Chapter 21
Urim
We sit in the basement of an inn on the outskirts of a city, the atmosphere tense. From what I know of Barakrin’s geography, I would guess we were in either West Shade or East Light, twin cities that are roughly a day’s travel north of Evernight. After Adara’s display at the clearing, we took horses and rode here. We abandoned the horses outside the city wall and then entered the city through a secret passage in the city wall which led us straight to the back courtyard of the inn we are currently meeting in. The vampires that rescued us are looking at Adara and me with suspicion, while their masked leader sits across the oak table from us, leaning back in his chair.
“Alright,” he says, in even, measured tones that would rival my own. “You wanted to talk. Now talk.”
I regard him for a tense moment, sizing him up. I know that I told Adara that we should ask for their help, but it never hurts to be sure what one is dealing with before revealing information. One can tell a lot about a creature in a mask. This male is someone who doesn’t want his identity known. There could be many reasons for that. Being members of a resistance, they cannot risk Grazrath knowing who they are. But there are other clues as well. This Onyx Serpent has long, clean fingernails, even though he is obviously a skilled archer. So he’s not a soldier but has been trained in the deadly arts. Probably a noble of some sort who resists Grazrath’s rule. Then I notice the very tips of a tattoo or birthmark that is peeking out from his high collar, barely visible but there just the same.Interesting.I have an idea of who he could be, but I should only share that information when it will provide a tactical advantage.
“What did you do with the other blood slaves that you rescued with us?” I ask, not revealing anything yet.
“What does that matter?” the Onyx Serpent asks.
I shrug. “You tell me.”
The resistance leader’s red eyes narrow behind his mask. Nowhe’ssizingmeup. After a moment though, he says, “We are not monsters. They are in the barn out back, being fed. We will smuggle them out of the country through our network when it is safe to do so.”
I raise a brow. “You do not feed on the blood of sentients?”
“We do,” he admits. “But our donors are voluntary. Comrades in our resistance who wish to help our cause. We could not compete with Grazrath’s followers if we abstained from the blood of sentients. The raid we carried out on your caravan wouldn’t have been possible without it.”
“So, you will give a choice to the blood slaves you rescued today?” I ask. “To leave or join you?”
“Yes,” he says. “Did you get the information you were hoping for?”
I don’t respond, but what he told me tells me much. The resistance treats non-vampires as equals and works to save them from forced blood servitude. It would seem that the resistance is worth trusting after all.
I’ve been silent too long for Adara’s taste, though, because she suddenly bursts out, “It is as I told you before. We are agents from Adrik. We were sent to kill Grazrath before he can grow in power.”
“Adara,” I say, warningly. We still need to be prudent about what information we share. I cannot scent the intentions of these vampires or whether or not he just lied to me, since their scents are too faint. Caution would still be wise.
“What?” she glares. “You are the one who said we should trust them, so I’m trusting them. The game was up in the clearing anyway, once I had to show my powers. We have no other choice but to bring them into the plot. We need their help to get in front of Grazrath, now that the magistrate won’t be delivering us.”
“What I don’t understand,” the Onyx Serpent cuts in, “is how you are planning to kill Grazrath in the first place. He is very strong, with no apparent weaknesses. He killed our old king by barely snapping his fingers. You are a mage, it is true, but it is unlikely that regular magic would even hurt an immortal like him.”
“There is a way,” I respond evenly before Adara can blurt out all the information we know. “A special form of fire that only Adara can cast that will make him vulnerable.” A slight exaggeration on my part. Any fire mage could cast soulfire, but Adara is the only one here who can and it doesn’t hurt to make them believe that Adara is precious and worth protecting.
“Make him vulnerable?” questions the vampire. “What does that even mean?”
“We don’t know exactly,” Adara answers before I can reply. “The scroll they found with the reference to the weakness is an ancient record from the God War. The language used was not clear. But suffice it to say, that if I can hit him with my fires, it will at the least weaken him so that he can be killed.”
The air changes in the room as the resistance fighters exchange looks. There is some excitement where there was only wariness before. Still, their leader stays leaned back in his chair, seemingly unaffected by what we revealed.
“So, what I’m hearing is that there is no guarantee that your mission will work and if we help you there is a chance that we will be drawn into the mess you create if your attack doesn’t take out the archdemon. Not a lot of incentive for us to risk our necks.”
“Do you have a better plan?” challenges Adara. “How were you planning on ousting Grazrath, then? Wishful thinking?”
“Peace, Adara,” I say, stepping in before she can say anything more offensive. I turn to face the resistance leader. “The Onyx Serpent is merely testing us, aren’t you?”
“Testing you?” he asks innocently. “Whatever could you mean?”
“You want to know how far we will go to see our mission through and how desperate we are to accomplish what we set out to do. You are testing for weaknesses to see if there is a way to manipulate this situation to your advantage, perhaps set yourself up to be in a position of higher bargaining power so that we have to give concessions in exchange for your help.”
“Oh my,” he responds drily. “Am I really doing all that?”
“Yes,” I say simply. “I know that you are because it is what I would do. But I will tell you that we are not authorized to promise anything to you on behalf of our rulers. We have nothing to offer you, save the hope that we can remove the immortal monster on your throne. Isn’t that what you want . . . Prince Malik?”
The vampires in the room stiffen, some hands flying to hilts to swords, but the Onyx Serpent merely raises a hand, staying the movement around him. Then he chuckles ruefully, reaching up and removing the scaled mask from his face. He reveals a visage that would be considered handsome by most, with a strong nose and jawline. He smiles at me, flashing long fangs in his mouth.
