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“Your task is to find Umah, quickly. Let nothing distract you. The information she got from the Industrial Quarter may allow us to defeat the Sarafan Lord at last. Do not destroy our only chance with hasty action.”
Kain said nothing in response. Vorador could feel the young vampires hate keenly. He could even emphasise with it. He, too, wanted to rend the Serefan Lord asunder, but doing so now would be…unwise. Kain was fragile, though the youth would not like hearing that, too fragile to face his old adversary just yet. They needed Umah back and time to think and to plan how best to use this brittle advantage they had.
“Go, Kain. Quickly! I will be watching.”
Vorador cut the connection with Kain and slumped back into his chair. Using the whisper always gave him a headache. Talking to Kain usually gave him a headache. The combination of the two was leading to a migraine.
This whole situation was so precarious. Had he done the right thing? Umah was a capable vampire, the best he had, if he was honest. Losing her would be a blow the cabal might not recover from. But to risk Kain? The man was a nightmare to work with at the best of times, but as full of fury as he was, could they trust him to do this? Was he even capable of it? He was barely two nights awake.
“My lord, are you sure that was wise?” Richard’s quiet words startled Vorador, making him drop the empty goblet he had in his hand.
“Sure what is wise?” Vorador turned to face the young vampire, unable to conceal his frustration.
“Sending him in there, he, well, he does not seem the type to heed your advice for care. Your stories paint him as somewhat impetuous.”
“For one who has never met him, you know Kain remarkably well.” Vorador let an appreciative eye wander over Richard. The cabal may be small and weaker than their enemies, but they were far more beautiful. Richard shuffled, uncomfortable under his gaze. He was young and still held many of his human prejudices; he was not used to being admired so openly by another man.
“All I know is what you have told me.” Richard dipped down to the floor to retrieve Vorador’s dropped goblet. “You’ve described an arrogant creature, powerful but reckless. You were not shy about voicing your concerns about raising him to aid our cause.”
“Desperate times, child.” Vorador accepted the goblet, putting it down on a table. “And times are desperate, more so than ever before.”
“It has been years since we even thought about performing a rescue mission,” Richard gave voice to Vorador’s own thoughts. “And we never would have risked going into the Sarafan Keep.”
“Your point?”
“I know Umah is valuable, more than any other here, but we could lose them both in this.”
“True.” Vorador released a long exhale, acknowledging the element of risk. “I cannot deny it. They will outnumber us, and the Sarafan possess better weapons.”
“But?” Richard prompted after a moment, hope clear on his face.
“But,” Vorador smiled. “Kain has a knack for this.” Richard’s expression dropped. The moment of hope that was clear on his feature only a second ago rapidly fled. The fledgling stared at him silently. “Not previously used for rescue, I will grant you. But we can transfer skills.”
“You’re risking everything because he has a knack for this?”
Richard spoke so quietly Vorador wasn’t sure if the fledgling knew he could hear the muttered words. His vision flared red hot for a moment. This whelp was so bold, to question one such as him with things a child couldn’t possibly know anything about. Vorador sneered at the fledgling. The child was scarcely twenty-five, and had been dead for only a year. He was barely old enough to be considered a true vampire. Yet here he was, calling out Vorador’s judgement.
Vorador raised his hand to strike the motion as automatic as breathing, but paused. A voice that he knew was his own mind but sounded too much like Janos spoke his own thoughts to him.
“Your angry because you know he’s right.”
“You do not know what I know.” Vorador let his hand drop. “You should trust in your elders, at least to an extent.” Richard looked away when Vorador smiled at him. “Have faith. I know what I am doing.” He reached out, putting a gentle talon to Richard’s chin and lifting his face to meet his eyes.
“But this is different to your, our plan,” Richard said. “What about leaving the city, attacking from a place of safety?”
“Not without her.” Vorador pulled his hand back. “Besides there’s no guarantee that the Sarafan Lord would ever leave the city.”
“You said he would if he knew Kain had. You said he would follow. Kain was supposed to be bait, nothing more.”
“Well, now I’m saying he’s more use as a weapon.” Vorador slammed his fist down on the armrest of his chair. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself. “I’ve given it a lot of thought and I have decided. Leaving the city would be a mistake; we are safe here for now.”
“If you say, my Lord,” Richard was staring at the ground again, his momentary boldness gone.
“We know the city; we know where we can go. Out of the city … the land is much changed these last few centuries. We would not be safe.”
“We’re not safe anywhere.” Richard knelt at the foot of Vorador’s chair. Vorador let a thick clawed talon wander into Richard’s silver hair. “You truly believe they will return?”
“Kain is a nightmare.” Vorador let his fingers comb through Richard’s hair. “He is young, foolish, and foul-tempered, but he is also powerful and driven and he wants what we want, for the moment at least.”
“He made it to the keep.” Richard glanced up at Vorador, a note of hope in his voice. “That’s further than we’ve got before, even with the bishops’ help.”
“That he did, and he tore down two of the Sarafan’s elite guardian’s getting there.” Vorador closed his eyes briefly. He had had no great love for Faustus, but Marcus had been clever and strong. He would have made a powerful ally; it was a pity he was gone. Richard chuckled and Vorador glanced at him, an eyebrow raised in question.
“You sound disappointed, my lord,” Richard smirked. “Disappointed that you could not tear them down yourself?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I wish I were out there, too.” Richard said. “I dislike waiting while others take the risks.”
“You sustained severe injuries,” Vorador reminded him. “I, however, I am content to remain. While I may occasionally miss battle, I know I am more value here than out there.” He glanced at Richard, who was staring at him knowingly. He sighed. “But yes, I will admit it is grating that someone little more than a fledgeling has accomplished in one night what we could not do in years. Are you happy now?”
“You put your pride aside for the benefit of the Cabal, Lord. You are aware of your own faults; it is what makes you a good leader. It is why we follow you.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere,” Vorador muttered, his pride soothed only slightly.
“Lord?” the voice made Vorador and Richard jump. They turned to see Charlotte leading a weary bishop into the cabal. She removed the tattered blindfold from the old man and turned away, leaving the bishop blinking in the dim light. Vorador stood and went to him.
“I am relieved to see we got to you in time.”
“As am I.” The bishop smiled a little and offered a shaking hand to Vorador. “And I am glad you had sense enough to bring me here, to safety.”
“Nowhere in Meridian is safe.” Vorador took the man’s hand, shaking it carefully before releasing it.
“Alas, I see that.” The bishop nodded.
“You are not alone in losing your home. Take comfort in knowing that you can rebuild as long as you are alive.” Thoughts of the mansion swept across Vorador’s mind. The luxury he had built for himself in the swamp. How he missed it now, living in this dank basement. But dank basements had their uses. They were difficult to find for one thing.
“Richard.” Vorador turned to Richard, who was still kneeling on the floor. “Please go assist Kathryn with preparing a suitable room.” Richard stood, dipped his head, and scampered away. Vorador turned back to the bishop. “It will not be as comfortable as your manor, but it has the advantage of not being overrun by Sarafan.”
“Yes, you are aware of that, are you?” the bishop said. Vorador nodded.
“I have been keeping tabs on the one I sent to aid you. He visited your home before finding you at the Cathedral. I was sad to see the destruction of your home. I know the pain.”
“Thank you,” the bishop dipped his head. “I will miss the library most, I think.” The bishop chuckled. “It sounds foolish now, but I did not think the bastard would dare.”
“Tyrants will always dare.”
“But to attack the home, the mansion, of a bishop. The people won’t stand for it.”
“Any that won’t the Serefan will deal with brutally and publicly.” Vorador watched the bishop’s eyes go wide. “I’ve dealt with Tyrants before. They work quietly, politely until they have enough of a hold that they don’t have to be quiet and polite anymore.”
“Oh my, I didn’t realise we were that far gone already.” The bishop was going a strained red colour. Vorador forced himself not to roll his eyes. The comfortably rich were always the same. They never thought it would happen to them. He supposed he couldn’t blame the old man for his folly. He had thought his money and his hold on the church would keep him safe. Little did he know the truth. He watched as the bishop composed himself. “But tell me, I have not met the one you sent to my aid before.”
“No, he was … he is new to our ranks.” The bishop smirked at him.
“Please Vorador, I am no fool.” The bishop smirked; the expression did not suit him. “I have been to the Keep many times myself. I have seen the paintings, and I know you. You are safe by nature. You would not send a fledgeling into the Keep on a rescue mission.” Vorador nodded.
“Yes, he is more than he seems. But tell me, as you say, you have been to the keep many times. Do you believe he will succeed?”
“You should know that better than I, but I can say he seemed focused. Didn’t speak a word to me through the tunnels.”
“You should count yourself lucky. He is not my most polite associate,” Vorador said.
“Men like him rarely are,” the bishop agreed. Vorador noted his shaking frame and stepped forward.
“Come, we will get you situated and you can rest. This has been an arduous night, I imagine.” They walked together towards the least damp rooms.
“I am told then when I am granted life eternal, I will not feel my age.” The bishop looked at Vorador. Vorador smirked.
“This is true,” he said. “We will let you rest and recover a few days, and then maybe one of my ladies will pay you a visit.” He stopped outside an alcove that served as a bedroom. “But now I will leave you to rest.” He turned and walked back to the main hall.
He sat in his chair and looked for Umah. The sharp realisation that he had forgotten her plight even for a moment made him wince. He glanced around the hall. None were present but him.
At last, alone, he allowed himself to admit he was afraid.
Kain was strong, yes, but he was also young and would still be suffering the effects of his long sleep. This would be a tough mission. Vorador pinched the bridge of his nose. What had he been thinking, Umah was his favourite, yes, but this gamble could cost the Cabal its future? He prided himself on thinking with his head, not his heart, but he had risked Kain and thus the entire cabal to save one fledgeling. Umah was brave, strong, and clever, but she was just one vampire. He was gambling their entire race on one vampire.
“When did you become so foolish, old man?” he said to himself.
“My Lord?” Richard made Vorador jump; he hid his reaction in a cough. Twice in one night, he was losing his mind. Richard smiled. “Forgive me. I did not mean to startle you.”
“The bishop?” Vorador said. Richard’s smiled widened.
“Snoring like a beast, otherwise fine.” Richard’s smile faded. “No word yet? Will you check in on them?”
“Perhaps in a while, my pestering won’t do them any good,” Vorador said. Richard looked like he would argue. “You recall when I last checked on you?”
“Ah, yes,” Richard said. “My right arm still pains me occasionally.”
“Glyph weapons are dangerous; my distracting you caused you injury. I will not contact until I’m confident something has gone wrong.” Vorador turned when Richard didn’t respond. “Speak.”
“I don’t think I should,” Richard said. Vorador sighed.
“Don’t make me repeat myself.” Richard shuffled for a moment before speaking.
“When Kain was sleeping, you kept him asleep.”
“Aye, he would have woken sooner if not for my intervention.” Vorador nodded.
“You said this was because Kain was dangerous,” Richard said. “He has proven this true; he has done more in one night than we could in years. It works well for us now as we point him at our enemy.”
“You wonder what I will do if Kain is ever ‘pointed’ at us?”
“Yes. The Sarafan have to be stopped, but what if we’re replacing one dictator with another? What stops him from killing us?”
“Nothing.”
Richard’s eyes widened. Vorador held up his hand to silence Richard before he spoke.
“It may not be what you want to hear, but I will not lie to you. But to offer some reassurance, Kain is not a mindless beast. He will not attack for the sake of it. If we give him no cause, then we will need not worry.”
“You really believe that?” Richard said. Vorador didn’t answer for a long time. Eventually, he let his breath out in a huff.
“The choice was certain destruction under the Sarafan or potential destruction with Kain. What would you have had me do?”
“I appreciate your honesty, Lord.”
“No, you don’t child.” Vorador snorted. “But I won’t lie to you. However, I would be grateful if you didn’t speak of this. I don’t want concern raised over something that might not happen. Rest assured that I have defences in place if Kain does come at us. I have lived a long time; you do not live so long without a trick or two.”
“That is reassuring, my lord.” Richard’s smile wobbled. Vorador tensed at the sudden sense of power that filled the room. He jumped to his feet.
The light spawned and grew quickly until it filled the chamber. But then, just as suddenly as it appeared, the power faded and in the fading light stood a battered and bruised Kain holding an unconscious Umah. He had brought her back; he had brought Umah back to them and accomplished the impossible again.
“Umah, alive and safe. Kain, you have all our thanks!”
Kain looked at him and smirked. “I can follow orders when it suits me.”