The Vampire & Her Witch

Ashlynn was about to follow up on her question to Rastlan about joining the fledgling empire when she heard Dirar mention the Millstone of Time soaked in the blood of a Great Witch, and she stopped cold, turning her attention instantly to the High Lord of the Southern Steppe.

”That’s a very dangerous topic, Dirar,” Nyrielle said as the warmth seemed to drain from her eyes and her face became a cold, expressionless mask. ”And it’s one that can easily create a number of dangerous misunderstandings.”

”Defying centuries of traditions is dangerous,” Dirar countered. ”No matter what I choose to believe, I have to give my people something they can understand. It would be one thing if we intended to unite against the humans in their next ’Holy War’ or ’Crusade.’ We may not want to fight a war the way humans do, but we’ve come to understand it, and many among my people are ready to take up arms when war reaches our doorsteps.”

”But you’re proposing something far beyond an alliance to win a war,” Dirar pointed out. ”If I can go back to my people with a promise that we’re fulfilling one of the prophecies of our founders, I can smooth the way for change.”

”You are the High Lord of the Southern Steppe,” Nyrielle said flatly. ”You should be able to make them understand without using prophecy to manipulate them.”

”How much support do you have for joining us, High Lord?” Ashlynn asked directly. Under the table, her hand found Nyrielle’s and laced their fingers together, gently stroking her lover’s hand with her thumb until she felt Nyrielle begin to relax. ”Or maybe I should ask how strong the opposition is.”

”I haven’t explained my reasons for coming north to my City Lords or my Herd Masters,” Dirar said with a sigh. ”There wasn’t time. When Wolstan told me that Bors Lothian had died and you intended to topple their rule of the Verdant Hills, I only had enough time to gather a small guard and a few humble gifts before leaving. I left so quickly that I have neither lords nor concubines in my retinue,” he said with an awkward shrug.

”Seeing such open affection without the ability to hold even one of my women close is a cruel form of torture, Your Dominion,” Dirar said with a slight smile before turning serious again. ”Not that I would have brought any of them so deeply into human lands without ensuring that it was safe for them to visit.”

”But to answer your question,” Dirar said when he saw Nyrielle narrowing her eyes at him. ”I can only count on the support of one of my City Lords, my concubine Togene, who rules the Bay of Needles. The Herd Masters are another matter. They’ve followed my will since the end of the war against Caleb Lothian and his Templars, but... They’re nursing the oldest hurts. They’ll have their demands as well, and if I do not bring them a victory over the herd of horsemen called Aleese, it will be difficult to gain their full support.”

”How many of them can challenge your strength?” Thane asked directly. ”If your lords reject your decisions and they challenge for your throne, do any of them have a chance of defeating you?”

”There’s always a chance,” Dirar said blandly, though Rastlan, sitting next to him, looked distressed at the notion. ”It’s been many years since I was young enough and brash enough to challenge for the throne of the Southern Steppe. In some ways, I’m stronger than I was then. In others, I’m weaker,” he admitted. ”At least two Herd Masters and three of my City Lords could present a genuine threat to my rule.”

”So give them reasons beyond prophecy to accept your decision,” Ashlynn said. ”Heila and Jocelynn were just discussing ways we can help with the foaling season by providing potions that would prevent mothers from bleeding out after giving birth. We can save the lives of many of your people, Dirar, and that’s just one of the things we can offer.”

”You’ve seen a sample of what our different regions have to offer,” she added, gesturing to the bazaar that Hugo had set up on the dais. ”We can present new opportunities to your merchants, and greater safety to your people. Your borders instantly move hundreds of leagues away, and the conflicts at your northern border will come to an end.”

”What more do your people need?” Ashlynn asked directly. ”What more do you need?”

”Without a prophecy to convince them?” Dirar said, raising his brow at Ashlynn. ”Give me control of the lands of Aleese and the head of their current lord,” he said without glancing at the tables where he was certain the current baron was sitting.

”I will accept his son as my apprentice to rule the northern lands in my name,” Dirar added, as though it somehow balanced the scales of killing a man’s father. ”This will satisfy Herd Masters Megujin and Ligdan, leaving only the City Lords to pacify...”

”No!” Erling said, thumping a fist on the table, surprising even himself with the intensity of his reaction. ”Lady Ashlynn, your Dominion,” he said, quickly looking to Ashlynn for support. ”Lands are one thing; lines on a map mean nothing so long as the people are cared for, but demanding Lord Tybal’s head...”

Suddenly, the entire great hall went quiet. Erling had been preparing for a clash of some sort with the Southern Steppe, but Ashlynn had led him to believe that it would be a matter of formal challenges and duels... He’d never thought that the Eldritch lord would come out and directly demand the head of his friend’s father, so when he spoke up to protest, he was anything but quiet.

At one of the side tables, Peigi Aleese’s face drained of all color while her husband, Tybal, swallowed heavily before he stood.

”If it’s come to offering up our heads,” Tybal said, his voice echoing across the hall. ”Aleese would sooner fight to the last man than roll over like defeated dogs!”

At other tables around the hall, the knights of Aleese all stood one by one, saluting their lord with their fists to their hearts as they pledged to fight to defend their lord.

”For Aleese, to the death!” one knight shouted, drawing the ornate dagger from his hip while eyeing the nearby members of Dirar’s delegation.

”Fulrad rides with Aleese!” another knight announced, standing up with a small blade of his own.

”SILENCE!” Thane said, infusing his voice with just enough power to instantly bring the room to order.

”Since when are knights and lords so unruly?” Thane said, shaking his head at the men who had stood as if they were disobedient children. ”You’ll have your turn to speak,” Thane promised. ”But you two, with your blades drawn... You’re an embarrassment to every knight who ever stood a vigil,” Thane said coldly.

”Put your blades away,” he said, issuing a command without the use of his powers. ”Sit down and listen. If you can’t manage that much, don’t blame me for assuming that you’re conspiring to sabotage these negotiations and executing you myself!”