Knight of Valor: Knights of Valor

by Elizabeth Drake

  Brelynn hit the wall and slid down as an ancient vampire, flanked by four others, stepped through the doorway.

  His cape flapped around his ankles as he smiled down at Brelynn.

  “There you are, my little sorceress,” Mokkar Calmont said. “You have caused me no end of trouble.”

  Chapter 44

  Fear clouded Brelynn’s brain and erased rational judgment as she stared into Mokkar Calmont’s cold flat eyes.

  He’d found her. Despite everything, he’d come for her. And he’d found her.

  One of Mokkar Calmont’s lieutenants reached for her, and Brelynn lashed out with her magic.

  The vampire disappeared in a vortex of fire, his screams echoing through the room as he burned.

  Mokkar Calmont yanked Brelynn to her feet and buried his fangs in her neck.

  Pain burned through her, followed by a bone deep paralysis. She begged her body to move, to fight, but her spell faded away as she collapsed against the vampire lord, her body limp as she stared at nothing.

  “No!” Sir Marcus roared, and he launched himself at Mokkar Calmont.

  “Another step, Knight, and I’ll kill her.”

  “Put her down,” Sir Marcus snarled, but he halted.

  Flush with Brelynn’s magic, the vampire lord lifted his lips from her neck and smiled as her head rolled back against him. He stroked her, caressing her as a lover might.

  Disgust pooled in Brelynn’s stomach, but she could do nothing.

  “She’s mine, Knight, and she tastes as sweet as ever. So glad her time away hasn’t spoiled her flavor.”

  “If you give her to me and leave Tamryn now, I won’t hunt you down and destroy you.”

  Mokkar Calmont laughed. “Is that your best offer? You may easily destroy my servants, but you are no match for me.”

  “My offer is the only chance you have of seeing another moon rise.”

  “You amuse me, Knight. Perhaps I will add you to my collection.”

  Mokkar Calmont pointed a long pale finger at Marcus, and pure darkness shot across the room and engulfed the Knight of Valor.

  The vampire smiled against Brelynn’s throat as he licked the blood that oozed from the fresh bite.

  Calmont’s smile melted as the darkness burned away and was replaced by the flaming white light of Sir Marcus’s sword.

  The Knight charged.

  One of the remaining lieutenants leapt between Sir Marcus and Calmont, his sword clashing against Marcus’s as Mokkar Calmont lifted Brelynn.

  She wanted to help Sir Marcus, to make sure he survived to return to Aerius for the parades and accolades he deserved.

  But the pain from Calmont’s bite felt like liquid fire flowing through her veins. Each breath stabbed through her as if she were swallowing daggers.

  Sir Marcus swept his attacker’s feet out from under him and pierced the vampire through the chest. Marcus’s sword glowed white, and the lieutenant turned to ash.

  Mokkar Calmont carried her to the door of the adjoining room, his two remaining lieutenants covering his retreat.

  Brelynn’s chest ached with an entirely different pain as her avenging angel squared off against Calmont’s lieutenants, the acrid smell of burnt ash mingling with the scent of split wood.

  Sir Marcus was fighting a vampire lord surrounded by his most trusted retainers.

  Anyone else and she’d consider it foolish bravado before they died, but Sir Marcus had already destroyed several of Mokkar Calmont’s thousand-year-old lieutenants.

  “Back off,” Calmont snarled. “I’ll kill her if you get any closer.”

  “You need her alive.” Sir Marcus stood his ground and waited for an opening in his opponents’ defenses. “How far do you think you’ll get in the sun?”

  “Farther if I drain her.” Mokkar Calmont kissed Brelynn’s neck.

  She shuddered.

  “Then you lose your only bargaining chip.” Sir Marcus struck.

  A lieutenant parried, steel clashing against steel, as he used his supernatural strength to push Sir Marcus back.

  Mokkar Calmont’s cold hands tightened their grip on Brelynn, and he used her as a shield as he eased out of the room and carried her toward a window.

  Several other vampires moved to cover his retreat.

  Brelynn listened to swords clash, and a cool breeze from the shattered window wafted over her pain-heated flesh.

  Mokkar Calmont took another long drink of her, and she whimpered as a fresh wave of pain seared her veins. Spots pricked her vision as cold stole through her and oblivion beckoned.

  “You will be mine,” Calmont cooed. “Why suffer when you could yearn for my touch?”

  His fangs sank into her again.

  Darkness whispered to Brelynn, promising to soothe her pain if she would comply, if she would open herself up and let it in.

  Agony beyond anything she’d ever experienced tore through her, and even though the promises Mokkar Calmont whispered were lies, they were tempting lies.

  What would escaping to Aerius get her?

  A few years, at most, before the king didn’t need her anymore? Then what happened to an Oskelesian sorceress in Tamryn?

  A broken heart as she watched Sir Marcus fall in love with someone else? He’d already made it clear that there could be nothing between them, and though she’d tried to protect her heart, the darkness knew the pain of the truth.

  The darkness latched on to that, amplified her pain, her sorrow, the despair of unrequited love and offered an end to it all. She felt herself slipping away, falling into oblivion.

  Lies, all lies, her heart screamed at her.

  The darkness could give her nothing it promised.

  Love hurt, but her feelings were genuine, and they were hers even if they weren’t returned.

  She would endure the Twin’s curse just like everyone else, suffer from the despair of love even if she never experienced the euphoria.

  She was done hiding.

  Done pretending.

  Mokkar Calmont would not take her again.

  She clenched her teeth against the pain and poison of Calmont’s bite, against the lure of the darkness.

  She was going to die, and she was taking Mokkar Calmont with her.

  Brelynn sucked in a breath as she gathered the tattered remnants of her magic to her.

  A faint smile curved the corners of her lips as she used the same pain the darkness had promised to erase to fuel her magic.

  She smiled at Marcus and mouthed the words, “I love you”.

  Her magic surged, and she channeled it into Mokkar Calmont.

  The vampire lord realized a moment too late what Brelynn was doing. As he clamped down to drain her of blood and magic, she filled him with molten fire. Hot angry flames engulfed him, escaping through his mouth and eyes as he screamed and clawed at his face and chest.

  Brelynn collapsed to the floor, unable to move even as flames lapped her clothes.

  Sir Marcus’s sword glowed a brilliant white as he carved a path through the remaining vampires and buried it in Calmont’s chest. The vampire stared at Marcus a moment through the flames before he crumbled to dust.

  The room was empty as Sir Gregor destroyed the last of the vampires in the hall.

  Sir Marcus dropped his shield as he pulled Brelynn into his arms and smothered the flames on her clothes.

  Blood, her blood, smeared her neck and stained her robes. Her pulse was irregular, and she fought for each breath.

  “Stay with me,” he whispered as he kissed her forehead and cradled her against him. “Please stay with me.”

  She felt him warm and strong beside her, and she forced herself to meet his gaze. Darkness nipped at the edges of her vision. A different kind of darkness. This one promised nothing but oblivion.

  She reached for him with hands burned from her own spell, touched his cheek, and smiled. “Marcus, I l-”

  A black wave of darkness quieted her.

  Chapter 45

  Marcus c
radled her in his arms as he fought back a flood of emotion.

  By the Gods, he couldn’t lose her now.

  They’d won. Calmont was dead, and she was free.

  It couldn’t all be for nothing.

  Fear swelled, and he touched his hand to her neck as he prayed to Dracor, but the divine healing magic wouldn’t come.

  Marcus bit back a curse.

  He’d been able to help her before, call on the gods to heal her, but a few old scars were nothing compared to a vampire bite meant to kill.

  “Sir Matthias!” Marcus yelled. “I need you in here, now!”

  He heard the scuffle of fighting as the other Knights destroyed the remaining vampires.

  A few more minutes, he just needed her to hang on a few more minutes.

  “Stay with me,” Marcus begged as fear squeezed his heart.

  She lay motionless in his arms.

  “Matthias!”

  There was no answer.

  He had to heal her. He’d done it before, he could do it now.

  Marcus kissed her forehead and silenced his panic as he called forth the will of the gods. Not their righteousness that illuminated his sword, but their compassion and love.

  Like he had before.

  The unholy dust of the dead vampires surrounded him, and the smell of blood and fear hung thickly in the air.

  Marcus ignored all of that as he remembered Brelynn’s smile. Her compassion. The brilliant light that shone within her despite everything she’d endured.

  Choking back the fear that threatened to consume him, Marcus concentrated on the Holy Trinity’s promise of love, light, and kindness.

  Everything he’d fought for. Everything he wanted the people of the eastern provinces to know. Everything he wanted to shine brightly in Tamryn.

  He thought of that and prayed.

  The warm golden glow came, filling him as it lit the room and burned away the vampire ash.

  Marcus laid a hand on Brleynn’s neck, and the glow flowed from him to her, chasing away pain, fear, and darkness.

  He was there, he was with her, and he loved her.

  Her breathing steadied, and her pulse calmed.

  A moment later, her eyes opened.

  Brelynn shivered and pressed closer to him.

  He whispered a heartfelt prayer of gratitude and tightened his arms around her.

  A shudder stole through him as he held her. Not anger, but thankfulness. He’d come so close to failing her, so close to losing her…

  Marcus kissed the top of her head and cradled her against him. “Rest. The Tribunal is taking care of Calmont’s vampires.”

  “You’re even fiercer than the stories say.” She smiled and closed her eyes as she lay her head against him.

  A door slammed, followed by footsteps on the stairs.

  A moment later, Sir Leopold and Sir Matthias appeared in the doorway with Sir Gregor behind them.

  Sir Leopold crouched down beside Brelynn. “She looks bad.”

  Sir Matthias tilted her head so he could examine Calmont’s bite. “Bet that hurt like hell.”

  “Great bedside manner,” Sir Leopold grunted.

  “She was dying. I tried to heal her…” Marcus said.

  “Did a nice job, and that explains what burned the last of the vampires. Really powerful healing spells can do that sometimes.” Sir Matthias sat back on his haunches and grinned. “I didn’t know you could heal.”

  “All Knights learn to channel the gods.”

  “You’ve always been better at channeling their righteous fury than their compassion.”

  Marcus scowled, but he kept Brelynn close to him. “Anything you can do for her?”

  Sir Matthias shook his head. “She needs time to recuperate. She used a lot of magic and lost a lot of blood. Didn’t know vampires could drink that fast.”

  “He wanted my magic,” Brelynn whispered. “He thought it would help him destroy Sir Marcus.”

  “Must not have known you were the Great Lich Slayer,” Sir Matthias said.

  “Take her downstairs. Sir Gregor, go with them in case there are any we missed,” Sir Leopold said. “Sir Matthias and I will make the rounds. Damn arrogant to attack us during the daylight.”

  Or desperate, but Marcus said nothing as he carried Brelynn downstairs.

  Sir Gregor followed him to the silent and empty parlor. He scouted the room and nodded. “Nothing but dust. That was quite the divine channeling.”

  Marcus sat down, keeping Brelynn in his arms. A few minutes later, Sir Matthias appeared at the door carrying Marcus’s shield. “Thought you might want this close, just in case. Don’t think I’ve ever seen you without it.”

  “Find anything?” Marcus asked as he set the shield beside him.

  “Nope. If any of them survived your divine channeling, they took off when their master died. I’ll come back in a bit. Helping Sir Leopold sweep them up and consecrate the dust.”

  “Vampires can’t return from dust,” Sir Gregor said.

  “I know it, and you know it, but Sir Leopold has a bad feeling so we’re consecrating.”

  Sir Gregor nodded, and Matthias disappeared back out of the room.

  The other Knight glanced over at Marcus. “You’re an even better fighter than the legends say.”

  Marcus held Brelynn closer. “Almost not good enough.”

  “But you were. Though I wonder why they waited until dawn to strike.”

  “That is odd,” Marcus said. “It’s almost like they were waiting for me to away from her.”

  “Maybe they were. If Sir Leopold hadn’t pushed us to make it here last night, the moment she was alone would’ve been the perfect time to strike.”

  “An overcast sky is still risky.”

  “But good enough if they were desperate. That many of them, even with your skill, you couldn’t have gotten them all before they escaped with her.”

  “I’m glad Uncle Leopold pushed you.”

  “I wasn’t at the time,” Sir Gregor said. “But I am now.”

  Marcus sent another prayer to the gods and thanked Them for Their light and compassion.

  Chapter 46

  The sun was fully above the horizon when Sir Leopold and Sir Matthias joined the rest of the group.

  “Didn’t find anymore,” Sir Matthias said. “Mighty good divine channeling.”

  Sir Leopold studied Brelynn as she lay wrapped in Marcus’s arms. “Girl looks like hell.”

  “My name in Brelynn.” She cracked an eye. “Not nice to talk about people when they’re still in the room.”

  “I thought you were asleep.”

  “I thought Knights didn’t lie.”

  Sir Leopold grinned. “All right, Brelynn, why would this vampire lord follow you into Tamryn?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Leopold sprawled into a large wingback chair opposite her and Sir Marcus. “Why do you think?”

  “He was my master,” Brelynn swallowed hard, and Marcus tightened his arms around her. Even as awful as she felt, the warmth of him bolstered her. “If his master was angry I escaped, Mokkar Calmont would’ve done anything to appease him.”

  “And who was his master?” Sir Leopold asked.

  “Arch-Grimveldt Korvar.”

  Leopold raised a shaggy brow. “You don’t mess around with an arch-grimveldt.”

  Brelynn silently agreed as she shuddered and closed her eyes.

  “Brelynn? You okay?” Panic edged into Marcus’s voice.

  “Better than I should be after that bite.”

  Sir Matthias crouched beside her and felt her pulse then brushed the hair from her forehead. “You probably feel like you were run through a grain mill. You need food and sleep.”

  “More like dropped in a frozen lake. I’m cold and tired.”

  Sir Matthias handed Marcus his cloak, and Marcus wrapped it around her.

  A smile curved her lips even as she told herself not to get used to Sir Marcus taking care of her.

 
; “Let her rest. We need to get this Tribunal underway,” Sir Leopold said as he shoved out of his chair.

  “Do you need any help?” Sir Marcus asked.

  “You were the reporting Knight,” Sir Leopold said. “Your involvement must end there. Besides, she needs you more. You and the g… Brelynn get some rest.”

  Brelynn pulled Marcus’s warm arms tighter around herself, and within a few minutes, she was asleep.

  Chapter 47

  When Brelynn awoke, she found herself propped up on a thick pillow and wrapped in a warm blanket with a hot water bottle tucked next to her. She heard the low rumble of Sir Marcus’s voice, and the deep gravelly sound of Sir Leopold.

  She opened her eyes and tried to focus, but the pounding it her head felt like a hundred dwarves with pickaxes were burrowing out of her skull.

  “Brelynn?” Sir Marcus said, and the warm, sword calloused fingers that matched the voice engulfed her hand.

  She opened her eyes again and stared up at Sir Marcus and Sir Leopold.

  “I almost wish I were dead.” Her words were thick, and the sound of her own voice made her clutch her head.

  “Don’t say that, don’t ever say that.” Sir Marcus put a glass of watered wine in her hands and helped guide it to her lips.

  After she had taken a couple of sips, Sir Leopold lifted her chin and inspected her neck. “You’re experiencing the effects of blood loss.”

  “Been there before. Never this bad, though.” She pushed herself up and drank more wine. “How’s the Tribunal going?”

  “As well as can be expected given the magnitude of the breach,” Sir Marcus said.

  “Sir Marcus has done his part. Sir Matthias will take your statement tonight, and you two can start for Aerius tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow? She’s in no condition to ride, and there’s the Tribunal.”

  “Yup, and you’re still going to Aerius tomorrow.”

  “But-”

  Sir Leopold clapped his nephew on the back. “Sir Matthias can heal her again before you go, but King Eli’s been waiting long enough.”