by Mark G Heath
“ Thaindire ? Can you hear me ?”
Thaindire turned his head slightly, his eyes fixing on the Manfurian. Pain was etched across his face.
“ Your wounds will be tended and you will afforded the appropriate care as our prisoner. I have nothing to gain in your suffering, but understand this, any attempt to harm any of my brethren or the blood maidens, or any escape attempt will be met with force.”
Thaindire remained silent and his eyes closed.
“ Do you understand?” pressed Novac.
Thaindire’s eyes flickered open again. He mumbled something, which was inaudible.
“ Speak up, I cannot hear you.”
“ What has happened to me?”
Novac gave a slight frown and then nodded.
“ Ah, you will have little recollection of what has gone on whilst you were under the spell of that girl. The severity of your wound has jolted you from the enchantment. You were bewitched, witch hunter. Yes, ironic I know.”
“ Bewitched? Who did that? How ?”
“ Yes, it appears you were under the command of another, the girl from the tavern, so much so, you turned on one of your own.”
A puzzled look swept Thaindire’s face.
“ Who are you?”
“ I am Arch Priest Syed Novac of Manfur.”
“ Manfur ? This village grows darker still,” remarked Thaindire and he attempted to squirm backwards, away from the arch priest.
“ That is very much my aim, although I aim to keep this village from the clutches of your tyrannical Order,” said Novac. Thaindire shifted his position slightly and grimaced as he did so.
“ What do you want from me?”
“ Oh, that which everyone else in this village has wanted. Your white blood.”
“ You shall have none, wretched priest,” said Thaindire and he tried to move away from Novac again but his body protested in pain.
“ Be still, you are in no state to resist. The blood maidens shall ease your pain and tend to your wounds.”
“ More will come, they will cut you down.”
“ Yes, I daresay they shall but we shall be ready for them and our numbers greatly increased.”
“ The One True God will obliterate you and your darkness.”
“ I rather think he won’t.”
Novac stood up and smoothed down his robes and adjusted his chain. Thaindire squirmed slowly, pain wracking his body. The Manfurian walked out of the store.
“ You may begin,” he said to the waiting maidens. The two women entered the store and bent down to tend to Thaindire. Novac could hear a noise of protestation before he moved away from the doorway and beckoned Tsangardies to him. The Arch Priest pointed at the leather bag.
“ Have you looked inside?” he asked his Under Priest.
“ No your eminence, I have only done as you bid me and kept the bag at my person.”
Novac took the bag from Tsangarides and opened it. He picked out one of the bottles of white blood and held it up for him to see.
“ White blood,” remarked Tsangarides, eyes widening.
“ Yes, two bottles and now we have a witch hunter full of it.”
“ May Manfur be praised,” said Tsangarides.
“ May he indeed.”
“ The alchemist protested his inability to perfect the Elixir Of Calling since he no longer had any of the Lucerne Berries or at least, he had us believe that, before the arrival of those tiny, vicious brutes of his.”
“ Yes, that is right.”
“ I have little doubt that this bottle will easily prove sufficient to create more of the fruit and thus enable the alchemist to complete his work. Once he has done so, I will be in a position to combine the Elixir with the gem essences that will shortly be received from the gem invoker, Ringthane and with that the Philtre of Awakening can be created.”
“ Our goal draws nearer, your eminent darkness.”
“ Yes. You see Tsangarides, how the might of Manfur is absolute. The Selnians, whilst they have played a part and been of some use to us, show why they are inferior to ourselves. It has only been with our coming that the grand design has been effected.”
“ Your eminence continues to lead us most wisely.”
“ Yes, yes, your compliments are noted, Tsangarides.”
“ Where is Low Priest Derran?”
“ He and Darmere remain with the gem invoker, Derran felt it merited his personal attention,” explained Tsangarides.
“ Good. Very well, send Tuelsin and Darkthane with this bottle to the Thorne woman. Tell them they are to ensure that she uses it to create the Lucerne Berries and they are to remain with her, until they are created. Explain, that if she refuses they are to persuade her to carry out our will.”
“ As you order, your eminence.”
“ Once the berries have been created, they are to take them to the alchemist and there he is to be watched until the elixir has been concocted. Make sure they understand that they are not to return here without the elixir. They must not let Thorne or Grimoult leave their sight.”
Tsangarides nodded.
“ What of the alchemist’s underlings?”
“ What of them?”
“Well, your eminence saw what they did to Acolyte Ssenkrad,. If they felt that the alchemist was in any kind of danger, might they not react in a similar fashion?”
“ You make a good point Tsangarides. Very well. Once the fruit has been collected they are to return here and we shall summon the alchemist here to complete his work. If need be, we shall transport the necessary implements and material he needs here. Parted from those underlings he will comply with our command.”
“ Is that everything your eminence?”
“ Yes, I shall be in the study continuing my preparatory work. Let us hope that there are no further interruptions or delays now that we have brought the grand design back on track.”
Novac handed the bottle to Tsangarides who bowed and then made his way to the two assigned acolytes and began earnestly explaining to them their task and the grave importance attached to them. The Arch Priest watched as his Under Priest held the bottle with both hands, thrusting it forward in emphasis at his instructions. The two acolytes nodded repeatedly and then carefully took the bottle of white blood. One reached for a small case in which to carry the precious load as Tsangarides returned to Novac’s side.
“ Your eminence, they are fully instructed as to their task and they are aware of the consequences should they fail,” he reported.
“ Excellent. With me please, Tsangarides.”
Novac walked back across the dormitory and made his way back up the spiral stone steps, Tsangarides following behind. As he was halfway up Novac heard the sound of shouting and struggling echoing from the church above. He recognised the voice. It was the girl from the tavern and she was demanding that she be released. Novac hastened his step and emerged into the church to see Kathryn Dromgoole being manhandled, carried in the air by six of the villagers, with a further eight having followed, no doubt out of curiosity as to what fate would befall the writhing Kathryn. Novac noticed the sexton Strivelyn walking behind along with the bald-headed gravedigger, whose face looked burned. Dromgoole squirmed and twisted against her captors, cursing them, but they held her fast. Novac stepped into their view and motioned with his hand for the six villagers to lower her to the floor. They obeyed, with two of them keeping a firm grip on her arms.
“ Where is he you bastard, he’s mine?” demanded Kathryn. Her eyes blazed with fury and her dress had torn from her struggling, showing her pale skin beneath.
“ Master Thaindire is now a ward of the Church of Manfur,” announced Novac.
“ He is not, he belongs to me,” retorted Kathryn.
“ Not any longer. Your enchantment has been broken.”
“ I don’t believe you.”
“ Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant. The enchantment breaking is a fact.”
“ Then you shall return hi
m to me and I shall charm him once again.”
“ No. He is our ward now and is needed for our purposes, not whatever fanciful plans you might have had for him.”
Kathryn let out a shriek and tried to lunge at Novac, but the two men flanking her, hauled her back. Novac stood regarding her impassively.
“ If you are so keen on Master Thaindire, perhaps you should join him as our ward?”
“ Do that, priest and see what happens to you.”
Novac turned away from Kathryn and addressed Strivelyn who was lurking behind Kathryn and her captors.
“ Strivelyn, has the second white blood been apprehended?”
“ No, your eminence, he has escaped the village on horseback,” replied the sexton, “ we did try and stop him but he got away.”
“ No matter, he has far to ride to summon assistance and we have more pressing matters to attend to here. What of the Brother Knights?”
“ Both are wounded, Sir Simon more so than his brother. Both are being treated by the apothecary, Alyssia Thorne,” explained Strivelyn.
“ Talvace, has Campion shown himself amidst all this activity?”
The gravedigger stepped around Dickon Mantell, who held Kathryn’s left arm. Novac could see that the left-hand side of his face had been badly burned, the skin blistered and peeling.
“ There is no sign still of Father Thomas,” muttered Talvace.
“ What happened to you?”
“ This bitch threw one of her mixtures at me,” seethed Talvace pointing at Kathryn.
“ Go downstairs and the blood maidens will tend to it.”
“ I want her,” said Talvace jerking his head at Kathryn, “ she owes me for this,” he jabbed a thick finger at his injured face.
Novac raised a gloved hand to his beard and stroked it as he considered the request.
“ Touch me, Talvace and you will draw back a stump,” said Kathryn defiantly.
Talvace laughed, unperturbed by her threat.
Tsangarides leant in towards his master and whispered in his ear.
“ Your eminence, holding her here might draw unnecessary attention.”
“ She needs to understand who controls this village and its inhabitants. We shall teach her a lesson and then release her,” murmured Novac in reply.
“ Of course, your eminence.”
Novac turned back to the small group looking them over. Finally, he looked at Talvace who was leering at Kathryn.
“ I see no reason to deny you that right, you have been of some service to us,” said Novac.
“ No, no,” yelled Kathryn.
“ Thank you, your eminence,” smiled Talvace and gave an exaggerated bow.
“ Tsangarides, these men will take her to a store room below and Master Talvace is to be allowed one hour with her and then she is to be released to the village. Reward these men for bringing her to us.”
“ As you order, your eminence.”
“ This way,” said Tsangarides as he made his way towards the steps to the dormitory once more.
“ No, not him, I will gouge his eyes out and rip off his cock,” shouted Kathryn as she continued to fight against the two villagers who held her.
“ I’ve always had a soft spot for you Miss Kathryn,” goaded Talvace as he hopped from one foot to the other in excitement.
“ Bastard, I will burn you again and make sure I get all of your ugly face,” shouted Kathryn as she battled furiously to avoid being dragged away to the storeroom and the unwanted attentions of Talvace. The villagers, aided by Strivelyn now, pulled her across the floor until fed up of her struggling, they tipped her off her feet and carried her lengthways. Kathryn continued to issue threats and curses. Talvace followed, all thoughts of his injury seemed to have been forgotten, judging by the huge grin that he bore. As he passed Novac, the Arch Priest grabbed him by the shoulder.
“ She is to be left alive, grave digger, understand?”
“ Yes, your reverence.”
“Otherwise it will cost you your life too.”
Talvace gave a firm nod.
Novac released the gravedigger and he scurried after the departing Tsangarides rubbing his large hands together in anticipation. Novac gave a look of disgust and then set off for the church’s study and his continuing preparations.
Chapter Thirty Two
Lancaster looked over his shoulder but the landing was empty. He suspected the whole tavern was probably empty, save for him and his wife. He had made haste from the apothecary, uninterested in the conflict that was ongoing, for once he had laid his hands on the vial of white blood, all that had concerned him was returning to the tavern and passing it to his wife. He had encountered nobody on his quick walk back to the inn. The tavern door remained wide open, but there was no sign of the Dromgooles and he reasoned they must have all headed for the bridge. He had closed the tavern door and made his way upstairs and straight to the door, which led to his wife’s chamber. He twisted the key in the lock and pushed open the door. Cerilan was sat by one of the windows, her knees drawn up to her chest, looking out over the yard behind the inn. Lancaster closed the door and locked it, inserting the key back into a pocket.
“ Ah, there you are. What’s been happening?” asked Cerilan, “ I heard shouting and saw people running across the yard, pursued by a red-headed knight. Unless I am very much mistaken, one of the people I saw looked like the white blood you have described to me.
“ You are very much correct, Cerilan, it was the white blood.”
“ Who was the girl with him, his enchantress?”
“ Yes, Kathryn Dromgoole.”
“ I thought you said that they didn’t leave her chamber. They looked in a hurry.”
“ Yes, I did say that.”
“ Well, you seem to have got that wrong as well.”
“ Well, they left, but not of their own accord.”
“ How so?”
“ The Brother Knights came to arrest the white blood and he and the girl fled before the arrest could be executed. That knight you saw was Sir Joshua giving chase. They cut off the white blood at Tallow Bridge. He is quite the swords man by all accounts, the white blood. He bested both Sir Joshua and his brother. I came upon them both when I was heading to the apothecary to see Thorne. They were both injured and…”
“ Yes, yes,” said Cerilan waving her hand in irritation, “ you went to see Thorne then. Did she have any white blood?”
“ I am getting to that, if you would listen,” answered Lancaster testily. Cerilan raised her eyebrows at his change of tone and moved forward from her seated position, as if to spring up. Lancaster put up a conciliatory hand causing her to shrink back.
“ Thorne wasn’t answering her door, so I had to break in to the apothecary. “
“ Go on.”
“ I found Thorne, in a heap, in her basement.”
“ Dead?”
“ Thankfully not, merely unconscious.”
“ Did you rouse her and obtain more white blood?”
“ I found a vial of white blood on some strange rack in the basement. She must have had another white blood kept prisoner there from whom she was extracting the white blood. You see, Reznik wanted to see me last night and he said he had seen two white bloods, neither of them Thaindire, in the village. I tried to hire him to capture one of them but he felt the task too dangerous.”
“ Never mind Reznik, you have a vial?”
“ Yes I do,” smiled Lancaster. With a flourish, he produced the vial from his belt and held it in front of him. Cerilan hopped down from her position by the window and advanced towards Lancaster, her eyes fixed on the vial. The chain slithered across the floor as she neared him. A small hand reached out and plucked the vial from Lancaster’s grasp. Cerilan broke into a smile and peered at the viscous liquid as she gently shook it from side to side.
“ Will there be enough?” asked Lancaster.
“ To uncover the script, yes, yes there will be enough.”
“ E
xcellent.”
“ Does anyone know that you have this?”
“No, nobody saw me take it. I carried Thorne out as she was needed to assist the Brother Knights with their injuries. One of the villagers managed to rouse Thorne and I left her to tend to the knights. She doesn’t know that I took it.”
“ But she knows that you carried her from the basement?”
“ No.”
“No?”
“She was unconscious, although…”
“ What?”
“Although one of the villagers might tell her that it was me that rescued her.”
“ What do you mean might? Those slack jaws will be bound to tell her. Oh, Master Lancaster saved you Mistress Thorne, carried you out of the basement in his big, strong arms he did,” sneered Cerilan.
“ Well, if they do, what of it?”
“ When she sees the white blood missing, she will know you took it.”
“ Not necessarily. It is clear that a white blood escaped her, he might have taken it, or someone else who came down into the basement whilst she lay there.”
Cerilan paused giving it some thought.
“ That may be right, but she will at least have you as one of the suspected thieves, so you shall need to have your wits about you, in case she decides to use her craft against you.”
“ Huh, she dare not, after the patronage I have given her,” snorted Lancaster.
“ This outweighs such patronage,” said Cerilan waving the vial before Lancaster, “ yes even yours Cyon Lancaster.”
“ I can deal with Thorne, leave that to me, you need to get on with your work.”
“ Worry not, I will, but some oaf is distracting me with his tales from the village.”
“ This oaf secured the white blood.”
“ Purely by chance.”
