“Oh!” As someone who could use [Scry] on a higher level than almost anyone he knew, Jonathan had little need for a scrying mirror. However, such objects could command impressive prices since they could mimic the effects of one of the most useful Words. “We could get a great price for that.”
“But do you really want to sell it?” Martin asked. “I know at least three people who would pay an excellent price for it immediately, but it might be useful to your team. You can use [Scry], but the others can’t. From what you’ve said, only the werewolf and the shape-shifter have a way to gather information at long range, and neither of them can match your range or detail.”
“Hmm…” Jonathan peered into the mirror. At the moment, its surface was cloudy. It would only clear once magic was used to power it. “Let me think about it. At the very least, we should study it before we sell it. I’ve never made one, but if I studied it closely…”
The process is not as complicated as you would think. The Blood Emperor had remained quiet, content to observe. He was a considerate fellow, and he often left Jonathan to his own devices during these quiet moments, knowing full well how much Jonathan treasured them. I have not made one in some time, and mine were never great, but someone with your Words should be able to do better. With a proper example to work from, the two of us should be able to replicate it.
“My… friend,” Jonathan murmured, hinting at the Blood Emperor in a manner Martin could understand. “Might know how to make one if we study this.”
“Then you’d best keep it for a while. Making quality scrying mirrors will net you a tidy profit. Any fool with magic can use one whereas only a few people can use [Scry] well.”
“It would give me something to do in my spare time that also helps get my castle back.” Every bit of money would help, and making scrying mirrors would be safer than going on missions. “Let’s keep going. We’ve made good progress so far. Perhaps we can finish soon.”
They sorted through the rest of the chest, and Jonathan smiled in satisfaction. The contents ought to add a nice amount to their profits from the mission, and there were several potentially useful items that the group could use themselves. He’d have to share the good news with the others later. Right now, though, it was probably best to turn in for the day. Dawn had already broken, and it was always safer to find a nice, secluded place – like the basement under the shop – to sleep in until night fell. Besides, his new coffin was waiting for him.
* * *
Eric ambled along beside Jonathan. Like most werewolves, he didn’t walk so much as lope. He thought it looked rather impressive, but it was also good for scaring off pickpockets. None of them wanted anything to do with someone who could move with such predatory grace. “So… what do we know about this Duke Bloodfang guy?”
Jonathan grimaced at the impropriety and looked around to make sure no one else had overheard. He had contacted the others to say he was ready to take another mission only to discover that someone had already requested them – a very, very important someone.
“Before the Blood Emperor unified the various vampire territories into a single state, the area presently occupied by the Blood Alliance was ruled by various Houses, each of which was headed by a baron. However, some of them were more powerful than others. The most powerful barons eventually took to calling themselves dukes, and the title has persisted ever since. Duke Bloodfang is the head of one such House. He is even more powerful and influential than Baron Darkletter. Indeed, the baron is technically one of his subordinates. “ Jonathan could feel a headache coming on. The pressure of knowing he’d be dealing with such an important person was not the least bit pleasant. It was like a lead weight in his stomach. “If I had to guess, he is perhaps the third or fourth most powerful vampire in the Blood Alliance from a political perspective, and well within range of the number two position. We absolutely cannot afford to make an enemy out of him, but he could prove to be an incredibly useful ally and backer to have. A single word of praise from him could easily secure us more missions.”
“Interesting,” Eric drawled. It was easy to forget that behind his easy-going, amiable exterior was the swift, cunning mind of a true predator. “On one hand, that’s a good thing. This guy can definitely afford to pay us a lot of money. But on the other hand, you’ve got to wonder what kind of mission someone like him would need us for.” Eric grinned wolfishly. “I’m going to bet it involves plenty of danger and plausible deniability if everything goes wrong.”
He is right. The duke would not be looking for outside help if he wanted us to complete a normal mission. One of Eileen’s shadow imps was holding the sign up for her. As usual, she walked at the front of the group. As hazardous and crowded as the city’s sidewalks could get at night, they were far easier to travel when they had a large bear to lead the way. Imagine that. But we do need to hear him out. Simply refusing to meet with him would be disastrous.
“I agree.” Aria had polished her armour for the meeting. It wouldn’t do to make a bad impression. “If a man that powerful cannot – or does not want – to use his own forces to accomplish something, then that something is either highly illegal, unbelievably risky, or both.”
“But if we can pull it off…” Jonathan could already imagine all the ways things could go horribly wrong, but he could also imagine the rewards if they went right. “We would be in an excellent position.”
But be careful. The Blood Emperor had already warned Jonathan that he would be staying quiet unless necessary. The duke was not a vampire to take lightly, and he could not afford to be discovered. Powerful men make powerful allies – but they also have powerful enemies.
“At the very least, it could open a lot of doors for us. Recommendations from a duke are worth their weight in gold to groups like ours.” Aria stretched her right shoulder. She must have fallen on it awkwardly on their previous mission, and it was often better to let injuries heal naturally if they could. “We’ll hear him out. As Eileen said, refusing to even listen would be unwise, and vampire nobles rarely handle insults well.” She grinned at Jonathan. “Present company excluded, of course.”
Jonathan laughed. There were plenty of things in the world to get upset about. He preferred to focus on the ones that mattered – like losing his castle – rather than getting upset over mere words. Indeed, as painful as his rejections from the universities and academies had been, they had reminded him of something important. Others could insult him, but they could never take away his dignity and pride unless he let them. “The duke is supposed to be an eminently reasonable man. A refusal would not please him, but I doubt he would dispatch assassins or anything else so extreme.”
“Assassins?” Blue Scales rumbled. “Would other dukes go so far?”
Jonathan nodded grimly. He was well acquainted with the bloody history of his kind. “It has happened before. Duke Redtomb once burned an entire town to the ground for failing to accede to his wishes. Admittedly, this was hundreds of years ago, and his House has mellowed since then. However, it served its purpose. Even today, people are reluctant to refuse his successor. One of the previous dukes of Nightveil went even further. When one of his barons defied him, he burned the baron’s lands, slaughtered his family and serfs, and then salted the earth. Even now, nothing grows where the baron’s lands once stood.”
“Isn’t that reassuring?” Eric scratched the back of his head. “Then again, I’ve seen werewolves eat people for disagreeing with them, so it’s not like you vampires have a monopoly on going too far.”
Jonathan blanched. An assassin’s dagger was one thing, but being eaten was quite another. He’d prefer to avoid that particular fate if he could. “In any case, we need to treat the duke with utmost respect. He is a vampire noble of the very highest order. He is also said to prize civility, and we would do well to maintain it.”
“Part of that means dressing appropriately,” Aria said with a pointed look at Eric’s clothing. Eric rolled his eyes, but he did fasten his belt and button up
his shirt. “Better.”
“What about me?” Blue Scales asked. “Should I acquire more clothing?”
“You know…” Jonathan trailed off. It had honestly never occurred to him that Blue Scales walked around in what was essentially a loincloth. “Actually… I think you’ll be fine. I doubt anyone would hold mermen to the same standards as land-dwellers.”
“I wish I could walk around in a loincloth,” Eric muttered.
“I heard that.” Aria scowled. “Don’t even think about it.”
When they reached the Union’s building, Janice led them to the finest of the Union’s meeting rooms. Her being the one to escort them there was a statement as well. She would never have left the front desk unless it was for a client of the highest importance. A quick use of [Reveal] showed that the meeting room was covered in magic to prevent spying and observation. The duke was not taking any chances. Anything said or done in the room would remain private.
A tall, powerfully built human man met them at the door. For a long moment, he and Miles sized each other up. From his posture and sharp presence, it was clear the man was a skilled warrior – and a keen-eyed one to recognise the danger Miles posed. Few of their clients or their retainers had ever realised Miles was anything more than a loyal but elderly servant.
“This is the team the duke requested,” Janice explained.
The man remained silent but let them pass with a small nod although his eyes remained on them every step of the way.
I know his like. The Blood Emperor’s voice was barely above a whisper. He has been raised since birth to serve the duke’s House, and his family has likely served the duke for generations. All of the dukes had such retainers in my day – those whose loyalty was beyond question who could act in their stead during the daylight hours. If nothing else, such families also provided a far more reliable supply of fledglings than simply grabbing random riffraff off the streets.
Inside the room were half a dozen more servants, and all of them carried themselves in the same manner as the first. Aria took a moment to study them, but she must not have liked what she saw because she was reluctant to turn her back on any of them. It was up to Eric to take the lead. He simply stalked forward, his very presence exuding casual, carefully controlled menace instead of his usual carefree aura. It wasn’t a threat display, not quite, simply a reminder to these men that as dangerous as they were, he was no less dangerous himself.
There was a grand table at the centre of the room, which was likely worth more than everything in Martin’s shop combined, and the duke was already seated. A faint smile crossed his lips when he saw his retainers bristle at Eric, but a small gesture had them stand aside. Based on appearances alone, the duke was not an imposing man. He was only slightly above average in height and build, and he looked to be in his fifties or sixties by human standards. However, there was no mistaking the aura of power around him.
If Jonathan’s memory was correct – and it rarely failed him – the duke was one of the oldest vampire nobles in the Blood Alliance, well over eight hundred years old. The power his age and bloodline granted him was considerable, and he had a reputation as a warrior and tactician of impressive skill. In terms of pure physical strength, he could likely overpower everyone in this room except Eileen. Likewise, his magical power was formidable, a cloak of carefully controlled might that he wore as easily as a normal man might have worn a regular cloak. He also had a host of magical items, any one of which an adventurer would have been glad to have. Attacking the duke would have been an exercise in futility, and the presence of his retainers would ensure it was a death sentence too.
Perhaps the most valuable of the items the duke possessed was the magic ring he wore on his right hand. Jonathan had heard stories of such rings. They were designed to negate the effects of sunlight, living water, and holy power on vampires. They were hideously expensive and incredibly difficult to make, but they were priceless to a vampire. With the ring, the duke would be able to fight freely in any environment. He gulped. The others were right. Whatever the duke wanted, it must either be so dangerous or so illegal that he dared not risk himself in pursuing it despite his personal power.
As Jonathan took a seat on the opposite side of the table from the duke – the traditional place for another noble to sit when negotiating – the others sat alongside him. Miles moved to begin serving the refreshments that had been left on a nearby table, but the duke’s retainers barred his path. The duke chuckled and gave a small nod, and they let Miles pass. Jonathan relaxed ever so slightly. The duke undoubtedly had taken measures against poison, but it was a good sign. Had the duke wished to show distrust in them, he would have had his own retainers handle the refreshments. Even so, three of the retainers kept a close eye on Miles at all times. There was a difference between trust and naivety, and the duke was far from naïve.
“Good evening,” Jonathan intoned formally, inclining his head deeply, the familiar nature of the ritual greeting easing his frayed nerves. “I trust the night has been kind, Duke Bloodfang.”
“Indeed, it has, and I hope it has favoured you too, Lord Bloodhaven.” The duke’s nod was much smaller, and he glanced at the clock on the opposite side of the room. Jonathan had done his best to ensure they would arrive at precisely the appointed hour. The duke was known to appreciate punctuality in those he dealt with. The small smile on his lips widened, and Jonathan breathed an inward sigh of relief. He’d chosen well. “You have arrived exactly when expected – and I do not refer solely to the hour of this meeting. I had expected to wait at least a day or two given the interesting nature of your last mission.” His lips curved up at the edges. Like most vampires of his House, there was a gaunt look to the duke’s cheeks, and his eyes were razor keen. “Still, I am not one to grumble about good fortune. Luck is all too rare. It should be celebrated when it deigns to favour us.”
“I agree. And it would have been foolish to make you wait. Such tactics are often used to assert power, but we both know where we stand relative to one another.” It was a bold statement, yet he hoped to strike the correct balance between honesty and civility. Deception would do Jonathan no good here. Indeed, trying to deceive the duke would only make a bad impression. “Civility and practicality are both important.”
“Hah!” The duke threw his head back and laughed before accepting a goblet of wine from Miles. He took a sip and grinned. “Well spoken! It is good to meet someone who understands the intersection between civility and practicality. I have little use for snivelling cowards or hangers on. There is a difference between civility and frivolity.” His gaze rested on Jonathan for a long moment, sharp and thoughtful. “I did not believe it when I heard it, but I can see Baron Darkletter was right about you. You truly have no interest in playing the great game although I am sure you have goals of your own. We all do.”
“You are aware of my circumstances, I am sure,” Jonathan said. “Fair payment and a recommendation for work done well is all I ask.”
“Both shall be provided should you succeed – for you and your team.” The duke nodded to each of them in turn. There were vampires who would not deal with those they considered beneath themselves, but the duke had learned the value of non-vampires over the course of his long life. “You are an unusual group, to be sure, not at all what I would expect a vampire noble to lead, but your effectiveness speaks for itself. Baron Darkletter is a trusted friend and advisor, and he spoke most highly of you, as did Baron Nightbarrow. You are, by all accounts, the sort of people I need – competent people who can get a job done even if it is troublesome.”
“And what might that job be?” Jonathan asked.
“I am told you are a scholar of considerable worth, and you do have several publications in journals of the highest quality. What can you tell me of Mordrath, Lord Bloodhaven?”
Jonathan went very still. It had been some time since he’d thought of Mordrath. It was a troubling tale, the kind men seldom liked to linger on. “Behold the glory of the High K
ing of the Dwarves, the Lord of the Empty Sea. Behold the splendour and magnificence of ancient Mordrath, home to wonder and woe. Behold the sea of bones and the empty halls. Behold Mordrath… glory and tomb of the dwarves.” He shuddered. “Those words were written not long after the foundation of the Blood Empire. Even then, Mordrath was a place of legend – and horror.”
The duke took another sip of blood. “A touch theatrical perhaps, but accurate.” He glanced at the others. “However, your companions seem less well informed. Enlighten them.”
Jonathan took several moments to marshal his thoughts before he spoke. Mordrath was an accursed place that no sane person wished to enter, but if this mission involved it, then the others needed to know what to expect. “Mordrath typically refers to an area in the seas east of the Blood Alliance. Long ago, dwarves ruled a chain of islands there that was rich in gold and other resources. The mines there were so fruitful that the dwarves swiftly grew to become the mightiest of their kind, and their ruler was crowned High King of the Dwarves. Thanks to their wealth, they reached heights of magic, engineering, and artifice that have yet to be surpassed, and they came up with a seemingly impossible idea: they would drain the sea between their islands, so they could rule over a larger, more productive domain. To that end, they built a vast wall around their realm and then somehow managed to drain the interior of water. Gone was the island chain of Mordrath. In its place was the Empty Sea. It was during that era that Mordrath would reach the peak of its powers.”
One of the duke’s retainers gasped, and the duke chuckled as he winced at his breach of decorum. “Oh, yes, Derrick,” the duke said, waving aside the misstep. “Lord Bloodhaven speaks truly. The dwarves of ancient Mordrath drained an entire sea to increase their territory although I’m sure you’re all eager to learn what went wrong. After all, the Empty Sea is no longer empty. Continue, Lord Bloodhaven.”
Attempted Adventuring (The Attempted Vampirism Series Book 2) Page 5
