“Mordrath – from which the kingdom as a whole took its name – was the mightiest of the original islands and the seat of power for the High Kings. By the time, the dwarves drained the sea, the High Kings held dominion over one of the greatest kingdoms in the world and by far the greatest of the dwarf-held lands. Yet the dwarves never ceased their tinkering and delving, and it was their constant search for further riches that would eventually bring about their downfall.”
Jonathan sighed. Even now, so many years later, the story remained a tragic illustration of the dangers of greed. “The kingdom was rich in all manner of metals and gemstones, but none was more precious than the substance we now call eternium. When refined in the correct manner – a process known only to the dwarves – it is practically indestructible. There are weapons made of it that are thousands of years old, yet they show no signs of wear and tear. Traces of it were found in the lowest levels of Mordrath, so the dwarves sank even deeper shafts that went far below the roots of the mountain, far below where the former bottom of the sea around their island had once been.
“There in the subterranean gulfs beneath the mountain and the sea, the dwarves stumbled across a city from an age long gone. They explored it and were drawn to an immense seal – like the door of a vault – at the very bottom of the city, hidden within an elaborate labyrinth and guarded by mechanical sentries of terrible power.” Jonathan paused. “One would think those would be warning enough to leave the seal alone, but the dwarves pressed on regardless. They fought their way to the seal and discovered that it was made entirely of eternium. Given its size, the seal’s worth was greater than that of the entire kingdom. Every scrap of metal and every gem they had already mined would not have matched the value of it. In the end, the dwarves were overpowered by their greed. They should have known better than to tamper with the seal. After all, only the gravest of dangers could ever motivate someone to create its like in the first place.”
“Indeed.” The duke’s expression grew pained. “The dwarves of Mordrath were engineers and mages of incredible skill. They were clever and cunning, and they should have realised that anyone with the skill to craft such a seal would never have done so needlessly. And what kind of threat would you need a seal of eternium to hold back?” His gaze shifted to Aria. “You are a former paladin. You, of all people, should understand what such a seal implies.”
“The greater the seal,” Aria replied. “The greater the evil it contains. The man who trained me said that – after showing me the Grand Seal beneath my former order’s most hallowed fortress. It is so old no one remembers when it was made, and no one living has the skill to replace it. Needless to say, we were all instructed to never tamper with it and to kill anyone who tried.”
“A wise course of action.”
With a nod from the duke, Jonathan pressed on. “It took them years, but the dwarves eventually found a way to remove the seal. They would soon wish they had not. The moment the seal was opened, water rushed through it. The torrent forced the dwarves back, and they had little choice but to abandon the lower levels. At first, they thought it would be a simple matter of draining the water, something they were already adept at. However, when they returned, they were immediately attacked.” Jonathan shook his head. “The dwarves did not write of their foes in detail, or if they did, those records have not survived. What we do know is that their foes possessed formidable armour and were adept in the water. They slew anyone who tried to reach the seal or drain the water, and so the waters continued to rise despite the dwarves’ best efforts. One thing that the dwarves do mention, though, is the song that came with the water. It was said to be an eerie thing, heard as much in the soul as in the ear.”
Jonathan frowned. Blue Scales’s posture had changed. He had been listening intently before, but he was leaning forward now. He’d have to ask him about it later. Perhaps he knew something. Mordrath was beneath the waves now, for the most part, and Blue Scales was a merman. It was possible his people had stumbled across it before. “The dwarves spoke of it as a whisper, a rustle running through the water. They described it as a veiled threat in the dark, a promise of greater horrors still to come. As the waters rose, the dwarves brought more and more of their forces to bear, but they were nevertheless driven back inch by bloody inch. All their efforts to stem the rising tide failed, and once the waters reached the gates of the city, the Empty Sea began to flood. Soon, most of the kingdom was underwater, and the horrors that assailed Mordrath attacked the rest of the kingdom as well. Eventually, they brought down the wall around the kingdom, and the Empty Sea was, well, no longer empty. By then, the only remaining holdouts were the uppermost levels of the original islands. Any attempts to escape were fraught with danger since any journey would have to be made over the sea, and their foes were always watching. In the end, Mordrath and the rest of that glorious kingdom fell.”
“All that remains of the pride of the dwarves,” the duke said. “Are a few islands amidst a sea of strange, still water that no sailor without desperate need of coin will even think of sailing. It was a grim end for such a storied kingdom.”
“They call it the Bone Sea,” Jonathan said. “For the strange substance, akin to ash or powdered bone, that rests upon the waves, as well as for how many have died there.” He shivered. Merely thinking of the place made him uneasy. He had heard of places that were supposed to be cursed many times during his studies. Most of them were simply cases of bad luck or unpleasant circumstances. The sheer horror of what had happened in Mordrath – countless dwarves trapped, drowned, and slain – as well as the many documented tragedies that had befallen those who returned to it made him believe there was something to the stories of it being cursed. “Can I assume you want us to go to Mordrath, Duke Bloodfang?”
“Yes.” The duke nodded. “But first I want to explain why I want you – and you in particular, Lord Bloodhaven – to go to that accursed place. Rest assured, I am not foolish enough to think this will be easy.” His eyes blazed crimson. “Of course, nothing I say can leave this room.” He waited until they all agreed before continuing. “My ancestors were friends and allies to the dwarves of Mordrath. One of them even saved the life of a High King. The exact time and place this occurred has been forgotten by even my House, but I do know that my ancestor was promised a great boon by the dwarves. He asked them to forge a Blood Blade.”
Jonathan’s jaw dropped. In his mind, the Blood Emperor barely managed to rein in his own surprise. A Blood Blade? That is a kingly gift indeed. Such blades consume the blood and life force of those they harm and use it to empower their wielders. No normal smith can make one, and even the finest would struggle to craft even a single one in their lifetime. But the dwarves of Mordrath… they could do it.
“I can see from your expression, Lord Bloodhaven, that you understand how… important such a weapon would be. Unfortunately, my ancestor never received it. I would be wielding it now if he had. However, the weapon was made – only to be lost when Mordrath fell. Though he grieved its loss, my ancestor was wise enough to avoid the place after his first two expeditions failed. Even if he had marshalled the full might of my House, I doubt he would have succeeded. Like my predecessors, I have spent my life assuming the blade could never be recovered. However, from time to time, adventurers still enter Mordrath. By all accounts, there are ample treasures left within, and the darkness lurking in it slumbers from time to time, only rousing itself if people delve too deeply or if a force of great strength arrives to challenge it. One such group came to my attention recently.
“It was made up of a dozen skilled adventurers. All but two of them were slain, but they got deeper into the mines than anyone has in centuries, and they glimpsed a weapon that perfectly matches the descriptions of the Blood Blade my ancestor was promised.” The duke’s jaw tightened, and his whole frame was suddenly gripped with tension. “Such a weapon would be worth more than everything in this building. Indeed, you could buy an entire city for the price it would fetch. I am t
empted to march an army into Mordrath, but I fear that would only awaken the dark powers that slumber within it. Furthermore, there is a complication. The Blood Blade is no normal weapon. When it was forged, certain restrictions were put in place, one of which was that only a vampire of truly noble blood could move it.” The duke grimaced. “It was supposed to be limited to vampires of my House alone, but the ritual to bind the sword was never completed since Mordrath was destroyed.”
Jonathan took note of the others’ confusion. “Allow me to explain. The term ‘vampire nobility’ is commonly believed to refer to those vampires with lands, titles, wealth, and so on. For the most part, that is correct, especially according to modern usage of the term. However, the term has an older meaning. The truly noble vampire Houses are those that can claim direct descent from one of the twelve First Houses. The First Houses have long split into other Houses, but they were founded by the Firstborn – vampires personally created by the Lord of the Night himself.”
“Correct.” The duke folded his hands together on the table. “And one of the First Houses was the House of Blood, which would later give rise to the noble Houses that carry ‘blood’ at the start of their name. Both you and I can claim descent from the House of Blood although your lineage is somewhat more convoluted than mine.” The older vampire smiled thinly. “It is one of the reasons I asked for your group. I am also sending other groups, and each contains a vampire of truly noble blood although not all of them are acknowledged as legitimate by their Houses. There is no point in finding the blade if it cannot be moved.”
“I see.” Jonathan could understand the duke’s strategy now. By dispatching smaller, relatively elite teams, he hoped to avoid provoking the wrath of whatever dark power slumbered within Mordrath. Whoever reached the sword could then grab it and beat a hasty retreat. “With all due respect, Your Grace, why not go yourself? I understand that it is dangerous, but you are personally one of the most powerful vampires in the Blood Alliance. With your power and a team of elite retainers, surely you could reach the blade.”
The duke remained silent, and Jonathan feared he’d overstepped his bounds. If he had, then he’d simply have to grovel a bit. It wouldn’t be pleasant, but they could not afford to alienate the duke. Finally, the duke replied although it was with a grimace. “If I thought I could afford to do so, I would. Possessing the Blood Blade would be a tremendous boon to my House. Yet the great game the Houses play is never in abeyance. If I left and took my elites with me, my rivals would undoubtedly make their own moves. Although I have every confidence in my children and their children, it is a simple fact that none of them can match my raw power and political influence. My absence would present my enemies with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I am not foolish enough to think they would ignore it.”
The duke’s gaze settled on Jonathan. “As such, I must rely on others, and who better than someone who understands very well what a man like myself might do for him if he aided me.” He leaned forward ever so slightly. “We can help each other, Lord Bloodhaven, and I trust your intelligence enough to believe you will make the right choice and grasp this opportunity wholeheartedly. Indeed, it speaks well of you that of all the faults my agents uncovered in researching you, no one has ever complained about your loyalty. You are, it seems, a true rarity – a vampire noble with little ambition in the great game who is also capable of showing true loyalty to others.”
Jonathan acknowledged the point with a nod. He had no doubt the duke had investigated all of them thoroughly before making his offer. He was too intelligent to do otherwise. Aria met his gaze for a moment. They were in agreement. “Very well,” he said. “Shall we discuss the details of the mission?”
* * *
Aria leaned over and tapped the top of Jonathan’s crate. It wasn’t as nice as the coffin he’d bought – he’d been inordinately pleased to finally have a proper coffin to sleep in again – but it was sturdier and easier to transport. “Are you okay in there?”
“I’m fine,” he replied, and she could hear the smile in his voice as he added, “Certainly better than I would be out there.”
She chuckled. It was a lovely day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and Jonathan would have been well on his way to turning into a pile of ash if he’d been outside. “Fair enough.” Her mount was keeping pace alongside the wagon while Miles handled the horses. The mare might not have been the fastest horse, but she was even tempered and she handled combat well, and it wasn’t like Aria could ride around on Eileen all the time. “This mission is more dangerous than I’d like, but the offer…”
“The duke’s offer was exceedingly generous.”
It went beyond the impressive sum he’d offered for completion of the mission. He had also offered to help them with some of their problems. In Aria’s case, it meant access to some of the finest smiths and enchanters to see her spell blade and armour restored to perfect condition, along with a promise to keep an eye out for any members of her order who tried to infiltrate the Blood Alliance. Unfortunately, not even the duke’s influence could get Jonathan’s castle back. However, anything they found in Mordrath – except the sword – was theirs to keep. Given the riches said to linger in the fallen kingdom, they should be able to add quite substantially to their reward for the mission.
The mission would not be easy. In all likelihood, not all of the teams the duke sent would make it back. However, Aria was quietly confident in her team. Their biggest advantage was Blue Scales. The waters that had flooded Mordrath should be no problem for a merman of his power. With his Words and his natural affinity for water, Blue Scales should give them the edge they needed to get through the mission alive.
“I’m just glad we got proper maps. They’re not complete, but it’s far better than going in unprepared.”
“Adventurers have continued to explore the place over the years. True, most of them end up dead, but enough escape to share what they’ve learned – for the right price.” Aria had no doubt the duke had paid handsomely for the maps. Amongst adventurers, information could be as valuable as gold, and reputable information could often be used in place of currency. “Not that I’m complaining. It makes our job easier and safer.”
With the help of the maps, she and the others had planned several routes that could take them from the upper levels down into the mines and lower levels where the sword had been sighted while minimising the risk of running into flooded areas that were likely home to whatever nightmare festered in Mordrath. Certain areas had also been marked down as being home to zombies or other monsters, and they would avoid those too if they could. Sure, Blue Scales would be fine in the water, as would Eileen, but the rest of them would not be so lucky. There were Words and other methods to breathe underwater, but it was far better to avoid being caught underwater in the first place. Humans, werewolves, and vampires simply weren’t suited to underwater combat the way mermen were. If they had to fight in Mordrath, she’d prefer it to be on dry land.
“I’m sure he paid well,” Jonathan agreed. “But can you tell me anything about the port we’ll be leaving from? I’ll admit I didn’t travel much even before I lost my castle, and scholarly articles can only describe a city so well.”
Aria grimaced. Even now, thinking about what had happened to Jonathan set her on edge. To think people could just come and take everything he owned like that. It was a miracle he was coping as well as he was. “To be honest, you’re better off not having gone to Ash Harbour before. The city gets its name from the ash-coloured sand of its beaches, which people attribute to the powder that gives the Bone Sea its name. I’ve been there twice on previous missions, and neither visit was pleasant. It’s the last real port this far east in the Blood Alliance, and it’s filled with the sort of scum you’d expect from a place that’s basically been ruled by smugglers, cutthroats, and other miscreants for centuries.”
“Ah.” Jonathan’s voice radiated dismay. “I see.”
“But I can understand why the duke c
hose it. No sane captain would sail into the Bone Sea by choice, never mind linger around Mordrath while we complete the mission, but the captains of Ash Harbour are all insane, desperate, or looking for a way out. With his coin and influence, the duke can easily pay them plenty of money or get them a nicer job somewhere better. More to the point, the people here understand what power is. They know what will happen if they betray him, and anyone smart enough to last this long in Ash Harbour is smart enough to stay on the duke’s good side.”
“Yes. Betraying the duke would be… foolish.”
Aria nodded grimly. As Jonathan had pointed out before, the present-day dukes relied more on a combination of light force and reputation. However, when push came to shove, she had no doubt that some of them would emulate their more bloodthirsty ancestors. With his power alone, the duke was more like a force of nature than a person. It made her wonder just how powerful the Blood Emperor must have been to rule over all the dukes when they’d been at the height of their powers.
“You should also know that we’re likely to run into trouble along the way,” Aria said. “It shouldn’t be anything we can’t handle, but I thought you might like some warning.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you. Given what you’ve said, I wouldn’t be surprised if we ran into bandits, thieves, or even a monster or two.”
“If anything, I’d be more suspicious if we didn’t run into some trouble. In that case, I’d be wary of an ambush.” She paused as Eric whistled and looked back at her from his position at the front of the group. “And speaking of trouble…”
“I hope nobody steals the wagon this time,” Jonathan said. His voice was equal parts hopeful and concerned. “At least the terrain here is flat, so there shouldn’t be any cliffs to fall off.”
“We’ll do our best to keep that from happening.” She didn’t want to make any promises. “Stay here with Miles. We’ll go ahead and take a look.”
“Do you want me to use [Scry]?” Jonathan asked.
Attempted Adventuring (The Attempted Vampirism Series Book 2) Page 6
