunger and beastal savagry. We were alone save for the criminal who I had kneeling before me also bound. Blood was dripping from his hands and face. Some distance away was the encampment of the failed expedition I had brought up into the wilds of mountains.
“My Lady please forgive me. I was young, foolish, please!”
I produced a key and freed Remus from his shackles. He eagerly rushed past me for the man and with a flash of fangs bit into his neck. I turned away from the feeding and glanced towards the mountains we had retreated from. Dark ominous clouds were gathering like a storm sooned to be unleashed. I shivered despite not feeling the cold.
When Remus finished he stood. I turned to see him staring down at his hands now covered in blood, the criminal lying dead at his feet.
“Remus,” I whispered.
His head turned towards me, his face lacking his characteristic smile of sweet innocents.
“Does the thirst ever go away?”
“No,” I answered simply.
There was a simple nod, “Such unbridled savagery, is the price we pay for all our strength and power.”
He looked down at the man he killed.
“I shudder to imagine how much blood you have on your hands. Have you ever killed by accident?”
Unwanted the thought of Sylvia the barmaid and Ashton the reckless youth came to mind.
“So long as you feed regularly and limit the use of your powers as they develop you can maintain yourself. I further recommend avoiding the hollowed relics and site consecrated to her.”
“Who?”
I pointed upwards.
“The Go-.”
Remus flinched as if something slapped him.
“Even the word burns,” he muttered as he frowned, “I wonder what that means for our kind.”
“It was general knowledge that the Dark Lord was afflicted by icons of her’s”
Remus shrugged in answer, “I alway attributed those rumours as church propaganda.”
He frowned, “Brutus is going to be a bit envious.”
“It doesn’t matter to me,” I replied with indifference.
“I still worry about how he and the rest of my family might react.”
“We will find out soon enough,” I waved a hand towards the encampment, “They are waiting for us to depart. The Castilio estate is within the hour’s ride.”
With an acknowledging nod, he joined me as we headed back to my awaiting forces of armsmen and riders. We were greeted with a stiff salute before our horses were retrieved. As I mounted up I glanced over the gathered men. All appeared to be worn and tired. I idly wondered if I should say something. Remus seemed to possibly guess my thoughts as he reared his horse about.
“Men, I ask that you do not despair!”
I watched as he looked over the gathered crowd, “We are not returning in defeat! Our Lady has fought valiantly to defend us when the Dark Lord returned. She has grown stronger from the battle! We have grown stronger!”
Remus unsheathed and raised his sword, “We will not lie down, we will not surrender to that tyrant! We will prevail! We will rise to defend our Lady and our homes and our families!”
More swords were drawn and raised in response to Remus’s words though I noticed not all joined. Some of the men were roused at least. Remus returned his sword and ordered the expedition forward.
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A horn announced our imminent arrival at the gates to the estate and as we drew closer the wooden portcullis was raised. Brutus stood amidst the courtyard organizing the servants and remaining armsmen of his family.
“I have ill news,” he reported as I dismounted alongside Remus, and Timothy.
“Worse than the news of the Dark Lord’s return?” I asked offhandedly.
“The Holy Knights have stormed the castle in our absence. Several of the servants were put to the sword including Eileen.”
I tightened my grip on the reins of my horse, when I spoke I could barely hold back the sound of rage that was starting to swell within me.
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“Are you sure?”
“The heads of all those who ‘serve and worship darkness’ are displayed above the gate.”
“Sickening,” commented Timothy from next to me, “I would request that they all hang for their ignorant foolishness.”
“I agree,” replied Brutus, “more importantly we need to retake the castle. It's the only fortified structure in the valley that could withstand large scale assaults and I shudder to imagine how we can defeat the Dark Lord should he gain hold of it once more.”
“At the very least it would be foolish not to deny him access to any and all relics he has stashed away there,” offered Timothy.
“However it would be the same as declaring war against the church,” suggested Remus.
“Not even mentioning what will happen if the Dark Lord’s forces caught us in the open as we attempt to siege the castle,” commented Brutus, “The road to the castle provides little for maneuvering in the field due to the terrain, we will need to take the castle fast and hard.”
“I might have something to help with that,” said Timothy, he glanced at me, “I was near a breakthrough on uncovering an enchantment the Dark Lord had used in times past. One that added to the defence of the castle.”
“And what is this enchantment?”
“The details are obscure but I know it granted power over the very battlements of the castle including the gatehouse.”
“Perhaps we should maintain this conversation behind closed doors,” suggested Brutus. I nodded my agreement as we turned towards the manor.
“Where is mother?” inquired Remus.
“I sent her and most of the family away,” said Brutus, “for their safety I felt it wise for them to be out of the valley. I would have sent them to the castle if it wasn’t occupied by hostile forces.”
As we walked my thoughts turned themselves over in my head as I considered the implications of losing the castle. Internally I felt I was still seething in frustration and anger. I should have expected something like this but I had hoped my former relationship with my past companions would have meant something to them. Wildaburn and Clarice seemed to have been inclined to supporting me but now I wonder if perhaps I had been endeavoring to fool myself into a belief that things might have been able to return to normal after we were reunited and we managed to remove the last of the Dark Lord’s followers.
“We will take a few days to allow the men to recover before we march onto the castle,” I state firmly. As we sat down in a quiet room away from prying eyes.
“I am glad we are in agreement,” said Brutus, “We will have to work hard to ensure we can maintain morale for the men.”
“Our cause is a noble one and though brash our Lady is worth fighting for,” answered Remus.
“I, for myself, have more concern for the Dark Lord than who will sit on his throne,” Timothy asserted.
“I don’t care for the throne either,” I muttered quietly, and more firmly I added, “However I will use whatever means necessary to ensure the Dark Lord’s defeat, if it means ruling to raise an army to fight against his then so be it.”
“Timothy, you mentioned an enchantment?,” asked Brutus.
“Yes, an artifact hidden within the castle that controls certain aspects of the structure. In one of the Dark Lord’s journals he mentioned its development but never gave it much detail,” he grinned menically, “I wish I understood more about it, reading his works has proven to be a treasure trove of information. If I had mentored under him instead of my former master I could slavate at the thought of how much more powerful I could have become.”
“And I would personally see you dead,” I said flatly as I gave Timothy a cold iron stare. He wilt slightly under my gaze.
“Naturally I would use my power and knowledge to defeat him once I learned everything I could,” Timothy defended himself. There was a collective snort from Brutus and Remus, and I shook my head.
“Do we know where we could locate the artifact?”
“I believe it to be hidden in the treasury,” lamented Timothy, “Which has thus far never been uncovered.”
“If it even exists,” said Brutus with a sigh.
“Which does us no good if we can't find it,” I said, “However if we did find it, could we use it?”
I asked the question while looking at Timothy. He smiled confidently.
“The Dark Lord implied that one can control it through a binding ritual. The requirements for the binding are stringent but thankfully my Lady meets the threshold,” he turned to face me, “the Dark Lord made it so that only creatures of his kind can utilize the artifact and through that the enchantment.”
“That still leaves us with trying to uncover the supposed treasury and hoping the artifact is even there,” Brutus pointed out.
“Was there ever anything mentioned in journals and histories of where we could find it?” asked Remus.
Timothy shrugged, “possibly behind the fireplace in the study.”
“Behind the fireplace?” I asked incredulously, finding it difficult to imagine anything hidden there.
With a nodded and an exaggerated gesture of his hand Timothy explained, “A hidden room was uncovered shortly before I disembarked to aid you here. If I wasn’t busy preparing leave I would have offered my assistance in its excavation.”
“Do you atleast have an idea of how we can access the room?”
The grin dropped from Timothy’s face.
“That a no.”
“Again I was preparing to leave at the request of my Lady!”
“You said the fireplace? Correct?”
“Yes,” affirmed Timothy.
“Then perhaps I can gain a moment to access the room and check,” I stated.
“Which would require storming the castle,” Brutus affirmed.
“No, that will not be necessary. I have obtained a means to enter the castle discreetly.”
“A secret passage?”
I stood, “again no. We will discuss the details later. Brutus I need you to oversee preparation for departure and draw up plans to ensure we can take the castle. Hopefully we will not have to lay siege but work that into the plans. Timothy, as futile as it might prove to be, I require you to uncover more about the artifact, the enchantment and the possible existence of the treasury. Consider possible alternative locations of its location if need be. Do you have a description of the artifact in question?”
“Naturally I just need to recheck my notes.”
“Brutus, I require substance, do you have anyone imprisoned who is condemned to death?”
“Naturally, I secured substance for you My Lady.”
“I might join you,” said Remus, “if you will allow it.”
“I was going to insist.”
Brutus eyed the two of us with a brief look of concern before I left. When the door was shut behind us I turned to Remus.
“Do you plan on telling Brutus soon?”
“I don’t know. Right now I feel the ack of thirst.”