Zia's mind felt foggy as she struggled to open her eyes. The voice calling out to her seemed both familiar and unwelcome. It was Sedris, her brother, someone she both loathed and cared for deeply.

"It's me, Zia, nod if you can hear me," Sedris asked calmly, his voice echoing in her head.

Zia nodded weakly. She felt vulnerable in her weakened state, something she despised more than anything. She tried to open her eyes, but it took several attempts before she was able to lift her heavy eyelids. By the time she could open her eyes properly, Sedris had already brought her back to her tent and placed her on a bedroll.

"Thank you, Sedris, I mean it," Zia said, her mind still drifting between reality and unconsciousness.

"If only you were this grateful more often," Sedris replied with a smug grin.

"Don't count on it often," Zia snorted, her eyes scanning her tent. "Did we lose?"

"We did, badly," Sedris responded, his voice laced with disappointment.

“I don't remember much, just the feeling of falling before getting up, over and over again," Zia murmured, pressing a hand to her forehead.

"I'd be surprised if you remembered anything at all during your frenzies."

"So, what now? Is that creature gone?"

“Not quite,” Sedris replied. “The princess has somehow managed to take control of it, and she’s waiting to speak with us.”

“The princess? You mean the meat we captured?” Zia sneered.

“Yes, though I wouldn’t refer to her as meat anymore. She killed more of us than I’d like to admit.”

Zia clicked her tongue. “So what does she want?”

“She wants us and the rest of the Red Reavers to follow her.”

Zia shrugged. “Fine by me.”

Sedris raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised you’re so accepting of this.”

“I’m not a fool,” Zia retorted. “She took on the full power of the Red Reavers alone and remained unscathed. She’s earned the right to lead us.”

“And you’re fine with those the princess killed?”

Zia let out a cold laugh. “Since when were you so sentimental, brother? Those who fell only did so because they were weak. If anything, the princess did us a favor.”

Sedris smiled. “I suppose you’re right. And on the bright side, she plans to return to the material realm and wants to bring us along. There’ll be plenty to hunt there.”

“Almost certainly,” Zia replied while mirroring her brother’s smile. “I’ve heard that normal humans are pathetically weak. Butchering them should be quite easy.”

“Indeed,” Sedris said with a chuckle. “And considering the princess seems to want to bring us to a war, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to paint our weapons red.”

Zia got to her feet. “Not much use laying about here then, come brother, it’s time to meet our new leader.”

As Zia trailed behind Sedris and emerged from her tent, her eyes darted around the camp that had been her home since forever. The area was certainly functional, with some tents housing skinning and drying racks, others with grindstones, and still more containing barrels of blood. Yet, despite the different purposes each tent served, they were all similarly rough and worn, with little to distinguish one from the other aside from air poked holes in them over the years. As Zia took it all in, she began to think that she wouldn't be missing much if she and the Red Reavers were to leave it all behind.

***

Zia and Sedris emerged from their tent, their eyes adjusting to the aftermath of the battle that had transformed the camp into a charred and battered wasteland. The Red Reavers had gathered at the center of the camp, forming a circle around the Princess of Ishgria. Zia was surprised to see that the princess was now flanked by her own warriors, a sign that the other Red Reavers had pledged their allegiance to their new master.

Sedris was the first to kneel, and many others followed suit, showing their respect to the princess. Zia hesitated, but a stern glance from her brother made her drop to her knees as well.

The princess surveyed the siblings with a piercing gaze, taking in their battered appearance. "You two may stand," she said. "I'm glad that you were able to make a swift recovery," she added, her eyes fixated on Zia.’

"It was no big-” Zia was about to respond when she felt Sedris nudge her, a sign that she was about to make a grave mistake. “Apologies, thank you, princess,” she replied instead.

The princess then gestured towards them to stand and raise their heads. "Our talk has been a long time coming,"

As Zia stood up, she couldn't help but lock eyes with the princess. The woman standing in front of her appeared nothing like the one they had captured. The first time Zia laid eyes on the princess, she seemed frail and powerless, no different from the countless individuals the Red Reavers had hunted. However, now the princess appeared to have an otherworldly authority. Something within her soul seemed ominously powerful. Seeing the princess in this state, Zia understood why her comrades had pledged their allegiance to a complete stranger so eagerly.

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"What do you seek from us, princess?" Zia asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

“I believe proper introductions are in order first. I am Rhea, sole heir to the Ishgrian throne.”

“I have heard from my brother that you wish for us to aid you in claiming your right to the throne.”

“That is correct. My country is currently embroiled in a civil war, hence, I would need an army to quash any opposition upon my return, before uniting Ishgria once again.”

Zia was taken aback at the princess’s words, unsure how to best reciprocate them. Fortunately, Sedris decided to speak up before her, “Pardon me princess, but as much as we pride ourselves on our strength, the Red Reavers number barely twenty five souls at the moment. Our numbers would not be sufficient for long campaigns.”

“You make a good point, Sedris.” Rhea complimented, “which is why I plan to expand your ranks. Your men have told me it would be difficult, but not impossible.”

“You mean to raid the scattered vampire warbands?” Zia interrupted; her curiosity piqued.

“Vampire. I must admit that word is foreign to me. But yes, I’ve heard that there are many small tribes and warbands of these ‘vampires’. We will take from them their finest warriors to add to our own.”

Zia couldn’t help but let out a smirk. It was surprising to hear a vampire speak of their kind as if they were foreigners from distant lands. Despite this, she found Rhea’s ambitions admirable, if not wishful.

“A fine ambition, princess, but how do you plan to convince the scattered to join the Red Reavers? We haven’t made many allies in our years of raiding after all.” She spoke.

“So I have heard.”

“If it were that simple-”

“Zia!” Sedris chastised with a glare.

“What?” Zia retorted.

“It is fine, Sedris, your sister is just being passionate, I do not mind.” Rhea said calmly, her face betraying no sign of displeasure.

“Apologies for my outburst then, princess.” Sedris said with a respectful bow.

"Zia, I completely understand your concern," Rhea spoke, her eyes turning to the former leader of the Red Reavers. "However, rest assured that when we leave the underworld, the Red Reavers will be restored to one hundred souls once more."

The sound of gasps and muttered whispers filled the air at the Princess of Ishgria’s declaration. Every single Red Reaver understood the gravity of Rhea’s words, and they were stunned. Their numbers had always been slow to grow, only growing to one hundred souls only after several centuries. The challenge with replenishing their ranks was not for a lack of willing candidates, but rather, it was the difficult induction process that would allow one to become a Red Reaver.

To even aspire to count oneself amongst the Red Reavers meant abandoning whatever previous ties you had to be forsaken as you dedicated yourself to the path of blood. Then came the trials: a series of grueling tasks that an initiate must complete, ranging from carving the hide from monstrous beasts of the underworld to bringing the heads of great champions.

Zia's memories of her initiation into the Red Reavers were vivid and haunting. She remembered the feeling of her heart pounding in her chest as she faced down the monstrous beasts that she needed to slay to prove herself. She could still feel the sweat on her palms as she gripped her weapon, the sharp sting of adrenaline in her veins as she prepared to take on creatures that towered over her.

But the physical trials were only the beginning. The true test of an initiate's worth came during the crimson chalice ceremony, a ritual where the initiate must drink the blood of a Red Reaver. Zia remembered the taste of the thick, crimson liquid as it poured down her throat, filling her with a potent strength that felt both exhilarating and dangerous. She recalled when her body convulsed in pain as her mind was consumed by an insatiable thirst for blood and violence.

Zia tried to keep her tone even as she asked the princess, "I assume the others have informed you about the path of blood, princess?" She watched Rhea's face closely, trying to gauge her reaction.

Rhea's expression was stoic. "Indeed, they have," she said evenly, "but in spite of that, I stand by my words."

Sedris couldn't help but interject. "How can you be so certain?" he blurted out, his curiosity getting the best of him.

The princess didn't seem surprised by the question. "In making peace with the Night Terror," she explained calmly, "they have shown me the faint threads of fate they were able to glean from the abyss."

The camp erupted in gasps and stunned looks. Many of the Red Reavers shook their heads in disbelief.

Zia's curiosity got the better of her. "Can you see the future, princess?" she asked, looking up at Rhea with wide eyes.

Rhea shook her head. "I cannot," she admitted. "What the Night Terror showed me was less an absolute prophecy and more like possibilities, one of the many branching threads of fate."

Zia could see that her brother was about to interrupt, but she beat him to it. "Then how can you be so certain?" she asked, her own curiosity piqued.

As the princess paced around the perimeter, her steps grew quicker and more agitated. She cast glances at the Red Reavers, as if searching for an escape. Her breathing was shallow, and her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

Abruptly, a sharp cry tore from the princess’s lips, causing her to stumble and fall to her knees. One hand flew up to clutch at her forehead, her fingers digging into her hair as if trying to gouge the pain away. Her other hand pressed against the ground to keep her upright. Sedris and his fellow Red Reavers hastened to her side, concern etched deep into their features. But Rhea waved them away with a dismissive flick of her wrist.

As Zia stared at what was happening in front of her. Her mind began to piece together about what the princess actually did to the Night Terror.

“Are you alright princess?’ Zia finally asked.

Rhea straightened up, regaining her composure. "I am fine, thank you. Now where was I?"

“I asked about how you were able to be so certain about your goals.”

“I am just that confident.” Rhea replied, her voice closer to a low growl than something that would come out of the princess’s mouth.