Vartan used his free arm to help raise his father’s head, and Leon sipped the pink liquid into his mouth and swallowed. Twitches of sharp pain passed across his eyes and he clenched his fists. It only took a few moments for the magic to start its work. Leon’s body began to glow pink, increasing in intensity until Vartan couldn’t bear to look at him. The light was almost blindingly bright.
The room filled with a high pitched ringing sound that grew in intensity until Vartan had to cover his ears to block it out.
The light slowly dimmed, and Vartan turned to look at his revived father. Leon was already standing up straight, breathing deep with his sword in hand. He had discarded his heavy robe and stood before Vartan in his slightly torn clothes, the fury in his heart pumping through his veins. He reached into his mouth and found that his tongue had also regenerated and he was once again able to speak.
Smiling with pride, Leon strode over to give his son a rough but warm hug.
“Thank you, Vartan,” said Leon. “That cowardly bitch Kassina and her vampire assassins ambushed the house while we were sleeping; they imprisoned us after taking Greenhaven. By the gods, whatever was in that strange egg has returned all of my strength to me!” He flexed his muscles in wonderment. He swung his sword into the wall with the crudely written blood message with such force that the blade stuck, leaving the hilt wobbling in the air.
“That wench skinned your mother, while the vamps forced my eyes open to watch before they cut my tongue out. I can still hear her screams… how I long for the day to return that favour,” growled Leon, his face full of horror. He turned back to Vartan. “Then they left me here alive and told me that if I were ever to leave the rotting bedroom, the assassins would be waiting for me and turn me into one of those vile creatures. I thought you were one of them when you burst into the room. I managed to find my sword that I had hidden away in case anyone broke in, after they had left. I thought about jumping out the window, but I would have broken my legs.'
His face paled as it dawned on him that he had fallen into a trap, and he ripped his sword out from the wall hastily.
“Vartan, the assassins are likely still out there and probably waiting to ambush us. Is there anyone else with you?”
“Nymira?” asked Vartan, as the Dragon Queen slowly shifted her scales back to show herself.
Leon stared at her in surprise and then immediately bowed down to greet his queen.
“My goodness, get off the ground, you silly fool, and prepare yourself for battle!”
“Yes, my Queen,” replied Leon, abruptly returning to his feet as his face reddened.
A panicked scream escaped the fields outside, and was quickly muffled.
“Oh no — that was Tusdar!” growled Vartan.
Vartan and Leon stealthily approached the farmhouse windows, peering out to see if they could locate Tusdar. Nymira pulled her head out from the doorway and looked around to scan the many fields around them.
Standing in a circle around them were at least two dozen vampire assassins, leering in the moonlight, their black clothes flapping in the wind. One of them wore red jewels on a gold necklace and stood closest to the house with Tusdar held in a tight armlock, a sharp silver dagger held to his neck. Its tip pierced Tusdar’s skin and drew tiny droplets of blood.
Take down their leader first, and the rest will crumble, thought Vartan as they stepped out of the farmhouse, studying the positions of the awaiting vampires.
A growling voice echoed into the night. “I am Arane, and I command the entire vampire army. I will make this simple for you. Lay down your weapons and hand over your dragon to our control and none of you have to die.”
“Commander of the vampire army, you say?” said Vartan. “Aren’t you under Shindar’s command? And I would hardly call this little gathering an army. The dragon — not my dragon — is free from capture and does not bend to anyone’s will. As for letting us all live, I would love to believe you, but history has shown that vampires are not to be trusted.”
Vartan's body twisted as he snapped out his arm, releasing a small dagger, and formed the shape of a claw with his other hand. He cast a spell under his breath, “ Impendo quod queritor. ”
The dagger split open in mid-air, transforming into four razor-sharp steel claws that mimicked his own fingers, and embedded themselves around Arane’s pale neck.
Vartan grinned as he shouted. “Let Tusdar go, or I’ll close my fist and turn you into dust to fertilise the plants.'
Arane snickered as he narrowed his eyes. “You stupid fool! This isn’t a fable and we don’t negotiate! You had your chance, and I will not give you the courtesy of another.' He slid his blade across Tusdar’s neck and dropped his body to the cold ground. Tusdar clutched at his open flesh as he choked loudly on his own steaming hot blood.
“No! Tusdar! Arane, you son of a bitch!” growled Vartan.
He closed his fist tightly and his enchanted weapon cut through Arane’s neck. The vampire’s body disintegrated into dust.. Vartan and Leon charged forward furiously with their weapons drawn high. Nymira quickly extended her tail and sliced through the necks of three more assassins in one smooth motion. She snapped her head up and unleashed dragon's breath that engulfed a handful of vampires who had leapt from the roof. Vartan jumped off a pile of hay and brought his sword down to crash through an assassin, slicing its body cleanly in half. The two halves of the vampire’s flesh and bones fell to the ground with a thud before turning into dust. Leon and Vartan turned together with their swords ready to face the remainder of the attackers.
'You sure have grown, my boy!' Leon laughed.
With a gust of wind past their faces, Nymira’s immense body landed behind the vampires. She narrowed her eyes and blew jets of fire into the sky as a warning to the rest of them. Four vampire assassins stood side by side on the roof, unsure of what to do next. They looked at one another, mumbled something out of earshot and nodded. One of them brought a horn to his lips and blew hard, sending a grumbling sound through the forest.
At first, there was no response. Then, one after another, they heard the shrieks echoing from the forest build until they were almost a unified, deafening noise. Hundreds of vampires ran from the surrounding forest and covered the farm like ants, blazing their way towards them at inhuman speed.
“By the gods, son-the entire vampire army is upon us!” cried Leon, nervously swinging his sword and turning in all directions.
Vartan looked up to see a cloud of assassins’ daggers spinning towards them and barely had time to consider his next move.
Peter Koevari
Legends of Marithia: Book 1 — Prophecies Awakening: Uncut and Exte nded Second Edition
Chapter 16: A Time to Live, A Time to Die
“What have I done with my whole life? I’ve spent countless years wasting it away with drink and thievery. I think it’s time that I do something worthwhile. What is the good of jewels and treasure when our whole world is covered in darkness?
It is time for me to take a stand and show everybody that I am more than a thief.”
(Tusdar, Master Thief of Greenhaven)
Trisa tucked her hair behind her ears, retrieved a pungent dark green herb from her pack, and gently rubbed it under Helenia’s nose.
“We cannot thank you enough, Trisa,” said Andrielle. “In times like this, an elven healer is indeed difficult to find. We needed all the warriors we could get, so all the healers we have are being trained for war. Perhaps I should reconsider that strategy.”
“I am glad to be of service to you, my new Queen. Thank you for allowing me entry and safety within the walls of Veldrenn. Mind you, I am a bit unsure of my safety here right now.”
Bang…
'I agree with you,” replied Andrielle. “I only wish we had more time to prepare.'
Another rumble ran through the ground and rattled the plates and furniture within the house. Helenia stirred to life and turned to stare with clouded eyes at her worried mother seated beside her. Trisa brought a specially brewed steaming cup of tea to the princess’s lips and gestured for her to take it.
“Please, drink up, Princess Helenia,” said Trisa. “This will return your energy. The quickened healing process drained most of your body’s reserves. Mind you, I’ll be honest and tell you that there was not much there to begin with. You might want to save the use of magic for an absolute emergency, or until you learn to master the use of it.
