The Lost Duke

by Kristen Gupton

  Athan barked out a laugh, waving his sword at his side. “Whose personal accounts?”

  With that, Sytir rushed forward with an unexpected burst of speed, coming to stand immediately before the vampire, staring down into his eyes.

  Athan hadn’t anticipated the move, unable to read the Nahli’s intentions. It caught him by surprise, and he went perfectly still, feeling the tip of a dagger pressed firmly against the center of his chest over his heart.

  Sytir’s mouth was expressionless, but there was fevered emotion behind his eyes. “Those of my wife, and now that I’m in power, I will stop the spread of your evil.”

  Athan maintained an outward calm, though he was aware of the vulnerability in his position. Not used to being threatened, he couldn’t help but push the issue further. “A woman? You’re doing this on the word of a single woman? You are committing an act of war against Talaus over that? How damned foolish are you?”

  The Nahli’s eyes narrowed and he tipped his head back a little. “Do you mean to tell me that I shouldn’t take the word of Kayla Sipesh? I believe you know her.”

  In a heartbeat, all of Athan’s bravado and composure failed him. His lips parted, though no words managed out of him for several seconds. It was exceedingly rare for Athan to feel emotions other than anger on any significant level, but simply hearing her name made his knees nearly buckle beneath him.

  “Your wife? Kayla?” Athan whispered, his mind reeling. “You have her? Is she here?”

  The Nahli simply turned away. Seeing the vampire’s reaction told him all he needed to know.

  Athan struggled to pull his emotions back in check, and he moved to follow Sytir. “Where is she?”

  Sytir didn’t respond until he’d pulled himself up into the saddle of his ice bear, signaling it to stand.

  “She’s quite safe, and quite safely out of your reach. But we will not tolerate any further expansion of your borders beyond where they now stand. This is not an idle threat,” Sytir said, gently tugging the reins and urging his mount to turn away.

  The vampire was far from satisfied, and he started to take chase, but as quickly as the blizzard had ceased, it picked up again. Within seconds, the Nahli man had vanished.

  * * *

  Kanan and Jerris rode ahead of the rest of the Tordanian entourage, catching up to their Alerian escorts. The two had conferred earlier in the morning about Jerris’ concerns regarding their behavior, and Kanan had readily agreed with his son’s observations about them.

  The two moved to ride on either side of the four Alerians. It was the woman, riding on the end of their formation, who spoke first.

  “We will reach the Alerian border by midday,” she said, never diverting her eyes from the road ahead.

  “Very good,” Jerris replied. “We just wished to check with the four of you to ensure everything was in order.”

  “There will be no issue crossing into Aleria with us escorting you,” one of the men said.

  “You’ve been rather aloof to us Tordanians since we started this journey,” Kanan replied, deciding to cut to the heart of it. “It makes some of us feel a bit uneasy.”

  “We simply aren’t familiar with your customs nor are we particularly used to dealing with outsiders,” the woman answered, turning her head toward the elder guard. “We mean no offense by it.”

  Kanan wasn’t satisfied with that. “We were beginning to worry you didn’t like our king.”

  There were sidelong glances between the four, but they remained silent after the guard’s comment.

  Jerris and Kanan looked at one another and then turned away from the Alerians to head back toward the rest of the group. They remained silent until out of earshot.

  Kanan spoke under his breath. “They’re professional enough to not say something incriminating to my last remark.”

  “But scared enough to not think of a deflecting retort on the spot,” Jerris added.

  “Aye. Leads me to think they do know what Keiran is.”

  “I agree, but they have orders to bring him in, so they are doing it out of duty or loyalty to their queen,” Jerris said. “I suppose we’re a bit accustomed to being in the presence of a vampire or two, unlike them. Still, something is troubling me about it.”

  “If they wanted to harm Keiran, why not just try to assassinate him, though?” Kanan asked, curious to see how his son would respond.

  “Perhaps they understand how difficult it is to kill him.”

  “All right, but if they are that scared of him, why bring him into their country?” the older guard asked.

  “The queen must truly wish to meet him. If it was just to kill him, I suppose they would have at least tried to do so outside of their borders,” Jerris said.

  “Aye. So, killing Keiran isn’t their end game.”

  The redhead looked at his father and gave a nod. “It wouldn’t make sense for them to do what they are doing if that was the case.”

  “Then, unless Keiran says otherwise, we shall carry onward,” Kanan said.

  They fell back to Keiran’s side, flanking him. He eagerly looked between the two of them to see what they’d learned.

  “Well, it’s our belief they do know what you are, and they are afraid of you. However, we don’t think they’re out to do you any real harm,” Jerris said. “If that were the case, surely they would have spared the trouble of bringing you with all these guards and escorts into their country.”

  “An assassination would have been cleaner to attempt back in Tordania without announcing who they were or where they were from. It would have kept Aleria from being pointed to as the culprit,” Kanan added.

  Keiran listened and nodded, thinking it over. “Then we shall carry forward, but with caution. I’m too eager to meet family, and it’s probably clouded my ability to see things objectively.”

  “That’s what we’re here for,” Jerris replied, giving a self-satisfied smile.

  Not far off, two massive stone towers became visible on either side of the road ahead. Flanking those towers, a wall ran off as far as the eye could see. Between the towers, a large wooden gate was tied open. When closed, that gate would cut off the road and keep anyone from entering Aleria.

  “They do take their border rather seriously, don’t they?” Keiran said, watching as their Alerian escorts picked up their pace to run down to the guard towers.

  “Aye, these people are serious on their defenses,” the redhead replied. “There is definitely something they are determined to keep out.”

  “I wonder if this sort of defense lines their entire border. I can’t imagine it doesn’t if they’re willing to put it up along the border of a country as harmless as Ibia,” Keiran said.

  “What if they’re trying to keep something in?” Kanan asked.

  The two younger men both turned to look at him. They couldn’t imagine a reason to do so.

  “That, Kanan, is a frightening idea,” Keiran said, shaking his head. “The guise of security is one of the oldest excuses around that nations use to institute oppressive control over their citizens’ lives, though.”

  “Well, if they’re as paranoid on the other side of the gate as they look to be from this side, I suppose we’ll know,” Kanan said.

  When they arrived at the gate, their four escorts were already there speaking with the border guards. However, as Keiran rode closer, all conversation and activity around them stopped. Wide, frightened eyes were focused on the Tordanians.

  One man stepped into the center of the road before them, quickly counting the group of foreigners and writing his tally down into a small journal.

  “You are King Keiran Sipesh of Tordania?” he asked, tucking the book away into a pocket.

  The vampire gave a small nod and a shallow bow from where he sat on his horse. “Aye, indeed I am.”

  “Very good,” he said, nodding. “Since you have the permission of Queen Adira herself to enter, I won’t delay you long.”

  Keiran looked at his guards and quir
ked a brow. They just looked back at him and shrugged.

  The man pulled another book from a pocket. Again, he wrote something with his charcoal pencil before tearing the page out. He moved toward the Tordanian king, holding the document up to him.

  “You will need to show that at the checkpoints you arrive at along the way. Just a simple matter of documenting the number of travelers in your group to make certain no one has gotten lost along the way,” he said as the vampire took the paper from his hand.

  Keiran looked at the form, but he was unable to read their written language. The idea there would be a need for such a thing as well as checkpoints within the country was alien to him, but he didn’t have any choice but to play along if he wanted to get to his aunt.

  “Very well, we shall do as asked,” the young king said, handing the document over to Kanan for safe keeping.

  The old guard took the paper and stowed it beneath his thick leather vest, flashing a knowing look toward Keiran. “Well, they are just as paranoid as they looked from outside.”

  Keiran gave an almost imperceptible nod in response, hoping the Alerians around them hadn’t heard.

  “We are quite happy to provide you with additional security as you travel through Aleria,” the man said before lifting his right hand and swirling it above his head.

  On the road just past the open gates, twenty Alerian guards, looking much like the four who’d led them that far, appeared.

  Keiran gave Kanan a sidelong glance before forcing up a smile for the man. “We thank you for the consideration over our safety.”

  “We just would hate for something to happen to the queen’s own flesh and blood, King Sipesh,” the man replied with a deep bow before stepping aside. “Please, I would hate to delay you any further. This very road will lead you directly to the capital and Queen Adira’s palace.”

  Keiran was starting to have deep pangs of apprehension as he picked up the reins and signaled Porter forward again. He lamented the loss of his ability to feel the emotions of others, but the opportunity to feed and regain that sense hadn’t presented itself.

  “Even with that sort of security on the border and with all of us around you, they feel the need to put this many Alerian guards with us?” Jerris asked, noticing how their new escorts took up formation completely around the Tordanian entourage. “Twenty-four to eleven?”

  “They are definitely determined to keep us together as a group,” Kanan said, feeling uneasy. “I think they fear the entirety of our entourage.”

  “Do they think we’re all vampires?” Jerris asked.

  “I don’t know, but this is paranoia on their part,” Keiran whispered, not wanting their new escorts to hear.

  “Just keep vigilant,” Kanan said, turning his sights forward. “These people are control fanatics.”

  * * *

  Four days after the Tordanians crossed into Aleria, the queen’s best courier arrived with the news. Small of frame and not weighing much more than the average eight-year-old child, Mari Adaksin had been able to fly across the countryside, changing horses several times during her journey to the palace. Her petite stature, endurance, and skill allowed her to ride faster than any of the court’s other messengers.

  Exhausted, the tiny woman had entered the palace and been directed to the queen’s quarters as she’d already retired for the evening. Victri heard of the messenger’s arrival and ran to meet her before she pulled open the door to Adira’s chambers.

  Though small, the courier wasn’t intimidated by Victri’s appearance as he stepped in front of her, keeping her from reaching the queen.

  “What have you to tell me?” he asked, glaring down at Mari.

  “I’m to report directly to Queen Adira, Victri. You know that as well as I do,” she said back, crossing her arms over her chest.

  Victri absolutely detested when news got to the queen that didn’t arrive through him first. He’d seen the look in the queen’s eyes on several recent occasions that told him she was beginning to have her doubts in him. The advisor was absolutely unwilling to let his position slide, and he wasn’t about to let a courier keep him from controlling the flow of information within the court.

  He scowled down at her, leaning forward just enough to loom over her. “Mari, I’m not in the mood for games. This is a serious, and as the top advisor to the queen, I need to be apprised.”

  She tried to duck and make it past him to the door, but Victri grabbed the shoulders of her riding jacket and jerked hard, sending her careening to the floor.

  “You bastard!” she yelped, once she’d skidded to a stop on the slick marble floor.

  Victri simply stood in place, knowing Mari wouldn’t be able to physically force her way past him. “Now, tell me what you know so I can take the information to Adira.”

  The door behind the advisor was yanked open hard enough to make the air rush past him. Adira had heard the commotion in the hallway and hastily put on her robe after emerging from her bath.

  “What is all of this?” Adira looked over and saw Mari struggling up from the floor.

  Victri turned to face the queen, forcing up a smile for her. “It would seem our courier has returned with news. She slipped. Poor little thing probably can’t walk properly after such a grueling ride.”

  Adira stepped out into the corridor and looked over at Mari, unsure of what had transpired.

  Mari got back to her feet and straightened her riding jacket before bowing to the queen. While she wanted to tell Adira what Victri had done, she feared for her safety. She knew it wasn’t the first time the advisor had been physically aggressive with an underling.

  “I just arrived.” Mari gave her full attention to the queen despite the deep, searing pain the fall had caused in her shoulder.

  “Is there news? Has Keiran arrived in the country?” the queen asked, growing more animated.

  “Aye, he arrived at the border four days ago.”

  Adira clasped her hands before her chest and closed her eyes, both relieved he’d accepted the invitation and worried the vampire was now in Aleria. “Tell me my orders to have a large contingent of guards placed with them was followed.”

  “It was. There is a total of twenty-four of our people escorting King Sipesh’s group of only eleven,” Mari said.

  “I would imagine they are still three days away, then?” Adira asked.

  Mari could see Victri seething behind the queen, but there was nothing she could do about it.

  “With the weather as it is, it should take them that long, yes,” Mari replied.

  “And lastly, is Keiran the only vampire amongst them, or has he changed his guards to be like him?” Victri asked, moving to stand beside the queen.

  Mari didn’t let her eyes move back to the advisor, though her cheeks burned red in her anger when he came closer. “The four who escorted the Tordanians to the border never saw any evidence of any of them being vampires. Not even the king himself. No blood was visibly consumed, and no unusual powers were observed.”

  “He’s either just not powerful enough to show off yet, or he hides it to avoid giving up what he can do,” Victri turned to face the queen. “All a show, I’m willing to bet. I wouldn’t trust it.”

  Mari decided it was time to disappear while Victri was occupied with the queen. She gave a small bow and went to go drop her aching body into a hot bath.

  Adira gave a nod of thanks toward Mari as she retreated before facing her advisor. “I don’t know but possible. He was raised by Turis Lee without Ilana to guide him. I doubt he’s a very nice person as a consequence. Add to it that Athan is most certainly a part of this vampire’s life… I hope we haven’t gotten in over our heads.”

  Victri huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, we could have killed him outright long ago, and I encouraged you to do so.”

  She flashed him a glare, frowning. “I will not kill my sister’s child, Victri.”

  He knew he was pushing again, but the run-in with the courier had
gotten him hot. “What have you decided to do with him once he’s here? What of the men accompanying him? Are you simply going to have a conversation with him? Will you say he needs to abdicate the throne and agree to neither reproduce or otherwise spread his vampirism? Is that it? As if he’d agree!”

  “I don’t appreciate your tone, Victri,” Adira said.

  The advisor raised both of his hands and lowered his head slightly. “I apologize, but I’m just as stressed about bringing a vampire here as anyone. Surely, you don’t intend to simply lock this one up and keep it as a pet.”

  Adira’s face lost all expression, and she slowly blinked. The advisor had just crossed a line he would never manage to recover from. She lifted her right arm and pointed down the corridor.

  “You are dismissed, Victri.”

  “Then, I suppose, I will meet with you tomorrow about it,” he said, feeling a sharp jolt of anxiety run through his body.

  “No, Victri, I mean you are dismissed. Leave.” Adira’s green eyes narrowed in anger. “You have become increasingly disrespectful over the years, and I’ve had enough of it. You are not the ruler of this country. I am.”

  “Adira, you’re under significant pressure right now and apt to make foolish decisions,” he said, taking a step closer.

  “Victri, leave immediately or I will have you imprisoned. I can’t afford to be distracted by your stupid arrogance when I have serious matters to deal with.” Adira turned away from him to go find the nearest guard to escort the advisor out.

  The advisor lost his temper, and he reached out to grab one of her arms. “We will talk about this and all calm down.”

  Adira wrenched her arm free from his painful grip, knowing it would be bruised the following morning. “How dare you! Guards!”

  Victri closed the distance between them, pushing her back against the wall and clamping a hand over her mouth. He looked back nervously to see if anyone was coming, but it was clear for the moment. “Adira, you cannot handle running this country without me! You haven’t done so for decades. You can’t afford to lock me away when you are in the middle of an extremely dangerous situation like you are with Keiran Sipesh coming! If he decides to wreak havoc, I’m the only one between us capable of making the decisions that will need to be made.”