Angels Blood

by Gerard Bond

  Dark decided she would lay with Night again tonight to give her comfort. It couldn’t hurt to give the poor girl some small amount of affection. She got Night out of the red stained water of the bath and laid her in Dark’s bed. Then she pulled off her coat and slipped under the covers with her. She cuddled Night but this time there was no response and Dark watched her closely, she was still staring off into nothing.

  After a while Night turned to her. She slowly slid on top and gave her a deep kiss. She leaned down to Dark and whispered into her ear.

  “I need this.”

  Dark nodded and quietly responded with a yes. They kissed and fondled. It wasn’t long before Night was moaning with the emotional release more than anything, she had started shivering not from cold but from the aftereffects of the incident. Finally she started relaxing in Dark's embrace and began to drift off.

  Meanwhile in Dimarus’ residence, Wollfen and Vaughn were picking through his belongings. Vaughn pocketed the occasional coin he found and even grabbed a nice dagger he liked. That took up residence of his old one which he left on the table. Wollfen was looking for something different, anything that gave a clue to Dimarus’ haunts. There really wasn’t much at all. Curiously he found some woman’s dresses in the cupboard, perhaps from his many female partners?

  In the bedroom he rolled back a rug on the floor and found a small door. Lifting it he first stuck his dagger into the opening and sure enough a trap went off sending barbs slamming into the blade. Any unsuspecting person putting their hand into there would have gotten a rude shock indeed. He yanked the barbed implement out and tossed it aside. Reaching in again he found a small heavy bag. Opening it he saw it was filled with gold coins. That meant the man had no immediate means of financial support now. Wollfen pocketed it and reached into the hole again. This time he pulled out some rolled scrolls. He went and sat at the table and began reading.

  It was a list. On the left was a letter and to the right were numbers in the thousands and sometimes in the hundreds. D had one thousand five hundred next to it. G had five thousand as did W, then it clicked. It was a list of troop numbers for the northern towns and cities. W for Windere and G for garrison and so on, but who was he collecting information for? Wollfen reached into his pocket again and took out the coin bag, opening it he dumped the contents onto the table. The gold coins spilled out and picking one up looked at it more closely. He recognized the motif on it, he had seen this same coin before. They were Isogorrean currency.

  Wollfen was disturbed by this development. For them to have spies in the north meant that while the sorcs had their goal in Kassandrea, the King of Isogorr had much more in mind. It may just be that he wanted it all, that was a scary proposition. If the biggest and most centralized population of the Kingdom in Kassandrea fell, it would prove that none of the others were safe. It would also deal a huge demoralizing blow to all the other decentralized armies around the country. Well of course the King would be interested in it all. The whole Kingdom could end up being his grand prize. He turned to the others who were finished looking.

  “We can go now, I have everything I want.”

  Wollfen got up as he rolled the scrolls and tucked them into his jacket. He decided they would make haste to the garrison. First thing in the morning he would inform the local town leader and have them send out messengers to the other cities. They would need to know of what was going on and quickly to deal with any other spies.

  The two entered Dark’s home with Burkhard following and when Wollfen saw the mess on the floor in front of the fireplace, he turned to the others.

  “Could you take care of that? I’ll check on the others.”

  They got stuck into it immediately while Wollfen let himself in very quietly. He stood there for a second looking to see if either was awake but he only heard slow deep breathing. He moved across to the empty chair and grabbing a blanket made himself comfortable. He closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep but his mind was racing. So many things were happening and there were so many things to consider.

  The next morning the girls awoke and left Wollfen to sleep. That was a good thing since he only managed to nod off maybe half an hour before dawn. Dark fetched Night another set of clothes from her baggage they had taken from the horses and they sat by the fire warming their toes. Night wanted to talk but was hesitant in front of the other two men and she waited for them to go off to do their own thing. Once they were gone she looked at Dark.

  “I hope you don’t think less of me for last night.”

  Dark misunderstanding what she meant replied.

  “No that’s okay, I understand you needed that release.” Night smiled.

  “No not that silly, I mean about Savas and dealing with him the way I did. I know it would seem cruel and disgusting, but I just couldn’t help myself at the time. I didn’t just want him to hurt, he needed to suffer a cruel death.” Dark faced Night and looked her directly in the eye.

  “I too have felt that way and no it never goes away. When my family was killed and I found my children half eaten I could have cut my own heart out. Ever since then I have had nothing but hatred for the orcs and their kind. I don’t know if I will ever get over it. I fully understand where you are coming from Night.”

  She gave a sad smile and they hugged, then Night pulled away again.

  “When Wollfen awakes I will need to talk to him, much has changed since last night.”

  Dark acknowledged the remark but didn’t press the point. Night would say what she was thinking when she was ready.

  Later in the morning Wollfen came out of the room and went over to a small pot on the fire. It had some sort of broth simmering in it and he grabbed a ladle and bowl. Having served himself a portion he sat down and took some bread sitting on the table and began eating. A few minutes later as he was polishing it off, Dark and Night entered.

  “Hey sleepy head how is my wolf this morning?” smiled Dark. He smiled back.

  “Doing just fine darling.” Night sat across from him. “And how are you this morning Night?” Night smiled.

  “I think I’m going to be just fine too. But I have news and you are probably not going to like it.”

  She paused and Wollfen gestured for her to go on.

  “I don’t want to go on this journey any more. I want to go back to Loranda.” He looked up in surprise.

  “Are you sure?” She nodded in the affirmative.

  “Yes I have given it a lot of thought and I am sure. I want to be by Loranda’s side, I have no wish to see the Enchanted lands. I just really need some time out.”

  Wollfen looked at the table in thought and considered his options. He didn’t like having to lose one of his best but if that was what she wanted then he would not stand in the way.

  “Very well, you can go, I won’t stop you.” She smiled.

  “Thank you, I owe you a big one. I’ll make arrangements to journey back from hence we came. I am sure that once I get to Windere my father will give me an escort.” Wollfen shook his head.

  “No, you don’t need to do that. It would take you so long to get back and even with an escort there will still be dangers. I will take you now using the crystal.” Night’s eyes widened.

  “We can do that?” He nodded.

  “Of course. I can focus on Loranda’s beacon to get a bearing. It won’t take much at all. When I have got you there we can say our goodbyes and I can return to Dark’s beacon.”

  “That’s wonderful! I hadn’t thought of that!” Night sprung up all excited. “I had better prepare my stuff, we can go soon right?” Wollfen nodded again.

  “Yes as soon as you are ready.” Night dashed off to prepare her belongings and he turned to Dark. “I think that’s the happiest I have seen her in a long time.” Dark winked.

  “Oh if it was me I’d be happy too knowing I was returning to my lover’s arms.”

  It was only a few minutes before Night stood with her bag ready and Wollfen went to the bedroom to get the crystal. He
came out fully dressed and wearing his sword. Approaching Dark he spoke to her.

  “I am going to see Raz while I’m there and pass on some information. Also I’ll see if there have been any developments around Port Cholandra that might affect us. I shall be a day at the most. Is there anything you would want me to ask of him?” Dark shook her head.

  “No just say hello, but take care won’t you?” He smiled.

  “Of course I will.”

  He gave her a big hug, as did Night. She looked at her and whispered in her ear.

  “I will miss you.” And they kissed.

  They stood back and Night took Wollfen’s hand. He closed his eyes and a bright rectangular door structure appeared then they were gone. Dark sighed and looked around. Without the two of them there it was very quiet all of a sudden. When Wollfen got back things would seem a little duller without Night she thought.

  In Port Volarus Loranda was sitting quietly looking out over the Verandah of her quarters. It was afternoon and the shadows were making interesting patterns across so many new buildings. Then all of a sudden Wollfen and Night were standing there beside her. She jumped up after gasping and grabbed the both of them around the neck getting a gagging sound from them as she hugged tightly.

  “Night, Wolf! What are you doing here?”

  Night dropped her bag and without a word took Loranda in an embrace and shared a passionate kiss with her. Again Loranda gasped when they pulled apart.

  “I am never going to leave you again my love.”

  There were tears in Night’s eyes as she spoke and Loranda couldn’t help but respond in the same way. They hugged and whimpered together for a minute as each of them felt the emotions flow.

  Wollfen coughed and they broke out of their reverie. Loranda turned to him and gave him a playful pinch on his cheek.

  “Thank you for bringing her back wolf boy, I have missed you both but her most of all.”

  “That’s no problem, Night has been nothing but a pain in the ass to me all along. I’m glad to be rid of her.” Night punched him in the arm with a smile.

  “Bastard.”

  “Bitch.”

  “Sheep lover.”

  “Hey!” The two girls giggled, “Listen you two, go on, you know you want to go to bed. I’m going to go see Lord Raz, will he be in?”

  Loranda nodded as the two of them held hands and watched Wollfen go. He turned and walked off in the direction he hoped was the main hall and the two girls went back inside giggling.

  After about half an hour of wandering around a bit Wollfen managed to get his bearings and found himself in front of the hall. He entered and announced his presence. He was quickly ushered in to find Raz still sitting at his desk as always poring over paperwork and giving an attendant a hard time. Raz saw him come in.

  “Hello Wollfen, how have you been?”

  “I'm good Raz, I bring news.” Raz wasn’t sure he liked the way it was said.

  “You didn’t say good news. I was really hoping for that.”

  “I’m sorry Raz, but there is a war on you know?

  “Oh really? Do tell.”

  Wollfen smiled and then began relaying all the developments that he knew including the latest information on spies selling information to the Isogorreans. And after he was done Raz shook his head.

  “You know, this winter is allowing us down here to be a whole lot stronger for when the thaw comes, but by the sounds of it the north is finding it very hard to deal with the situation.”

  “Yes they are in dire straights, but if I manage to convince the elves to send an expeditionary force south, I believe we can tip the balance. All Kassandrea has to do is hold on. That shouldn’t be too much trouble. Other than the supply problem, the Isogorreans seem content to sit and wait them out, that is to our advantage.”

  Raz accepted his view on the situation. Things had been quiet all over, that of course wouldn’t stand true in the spring.

  “So how long before you get to the enchanted lands?”

  “It will take me another week to get to the garrisons on the edge of the high mountains. Maybe a day or two there then it’s a three week journey.” Raz thought for a moment adding the figures up.

  “That will cut it close won’t it? I mean if the Elves mobilize straight away they will only get back to Kassandrea two weeks before the thaw. The extra troops of Isogorr will have been in place by then for two weeks, they will be set and ready to go.”

  That did present a problem, it would have been better to catch the Isogorrean columns coming to reinforce the siege before they reached their destination.

  “I think I will have to come up with an alternate plan. I just may go directly to the elvish lands via teleportation after all. I did want to use the journey through the high mountains to see what state the peoples were in there as well as look at the orcs. But that may be a luxury I can’t afford.” Wollfen considered what options he had right now before making such a decision. “What I’ll do is go to the garrisons of the mountain edge and seek what intelligence I can from them. They should be able to give me a good outline of how things are before I need to go on. Yes, I’ll teleport from the Garrisons directly. By then I will have gathered as much information as possible before talking to the elves.”

  It was decided. They would have more time in the enchanted lands too to get things right this way.

  Back at Loranda’s quarters, Wollfen let himself in and stood there listening. There were no noises coming from the bedroom so he went over and knocked on the door.

  “Come in.”

  Wollfen entered and found both Night and Loranda sitting up in bed. Night was modest enough to cover herself but Loranda had her breasts exposed.

  “Hello girls, and yes Loranda, you are still a total tease.” Loranda gave a big smile.

  “But of course, did you expect anything less?” Night giggled.

  Wollfen came over and sat on the edge of the bed next to Night.

  “I will be leaving now, you two are happy?”

  They both nodded without hesitation. Night leaned up, put her arms around him and gave him a big hug. She whispered into his ear.

  “Thank you for everything Wollfen, even the bad has been helpful.”

  He nodded and as Night pulled away a little she stopped, then leaned in again and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  “Where’s mine?”

  Wollfen rolled his eyes and nodded again. Loranda slid out over the sheet and climbed across Night’s legs planting a big one on his lips. She then pulled back licking her lips.

  “Yup, you always taste good,” she winked. Wollfen looked at both of them.

  “I will see you people soon okay?”

  They nodded as he stood with the crystal in his hand, there was a bright light and he vanished. Night couldn’t help but feel a little sense of loss, she would miss him.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  BETRAYAL

  The farmer watched out through a crack in his boarded window as the orcs surrounded the cabin they were in. His wife and five children were there as well as the four farmhands. The orcs had shown up early in the morning as he had begun walking the cows in to milk them and now a number of the animals were lying dead. The orcs had opened up from a distance with arrows as they had approached. It had given the family enough time to get inside and secure the doors and windows.

  The orcs were gathering around the building and watching on. There were so many. The farmer couldn’t understand what was going on. Orcs hadn't ever attacked established farms before. If you were alone or maybe one other person with you out in the middle of nowhere, sure, but this? Orcs didn't ever travel in these numbers either. None of it made any sense.

  “Dad?”

  His teenage son and daughter were behind him, he turned and accepted the proffered weapon.

  “Hey Josh, thanks for the crossbow. Mary will you stay with the other kids and watch over them in the cellar?” She gave a grim smile.

  “Yes dad.”

/>   Off she went. He called out to two of his farmhands watching the back.

  “Let me know of developments of any kind!”

  His wife was watching out the next window across. He looked at her holding her own crossbow at the ready, she was a tough woman who would put up a good fight especially with the children's lives at stake. One of the farmhands looking out another window to the side called out.

  “There are riders! Look!”

  They all stared out at a line of four riders galloping line abreast parallel to the front of the house. They were all holding crossbows and firing as they went. A number of orcs went down and a small group gathered in the center stood their ground as the horses bore down on them. The riders didn’t hesitate in running them over and there were loud shrieks as the orcs were trampled. Two of the riders turned and rode back firing again at three remaining orcs and two went down, the third was trampled by a rider who had blonde hair flowing out behind. It was a women screaming and yelling as she backed the horse up and continued to stomp the last orc into the ground.

  The other two riders were chasing the other fleeing orcs cutting them down with swords as they went. One of them was a large man and particularly ferocious. Each time he swung his blade an orc would lose a limb or his head. The orcs were routed. Those two riders turned and trotted back towards the house, pulled up at the front verandah and dismounted. The other two followed suit.

  The farmer went to the front door and removed the beam of wood across it to allow it open. He pulled the door back and was greeted by the largest man of the group, tall with wavy brown hair and a light scar on his cheek. The rider extended his hand to the farmer and spoke,

  “Hello, my name is Wollfen.” He shook his hand and welcomed the people in.

  “I must thank you, you could not have come at a more opportune moment. Please come take a seat and let me introduce you to my family and workers.”

  The four strangers sat down, nodded and gave welcoming hellos between them all.