Of Lords and Commoners: Book 1 (Lords and Commoners Series)

by Lynne Hill-Clark

  Chapter 78 Copenhagen 1346 A.D

  Lord Chastellain questioned the three remaining prisoners from Lucera. They did not seem to know anything about Ramdasha — at least anything they were willing to tell us. So they were sentenced to death. I spoke up for the man who had wished to die.

  “Did you say your name is Victor?” I asked.

  “Yes, My Lady.” He kept his head down.

  I bent down and gently lifted his head so that I could see into his eyes.

  “Please, let them kill me,” he pled.

  “I have a better idea for you.”

  “Vallachia, what on earth are you doing?” Lord Chastellain demanded.

  “Victor is different, My Lord.” I turned to Victor. “Did you know that we feed without killing?”

  Victor’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “No, My Lady. Surely that is not possible.”

  I kept my hand under his chin to keep him from putting his head down. “It is possible and we can teach you. If we spare your life, will you pledge yourself to the service of the High Court?”

  “Yes, My Lady,” he whispered.

  “No.” Lord Chastellain said. “It is too late. The sentence has been given. He will die like the others.”

  “My Lord, please, we need supporters. The Court must be merciful if it is going to continue to lead our kind.”

  The lord’s jaw muscles tightened and he glared at me.

  Yes, I was a burr under his skin, a painful one and I liked it.

  “Very well,” the lord smirked. “You will be responsible for him and you must personally kill the other two.”

  Chastellain must have thought I would not do this. He knew how much I hated the beheadings. I swung around, drawing my sword at the same time. It went through one neck and then the other with one smooth motion. The blade hardly slowed as it severed flesh and bone. The prisoner’s heads made a dreadful sound as they hit the floor. This was followed by the even louder thud of their bodies.

  There was no point in making them suffer any longer. They were already dead, at my hand or someone else’s. “Are you satisfied, My Lord?”

  His smile widened. “Yes.”

  This way we both “won” — sort of. I proved my willingness to take orders and he let Victor live.

  I seized Victor under his arm and forced him to stand. “Come,” I whispered. I did not want to give the lord time to change his mind.

  I had to find Victor living quarters and someone to keep an eye on him until I was sure I could trust him. Finding a room was increasingly difficult, as there were at least one hundred vampires coming and going from the premises at all times. The positive side to this was that it made it impractical for Ramdasha to attack us directly.

  I knocked on one of the doors in the lower-level housing. A vampire answered.

  “Excuse me, do you have a roommate?” I asked.

  “Yes, My Lady but the room across the way has an opening.”

  “Thank you.”

  To the man who answered the door across the hall, I explained that Victor was his new roommate and that he was to watch after him. I put my hand on Victor’s shoulder. “Clean up and have a rest. We will be back at dusk to start your training on how to feed without killing.”

  “Yes, My Lady,” Victor said.

  I did not like the formal address, even though most everyone around here used it. “Please, my name is Vallachia.”

  “Yes, My Lady.”

  “No, what I’m saying is, call me Vallachia, or even Val, for that matter.”

  “Of course, My … Val … Vallachia.”

  I shook my head — it was a start. With my hand still on his shoulder I looked him in the eyes. “Don’t let me down. This life can be worth living. Let us show you that it is not all bad.”

  “Thank you, My —

  I shook my finger at him, stopping his words. “I’ll see you at dusk.”

  If he could not say “My Lady,” apparently he could not speak. He nodded in agreement.

  As I left, I overheard Victor’s new roommate, “Aye, she is a splendid specimen, isn’t she? Don’t go getting any ideas, she has the eye of the prince and there is no getting close to her.”

  I had murdered two of Victor’s companions; I doubted he thought I was “splendid”.

  Elijah was waiting like a statue at my door. “It always amazes me how you are able to handle my father. At first I used to worry that you would push him too far.”

  “And now?” I asked.

  “I understand that you know what you are doing. You have him just where you want him.”

  “Not exactly. It is usually a compromise.”

  He brushed my hair back over my shoulder. “How are you faring?”

  It was the first time I had officially executed anyone. I had killed in the heat of battle but execute unarmed vampires — no. I did not answer.

  He wrapped his arms around me. It was not until that moment that I realized it had indeed bothered me. How does he know when I need him? He had known that I was upset before I had. I put my arms around his waist and buried my head in his chest. The only thing I knew at that moment was that I would be lost without him.

  “Come. I have a surprise for you,” Elijah whispered.

  I frowned.

  He reached back and opened my door. I was skeptical about where this was going.

  Chapter 79 Copenhagen 1346 A.D

  With trepidation I entered my bedchambers and was greeted with a chorus, “Surprise!” Our friends were waiting for us.

  Mari handed me a goblet of red wine — which I now loved, the older and dryer the better. “Elijah told us you had a particularly wretched day at work.”

  I gladly took the goblet. “Is that what you would call it?”

  Mari did not like politics or to hear too much about what we did in the field. I did not blame her, as it was either boring or bloody. “Today there is to be no talk of work. We are going to have fun.”

  Sonia wrapped her little arms around me. “We will start by playing your favorite card game.”

  “And drinking a vast amount of wine!” I held my chalice up to toast.

  “To the High Court of Elders!” Samuel said.

  The clanking of our chalices rang out.

  Riddick dealt the cards. “Ladies have first draw.”

  “Wonderful. Since I’m the oldest I will go first,” Mari said.

  “Wait a minute,” I put my hand over hers to stop her. “I’m older than you.”

  “No, I’m older. I lived as a human for a year longer than you. So I was older when I was turned. You are actually a year younger.” Mari gave me a devious smile.

  “That is not the way it works,” I said. “I’m older because I have been a vampire longer than you.”

  Mari and I looked to Elijah and Samuel to settle the dispute.

  “You are both the same age and you are both old as hell,” Elijah said.

  Samuel and Aaron thought this was comical. I had to laugh as well but I still punched Elijah in the shoulder.

  “Look who is talking, Elijah. You’re older than anyone else here,” Mari pouted. She did not appreciate being called old.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Sonia said. “I am older than either of you two ladies, so I will draw first.”

  She was indeed older than Mari or me, though she did not look it, so she started the game.

  This was how the day went — the perfect distraction from work. When I felt the need to rest, I headed to my bed. Mari and Sonia joined me.

  “The boys should leave so we can get some sleep,” I said. “We have to start training Victor at dusk.”

  “Who is Victor?” Mari inquired.

  “Don’t ask,” I said.

  Mari laid her head on a pillow and looked as sleepy as I felt.

  Riddick jumped into the middle of us. “I will stay here and look after the ladies.”

  “Not a chance in hell, my friend,” Samuel said. He pulled Riddick’s arm as I pushed my foot into Ri
ddick’s back. It took all my force and Samuel’s to get him off us. The men left the room, laughing and dragging Riddick with them.

  I usually did not pry but I knew Sonia and Aaron were close. The time seemed right to ask. “Are you and Aaron together?”

  Sonia’s cheeks flushed.

  Is she embarrassed or sad? I wondered.

  “We have been a couple for quite some time.”

  “Sonia, that is wonderful! I can’t believe you did not tell us. Are you planning to marry?” I asked.

  A tear rolled down her cheek and I was sorry I had asked. Sitting up, I gave Mari a concerned look.

  “Do you want to talk about it? It may help,” I offered.

  Sonia shook her head no. Mari reached across my waist and took Sonia’s hand. “We are here for you.”

  Sonia was silent for a while. “It is because of how I look.”

  I glanced at Mari to see if she understood and Mari shrugged.

  “What are you talking about, Sonia? You are winsome as can be,” I said.

  “That is the problem. I’m not beautiful like you two. I know Aaron loves me for who I am and not for how I look but others would not understand.”

  “There is nothing wrong with how you look,” Mari said.

  “I’m not a woman. I’m a little girl. What man would want this?” She gestured to her small, thin body with disgust. She had been turned before her body had developed womanly curves. She was a hundred-seven-year-old woman frozen inside a child’s body.

  “It is a different world we live in. Surely vampires will understand that you are not a young girl,” Mari said.

  “Aaron asked me to marry him but I refused.”

  “Why, don’t you love him?” Mari asked.

  “More than anything. I never hoped to have a man. I thought I would be alone my entire life. Aaron is so wonderful; I’m lucky to have him. I said no to his proposal because I don’t want others to think he is … unwholesome. I know that this is not the case but that is why we have decided to keep our love a secret. Most vampire men would be drawn to someone who has reached full womanhood. But Aaron loves me, not this body. Yet we can never marry or be open about the true nature of our relationship. No one would understand.”

  There was an aching in my chest for Sonia. She should never have been turned so young. All she wanted was a woman’s body that would never develop.

  I did not know what to say at first. “I’m sorry. Perhaps with time, things will change. Our kind may become more open.”

  “We understand and we are delighted for you and Aaron,” Mari said.

  Sonia wiped a tear from her face and closed her eyes.

  We were all tired. I lay down, putting my arm around Sonia.

  Before dozing off, Mari whispered, “I am older.”

  I gave her a swift kick.

  I woke to Mari pushing my leg off her. Sonia had her arm around me. I gently moved it. I felt bad for Sonia. She was fully mature in all her mannerisms and we did not think of her as a child. She was too strong and too wise for that. Being a woman in a child’s body would be terrible.

  My friends had helped ease the pain of the difficult night. Elijah knew the perfect medicine for me. In these hard times, we needed our friends more than ever. The sun was setting off the end of my balcony. I bolted upright. “We have to go.”

  Despite the lord’s increasingly harsh punishments, the Court continued to lose ground. The mass killings of humans spread slowly north. Elijah’s small, but effective, branch of our army had earned the title, “Vampire Killers.”

  At a meeting of the Elders, it was decided that we must attack Ramdasha. There was no longer any debate amongst the Elders about Ramdasha’s defiance of the Court. He was clearly behind the spread of Tarantism and this was not acceptable. He was also encroaching on our territory — the North. Ramdasha must be destroyed. He was shrewd and had managed to remain out of our grasp. Since Riddick and I knew where he lived, we were to lead an army to his cavern in Constantinople.

  Elizabeth and Mary came from London. The castle was bursting with life. Our allies from all around were gathering. Since there were no open rooms, Mary and Elizabeth stayed with me. I was glad to have the company. We were catching up when a knock came at my door.

  “Come in,” I said.

  Elijah entered. “I’m sorry to break up the reunion.” He greeted Mary and Elizabeth. “It is good to see you both.”

  Mary was much more cordial to Elijah now — well, as cordial as Mary ever was to anyone.

  “Val, may I have a word?” Elijah’s eyes were stone grey with worry.

  Oh no, I thought. “Of course.” I jumped up. We headed across the hall to his room. “What is it?”

  “You are not going to like it but I want you to sit this one out.”

  My eye’s widened. “Why?” He was right; I did not like it in the least. If Riddick had appointed himself to guard me, then I had done the same with Elijah. I had to go — to protect him.

  “I have a bad feeling about this. Please, for me, stay here with Mari. Make sure she is safe.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Is that an order, My Lord?”

  “No, of course not. I would never order you to do anything.”

  “Good. I am going.”

  “You are so stubborn.” He gritted his teeth.

  He was truly concerned so I softened my demeanor. If he was worried then I should be too. I took his hands in mine. “Listen, all will be well as long as we are together.”

  Chapter 80 Constantinople 1346 A.D

  At dusk we left for Constantinople with our army of Vampire Killers. We landed outside the city and remained hidden.

  “His patrols will most likely spot us as soon as we pass the great city walls,” Riddick said.

  I nodded in agreement. “We will have to move as quickly as possible to his cavern. We can’t all go.” Originally, the plan had been to have our entire army bombard the cavern but that did not seem like the wisest way to attack.

  “What are you suggesting?” Elijah asked.

  “We should come in from Galata, just north of the city,” I said. “It is a quick swim across the Golden Horn. That way we have only one shorter wall to overcome rather than the two larger land walls. We can stay under cover of water so the sentries will not spot us. This will also place us closer to Ramdasha. Riddick and I should go in first and report back.”

  “No. Not a chance in hell,” Elijah said.

  “It has been over eighty years since we have been here. Much will have changed. Someone should scout it out first,” I argued.

  “Val is right, we cannot go in blind,” Samuel said.

  “Then I will go with you,” Elijah said.

  “I don’t think that is wise,” Riddick said. “Sending our top three commanding officers alone into what is likely to be the most heavily guarded and most dangerous place is not the greatest of ideas.”

  “Very well, you and Aaron will go,” Elijah said.

  I glared at Elijah; was he indicating that Aaron’s life was not as important as mine?

  “Aaron lived in Ramdasha’s coven as well. He knows the area. Remember, your job is only to make a quick assessment and report back immediately,” Elijah commanded.

  We moved quietly north around the large city wall and down into Galata. We had a couple of hours before sun-up.

  “How much time do you need?” Elijah asked.

  “Give us ten minutes,” Riddick said.

  I reached for Riddick’s forearm as he passed by. “Be careful. In and out — do you understand?”

  He smirked. “Don’t worry, this is what I live for.” Excitement danced in his dark eyes.

  I nodded. The next minutes were the longest of my life. It would have been better to be with Riddick and Aaron — at least I would have known what was going on. Not knowing was much worse.

  I relentlessly paced until Mary grabbed me by the shoulders. “Will you stop?”

  I sat down hard next to Elijah. “I’m
sorry but what if Ramdasha captures them … ?” Ramdasha would show no mercy. He was vengeful and Riddick had betrayed him in the worst way. Aaron had also abandoned him, for that matter. If something happened to Aaron … poor Sonia! I started biting my fingernails, which I had never done before.

  Elijah pulled my hand away from my mouth. “Don’t fret. All will be well.”

  “I’m not so sure about that.” Riddick stepped from the trees.

  I exhaled with relief when I saw Aaron behind him. We jumped to our feet.

  “The abandoned building that covered the entrance to the cavern has been restored. It is now a fully functioning inn, crawling with humans,” Riddick explained.

  “Humans? Are you sure?” Elijah asked.

  Riddick nodded yes.

  “Is there any other way in?” I asked.

  “Not that I’m aware of.” Riddick looked at Aaron posing the question to him.

  “You were Ramdasha’s second in command. If you don’t know of any other way in, then I definitely don’t know of another entrance,” Aaron said.

  “Do you think he is still there?” Elijah asked.

  “It is impossible to tell, he may have moved on,” Riddick said.

  “If he were still here, the place would have to be heavily guarded and not by humans because he knows that we are familiar with this place,” I said.

  Elijah looked thoughtful for a moment. “That may be the case, or humans may be the perfect cover. This is the only place we know to look for Ramdasha. We have to find out what is here. Let us send a small group into the inn to inspect the room that leads to the cavern.”

  After much debate, it was decided that Riddick and I would ask to rent the room where the entrance had been hidden. Elijah, Samuel, Aaron, Mary and Elizabeth would come in behind us and wait in the common area until we were in the room.