Loyalty

by Charles E Yallowitz

  “My sister did without fail,” the other warrior answers with a wry smile. Grabbing his metallic coat, he carefully slips it on and curses when one of his stitches pops. “We argued about it for all of those years, but I was too deaf to really listen. Unlike everyone else, I’m her flesh and blood from before our turning. If anybody should have believed her, it should have been me. No matter what I tell him, it’ll sound like a hollow excuse. Really boils down to me losing faith in a friend’s ability to survive.”

  The dwarf releases his damaged limb and lets it dangle from a few tendons while he runs his fingers through his beard. “All three of us watched the execution and we had no reason to believe that the Great Cataclysm changed his fate. None of us can tell the future and we are not gods, so our perceptions and decisions are flawed. Consider that we wouldn’t be having this conversation if Mab went there and came back alone. Cessia must have blessed Clyde long ago because anyone else would be dead.”

  “I hate it when you make good points.”

  “If it helps, they don’t rid me of my guilt and shame.”

  “Although, you bring up an interesting theory.”

  “Why would the gods be interested in a vampire?”

  “Not like Lorvis the Rotting One picks chosen.”

  “He would choose a Lich over a vampire anyway.”

  “Can’t wait for Clyde to get back, so we can talk to him.”

  A cough draws their attention to a nearby chair where the large dog is sitting while the elderly woman leans against the wall. A minute of awkward silence passes before Titus and Decker realize who they must be looking at. The instant they have a spark of recognition in their eyes, the fake beast fades away to reveal Clyde. With a snap of his fingers, he destroys the illusion surrounding Mab, except for the facial wrinkles. He is about to stand when the burglar grabs him by the shoulder and glares at him until he removes the last of his spell. Approaching his old friends, the black-clothed vampire cracks his knuckles and grins so wide that his mouth appears to be bigger than his head. Moving in the blink of an eye, Clyde kicks the small table between the two men and sends it crashing through the ceiling. Spinning on his heels, he waits for them to stand with their heads lowered before slumping back into his chair. He is about to speak when Mab giggles and immediately slaps her hands over her mouth.

  “That’s one way to kill the mood. I guess the initial looks of fear on your faces will be enough,” Clyde declares as he spots a bottle under Decker’s chair. Leaning down to claim the large container, he snaps off the neck with his thumb and pours the delicious drink into his mouth. “We had this whole trick planned where I make you two think I’m going to hold an execution. Practiced my old threatening voice for a while and we even had a point planned where Mab begged for your lives.”

  “That last part was why I didn’t want to go through with the plan,” the burglar declares while lifting her brother’s jacket. She touches his wound and yanks her hand back when the residual holy magic burns her fingertips. “This is the worst one yet. What in all the shadows going on out there? You keep coming back with scars and this is the fifth time this year that Decker has had to reattach a limb. He wasn’t even on a mission, so I assume there was another ambush outside of the city. I’m only doing solo missions, so I’m not told about the hunts and battles. Looking at you two makes me think it’s worse than I thought.”

  “Great to have you back, Clyde,” Titus states, shaking his old friend’s hand. A kick to his hip causes him to reach back and lift Mab by the head, her shorter size making it impossible to hit him when he stretches his muscular arm to its full length. “I’m really sorry that I didn’t do anything to save you. Things have been a mess here, which I’m sure you’ve been told. Mab is right that it’s worse than she realizes. We don’t know what happened recently, but our enemies have become much more aggressive. If you’re as strong now as the message said then you arrived at the perfect time.”

  “That’s only if I feel like getting involved,” Clyde admits before slapping Decker on the back. The dwarf’s damaged arm falls to the floor, so he quickly picks it up and carefully wipes some dirt off the elbow. “Sorry, but I don’t know my own strength these days. Look, don’t go thinking I’m some kind of savior. Xavier has some explaining to do and nothing stops me from getting the gang back together for our own survival. Aside from Decker, we never really got involved in political stuff before. Only did a few jobs to build up favors for emergencies. The world couldn’t have changed so much that we can’t go back to heists and fun. Where are all the old faces?”

  “Burned to ashes,” the tall warrior coldly replies, his fingers crackling as he makes a fist. He takes a moment to quell his anger, the memory of avenging his fallen friends enough to bring a faint smile to his face. “As of our last mission, the only remaining members of the Vengeance Hounds are myself, Robert, and Luther. They were badly injured and are being tended to by the royal medics. Everyone else is dead because of this war. Most missions have gone smoothly, but we always have one every few months that becomes a disaster. I don’t know what Xavier will do with us now since the Vengeance Hounds as a trio doesn’t quite work for the jobs he tends to send our way.”

  “I can request that you be put under my command,” Decker suggests in the hopes of calming his friend. Taking his arm back from Clyde, he presses it to the stump again and holds it there since he lacks the blood to accelerate his healing. “I’m sorry to be the one to ruin this reunion, but your plan is ridiculous, Clyde. As you can see, the very foundation of Windemere has changed and we can’t do what we want any more. There are too many enemies out there, which is why we’re trying to keep a low profile when it comes to feeding. It isn’t easy because one body or accidental sighting can bring an entire army of holy warriors down on our heads. Those who don’t live within the fortified cities have to remain on the run, which means stealing anything you don’t really need is suicidal. At least for now, old friend, it is safer to stay in the shadows and avoid attention. Your return alone will cause ripples that I’m sure will transform into tidal waves.”

  His brow furrowed by a deep scowl, Clyde jumps to his feet and angrily gets in Decker’s face. “Buried for fifty years and our first conversation is you lecturing me like a newly turned whelp? I’d rip your head off if you weren’t right. With most of the old gang dead, it doesn’t feel natural to go back to a life of carefree mischief. Mab was telling me all about the war and our enemies, but I didn’t really believe her until now. I mean, she seemed a little rusty, but not as battered as you two. Things really aren’t what they used to be if you guys are looking like a pair of chewed up zombies, which means I have to get the world back to what it was before I can have fun. By the way, you said something about killing one person would cause trouble. I’m assuming slaughtering at least one hundred priests and warriors along with one paladin would earn some attention. Also, we snacked on a couple of bandits on our way here, but we buried those bodies deep enough that they won’t be found.”

  “What!?” Titus and Decker blurt out.

  Before Clyde can answer, the door to a nearby office opens and Kai backs out while talking to someone inside. The adviser turns around and freezes at the sight of the long missing vampire, who is fixing him with a look of disdain. The expression briefly changes to a predatory sneer that sends a chill along the spymaster’s spine. He chuckles in an attempt to hide his mild dislike of the infamous thief, the pair having never agreed on tactics and their opposing manners making friendship impossible. Adjusting his collar, Kai walks across the room and extends his hand, which he half expects Clyde to ignore like in the past. He is unable to hide his surprise when the offer is accepted, but he remains on edge in case there is a trick. When nothing happens, the curious adviser frees his thin-fingered hand and silently gestures at the open door, which abruptly slams shut. The Clyde standing in front of Kai vanishes, revealing itself to be an illusion to distract from the real one sneaking into the chamber. With a muttered
curse, the spymaster storms off and only stops when he hears the other vampires start laughing.

  *****

  With the curtains closed to block the rising sun, the only sources of light are floating candles that never melt. A portrait of Xavier during his warrior days is on one wall while another of Nadia from the day of her turning has been placed directly across. The rulers of Nyte are visibly tense as they sit in their chairs, a wide table the only thing between them and their guest. An enormous figure with black eyes and two blood-caked horns stands behind them, the vampiric ogre dressed as a butler. Spots of blood on the furniture show that the couple have recently eaten in preparation of what they fear is a dangerous situation. Nobody can tell how much time has passed before Nadia rises and straightens her ebony dress. Walking around the table, the tall orc gives Clyde a tight hug and holds him out as if to get a better look. Ignoring her husband’s coughs, she cocks her head to the side and returns the thief’s playful smirk with a friendly smile of her own. She is about to return to her chair when their guest abruptly lifts her into his arms and casually tosses her onto Xavier’s lap. The noblewoman yelps from the unexpected flight and cannot hide her embarrassment at the unladylike noise. With a threatening growl, the ogre moves to attack and only stops when Nadia stretches her arm to deliver a gentle smack on his wide nose.

  “Calm down, Lou. I just wanted to see if such an elegant woman still made mouse noises when caught off-guard,” Clyde explains while running his finger along the table. He licks off a trace of blood and nods his approval at the taste. “Virgin elf if I’m not mistaken, but my sense of taste isn’t what it used to be. May I say, brood sister, it is a pleasure to be in the presence of such an enchanting creature once again. They say that female orcs are as beautiful as their men are strong, which is something you prove every day of your eternal life. As for your husband, I want to say that I’m happy to see him, but Mab had a hard time defending his actions. She tried her best, but all her words felt . . . empty. With everything I did for you, Lord Tempest, I thought you would make some attempt to save me.”

  “You were last seen being torn apart by four Duragian priests and getting sucked into the ground along with the entire town and temple,” Xavier calmly points out. Guiding his wife to her chair, he keeps a hold of her hand and rubs her fingers with his thumb. “I did not tell Mab this, but we did try to find out if you were alive. Every seer, spell, ritual, and relic we used to locate you showed us nothing more than darkness. By all accounts, you were dead and your loyal partner was the only one who refused to believe that. I felt it was best to let her think we did nothing instead of learning that all of our attempts failed. Unlike the rest of your gang, Mab was driven to survive thanks to the hope that you were still alive and I needed her sharp because of the war.”

  “People keep talking about this war, but I still don’t understand,” the blue-eyed vampire admits. Taking a seat, he drapes his leg over the arm until his hosts’ matching scowls causes him to sit with more decorum. “My manners are lacking lately, so forgive my mistakes. What I was saying is that something doesn’t make sense. Just because the world changed, it doesn’t mean mortals have to come after vampires. These types of events don’t happen for such flimsy reasons. Even factoring in the grudges and hate aimed at our people, this sounds incredibly over the top. What really set this whole thing off?”

  “I told you that he would be as keen-minded as ever, dear,” Nadia softly whispers to her husband. Waving to Lou, the elegant woman waits for him to put a scroll on the table and casts a spell to unfurl the document. “Believe it or not, the one who started this was you. That orb you tried to steal was the holiest of Durag’s artifacts. His followers believe that it holds the Sun God’s heart and it disappeared with you. That scroll was intercepted by Kai forty-nine years ago and it speaks about how the destruction of the temple was punishment for them failing to protect the orb. It declares war on us to avenge their honor and reclaim the relic, which has never been recovered. With no mortal survivors from that day, they think we stole it, which is why our early attempts at diplomacy were met with violence. If you could tell us where the orb is then maybe that will help put an end to the slaughter.”

  Clyde nods his head and reaches for the scroll, which disappears in a puff of smoke. “Wish I could help there, but I never saw that piece of trouble again. Not like the mortals and I didn’t search for it. Separately, of course, and that stopped after I had eaten about half of them. By the time it was just me down there, I’d forgotten about the thing. My best guess is that it kept falling until it either hit the center of Windemere or popped out the far side. Honestly, I doubt these mortals would stop if we gave them the orb. Probably make things worse because then they would assume the vampires had it the whole time. Is that another reason why you didn’t let Mab dig me out?”

  “I can give you every logical reason that has crossed my mind over the last fifty years, but I doubt you will accept any of them,” Xavier replies while getting out of his chair. Giving up on etiquette, the Lord of Nyte sits on the table in front of his guest and practically bows. “You have always been a good friend and ally to me, Clyde. Your disappearance was not something I readily accepted. At first, I wanted to wait until the Duragians did most of the digging, but then they gave up and my attempts to confirm Mab’s theory failed. It wasn’t long after the site was abandoned that the council sent their forces in a failed first strike, which pushed the war to the level that you see now. Thanks to that defeat, I had to put all of my resources towards protecting our people. If I had any undeniable proof that you were alive, I would have sent your old gang to dig you out. As it stands, Nadia and Kai had to go behind my back and urge Mab to act. The information she worked off of was not given to me until she had left. Yet, I sent nobody to stop her, which should account for something.”

  “Not much, but I’m still listening.”

  “All I can say is that I am truly sorry that I doubted your survival.”

  “You know, I would have dug you out myself if our roles were reversed.”

  “Only because you have the luxury of leading a gang instead of ruling a territory.”

  “I guess you do have more on your shoulders than me.”

  “Then, you understand and will help us?”

  Whistling and getting to his feet, Clyde puts his hands in his pockets and walks around the room. He stops to examine each of the portraits, the smell of old paint striking his nose with more force than he expected. Coming to a rack of decorative bottles, the vampire leans forward to examine one that has a lizard skeleton inside. Turning back to his hosts, Clyde leans against the far wall and crosses his arms while he thinks. He can barely hear his friends talking near the door, the frown on Nadia’s face showing that she has noticed the eavesdropping as well. With a sigh, he holds up his finger and walks to the entrance in a few long strides. An impish grin is on his face as he creates an illusionary maw on the other side and has it roar loud enough to startle everyone in the castle. The chorus of apologies, curses, and threats makes him laugh as he takes a seat next to Xavier and puts an arm around the noble’s shoulders.

  “Everyone is so apologetic and weird around me now. It isn’t like I was some ill-tempered monster way back when,” Clyde explains with a smile. Sliding over the table, he jumps into the seat next to Nadia and claps his hands. “Maybe I’m just giddy from being among old friends after such a long containment. Talking to myself and corpses isn’t healthy, so I need to ease back into society. Best to do that with a clean slate, which means that we’re back to being good friends as long as you don’t order me around like one of your soldiers. That reminds me. I don’t have a place to live anymore and staying with Mab would be awkward since she only has one bed. Do you happen to have a guest room in this place that I can use until I collect all of my stashes?”

  “Of course, but know that I will need to put you through a test of loyalty,” Xavier states as he approaches the chair. Waiting for the other man to leave
, he reclaims his seat and does his best to make himself comfortable. “This is only to convince everyone else that you are on our side and that I am not playing favorites. It is a mission that I was going to give to Mab, but I see no problem with sending both of you. We have reason to believe a group of vampires have been slipping information to the Duragians. It would explain why some of our raids have been predicted and countered like what happened recently with the Vengeance Hounds. Investigate this and, if possible, eliminate the problem. Then we can talk about some real work and see if we can end this war.”

  “Basically, I clean up a mess and then I get to hear about the job that you really want to offer me,” Clyde says while heading for the door. Hearing a threatening grunt from Lou, he rolls his eyes and turns to face his hosts. “Do I really have to wait until you give me permission to leave, Tempest? I’ll do the job with Mab, come back, and then we can get down to real business. If your wife’s pet keeps giving me the ugly eye then I’m going to put him out to pasture . . . as fertilizer. Wait, are you angry that I didn’t bring you a treat like I always do, big guy? Fine, I’ll bring you two next time. Not like I had any time to stop at a village and grab a halfling on the way here. Are we done?”

  Seeing that her husband is trying not to smile at the rude display, Nadia nods her head and waves to open the door. “Good luck, brood brother, and it is nice to have you back. You have certainly returned some positive energy and morale to Nyte. We look forward to your successful return. Oh, and please tell our father that my husband and I say hello and wish he would visit once in a while. It must be so lonely in his lair.”

  Clyde makes an exaggerated bow, which includes raising his arm behind his back. The movement ends up smacking Kai in the nose, the other vampire having entered as soon as the door opened. The glancing blow is enough to send him flying across the large entrance hall and crash through the far wall. Guards and servants rush to check on the injured spymaster while Xavier and Nadia are left staring in shock at the unexpected display of strength. Intimidated by the accident, Lou whimpers and cowers behind the chairs, his greasy, red hair rising in an attempt to make himself look bigger. Before Clyde can explain, Mab rushes into the room, covers his mouth, and forcefully carries him away over her head.