Chapter 95: Curtains (1/2)

Eleven vampires stand around two corpses. Melusine silently took her place by my side, while on the left, the knight squad and Jimena arrayed themselves in a V formation. The last face of this uneven triangle is formed by the Cadiz. Lazaro and another master stare at Fenris’ remains with glassy eyes. Next to them, a woman with dark curls and a man with grey eyes under blond hair show various expressions of grief and regret. Their party has suffered the most from this adventure.

It occurs to me that we have reached a critical mass. Four hundred werewolves could overwhelm anything short of a battle lord if the vampire were to stand and fight. With nine masters, we have an army.

In theory.

“What happens now?” Lazaro asks with a wary voice.

“As per our agreement with the Speaker, we follow Ariane’s plan. Their warlord Augustus will lead his packs north and disperse them.” Sergei answers in a tired voice.

Lazaro nods, seemingly resigned. His companion does not.

“Is that it? Was your outrage just a show?” he hisses with obvious hatred.

“You are in no position to criticize me, Reyes, and particularly not before our friends,” Lazaro retorts with a chastising glare, but the other is unfazed.

“Your friends, perhaps, not mine. You can take your honor and image and go greet the dawn.”

“Last warning Reyes, you have exhausted my patience.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Yes.”

The words were exchanged in a clipped, fast tone. The rest of us do our best not to stare.

This is unprecedented for me. Until now, all vampires had stuck to a strict etiquette. This public outburst surprises me greatly. What manner of conflict could have caused two warriors who have fought side by side to despise each other so?

“I accept your challenge.”

“Witnessed by the knights,” Sergei announces with obvious regret.

Ahem.

Melusine discreetly bumps my arm.

“Witnessed by clan Nirari.”

“Witnessed by clan Lancaster,” she says in turn.

“The duel will take place before our fortress in half an hour. Make sure your affairs are in order, Reyes.”

“And the same to you.”

The Cadiz then split up. The Masters disappear, each in one direction. The two Courtiers remain, looking quite lost. They exchange a glance then leave together at a much slower pace.

The awkwardness remains. Such an embarrassing display, unworthy of us. The only good thing is that there were no mortals to witness our shame.

“We will go to the Cadiz hold, Ariane,” Sergei says with a complicated expression.

“Can I count on you to make sure your… ‘allies’ vacate the area?”

“Yes.”

And soon, only Melusine and I are left.

We inspect the mass of werewolves walking back to their camp in a strange mix of elation and grief. Some are in wolf form, some, in human. There is some fighting, some crying and a lot of hugging. Augustus and a few of his lieutenants are at the tail of the formation, helping along the most apathetic members.

The ferals have been rounded and corralled, for now.

“Could you please get Frost and Melitone to the hold while I talk to Augustus?”

The redhead blinks and returns her focus to me.

“Very well.”

“Oh, and one last thing,” I add, because I am now certain, “you have proven yourself over the past few days. If you want to take over the north, it is yours.”

“If we win,” she replies with a small smile.

She is right. The contest is not over until Constantine passes judgement. I do believe we have an advantage now, but it will also depend on whether the Speaker considers an Augustus-led horde as a greater danger or not. Melitone’s support does not imply her brother’s approval.

Melusine runs to the trees and I leave Metis, who had impatiently been waiting behind, to snack on prime wolf cuts. I walk back to Augustus on foot, taking my time.

From that distance, the horde is a strange thing held together by some vague herd instinct. The packs, once united, now start to dislocate in units of varying sizes. I am reminded of a drunken crowd at the end of a summer feast, only, with more sorrow and slightly less clothes. They are a sorry lot.

When I reach Augustus, even his guards only give him a passing glance before turning their efforts to the most catatonic members of the group. Many of them are women, I notice. It figures.

The leader himself is still standing strong to offer a powerful façade to those who look up to him for comfort. His monolithic aura shows no weakness to those with inferior senses. Only my own expertise reveals the turmoil underneath.

“Ariane,” he soberly greets.

“How are you doing?” I ask, both out of concern and out of respect.

“Now is not the time to be introspective.”

“I suppose,” I reply.

It takes a minute before he finally asks his question.

“So, what happens now?”

“You can leave as promised. The other vampires will adhere to the bargain I made.”

“That is tremendous news,” he says with a heavy sigh. He rolls his shoulder under the coat which he has donned once more, and I can tell that the burden on his mind has lightened ever so slightly.

“You should probably still leave quickly.”

“I know. We will walk north as soon as possible. My new pack and I will… dispose of the ferals, in a humane way.”

I do not speak. What is there to say? How would I feel if I had to kill Jimena after she turned rogue? Words of comfort would not suffice.

“I am concerned about food. We are running out of supplies and we have no way to sustain such a large group.”

“I am sure I could negotiate the purchase a herd or two,” I inform him after thinking about it. It would be best if the risk of creating more ferals was reduced, in case starvation pushes some over the edge.

“That would be appreciated. I have no way to repay you for now, but I would consider it a favor.”

“It is done,” I declare. I always have a small stash with me when traveling with many mortals. It will be enough to buy a few dozen sheep from nearby villages, even if we must pay a premium.

“Good. One last thing before I forget. Your, ah, minion was looking for you.”

“Jeffrey, you mean?” I reply, thinking about the little blabbermouth.

“Yes. He’s over there.”

I follow Augstus’ finger to Jeffrey’s scrawny form. The little goof is waving frenetically with a stupid smile plastered on his face from the back of the formation. June stands next to him looking bored.

With a frown, I join them feeling like I am being summoned.

“Hey bosswoman! When are we leaving?”

“What do you mean, we?”

“Well I said I’d be your man, right? So that means I gotsa follow you to your town, right?”

“Err…”

“Aw come on, you wouldn’t throw me out like an old sock, would you? Forcing me to go back on my word like a scoundrel? Was I not a good lad?” he asks with puppy eyes. June’s eyes roll in their sockets.

“Well, I suppose you were useful, true,” I admit reluctantly.

“It’s settled then! Me and my friends will live on your land and sniff out your foes and piss on their doors and whatnot.”

“Hold on,” I interrupt, “what friends?”

“Come on bosswoman, I told ya I was a leader, yeah? There are plenty of lasses and lads here who don’t want to return north. Ya know, on account of losing everything, the horrible memories, and abuse. They can come with and we will all do the things. All the things. Great hunts all around. Your own personal horde to call, except on weekends. And during the full moon, yeah?”

A handful of girls and two boys of uncertain age detach themselves from the stragglers. Their faces show a mix of fear and determination.

They did honor their promises.

“Well, I suppose it would be acceptable,” I concede. Having a handful of werewolves at my beck and call would certainly be an advantage. I would perhaps have the prestige of being the first vampire to command such a group! As for the smell, there are plenty of forests and wild lands around. I can probably buy them a farm out of the way until they are needed.

No sooner have I accepted, than ten other wolves detach themselves from the group. Then twenty more. Then another twenty. Eventually, over fifty werewolves stand in a half-circle around the very proud and very naked young man.

“That’s settled then, thanks bosswoman! Everyone, follow June to the camp and grab some clothes. We must link up with Frost’s lads before dawn,” he yells to the crowd.

I smile and pretend that I did not just get played like a fresh daisy by a butt-naked guttersnipe half my age. Well done, Ariane, queen of the smelly mutts. Well done indeed. Now you need to buy a whole bloody village with attending woods. Farewell, my savings I had stashed to build myself a gun factory. Farewell! Thine demise is mine to bear. Out, out brief candle!

The group I just took ownership of gathers in a large pack that now walks with a more determined step. Their cohesion separates them from the rest of the horde, and so does their appearance. I notice that many of the members look younger and that almost half are women, a significantly higher proportion than normal.

And then a shape emerges from the retreating mass. A man I had not seen for a long time.

Alistair’s sandy hair is the same, but his green eyes are now deep-seated in a face made more angular by hunger.

“Mr. Locke,” I greet him with a smile. The man stops and his posture changes. He stands straighter, and pretends to salute me with an imaginary hat. The move is elegant, and I find myself chuckling.

“Ariane. A pleasure as always. I apologize for my state of undress as I remember that nakedness makes you uncomfortable.”

“Well if you turn to your left, you will see hundreds of butt cheeks quivering on their way to a camp so…”

“You have grown accustomed to it.”

“I have pushed those sights to the back of my mind and after this crisis is over, I will have to paint ten landscapes to wash away the sight of all those genitals.”

“Ah yes, a lot of painful memories were made here,” the man announces somberly, “at least it is over.”

“What will you do?” I ask to distract him.

Alistair shakes his head before focusing on me again.

“Did I mention that my father was a doctor? The call to heal remains. A lot of people here will need help to recover and I will provide it. We need a larger pack for a while, and Augustus has the power to bring us together. Besides, he, most of all, needs help.”

“I wanted to ask; I see no elders among you. Do you also never age?”