The Vampire & Her Witch

”Then I will stand with Lord Reynold, and pray that the sorcerer Lord Dirar sends to face me still has bright stars in his sky...”

The hall went very quiet when they heard Aspakos’ threat, and the humans unfortunate enough to share a table with the feathered sorcerer shifted nervously on their cushions, moving at least a few inches further away from the man who had previously been so quietly unobtrusive that they’d forgotten he was there.

Even Dirar pursed his lips, looking for a moment like he might object to Ashlynn’s champion before dismissing the thought with a flick of his tail.

”Lady Ashlynn,” Dirar said after taking a deep breath. ”I assume that you don’t wish to see anyone fight to the death in these contests?”

”I won’t require death,” Ashlynn said. ”My greatest desire is that we can come together and resolve the blood debts that divide us without incurring fresh ones. But a contest between champions cannot be safe or tame, or it would offend all those who died and those still living who cry out for justice. Blood will be shed, and lives may still be lost.”

”Or have I read your people wrongly?” Ashlynn asked. ”Would they accept a contest between archers that was won simply by aiming at a bullseye on a target far away?”

”No, they would not,” Dirar agreed. ”Champions may clash to resolve this debt, but they must risk themselves or it has no meaning. Tonight?” Dirar asked, looking around the room at the members of his retinue who had been invited to sit at the lesser tables ”Or may my champions have a few days to prepare?”

”Three champions, three days of preparation for everyone,” Ashlynn said. ”We can discuss the details privately,” she added. ”But the contests themselves should be visible to all. Isabell,” Ashlynn said, looking toward the far end of the table at the overworked engineer. ”I’ll need to trouble you to help with the arrangements,” she said apologetically.

”If we can limit spectators to a thousand people or less, I can make use of the tournament grounds beyond the city walls,” Isabell said. ”I recall there being a track for horse races with stands near the starting line. It will take a bit of work to make it ready in winter but if Heila can lend me a few of her giants, it would go considerably faster.”

”Kurtz is all the honor guard I need and more,” Heila said, turning faintly pink in embarrassment when Isabell referred to Captain Ipiktok and his men as ’her’ giants. ”If Commander Savis can spare them, then I’m certain they’d be happy to help.”

”If I have need of them, the city is already doomed, and we have larger concerns than this,” the white-furred lupine vampire groused from his seat at one of the outer tables. To the humans who shared his table, the commander of the Vale’s Second Army resembled a living personification of a perfected predator with lean, powerful muscles under his pristine white fur and sharp fangs that peeked from underneath the dark lips of his muzzle.

To Ashlynn and those who had known him for some time, however, he couldn’t help but look... diminished from the man he had been. His tail drooped, and his fur had lost its luster. He looked almost ordinary among his Golden Eyed soldiers but for the stark white of his fur, a state of affairs that clearly left him in a sour mood.

He was right, however. If Ashlynn or Nyrielle needed him to command his soldiers in battle in the next three days, then they had far larger problems than the dispute between the Southern Steppe and the Aleese.

”I can help as well,” Hauke offered helpfully from his seat across from Isabell. His horn glowed a faint icy blue and a bright smile formed on his lips as he considered the ’arena’ he could prepare from snow and ice for a contest in the depths of winter. It was unlikely to rival the arena of High Fen City that he’d heard so many stories about, but the more he thought about it, the brighter his horn glowed with enthusiasm for the challenge.

”I can use every pair of hands,” Isabell said, smiling in genuine relief. ”Just tell me what you need, and I’ll see it done,” she promised Ashlynn.

”I will,” Ashlynn said before turning back to Tybal. ”Lord Tybal, I’m certain that High Lord Dirar will dedicate some time to helping his champions to prepare. In the interests of fairness, I’ll appoint mentors to help your son and Lord Erling prepare as well.”

”You think my son doesn’t know how to use a lance against these... ’Swift Hooves?’” Tybal said, glaring at Ashlynn as he found himself swept along in the tide of events without a single victory to claim. ”Our family has held the southern border for generations and...”

”Your family has,” Ashlynn said, putting extra emphasis on the word family. ”You have not. Lord General Thane stood his vigil and became a knight before your father was born, much less you, Lord Tybal. He trained me, Dame Sybyll, and Sir Ollie. Are you certain that you want to reject the opportunity for one of your champions to receive his guidance?”

”I would be grateful,” Reynold said quickly, before his father could respond. ”Your Dominion, Lord General Thane, thank you for all your efforts on behalf of my family and our barony. You’ve been fair-minded and generous at every turn,” he said, shooting a warning look at his father. ”Far beyond what my family has demonstrated we deserve.”

”What your family deserves and what your father deserves are not the same thing,” Ashlynn said warmly while placing a hand lightly on Jocelynn’s shoulder and smiling at Reynold. ”Your mother showed my sister a kindness not long ago at a time when she needed it most, and you have stood with me from the moment I returned to Lothian. Don’t think that I’ve forgotten, Lord Reynold.”

”Since your son accepts,” Ashlynn said, turning back to Tybal. ”I assume that you’re satisfied with the arrangements. In three days, the champions of Aleese and the Southern Steppe will meet in fair contest, and we will resolve the blood debts between you.”

”Until then, I suggest that you walk small, Lord Tybal,” Ashlynn said. ”And lest you consider vanishing like Lord Valeri,” she added sharply. ”I’ll be assigning a few of Commander Bassinger’s men to act as your escort for the coming days. Do we have an understanding?”

For a moment, Tybal struggled visibly, swallowing back whatever protest he’d been about to make while clenching his hands into fists tightly enough that his arms trembled.

It wasn’t fair. The High Lord made three demands, and the most he could win was to deny them. There was no room for him to make demands of his own. How was this fair? How could he accept it? But before he’d even had a chance to raise his objection, Ashlynn had put a stop to discussions or negotiations, all while appearing magnanimous and honorable to the people of the march.

He hated it. But, with the balance of power as it was... what could he do but swallow down his objections and accept her decree?

”Husband,” Peigi prompted lightly, giving his arm a gentle squeeze and looking up at him with watery eyes. ”Please.”

”We have an understanding, your Dominion,” he said, using her proper title at last, though it tasted bitter on his tongue. ”In three days, we’ll settle our debts.”

”Good,” Ashlynn said, accepting his reluctant agreement before turning to address the entire gathering in the Great Hall.

”I didn’t intend for this night to open on blood debts and border drawing,” Ashlynn told the crowd of people from across the Vale, the Verdant Hills, the Southern Steppe and beyond. ”I started the evening with gifts because I wanted everyone to see and feel the potential we have together,” she explained.

”I had hoped that we could all enjoy a meal together,” she said with a slight smile. ”At every table, there are people from different lands, and Hugo has seen to it that every table has at least a few people who are conversant in both the King’s common tongue and the Eldritch language. I would very much like for you to get to know your neighbors tonight.”

”But before we do, perhaps we all need to understand the shape of the future we’re building together,” she said, looking to Nyrielle beside her. ”What do you think, my love? Is it time?”

”When have I failed to indulge your whims, my darling?” Nyrielle said sweetly. ”But I agree. Too many people are anxious and uncertain where they stand. Too many are scheming for advantage and opportunities they’ve already lost,” she said, pointedly refusing to look in Tybal’s direction.

”It’s time for the people to hear and to celebrate what we have wrought,” Nyrielle said. ”Once they’ve heard, I imagine they’ll have plenty to talk about as they come to know their neighbors...”