The herald of Gris marched back towards Hueryss. Dawn was already underway. The cold air emanating from the tall man froze the morning dew, as he trampled upon the wet grass leading to the city. The tall walls, overgrown with ivy beckoned him. Behind them, swords and drooling fangs awaited the messenger.

The guards had thrown open the gates. From miles away, Ian continued his languid pace. The nights' sleep had evaded him. The persistent worry of his proclamation ate at him. His mind imagined all forms of cruelty and bloodshed directed at himself. A whisper from behind him directed his attention. The chill of its words reverberated upon his neck. Behind him a spectral noblewoman looked on anxiously. Her little boy was risking his life to announce Rose von Erwenhest's message.

"It's not your fault. They will understand it is not you. You are just delivering a message."

"I know, mother." Ian replied.

"The mission is important. Do not falter, boy. We will protect you." A heavily mustached ghost appeared next. Tweaking it he snuck worried glances down at his son.

"I know, father."

"James.... Should we speak for him?"

"No." The father said. "Ian is the herald. It is his sacred duty to proclaim the missives of the dead."

"But James...."

"I am fine, mother."

"Those wretched beasts! I should sunder their souls! How dare they-"

"Do not interfere with his message." His father chided.

"Why? So those animals can tear him apart?! Do you want them to kill our son?!"

"I would never-" The mustached ghost started.

"Mother. Father. I am fine. Please protect me if something goes awry. I shall make the proclamation, even if it kills me."

"You can't die! We haven't bound your soul yet for the next generation!" His mother wailed.

"That's the spirit boy!" An elderly, portly spirit with spectacles appeared next. Slapping the shoulders of Ian, he hovered in front of the towering man. "Now, once you're done, we just need to get you a wife!" Ian rolled his eyes.

"I am trying."

"Not hard enough! When I was your age, I already had fifteen children."

"Half of them became acolytes of Freyes just to spite you." Ian shot back venomously.

"It's not my fault! It was their mother's fault! It was all her fault! She turned them against me!"

"Father." The mustached ghost interrupted. "Don't antagonize the young man. You know how hard it is these days."

"Oh, right." The elderly portly ghost rolled his eyes. "As if we didn't have it hard either."

"It's true. The eligible lingering female population has been steadily declining as the necromancer school has been aggressively recruiting. It's not his fault!" The mustached ghost started on a never ending tirade.

"Ian, what about Susy? I'm good friends with her grandmother, she says when Susy ripped out her husband's soul it was an honest mistake. He was apparently into that sort of play."

"Family above everything." Ian said with a sigh, as he tuned out the noise from his family. The gates were rapidly approaching. The guards lazily stood by the city's entrance admitting stray beastkin into the safety of Hueryss's inner walls.

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"Please disappear. I do not wish to scare them any further." Ian chided the ghosts surrounding him. Disappearing without argument his family returned to within the various trinkets, jewelry and personal effects adorning the giant of a man.

The guards saw him. Stiffening up they leveled their weapons at him, as he approached from a distance. Lingering townsfolk were rushed into the city, as more guards were alerted and called to the gates.

Ian von Richter, herald of Gris, arrived at the gates of Huerrys. A battalion of guards were assembling before the gates. Shouts and screams erupted from further inside the city. Adjusting his thick fur cloak, he scanned the beastkin before him. They were afraid. That much was certain. His dark, frantic, sleepless eyes ran over them soaking in the details.

A familiar orange-haired guard approached.

"Back already? Didn't you hear what Javert said?" Gaspard yelled out. His men were on edge. They relaxed slightly as they heard his voice. Motioning them backwards the guard captain approached Ian.

"I have come to announce Gris's judgment." Ian said. His voice was quiet, barely audible to the guards.

"Use your diaphragm boy! Project your voice!" A spectral whisper hissed. It was quickly shushed out by an entire audience of Ian's extended family.

"What?" Gaspard shouted.

"I have come to announce Gris's judgment." Ian repeated louder. Straightening his back, he breathed in deeply. "I will treat with your leader one last time."

"Are you stupid? He'll kill you. He wanted to kill you yesterday. You're lucky to be alive corpse lover!" The guard jeered at him. Motioning with their weapons they urged Ian to flee. Ian's teeth chattered. He was cold and tired. He wanted to return home and curl up with a good book. All he needed to do was announce Rose von Erwenhest's message. Then he could go home.

"Bring forth Lord Javert! I will not leave until I deliver my message!"

"I can't ensure your safety, herald. Forget your message! Go home!"

"Go! Bring him!" Ian said, projecting his voice. His family cheered silently. Gaspard clicked his tongue. Cursing under his breath he looked around him.

"I don't get paid enough for diplomatic crap." Gaspard cursed.

Gaspard turned backwards. Motioning towards a guard, the beastkin took off deeper into the city.

The two groups stared at each other in silence. Nearly an hour later, the lord of Hueryss appeared. Javert was covered in sweat from his morning exercise. His shirtless body was once again on display, as a platoon of similarly ripped warriors followed behind him. Silvered weapons glistened in the morning light. Drawn and held at the ready they marched like warriors ready to kill. Ian von Richter's stomach turned. His eyes bulged as the beastkin warriors came closer.

Passing the guards in silence, they waited.

"Well, you called me weakling?" Javert sneered. "Here I am. This better be good heretic. Yesterday, I threatened to take your head, and I would hate to look like a liar in front of my boys."

"This is it!" A familiar whisper came to Ian's ears.

"Go! Ian! Make us proud!" His mother urged. Breathing in deeply Ian let his chest expand.

"He's afraid, ain't he." The beastkin sniggered.

"Lord of Hueryss, hear me. I have come to proclaim the words of Lady Rose von Erwenhest. Her words concern the fate of your city." Javert's eyes narrowed as he brandished his weapon.

"Hurry up, human!" He barked. Behind Ian, members of his family appeared one by one. His mother and father came first. His grandfather and grandmother came next, followed by his uncles and aunts. Long dead members appeared from his trinkets and jewelry like a veritable army. They all appeared to watch Ian as he finally withdrew a scroll. His intense, dark, smoldering eyes read the countess's words.

"For the crime of injuring Lilly von Erwenhest II and stealing the family heirloom Blooddrinker the city of Hueryss shall be scoured. Its citizens shall be massacred. Their bodies shall line the road to Gris. The land shall drown in blood. All life shall be destroyed for the sake of Lilly von Erwenhest II."

"Rose von Erwenhest shall lead her blood knights to your gates. An army of the dead shall swarm your lands! Beware all who remain! For she comes with thirsting steel and unquenchable vengeance! Her house shall not rest until the killers of Lady Lilly are found and murdered!"

Rolling up the scroll. Ian waited for his reply. Javert stared ahead with hard eyes.

"You think I am afraid? You think any of us fear your kind? Our goddess protects us from you. She always has. We train and fight every day hoping you heretics will come down from your strongholds and pick a fight. We have been waiting to slay you abominations. Come, the goddess's champion is here, and I will gladly put on a show for him! Come! Let us fight! My warriors will kill all the dead that dare to threaten our city!"

Javert leveled his silvered sword at the herald. Deadly intent radiated from the ruler of Hueryss. His warriors all stood with him. They cheered and shouted the inevitable violence. The guard joined the warriors. Gaspard scowled to himself as he watched the burgeoning violence.

"I shall convey your words to her." Ian said with a bow. Turning quickly he walked through his family, on the way back to the kingdom of the dead.

"Oh that was good honey, let's go home." His mother said. She placed a hand on his shoulder urging him to return to the lands of Gris. "Come on, I'll cook your favorite! Maybe I'll invite Susy?"

"Mother!" Ian groaned.