Pentarch did not kiss Heward’s cheeks when they told him that the templar would accompany them, but he did not object either. Vero suspected he saw the wisdom in traveling with another trustworthy sword arm. News had already reached the Curia of their success, and urgent messages were relayed that they must return before the eclipse.

  Fortunately, their journey back through the mountains was easier than their arrival. A gentle spring had already begun, even before the equinox. It was still hellishly cold once they reached elevation, but a marginally less harsh hell, one for punishing minor transgressions.

  Vero already decided that she would share a tent with Heward. She had no objection to sleeping beside Isolde, but the sorceress was clear that she still preferred the priest.

  She considered it odd, given how afraid Isolde was of Alexius. But those fears may have been removed from her mind. Perhaps that should have concerned Vero, but if the priest wished, he could take advantage of each and every one of them and then force them to ask him for more. She could not see how sharing a tent with the man increased the danger further in any notable way.

  Vero settled into her bedroll and looked over at Heward. “Thank-you for agreeing to come with us. I feel much better knowing that I have at least one sure ally at my back.”

  He climbed into his own bedroll. “I’m only glad that you allowed me to accompany you. You’re sometimes stubborn about your own safety.”

  “I know both my capabilities and my limitations. I’m happy to have your help when I have need of it. Perhaps you’re overanxious about my wellbeing.” Vero wrapped them up in the blankets together.

  “You’re important to me.” Vero tried to find his eyes, but they were lost in the dark.

  “I care for you too.” She kissed his cheek and felt the stubble of his beard across her face.

  “Lady Veronique…”

  How easy it would be to press her lips against his. He would never make the first move towards her; she was sure of that. She was also sure that he would not push her away if she pressed herself against him. She knew ways to tease and stimulate a man that she doubted an innocent church knight such as Heward could resist.

  Except for the matter of his oath. It was wrong, and Vero knew it was so. She nuzzled her cheek against his, but no more.

  It was rather wonderful just being in his embrace. At least she knew that if they were sent to one of the hells for minor transgressions, things would not be so terrible as long as the templar held her in his arms. If they really were sent to one of the hells, Vero could only imagine the blessed hedonism they could then share together there.

  But in the real world, oaths still placed a gulf between them that they could not cross. Vero reminded herself of that for the thousandth time, as he rubbed her back and she easily fell into slumber.

  Vero felt the creature cross their wards suddenly. The pull of the spell took her instantly back into wakefulness. Heward was already putting on his chain shirt and grabbing his sword as Vero did likewise. They left their tent as the others were doing the same.

  A cloaked figure emerged from the darkness. “Peace, friends. I have not come here as an enemy.”

  The voice was familiar to Vero.

  “Elizaveta? Stop there and explain yourself. Why’ve you come here?” Vero kept her sword ready.

  She would not have stood a chance against the vampyre in her own castle, but here with Heward, Pentarch, and perhaps the other two to back her the fight would not be so uneven.

  Presuming Elizaveta came alone. Presuming they wished to destroy her at all.

  “I come with a warning, and to offer my aid.” Elizaveta kept her voice steady.

  “We have no need of your aid, creature,” Pentarch answered.

  “You’ve already accepted her aid once,” Vero countered. “Or am I to believe you’re ignorant as to who created the blood poison you gave me?”

  “I don’t know what lies this undead thing has told you,” Pentarch said. “But-”

  “-I have told Vero no lies,” Elizaveta interrupted. “Perhaps it is you who has been lied to.” She took a step towards Vero. “Sweet one, I swear to you that I came here as an ally.”

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  “Sweet one?” Vero heard Isolde remark behind her.

  “I trust her,” Vero said, after a moment of thought.

  “Well, I don’t,” Pentarch stated bluntly.

  “I trust the Lady Veronique,” Heward said, and Vero was glad to have his support.

  “And I,” Alexius added.

  “I trust no one. But I am in favor of hearing the vampyress out, all the same.” Isolde cast the final vote, and Pentarch made an annoyed sounding grunt.

  They stirred the fire back to life and all of them took seats around it. The others kept their distance from Elizaveta, but Vero sat close. She stowed her weapon, but she kept a grip on a wooden shaft under her cloak.

  Vero was the first to speak for Elizaveta. If the vampyre was not trustworthy, it was her responsibility to destroy the monster. Vero would be the one to put the stake through her back. She gave Elizaveta doe eyes for just a moment, and a few seconds later, an arm wrapped around her.

  “My name is Elizaveta. I don’t know what you have been told, but I was the one who devised the blood poison which slew the Black Palatine. I sent it to the masters of your order almost a year ago, when the presence of his court in my home became wearisome. I did so through a group of intermediaries, whom I had some contact with.”

  “The letter I was sent to deliver-?” Isolde mused aloud.

  “I expect so, dear.” Elizaveta was stroking Vero’s arm. “The delay was nothing to me. However, it seems my letter was intercepted by your own internal politics for reasons I cannot know. While the rest of you were rescuing Vero following the destruction of the Black Palatine, I was dispersing his court from my estate. I kept track of each of them to be certain they would get up to no mischief. His bit of fluff was too distraught to remain in the absence of her paramour; she fled the quickest and I confess I lost track of her. Hassan returned to his own coven, and I have since exchanged pleasant letters with him. The mad priestess Kunigund, Gunther, and Suizei each began to gather as many of their own forces as they could. At first, I thought perhaps they meant to attack me in an ill-fatted attempt to take vengeance for their master. Imagine my surprise when they all marched the same trail through these mountains that you’re taking now, just a week ahead of you.”

  Vero looked towards Heward, and she was relieved he saw her.

  Elizaveta continued. “Then, my spies lost them. Just a few miles ahead of here. Now there’s no way that can be, unless there’s magic involved. Magic, it seems, these vampyres have the means to bypass. I can only speculate what might lay beyond that barrier. Perhaps it has something to do with a group of elves my father had a long-standing correspondence with, who is to say. But as you seem to be going in that same direction, I wished to warn you. The greeting ahead of you may not be so welcoming as you believe it to be.”

  “And I did not believe it would be so welcome to begin with,” Vero whispered into Elizaveta’s ear for a smile.

  “How large was their force?” Pentarch’s voice was terse.

  “Nine vampyres, including the priestess, the fat man, and the elf. Then a hundred and twenty or so human followers, all experienced and vicious killers. I should also warn you that four other vampyres traveled with them, but have since gone back to their own demesnes. It shall be hard for them to raise men so soon after winter, but I believe you should expect reinforcements to be coming in months, perhaps weeks.”

  “Would you stand with us against them?” Vero asked.

  Elizaveta squeezed her and smiled. “Of course, I would. Sweet one.”

  There were fourteen men total laying in ambush for them on the other end of the pass.

  Four of them were conveniently dispersed around their camp as scouts. Once Pentarch led her through the keep’s outer wards, Elizaveta was able to seize the individual humans and kill them effortlessly. Although she warned them to be alert if the spilled blood drew out any other vampyres into the area.

  They approached the ambusher’s own camp by stealth and carefully observed their opposition. Not all of the enemy were alert, five slept, and the remainder varied in their preparedness. Only two were on active watch.

  Isolde and Elizaveta led those currently on watch away with their illusions, until Vero and her companions could slit their throats quietly. Alexius only observed, his brow furrowed.

  With the guards dead, everyone save for the priest stole into the camp. Elizaveta went to each man sleeping in his tent and suffocated them, one at a time. Hypnotism held them in her mental grip, so that they could not even lift a hand to defend themselves as they were smothered.

  They tried to take the final three silently- men staying awake late to indulge in a game of dice. There was no choice but to fall on the gamblers all together. Vero, Heward, and Pentarch each took one opponent. With surprise, their foemen died quickly.

  When it was over, Elizaveta drank deeply from the bodies. Vero could see her bloat and turn pink from the excess of stolen blood. When the vampyre was sated, she worked a spell with the remaining spilt blood.

  There was a metallic tang in the air, and Vero recognized some of the signs Elizaveta used. She was trying to lure any vampyres patrolling the area to come in a state of unreasoning bloodlust.

  Sure enough, two figures soon arrived. They appeared to glide down on the night wind. Vero gripped her weapon tight in the shadows where she and the others had hidden themselves, but she need not have bothered.

  The unthinking creatures ignored the condition of the camp. They proceeded directly to where Elizaveta gathered all the slain. She waited for them there with her arms outstretched beatifically.

  “Come and rest, travelers. I grant you my bounty freely.” Elizaveta still worked the signs of her spell with her hands, but the vampyres were too besotted by their gluttony to notice.

  On their knees and they lapped up the spilled blood where it froze on the snow. Vero and Heward put stakes through their backs. Then they took off their heads, and put the bodies to light.

  The camp and bodies were proof enough that Elizaveta was telling the truth. After a search, they found letters with orders for everyone in their party to be put to death. However, the description of their company did not include Elizaveta, nor Heward. Their enemy also did not know when they would arrive. Those two elements gave them the advantage, at least for the moment.

  Those giving the orders did know that Pentarch was under instructions to deliver Vero back to the Curia before the eclipse, and further stated that this must be prevented by any means.

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