"Please, calm down," Anhalt said. "This was not a merchant convoy." The merchant took a deep breath of relief, but to his credit maintained a concerned look on his face as the soldier continued. "The prize the vampires sought was Her Imperial Highness, the princess Adele."
The fearful murmur in the room eroded into confused silence. Some were overwhelmed by the sadness of a tragedy befalling someone powerful and supposedly privileged. With thoughts of a now bloodless Princess Adele swirling about the room, several men in the room crossed themselves. Others sneered at those who did.
Councilmen were trying rapidly to calculate political angles of the shocking news. Marseilles was not a part of the Equatorian Empire; it was an independent city-state, so it wasn't the case that they had lost their own future empress. However, Equatoria was a massive state with a long reach, and Marseilles relied on imperial trade and sometimes firepower. Many feared the great Empire was also deceptively fragile. A succession crisis created by the heir's death might precipitate a struggle that could shatter the Empire and destabilize the entire hemisphere.
Continental city-states such as Marseille had reason to want a generally beneficent Equatoria to remain powerful. For instance, many of the cities of the French homeland feared the Algerian-based kingdom of OutreMer, which was ruled by the mad Louis Napoleon IX and controlled by the descendants of Foreign Legionnaires. Marseilles' city fathers jealously guarded their independence against the fanatical Legionnaires, who believed they had the true Bourbon king in their suncracked grip, and they counted on the threat of Equatorian power to keep the Legion behind their Algerian walls.
Even farther south, the major African kingdoms of Bornu and Katanga had shown signs of expansionism in the last two decades. An imperial collapse would invite powerful King Msiri of Katanga to seize the Nile watershed and reopen the bloody wars for the Zambesi gold and copper fields. And many felt that the Zulu in the Empire's mineral-rich but fractious Cape Province could easily rebuild an independent military machine and swallow up a weakened Equatoria and much more territory besides.
The mayor said, with a sense of relief, "Well, Emperor Constantine has a son. So although we grieve for this poor, poor girl, thankfully the imperial succession hasn't been endangered."
Anhalt said, "The young boy I brought here is the emperor's son." The council room dissolved tiresomely again into panicked conversations dominated by anger and fear that a vampire force pursuing the imperial prince would now fall on Marseilles. The colonel said in a louder voice, "Messieurs, there is nothing to fear. The vampires are not searching for the boy. But the Empire will be searching when news of the disaster reaches their borders. If political stability concerns you, it would be in your interest to avoid a situation where the emperor appears bereft of heirs. I would ask you, please, to forward my message to the imperial base on Malta. I need a ship to return Prince Simon to Alexandria. Then I will form an armada immediately to pursue Princess Adele's captors."
"But surely she is already dead," Mayor Comblain argued.
A tall man in the front blurted out, "We should organize a prayer vigil across town. Perhaps the archbishop could-"
He was drowned out by groans and derisive catcalls.
The querulous merchant boss bellowed from the floor, "Messieurs, I propose that we appoint a committee to consider what reward we should expect from the grateful imperial court for the return of the new heir apparent. I would happily undertake to chair that committee."
Anhalt pointed at the bloated industrialist. "You will not use this boy for extortion."
"Who are you to speak to me so? I have the interests of this city at heart."
"Please! Please!" the mayor said quickly. He extended a quivering hand toward Anhalt. "We are all grateful many times over for the assistance the Empire has given, not just to our fair city, but to many free humans across the continent. I am sure that the emperor will shine upon us for assuring him of the safety of his beloved son. We need not be gauche."
"We should expect compensation for services rendered." The merchant grinned and patted his girth. "Everyone has to eat, monsieur." This aroused a chorus of nervous laughter from the room. "I am proud of my work pulling Marseilles from the dark ages. And you will certainly share in the reward, Colonel, if that is your concern. I am a fair man and you've earned it."
Anhalt abruptly waded into the stiff-collared crowd. His robotic motions were frightening in their directness. Men drew back, accompanied by the scraping of chairs. In the back of the room, several beefy teamsters, much out of place in the neoclassical surroundings, detached themselves from the wall and sidled forward. The merchant glanced at them quickly, and they stopped but continued to watch, ready to move.
Anhalt drew up in front of the massive trader, who towered over him. The soldier was assaulted by the smell of wine wafting off the corpulent man. He knew this man before him, or knew his type. Here in the council chamber the merchant could speak the most beautiful classical French, but in his office and in the waterfront warehouses of Marseilles he spoke the harsh mercantile Mediterranean patois that had grown up since the vampire revolution had forcibly mixed European, Levantine, and North African.
The soldier leaned close and whispered, "The boy will be treated with care and returned to his family as soon as possible. I hold you personally responsible, monsieur. Or would you prefer your ships in imperial ports to be seized and impounded?"
The merchant turned pale, eyes narrowing. But he remained quiet. The rest of the room had receded from the contest between these two men. Even the mayor couldn't dredge up further conciliatory things to say. Anhalt snorted derisively and, without a glance at the two teamsters who glared at him, strode out the wide doors of the council chamber.
Simon was lying in bed tugging on the clothes he had been given to wear. "They're not very well tailored," he observed without malice. Then he sniffed his sleeve and wrinkled his nose. "Wool." His face was black and blue, and he had been bandaged tightly around his chest. He had hurt very badly until he was given some drops of laudanum. Now he couldn't feel much of anything and the world was pleasantly fuzzy.
Anhalt turned from the window casement, and the lovely moonlit view of the harbor crowded with small sailing ships and a few steam vessels. He was pleased to see the prince had movement in his upper body; it was a good sign. The doctor had said that Simons back was not broken and that he would likely regain much of the mobility in his lower body, despite his rough and ready conveyance from the battlefield to Marseilles. This relieved Anhalt's burden of guilt considerably on that matter.
Simon asked, "When are we leaving?"
"Soon. Messages have been sent to your father, the emperor." Anhalt carefully eased his full weight back onto his injured leg.
"Won't you escort me all the way to Alexandria?"
"My duty lies with Her Highness, Princess Adele."
Simon's eyes welled with the first sign of tears since the battle and loss of his sister. "If I were emperor, I'd make sure everyone was safe from vampires."
"Do you wish to be emperor someday?"
The boy lay still, but his sniffling broke the silence. He rubbed his cheek against the pillow. "Not really."
"Then don't worry. You won't have to. Her Highness, your sister, will be fine." Anhalt clapped his hands behind his back and straightened. "Is there anything you want me to tell her when I see her?"
Simon thought. "No. I guess not." He grinned. "Tell her she was stupid to get captured." He giggled. "All that training she does with Mamoru and it didn't help." Simon paused, then said, "Mamoru scares me. He was a priest in Java." Suddenly Simon stopped and looked around. "Um ... I'm not supposed to say anything about that." He bit his lip.
"Don't worry. Mamoru scares me too. But he is a man of honor and discipline. Speaking of discipline, do you have any?"
"Why?" Simon now noticed that the soldier was holding something behind his back. "Yes! I do! I do!"
Anhalt produced a sheathed dagger. He d
rew it out for Simon to see. It was a nine-inch steel blade with a fine copper and ivory hilt, simple and unadorned. "Do you know how to use this?"
The boy gasped at it, although he had countless fancier ones as ornaments throughout his imperial residences. "Yes!" He reached out. "Here, I'll show you."
The soldier pulled the blade back. "No, no. I want you to have this, but only if you'll be careful with it."
"Have you killed any vampires with it?"
"Yes."
The boy stared wide-eyed at the blade and breathed, "Deus vobiscum!"
The soldier slid the dagger back in the sheath and handed it to the boy. "It's yours. It's very sharp. Know this: the first time you cut yourself, I must take it away from you."
Simon carefully slid the blade from the sheath. "Thank you, Colonel Anhalt. I'll keep it forever."
"Long life to you, Your Highness." Anhalt saluted and departed, his boot steps echoing away down the corridor.
CHAPTER
H MORNING LIGHT had yet to make an appearance over the eastern sky, so Adele kept her hand on Greyfriar's cloak as he steered her through the forest. She prided herself at this point that she was able to see branches and vines, and twist to avoid them. They stayed in densely wooded areas as much as possible, which permitted only the barest of light from the sliver of moon in the night sky.
Adele couldn't help but marvel at the man with her. His abilities were uncanny, practically mystical. Much of what she felt toward him was jealousy, since she craved his endurance, sense of direction, and night vision. But in those small gaps between envy and ragged exhaustion, she wished to know him better. The skills he had mastered, the air of nobility about him, demanded her attention. What had made him the man he was? What harsh childhood had he borne which turned him onto his current path? Certainly it must have been something epic to make someone choose such a life.
Such maddening curiosity made Adele forget her misery, though sadly it sparked little else. To her shame, she was lost. Their direction had changed so frequently that she no longer could tell where they were heading. The brief snatches of night sky through the branches, though brilliant with stars, did not give her the time to check constellations.
She was at Greyfriar's mercy.
To her relief, Greyfriar slowed his pace. His masked face turned slightly toward her. Surprisingly, a sheen of sweat was on his brow and his breathing was actually laboring. She wasn't sure if that was a good sign or bad.
"We're close," he said.
"To what?"
"A human settlement. We should find shelter there."
Relief welled in the young woman. They were safe finally. "How large a settlement?"
Greyfriar paused to listen to something she could not hear. Then he answered her question. "Several hundred souls. They call it Riez."
"Let's go." She strode forward.
"Slowly, Princess," he commanded. "There is open ground between us and the town."
Adele frowned at the swordsman for a split second for his tone, but quickly relented. He had not led her astray yet. Also, she noticed instinctively that he didn't use the proper "Your Highness" as befitted her position, and she found it irreverently amusing. With a gesture of her hand, she said, "After you."
She imagined a flicker of amusement, as if he smiled beneath the mask.
"This way."
Adele saw pale lines of smoke rising from numerous chimneys beyond the clearing and smelled the delicious warmth of wood smoke. The small frontier town was a decrepit shell of what it had once been. It was now reduced to overgrown medieval structures and a few poor farmers going to and fro beginning their daily chores. It looked picturesque and peaceful. Adele thought it was the most beautiful sight in the world.
She raised her gaze to the sky as Greyfriar was presently doing, scanning the cobalt blue above them for signs of vampires.
"Clear?" she asked.
He drew his gleaming sword. "If something happens, I want you to run toward the village. Scream."
She raised her eyebrows defiantly.
Bemused at her pride, he added, "To attract attention. Don't look back and don't try to help me. Do you understand?"
Adele's heart raced, pounding with such force it almost hurt. "Yes." She looked around the woods, almost afraid to ask, "Are they here?"
"Possibly. Flay would know this is one of the closest settlements. She could have been here before us. Waiting."
"I'm ready." It was a lie. If it were left to her, she would stay right where she was for the rest of her days. The thought of walking across an open field while malicious vampires waited to strike made her knees so weak she doubted she was going to be able to follow Greyfriar. But she knew that she had no choice.
"Quickly now," he bade her, and they ran.
Greyfriar slipped through the high grass, aiming for a worn path that ran to the village. His eyes scanned about him, watching for ambush. Clouds of dust billowed up at his pounding feet. Adele was beside him with dagger in hand.
People from the village noticed them and paused in their morning toil. Adele lifted her arm, but had no breath left to call out. A few farmers started walking toward them with implements in their hands.
But nothing horrible erupted from the treeline and nothing swooped down from the morning sky. They were going to make it! Perhaps Greyfriar overestimated Flay, Adele thought with excitement. Flay was just a vampire, after all. Cunning, perhaps, but only in the way a savage beast was cunning.
Greyfriar's attention had already turned to the farmers.
"Greyfriar!" exclaimed a tall gaunt man with a scythe in his grasp. "It's the Greyfriar!" he shouted to the others with excitement.
Adele could only watch, stunned by the enthusiastic greetings of these people for the man beside her. A bearded man in rough twill work clothes grabbed her as her legs trembled and finally failed her.
"What has happened?" the thin man asked Greyfriar in French.
"A ship was attacked by vampires," Greyfriar replied in an accent so perfect he might have been born here. "We need shelter."
"Of course you shall have it! Bring her into town."
"I may have been followed."
"Spread the warning, Makepeace," the thin man shouted, and clasped Greyfriar by the shoulder. "We offer you our protection."
"Thank you, Shepherd. It is good to see you again. I wish it were under better circumstances."
"We cannot always choose our moments of reunion. Who is this young woman? A survivor of the attack?"
Greyfriar nodded, letting his friend make his own assumptions and not offering more.
"Not the only one, I hope?" Shepherd inquired with growing horror.
"There were few left alive when I arrived."
"The poor thing. How long have you been on the run?"
"A day or so."
Shepherd tsked. "You need food and rest."
Greyfriar habitually checked to be sure his mask was in place before he turned from the window. "I've sent word that will soon reach the Empire. You will be home before too long. I hope."
"Thank you." Adele was watching him, desperate suddenly to learn something about her rescuer before they parted ways. "What does your name mean?"
The swordsman seemed confused briefly as he slowly paced along the rough plaster wall. "Oh. Greyfriar is a church in Scotland."
"Scotland? Have you been there?"
"Yes."
"So far north? How do you manage it?"
"It's not as difficult as you might imagine. If you're alone."
"Are you a geomancer?" Adele leaned forward. Her mentor, Mamoru, had told her about the skills of geomancy that allowed certain humans to move unseen by vampires. She had always wondered whether it was true. "I've heard stories about them. They travel the north, spying on the vampires. But they can't be seen. Is that right? Can you do that?"
"No. I've heard those stories too. I assume they're just stories. How is such a thing possible?"
"Well, how are
you possible? I thought you were just a story too. Just a creation by people so sick of living in fear they created a man who couldn't possibly exist."
"Perhaps I am."
Adele didn't appear to hear his soft reply. She had fallen into her own thoughts.
Suddenly she said with great vigor, "I hope they all die. The vampires. My father intends to kill them all, you know. That's why I am to be married." Her hands gripped the chair's arms till her flesh turned white. "I hate them!" Her grief was surging out as anger now that they were relatively safe. "When I'm empress I'll send all my airships to kill the vampires. They're not magic; they can die."
"Yes," Greyfriar said quietly. "They can die."
"My army is the greatest in the world. My grandfather conquered India and my father conquered Africa. We intend for all humans to join together and kill the vampires."
Adele turned away from Greyfriar. It wasn't right for him to see her so emotional. She was a princess, and so her voice stilled. "Once I'm married to Senator Clark, all the vampires will be killed so people can live in the north again. And live in the snow. My brother was desperate to see snow." After a while, she said, "I've seen pictures of snow and I've seen it on mountains, but not up close. It's too dangerous; there might be vampires."
"I have seen snow."
Adele looked imploring. "What's it like?"
"It's quiet. And lonely."
"How long have you been fighting?"
Greyfriar took a deep breath. "A long time. Most of my life."
Adele smiled at him. "Amazing. That you're still alive. You must know a great deal about them, about vampires. We could use a man such as you in the coming war."
The swordsman lowered his head and continued pacing, accompanied by the creaking of leather and the clashing of his weapons. "I do what I can from here. These are the people who need me the most."
"But you must have a great deal of intelligence on vampire society. We have some concept of how it's structured, but you could be very helpful. You must know about how they"-Adele sneered with con- tempt-"organized themselves into their clans after they conquered the north."
The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire, Book 1) by Clay & Susan Griffith;Clay Griffith;Susan Griffith Page 5
