A dark storm raged around the realm of Vailiania. It had taken many a month to reach the realm by ship but from talking with passing trading ship she had told them whilst the crew hid there elvish features as they talked to the merchants. They had not left Fallean for awhile and did not recognize who Ignatia was though she got information saying that there was no sign of Rilien in there realm and rumours of war brewing for the lifeless king’s throne.

They had only been of the ship for little more than an hour. With much agreement they left the capital of Vailiania, Malalania where red eyes watched them both from the shadows with hunger. Finding a tavern on the edge of the capital, they entered to the feel the warmth of a fire and a voice called over to them “welcome, take a seat and I will be with you in a moment” taking the orders they both found a seat in the room hearing odd snippets of talk about a man named Darius’s new demands for blood and gold.



They were both watched by an old woman. Her eyes were switching from Kalian to Ignatia “travellers from a distant realm, what brings you here with those eyes which I can only just remember seeing such a long time ago?” no answer came to them for they had no idea what she was talking about. She gave a small laugh slightly at there silence.



Ignatia did not say anything until a woman walked passed Kalian to stare out of the widow “Lisette, leave them be” looking over her shoulder at Kalian and Ignatia “do not mind Lisette, she is a little strange in her words and I swear she can see into the past of people. My name is Marian, may I get you anything?” Ignatia did not answer, lost in thought. Kalian noticing that Marian expected an answer form her, she quickly spoke “we were going to move on” before she could finish Marian turned to look at her.

Her eyes were filled with worry as Marian’s eyes flitted between them both. Taking a breath she said to them “Lisette is right, you have come form other lands, by the looks of you I say that you are either from the Forrdiean valley to what ever lies there or beyond there or from the lands of warriors, Fallean. Stay here for the night as we know what dwells out there in the hours of darkness, vampires roam around in forcing the law of Darius. You would be either taken to him or be feasted upon by vampires” Kalian nodded noticing from the corner eye that Ignatia was still lost in thought. Kalian turned her attention back on Marian “we will stay here then until dawn, is that alright with you, Ignatia?” Ignatia gave her absent minded nod in answer.



Lisette did not say anything for a moment seeing the sad look in the eyes of both Ignatia. A sad smile appeared on her face but when she spoke her tone was fully of sympathy “it will get better, in time you will both find another” Kalian blinked “what are you talking about?” Lisette did not answer for a moment. Her eyes stared straight into hers and for a moment she wondered if she could see into her mind and soul “you have both lost the men you and your friend has. You are young and even an old bard’s eyes can see that as clear as day by the looks of things I would say he was man of great power but apart from that I fear to say more” Kalian then glared at her. How could a simple bard have this sort to power to know such things.

Deciding that she did not want to test this who she guessed could be an old human mage from the war with black temple, she asked her “you have lived in this realm for many a year but I have a question for you. When I walked through the city I noticed men dressed in strange which silver armour engraved with ebony black symbols” Ignatia looked over her shoulder “such armour I have not seen though many an armour which hide the skin of the armour the warrior within but not so much extent.” Ignatia fell silent again as she remembered the warriors of Fallean and homesickness filled her. Kalian continued finding her courage to continue “they seemed to be part of the guard and commanded fear but yet they seem uneasy. What has happened to make this realm as it?” Lisette laughed slightly before standing.



A teenage girl who neither off them had noticed due to her not making sound until she spoke “you better both sit around her, she has a tale to tell and normally it takes some time for her to tell them. She loves it and her tales are full of her passion” Lisette hushed her as she joined both Kalian and a miserable Ignatia sat around her watching her as Lisette took a moment to think before starting her tale in earnest.



Her eyes seemed to gleam with an unearthly hint “before the time of thy own coming to this world, this out of all the realms of humans is the most troubled. The gods grant me that what I say is the truth for as I my self worship the twin goddess of my craft Artmia and Owlene that what tell is both truth and history for I have seen some of this with my own eyes. The depths winter came when the armies of our homeland came back from Elevnia they were battered and half dead from all that they had gone through. The queen bore her infant son in her arms to his father who had led are armies, the child would grow into better king than his father, he was the last of human kings, Vikar. Though his rule was not marked by war or violence he did not know of the power raging in the north. In there darks halls the vampires who had slipped silently back to there realm after the war were planning treachery. At this time I served as bard to there ruler, Azul who returned from the war greatly weakened and wounded. He himself told me though the wounds would heal in time his strength will take longer to return but he would refuse my blood saying that he would not bite unless his need was dire but upon that time he would not be able to. Treachery claimed him in it’s talons for Darius used powerful magic to weaken Azul to the point of death. The last I ever saw of him was when they bound him chains and placed him in a coffin. Vulcan, the kings advisor was bitten by Darius and used magic to fool and slay Vikar along with his wife” she paused for a moment remembering that time in her mind vividly.

She continued though her hands where clenched behind “from that time Darius anointed himself king of the realm. Many a name is given to him for his is as cold as winter and as blood thirsty as the creature within him. Many a man has tried to kill but all have failed. As payment to the vampires maidens would be given to the lords for them to feed on as they wished. I remember seeing many a woman being led to that fate. Justice is only exists when the lords deem it so, there minions wear that armour you spoke both to stave off the sun and to install fear. There lords do not care of the rules of mortal men for blood is all they need for them but there is only one thing that they fear. The old fort of our army is now a prison for one man, Azul. Though Darius set him free for a brief period of time as an minion to his power but after he tried to break free of his masters control by tiring to drink blood to give power for he had been kept alive through small amount of blood. Weak and on verge of death he stalked so in his desperation he attacked a woman destined for the king’s palette but ultimately failed. Darius pinned Azul to the stone floor and bit him . I know not how it effected him but effect him it did. From that day he was taken from the palace of his servant turned master over Azul, inside the fortress he now lies in enchanted sleep. Everyday the vampires guard and protect the fortress for they know that who ever frees him from his slumber have unleashed an end to there master’s rule and he will serve whoever frees him but many have tried, none have succeed. Know this all who listen here, Azul will reap what his just deserve” she fell silent her tale finished.



Standing slowly for there legs had fallen sleep from sitting on the floor for so long. After some small amount of guidance from there hosts they found the room they would spend the night in. As Ignatia started to undress and slip into there nightwear, Ignatia looked over her shoulder “do you think that Azul would aid whoever frees him?” Kalian thought for a moment “even if he does, I have been told that mages have great power and that not all of them have good intent in heart” Ignatia thought for a moment on what Kalian said.



Slipping on her nightgown Ignatia got into bed and the bed opposite her. She had not removed her armour deciding to sleep in her armour due to many a piece of advice she had got from many an old solider that sleeping in armour though uncomfortable in types of heavy armour or chainmail where practically uncomfortable to lie in but if the enemy attacked in your sleep they would not be able to kill you so easily. Due to her own absent mindedness and the fact that she had never once desired to sleep in armour Ignatia had not followed Kalian’s actions. The two both fell asleep with dreams of the men they loved and there own fears of what lay ahead in both there journey and future.



Early that morning, Marian came to speak with Lisette. The sun had not fully risen in the sky, by this time and she had discovered that some food had vanished from there stores. Lisette looked up into her face “you knew they were going to take there leave?” Lisette sighed slightly. After her arrival from the realms beyond the mountains, she had learnt more than she could have hoped before coming to this small tavern to serve as bard. The arrangement was that they gave her shelter, food and drink and she would serve them as a bard. “they are trained in the warrior arts, it has been many a year since I have seen any warriors who did not wear the black armour of king’s men for all are combatants and mages either serve the vampires or risk death for treason against them and we need hope of a future not stained in blood” Marian look unconvinced. She turned to look out of the window “call it what you will but either way you have sent those girls to their deaths!”