Across the golden fields of wheat and beyond the small clusters of farms, he rode into the forest darkened by the triple canopy. Nervousness soon gripped him again as shadows elongated and gave fuel to his imagination, hearing the stories that many had told about these woods. Servants to the demons had also claimed their share of brave men over the years. At least those were the claims of many in the Flying Gorgon.
Horses hooves pounded the hard ground littered with sporadic clumps of grass, fallen rust covered leaves and thick, dark grey roots. Haunting birdsong echoed in the distance and high above as Aodrenig tightened his helmet’s chin strap, then gripped the reins as his eyes scanned the foliage around him.
Soon, his horse stopped and stomped the ground which prompted the Kuzin warrior to dismount then unsling his shield from the saddle and slip his left arm into the straps.
“Remain here, friend,” he instructed and continued on alone. Around a large oak he moved quietly as the ground slowly rose towards the west and before him. Suddenly, the happy chirping ceased and he froze.
An explosion of leaves from his right spun the swordpoint towards the fighter in leather armor whose mace of blackened metal swung mightily downward, nearly taking Aodrenig’s shoulder as he dodged, then stabbed. His assailant stiffened as eyes went wide from beneath the leather cap as the dirty face then glanced up to his killer and smiled.
“You’ve only brought Nurmes to your door, friend,” the fighter promised as he slumped to the ground and Aodrenig retrieved his blade as he waited for another. Field plate glowed dully in the dappled shade that commanded the boughs above and he pressed forward. Movement from behind him spun the warrior from Jedburgh as blue eyes widened. The one he had just killed pushed himself up again, grabbed his mace and grinned darkly, then attacked.
Aodrenig shield bashed the man in the chest and furiously slashed the man. Maroon sprays arced into the air, peppering the leaves around them until the lightly armored man lay in a heap upon the ground and Aodrenig spun and ran. Thin branches slapped his metal covered chest and arms as he raced to find the keep. Hopefully all of their guards weren’t that resilient.
Light green and dark browns soon gave way to a shallow clearing as he neared a deeply cut stream and glanced down into the shimmering wound in the earth. To the right and left he scanned for a ford but, found none. Swimming in this armor wasn’t the wisest thing and he hoped it wasn’t deep as he began to slowly make his way downslope towards the light current which flowed southward. Checking his footing with each step, he made his way into the cool water and waded out from the rugged shoreline, now up to his chest.
Grabbed from below, he began struggling to free himself and felt strong limbs wrap around his legs and waist. Jamming his sword downward, he tried to cut and hack at the assaulting arms but found only more determination in the attack and he suddenly realized the splash of water was interrupted by laughter from behind and above. Desperately, he turned and noticed the fighter’s brown eyes aglow with glee at his predicament.
“You demons,” Aodrenig yelled. “I’ll have the last laugh, mark me!”
“No,” the bloodied warrior leaned down, left hand gripping the tree to his side. “Now you’ll serve Him with us,” he laughed. “Welcome home, brother.” Cackling continued as he was wrenched below the surface and came face to face with ghostly images of men and women whose ghastly faces made him scream....
Plush pillows of deep maroon, greens, blues and white graced the large bed of furs. Surrounded by a ring of thin columns, drapes of diaphanous white surrounded the resting place as Aodrenig awoke to a familiar scent of roses which made his eyes open immediately. Laying underneath a blanket of dark green wool, he glanced to his right to see his love smiling at him as she crouched at his head.
“Jessica,” he reached out for her and drew her down to his side. “I had the most peculiar dream.”
“Oh,” she kissed him softly and he lost himself in her warmth for a long moment. “Tell me all about it,” she grinned as soft lips carressed his cheek.
“I fought a man who wouldn’t die, then ran into a deep river full of dead.” He hugged her tightly as she kissed his neck. “I’m just glad you’re alright.”
Jessica rose to whisper in his ear. “They would never hurt their queen,” she stated, then he felt four punctures in his neck. In sheer terror, hands gripped the graceful body over him as his life force ebbed. Soon, he felt himself drift away...
_______________________________
Aodrenig awoke to darkness. Something he hadn’t known ever and now his world would ever be in that blackness he had fought for the past few years. He sighed and sat up, hitting his head on the cold stone above. Laying back down, he reached up and felt the lid to his new accomodations and in a fit, exploded with both hands which launched the rectangular stone into the room. Crashing to the floor, he jumped up to see the crypt around him. Six other sarcophagi lay in a neat row to his right as a sudden hunger overtook him.
Grinding of stone on stone alerted Aodrenig to the awakening of one of his room mates as he hopped down onto the grey floor and watched. Soon, another male sat up. His long, dark hair and handsome features looked familiar.
“Aodrenig,” the vampire grinned. “Welcome to your new home.” As Vince climbed out and stood with him, the others began to rise also. One of them his love from the Gorgon. Jessica’s revealing dark blue dress and sultry grin made him want her as she strolled up to the gathering group and smiled at him as Robert wrapped an arm around her small waist and she in turn leaned on his shoulder.
“Evening, my love,” her silky voice greeted. “How’d you sleep?”
Aodrenig nodded. “Fine,” blue eyes scanned her agile body as his heart raced.
“Later, darling. First, we have to get you acclimated to your new life.” She moved from the side of her other consort and approached as hazel-green eyes glanced to the broken lid against the far wall. “We’ll have to get that taken care of also.” Jessica looked at him as she stopped within a few feet. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about this before, but I wanted you as part of my family. I know you wanted to remain at my side forever also and now you can.”
He sighed as his thoughts fought between running home and forgetting this nightmare and wanting to gather all the knowledge he could. In time, he would be her only consort as the other four rotted outside.
She neared him, placing a soft hand on his chest, “Careful, dear. We’re all mentalists here and I’d hate to lose you to some petty competition when there’s other more dangerous folk outside these walls that would kill us all on sight.”
Taking her hands in his, he kissed them gently, then nodded. “You’re right, of course.” The die was cast and now his life would never be the same again.
“Robert, why don’t you take Aodrenig out and teach him to hunt.”
“As you wish, milady,” the taller vampire moved forward, his short cropped, brown hair and strong build had destroyed many guards dumb enough in the past to be outside when the quartet visited Jedburgh. He had seen the aftermath the following morning and knew whatever had done it wasn’t something he wished to tangle with. Now, he was as strong as these four who had chased him down the main street not two nights ago.
He followed them all up a long flight of stairs and through a banded, oaken door to the main room of their modest keep. Servants bowed as the queen and her entourage emerged and went about their nightly tasks while their newest member followed his trainer out into the cool night. Once down the walled stair and into the bailey, the vampire turned.
“Concentrate upon the bat,” he instructed and Aodrenig closed his eyes for a moment and pictured one of the leathery winged creatures and soon felt himself change. Oddly, the sensation of heightened hearing while the bat flapped it’s wings gave Aodrenig an exhilaration he had never known. Giving the novice a few minutes to practise flying, they soon rose into the air and headed eastward into the forest. Mentally, he could hear Robert talk to him.
‘Feel the heartbeats of the animals below?’
‘Yes.’ Red signatures of the birds and deer as well as rodents scurrying about took precedence over the trees and bushes below as he concentrated on one of the deer as it turned and sprinted from them. Dodging limbs and leaves alike, he pursued the animal until finally swooping down upon it, morphing back into human form as he dropped from above. With outstretched arms, he grappled the deer to the ground and within seconds bit into it’s neck as the prey struggled to free itself and finally lay still in his arms.
Life flowed through his veins and he soon stood as Robert clapped. “Well done. See how easy it is?” He watched as his mentor then turned his attention to the left and in a flash, raced to another deer in the distance. Silence was soon interrupted by the crash into the ground and snapping of saplings as another victim fell.
Aodrenig breathed heavily as he felt the the life ebb away from the second deer and then noticed a pack of wolves not far from them as they apparently waited for their opportunity to gather their own spoils once the duo had left. Initially, he wanted to delve into the mind of the alpha, but allowed the wolves to remain unmolested as he moved to Robert as the vampire rose. Moonlight picked out the broad shoulders and slick hair as his comrade glanced to him.
“You learn quickly. Although, hunger drives us to do what is only natural. It’s once you learn magic is when you truly become powerful,” he grinned. “Making someone do your bidding is true power. Taking a noble’s daughter when he’s bought the allegiance of the best mercenaries in his lands to protect her without a fight is so much fun,” he chuckled. “Knowing they’re helpless to keep anything from us. Taking whatever we want, whenever we want.” A strong hand clamped upon Aodrenig’s shoulder. “There’s nothing like it in the world.”
A smile arced across his face as the newest member followed back to the keep. Many weeks of training followed as he soaked up all that they had to teach him, then enjoy Jessica’s company whenever she allowed. Another perk to being here, he thought. Their passion was unmatched and he truly loved her. Something the others couldn’t fully understand.
A cool breeze wafted through the bailey as Aodrenig stood upon the parapets at the top of the keep, looking out into the night. Above, the constellations shimmered in the darkness high overhead between two of their world’s moons and he wondered how his family was doing right now.
He felt her presence before she wrapped her arms underneath his and lay her head upon his left shoulder.
“You’ve been quiet. Is everything alright,” Jessica asked.
“Fine,” he took her hands in his and held them to his heart. “I was just wondering if they missed me at all.”
She chuckled softly. “Why not? You’re their brave son gone off to rid the world of evil. Why wouldn’t they miss and admire you?”
Aodrenig turned to gaze at the beauty at his back. “Just that, they told me this would happen. Funny when you think about it. Here I thought bards would sing tales about me when I had killed the four vampires that plagued these lands and I end up being in love with their queen and becoming one of those I swore to vanquish.”
Hazel-green eyes gazed into his. “Fate is an odd teacher sometimes. I never thought myself a whore either, but all those people use that term when they speak of me.” A term that made him turn and hold her closer. “I hate all of them and never thought I’d fall in love again until I met the son of a knight,” she smiled and lovingly kissed him, then backed. “Guess this makes you a king, doesn’t it?”
A sudden chuckle erupted as Aodrenig was taken aback. “I don’t think so.”
Jessica retreated a bit. “Really? We’ll see.” She backed and morphed into a large bat, flapping it’s wings furiously to keep aloft. ‘Come with me,’ she mentally instructed and prompted him to copy the form, then fly with her northward. Racing over miles of forest, they cleared more territory than he had ever seen in his lifetime.
Upon the eastern horizon, he became nervous as the sky slowly began to lighten.
‘We have to get back,’ he warned. ‘It’s getting close to morning.’
‘We’ll be alright. Not much farther now.’
Soon, his eyes caught site of a walled city upon a tall, rugged hilltop. Firelight from torches burned fiercely and he prayed this place was friendly or that she had planned on landing within the forest short of danger while they slept.
‘You worry too much,’ she chuckled. ‘Trust me, my love. I wouldn’t lead you to danger. We’re both in this together but, don’t tell the others about this when we get back, okay?’
‘Of course.’
Soon, they crested the merloned walls and he noticed the large cathedral which sat at the base of the immense palace which commanded the center of this quiet city. Then it occurred to him, they were in Flint.
‘Who do you know here,’ he asked. ‘I thought Flint was in league with the elves of Kevelaer.’
‘Not since their latest coup over the church and local lord,’ she informed as they landed upon the rooftop of the palace and returned to their human form. “Follow me.” Once reaching the central doorway, she crouched and took hold of the large metal ring, then pulled and opened the door. Aodrenig followed down the main stairway and pulled the door closed behind him, breathing a sigh of relief knowing they would at least be out of direct sunlight as morning neared.
“The Abravnan are a guild of mages and necromancers who’ve taken control of the city. Sir Evrick is now their liege lord and he’s recruited most of the local knights and men-at-arms to join him,” she informed as they continued their descent and he soon heard approaching footsteps echo from the stairwell below. “We’ll be safe here. I’ve met with him before.”
“Okay,” he nodded and noticed the presence of the two older men as they rounded the wall into view and stopped.
“Lady Jessica,” the first in dark grey robes greeted. “Welcome to Flint,” brown eyes glanced to her companion. “Your accomodations are prepared and Lord Evrick will see you tonight once you’ve fed.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
___________________________________
Aodrenig awoke to her laying across his chest, arms still around her back and he kissed her gently and enjoyed their closeness as she stirred.
“Good morning,” she smiled and kissed him in return. “Nice way to wake up.”
“Yes it is,” he glanced around their modest room to note the evening’s light waning through the high, bullet shaped windows to his far left which flanked the large fireplace. He carressed her for a long moment, not wanting this to end, then glanced back to her. “What exactly are we here for?”
“To ensure that place that I mentioned last night,” she sat up and stretched, flaunting her beautiful curves as he rose also. “Sir Evrick has big dreams and the muscle to back it up,” she informed as a hand took his and led him from the bed towards the window. “You and I will rule Jedburgh and the south while he and his govern from here.” As she stepped up onto the thinly packed pillows, Jessica pushed open the window and he joined her to gaze out over the city’s rooftops.
“You don’t think the elves or dwarves of the Black Mountains might argue that theory?”
“Both enjoy their own tracts of land and could care less what the Kuzomen do on this side of the Dovey River.” She turned to him as wind blew her long, light brown hair about her. “Have faith.” She leaped out of the window and turned into a bat as she fell, then sped towards the west as he followed to hunt for that night’s meal. Once done, they returned to their room and headed downstairs to find the Great Hall abuzz with activity.
Blue eyes caught sight of their benefactor as the imposing figure of Sir Evrick stood amongst his advisors as they studied a large map upon the table before him. Strong features surrounded dark, inset eyes and fell into a van dyke which commanded his prominent chin which he stroked in thought as they walked up.
“Lady Jessica,” his deep, commanding voice greeted as he turned to them, prompting his staff to do the same. “How nice. And I see you’ve brought a friend this time.”
“My consort, Aodrenig,” she motioned out of obligation as she continued to his side and glanced to the map. “Are you planning the invasion already?”
He chuckled as dark brown eyes returned to the animal skin before him. “We’ve been given some information that a small unit of templar from Davos are on their way here. Amazing how stubborn our Kuzin neighbors can be.”
“No doubt,” she agreed. “How many?”
“About fifty.” Aodrenig studied the group around him, most sitting to either side of the long table and noted that most were elderly men in robes. He surmised them not to be clerics though and figured the mages and necromancers that she had mentioned earlier. Their serious gaze and grey beards told of many years studying their trade as well as the few knights nearer to him.
“Fifty templar don’t give you a moment of pause,” she asked, bewildered. Caution that garnered laughter.
Aodrenig also grinned, not wishing to be left out of the joke as Evrick turned to Jessica. “We have command of more power than they do, trust me.” The commander in black field plate leaned forward. “They’ll soon join our ranks and be the spearhead to more victories in the future.” His brow narrowed and the newly turned vampire began to believe the forecast, glad he wasn’t in this monster’s path.
“I look forward to your day of glory,” she supported and Evrick reached out and swept her towards him, then glanced at Aodrenig who became a bit jealous.
“He’s infatuated with you,” the dark voice echoed within the high ceilinged room as everyone glanced to the lone vampire.
“He’s a good man,” Jessica smiled. “I wouldn’t have him with me otherwise.”
Evrick nodded. “I see that. Aodrenig, is it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I have a feeling that you and I are going to become good friends in the future. Bright things are on the horizon for you,” he motioned to the group of mages to his right. “They can not only foretell the future, but also have the knowledge of places of power. Things you both would be interested in, I think,” he glanced up to the beauty in his strong arm.
“Oh,” Jessica’s interest was piqued also.
“Absolutely,” he grinned. “Jedburgh is in desperate need of a cleaning anyway.”
“That it is,” she agreed.