Following Old Badger’s and Little Ant’s example, Cassio was able to sneak out of his own lands.

It was humiliating.

Infuriating.

He was a lord but now he was forced to flee from his own home like a thief in the night.

Pietro Capello…

Of all the enemies he had faced during his adventures, he had never hated anyone the way he hated Pietro. The bastard had infected his mind and home. He had threatened the people serving him, people who were under his protection and Cassio wondered if any of them would ever again feel safe in his mansion.

Sal, we’re going to make the bastard pay, Cassio thought.

Once they were off his ghoul infested lands, they could all breathe a bit easier. Cassio had one last look at his mansion and winced thinking of the people he was leaving behind. If this came out… That he had abandoned his household to runaway himself… would anyone call him Lionheart ever again?

“Don’t be hasty.” Old Badger said.

Cassio looked at the old goblin who was being led by Little Ant. In the dark her eyes failed her, and she was completely blind.

“What?” Cassio said.

“Running headfirst into danger is not bravery but recklessness. Wisdom… is the better part of valor.” Old Badger said and smiled at him over her shoulder: “We will save them. All of them. The master vampire will get his punishment.”

Little Ant had been silent until now, but she could no longer hold her tongue.

“Would you have done it?” Little Ant asked.

“Done what?” Cassio said despite knowing full well what she meant.

“… hurt that girl.”

The question felt like a slap in the face and Old Badger scratched her brow.

“Little Ant…” Old Badger sighed.

“Would you?” Little Ant said, ignoring her grandmother.

Cassio grimaced when Elysa’s face flashed before his eyes. She had looked so scared when he had approached her. His fist clenched. Ready to strike.

“I don’t know.” Cassio lied.

He knew damn well what he had almost done. What he had wanted to do. What he would have done if Old Badger had not been there. Take out his anger on an easy target. Maybe Pietro had approached him because the vampire had seen something familiar in him.

The answer made Little Ant shrink and Old Badger gave him a look that told him that she saw right through him and his excuses even if her eyes were useless in the dark. They walked in silence until they arrived at the Wyrd Stones located near his lands. One of the reasons he had chosen to live in the seaside mansion.

“We will wait out the night with our tribe… former tribe.” Old Badger said: “When morning comes, you will summon your forces and we will go after the vampire.”

There was a glow when the door between worlds opened and as always, entering The Wyrding felt comforting. This place had always been his true home. The place where he truly belonged. A feeling he shared with the goblins, and he couldn’t help but wonder how Sal could ever want to leave such a beautiful place in favor of living as a human.

They made their way through forest and Cassio tried to spot the goblin camp. Just like last time he failed. One moment it hadn’t been there and the next he was surrounded by tents and goblins.

“Grandmother!”

A score of goblin children burst out of their tents and rushed around Old Badger who greeted them all with a smile. A goblin couple that Cassio recognized as Little Ant’s parents, pulled their daughter into a hug.

A middle-aged goblin woman with grey stripes in her brown hair walked over to Old Badger and the goblin women greeted each other with a solemn nod.

“Old Badger.”

“Bee.” Old Badger said.

Then they smiled and embraced. Once Bee had let go of the tribe’s former wise woman, she bowed at Cassio.

“Lord Lionheart.”

Cassio nodded his head without doing a full bow.

“Master Bee. Thank you for your hospitality.” Cassio said.

“How could we turn you away after what happened with Sparrow?” Bee said and looked around: “Wasn’t there supposed to be a young lady with you?”

Old Badger averted her eyes and scratched her brow.

“There was… a change of plans.” Old Badger said with a sigh: “Has… there been any sign of the prince and Nuncio?”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“I sent out the scouts to lead them here. They…”

There was a distant roar and the goblin camp fell quiet like a rabbit that had spotted a wolf far too late. Even the children went for their spears at the sound of the terrible roaring.

Then Cassio saw a car driving towards them through the darkness and past the trees. It was scratched and dented from a drive in the forest and one of the tires had gone flat. The car almost flipped over when the driver brought it to a sudden halt. A door flew open, and Elysa’s brother jumped out of the driver’s seat, looking like he had run to hell and crawled back.

“Help him! Please! You have to help him!” Nuncio begged them.

In the backseat of the car sat a woman who had been reduced to nothing by nameless torments and lying on her lap was…

“Sal!” Cassio shouted.

He almost tore the door off when he yanked it open and saw…

“… oh… no.”

Somewhere far away children screamed when they saw the bloody stump Sal’s left foot had been reduced to. The back seat and the pale woman were soaked in crimson. For a moment Cassio thought that he was dead but then he saw that Sal’s chest moved ever so slightly.

Old Badger let out a sharp breath when she saw Sal’s leg. Then her training took over her and all emotion drained from her face.

“Viscount! Get him out of the car! Bee, fetch our tools! We must seal the wound! Now! Little Ant, get a blanket for him to lie down on! Everyone else! Secure the camp!” Old Badger ordered.

The grandmother goblin’s voice was so certain that no one even thought about arguing. Even him, a lord of Garuccia, fell in line and picked Sal into his arms. Despite being unconscious, Sal groaned from pain when he was moved. He felt so light when Cassio put him down on the blanket that Little Ant had laid down.

From her tent, Bee had brought out a collection of knives and needles that she was cleaning with fire until they were red. Meanwhile Old Badger was measuring a foul-smelling concoction into a wooden cup that she placed on Sal’s lips. She rubbed Sal’s jaw and neck gently to make the unconscious man drink it.

“What… is that?” Cassio asked.

“Something that will make sure that he won’t move during the operation. We will have to cut off some meat and bone so the skin can be stretched over the wound.”

“Will it… numb the pain?” Cassio asked.

“No.” Old Badger said.

Haste was the only mercy Old Badger and Bee could grant and they moved with merciless efficiency. They cut off Sal’s pant legs around the injury and then got to work saving his life. The blue eyes flew open when the knives dug into him, but Sal could not move or even scream. Except inside his own head. Cassio wanted to scream and cry for him. He wanted to run into the night and find Pietro so he could strangle the vampire with his own intestines. He wanted to…!

“… where… is my sister? Where is Elysa?”

Cassio looked at Nuncio who was staring at him with haunted eyes.

“I…” Cassio began but didn’t know what to say next.

How could he look a man in the eyes and tell him he had left his little sister into a house haunted by ghouls? Where could you find the courage to do something like that? He wouldn’t have even known where to even start looking.

Nuncio grabbed his shoulders and began shaking him.

“Where?! Where is she?! Tell me!”

“… Nuncio.”

The voice was faint but warm. Nuncio calmed down when he saw his mother walking towards them with Little Ant’s help. When she got to them, Little Ant helped her sit down.

“… thank you, young lady.” Nuncio’s mother said.

“I… Little Ant… that’s my name. Little Ant.”

“… Thank you, Little Ant.” Nuncio’s mother said and smiled: “… I am… Danielle. Now, viscount… could you tell me what happened to my daughter.”

Cassio rubbed his face. He had never been this tired in his life.

“She… stayed behind. To keep the ghouls at bay.” Cassio said.

Danielle’s silence and sorrow felt like an accusation.

“I swear by the Quiet that we will save her.” Little Ant said.

“… yes… we will.” Danielle said: “… Nuncio… viscount… go to your friend… Little Ant… could I have some water… and a place to rest?”

“I’ll take you to my parents’ tent.” Little Ant said.

He had hunted and killed monsters during his adventures with Sal. He had fought men and fae alike but that had been nothing compared to sitting next to his best friend and holding his hand while he was in the worst pain of his life. Nuncio sat on Sal’s other side and held his left hand. Sal’s eyes darted between them, but they saw nothing. There was only the pain. Meanwhile Old Badger and Bee cut off meat and bone. They burned shut veins and began to sew shut the skin. They worked with speed that came from decades of experience but even a few minutes was an eternity in hell.

When it was finally done, Cassio felt hundred years older.

Sal had gone limp and just lied on the blanket.

Silent tears ran down Nuncio’s face.

Old Badger sat on the grass and lit her pipe with red, shaking hands. She inhaled the sweet-smelling smoke while Bee put away their tools. After calming her nerves ever so slightly, Old Badger spoke.

“Viscount… could you take my prince to a tent?” Old Badger said and blew out a smoke: “I… still have other patients to look after. I will call for you soon.”

Cassio nodded and carried Sal to an empty tent that was pointed to him.

After laying Sal down, he held vigil over his friend who was shivering from the cold even when lying next to a fire. Cassio dared not take his eyes off him. If he did… Grandfather Death would surely sneak in and steal Sal away. Occasionally he would glance at Sal’s feet… foot. He had always been proud of how fast he was. The knee had been spared so he would be able to walk and run again with the right peg-leg but… he would never be as fast as he once was. Victory or defeat… just Sal’s footsteps would remind him of Pietro.

Cassio rubbed his face.

How had everything gone so wrong in just one night? His thoughts were distracted when he heard steps a downtrodden face looked in.

“Viscount?” Little Ant said: “How is he?”

Cassio sighed.

“Still alive.” Cassio said.

Little Ant nodded and stepped into the tent.

“Grandmother will be done soon. She will take over then.”

“I am staying. He would stay for me.” Cassio said.

“You need to rest too.”

“I can rest next to him.” Cassio said.

Little Ant nodded and sat down cross-legged. Cassio was quiet for a moment and then looked at Little Ant.

“I never thanked you.”

Little Ant looked at him surprised.

“Yes, you did. Right after…”

“No. Not for getting me out but… for saving me from myself. If you and Badger hadn’t been there… I would have lost myself and done something I couldn’t take back. You’re a better friend then I deserve.” Cassio said and looked at Sal: “You both are.”

Little Ant smiled sadly.

“That’s what friends are for.”

Before either of them could speak, Cassio could hear Old Badger calling for him.

“Go. I will look after him.” Little Ant said.

“Thank you.” Cassio said and put his hand on Little Ant’s shoulder: “You’re a brave warrior. I was a fool for not noticing that sooner.”

Little Ant grinned.

“I worship the Quiet. You can never judge me with a glance.”

Cassio smiled and then stepped out of the tent.

When he walked through the camp, the goblins looked at him with fear and reverence. Like he was some great hero. If only they knew that he could barely stand. Just walking was almost too much for him and sweat was running down his face when he got to the tent where Old Badger was treating her other patients. Nuncio was sitting in the corner while Old Badger inspected Danielle. The sight of her was enough to send shivers down Cassio’s spine. She looked like someone who had been granted immortality but not eternal youth. Forced to live… unable to die… even when her body crumbled.

“Lady Danielle.” Cassio said.

“… viscount.” Danielle said.

“How are you feeling?” Cassio asked.

“… better. Old Badger knows what she’s doing.”

Old Badger smiled faintly.

“Your doctors can do more for you than me. But for now, I suggest you rest. Sleep is a great healer, and you will need plenty of it. Sleep and sun.” Old Badger said.

Cassio looked at Nuncio who was chewing his lip.

“Nuncio, you saved Sal’s life. For that you have my eternal gratitude. Whatever happens, our families will be friends from here on out.” Cassio said.

Nuncio looked at him surprised but then nodded.

“… yeah. I would like that.” Nuncio said.

They shook hands and Cassio was surprised at how firm Nuncio’s grip was.

Once Nuncio had helped his mother to another tent where she could rest in peace, Old Badger began to look at the bites Pietro had left him.

“How are you feeling?” Old Badger said while cleaning the bites and spreading salve on them.

“Like crap.” Cassio said: “But not just because of Sal but for Elysa too. What I almost did to her.”

“That wasn’t your finest moment.” Old Badger agreed and scratched her brow: “Normally I would say that everyone makes mistakes but you’re not just anyone. You’re a viscount. A lord of Garuccia. Your mistakes… consequences for them are far graver.”

“I know.”

Some softness returned to Old Badger’s features.

“Never forget what you almost did. Always carry it with you. Maybe you will not repeat the same mistake. And maybe you can act with some wisdom when judging someone who has made a mistake.” Old Badger said and pinched his ear: “And if you even think of getting out of line, I will be there to set you straight.”

Her words were playful but… there was real weight behind them. Cassio rubbed his knuckles.

“I see why they called you Wise Badger. And why Sal still carries a torch for you.”

Old Badger’s hands stopped.

“Viscount…”

“Call me Cassio.”

Old Badger blinked and then smiled.

“Very well. Cassio. The vampire has been poisoned with my prince’s blood and Nuncio hurt him. He is weak and broken. You’re a hunter. So, hunt him down before he has time to heal.”

Cassio never could swear by his life and honor that he would never stop hunting Pietro because that was when Little Ant screamed.

“Grandmother! He’s not breathing!”

Cassio did not remember running over to Sal but the next thing he knew, he was standing over Sal while Old Badger was slamming his chest with her fist trying to restart his heart.

“Don’t you dare die on me, you selfish son of a bitch! I forbid it!” Old Badger screamed.

After another hit in the chest, Sal took a weak breath but despite not being a doctor, Cassio could tell that it would not last. Old Badger let out a furious snarl and locked eyes with Sal.

“Prince. Look into my eyes.”

Sal’s eyes met Old Badger’s… and the grandmother goblin slumped over her prince.