Holier Than Thou

[Emora Deen]

Espha covered her mouth. "Are you INSANE?! Get out of the fire!" But she already knew he wasn't human. She'd been able to tell that by his eyes. " And I'm not taking off my clothes!" Espha folded her arms, and turned away from him. She couldn't watch him burn, it made her sick to her stomach... The smell she was used too. Bodies had been burning in the streets for a week now.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Lose them, or stay here. Your pride is not worth the lives of the families in the capitol," Vlad warned over the roar of flames.

[Emora Deen]

Espha pursed her lips together in a frown. She tapped her foot on the floor several times before she reached up and began unlacing the fancy Hajarian garb. She slid it over her hips and to the floor, kicking off her slipper shoes. Espha wrapped an arm around her chest, and hand over the lower half of her body. Her cheeks burned, and she didn't have the courage to turn around and face him... or face the fire and what it was doing to his body.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Look on the bright side, young one. At least you have skin," Vlad teased as he stepped out of the flames, still smoldering. He cast a glance at the wash basin in the corner, considered it, and decided against it. "Let's go wait in the hall a moment," he said, shooing her out of the smoky room and shutting the door behind them. He didn't want her to asphyxiate before he could cool off enough to touch her.

[Emora Deen]

Espha stood in the hall, naked... and embarrassed. Too embarrassed to meet the strange man's eyes. "Doesn't it hurt? What you just did? Are you really that mad?"

* * *

"Lady Dracul," a servant called from the doorway. Tenele looked up from the stack of papers on Atul's desk. "We have a situation."

"I know... I can't find that list anywhere..."

"No my Lady," the servant muttered. "Its not about the list... Three ships docked in our ports a few minutes ago. Arken ships. They say they've come with aid for the King concerning Ida. They ask to speak with him. What do I do?"

"Tell them to get back on their ships and sail away," Tenele muttered, standing up. She went to the window and looked down to the docks.

"Lady Dracul... We may not be allies with Arken anymore, but we have never been enemies. I don't think we can hardly tell them to leave so rudely. I think King Hajaris would surely hear them out, especially if it concerns Ida. He says he has medical supplies."

Tenele frowned. She smoothed her hands down the front of the flowy summer gown and let out a heavy sigh. "Fine, I'll meet with their leader. Have him brought here. Put the palace on double guard, and do not let anyone else from those ships enter the city, do you hear me? Do not trust them."

"Yes, Lady Dracul," the servant muttered, and scurried off.

Tenele drummed her fingers against the wooden desk, worry setting in. Why would Arken bring medical supplies... and what on earth was wrong at Ida?

[Soran Nightblade]

"If I tell you it hurts, will you feel better about it?" Vlad raised an eyebrow, waving his arms to cool his smoking flesh. It was already healing back together, but he was covered in soot.

[Emora Deen]

"No," Espha muttered, glancing his way. She immediately winced and looked away. "I haven't seen a naked man yet... Much less one on fire. This will be an interesting story to tell my handmai...." Espha stopped, sorrow creasing her features. She swallowed it. "At any rate, don't flatter yourself or get any ideas..."

* * *

Tenele adjusted one of the pins in her hair that was holding up her silver braids in a bun at the back of her head. It was pushed to far in and constantly jabbing the back of her skull. She paced Atul's throne room, until the doors opened and the servants and Hajarian guard led two Arken men in. Both wore the Arken banner colors of black and gold, with dark cloaks and leather tunics.

She paused her pacing and turned to greet them.

"I understand you..."

"You!" muttered the younger man. His eyes widened, and he clamped his mouth shut. "Well, this is a surprise."

"I'm sorry?" Tenele muttered tilting her head. "Do I know you?"

He smirked, glancing to the Arken next to him. "Not exactly, no."

"Well, then, since I do not know you, let's get down to business. What do you want?" Tenele clasped her hands behind her back.

"We've brought aid for Ida. We were to deliver it to Ida, but the plague is too bad. We didn't want to risk the people who are working on a cure. So, we've brought them here to the capital to meet with the King. I understand he already rode to Ida," the older man explained.

"He left with a very small convoy yesterday," Tenele told him. "He'll be back soon. I'm sorry did you say plague?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"Oh, I'm very happily married," Vlad grinned, showing off his still-shiny wedding ring to her. "Alright, if you're ready, I should be able to do this without burning you.

[Emora Deen]

Espha felt more comforted by his comment of marriage. "I'm ready," she muttered. "I guess. Let's get this over with."

[Soran Nightblade]

"Yes, I am brave and noble. Thank you for mentioning it," Vlad scoffed as he scooped the girl unceremoniously into his arms. His nerves were a little scattered from his self-immolation technique, but with a few seconds of concentration, he managed to make the jump back to the city gates, where Atul and the others were waiting.

Rather than set her down, Vlad kept the girl in his arms. He didn't want to stand her naked for them all to see, and there was privacy in the way he was holding her. "A blanket," he called to the servants while his eyes met Atul's. "We have some problems in there."

[Emora Deen]

A servant brought a blanket up, and Atul took it. "Fetch Ambassador Dracul's clothing please." He went to Vlad, holding out the blanket and wrapping it around the girl, even as he took her from Vlad's arms and set her on her feet. "What sort of problems?"

The servant returned quickly, carrying a stack of clothing for Vlad.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad didn't worry too much about ruining his clothes as he pulled them on efficiently over his sooty skin. The village is in bad shape, and the high lord is... not faring well," he remembered the girl standing next to him. "For some reason, Arken's forces are here, claiming brotherhood with your kingdom and a desire to help research the illness. There seems to be some currying of favor going on, and antagonism toward the capitol because you were traveling when the problem started. Arken heroically swooped in to the save the day."

[Emora Deen]

Atul smirked. "How convenient," he muttered. He turned his eyes on the girl. "May I have your name?"

"You're majesty?" she muttered. "You're King Hajaris?" she swooped into a bow. "Forgive my state of dress the vampire told me to take my clothes off!"

"Did he now?" Atul smirked. Under any other circumstances he would be tempted to tease Vlad, but not now. "I'm sure he did it because he feared you'd bring whatever sickness is in there out with you. Your name?"

"Espha, your majesty," she murmured, still not looking up.

"Espha, I need you to tell me everything that you know," he told her, cupping a hand around her arm and leading her to the tents. "And Vlad, I need you to tell me everything that you might have heard, even the smallest detail."

* * *

"I am not going to invite them to dinner," Tenele growled to the adviser. "Those men are killers."

"You have to put your personal feelings towards Arken aside," the adviser muttered. "Yes, Ighten has a terrible past with Arken, but our kingdom does not. We have traded and been allies with them up until the rebellion. You must invite them into the city."

"I am not going to make that decision. They are free to stay in the port, but they will not come into the city until King Atul returns," Tenele told the man firmly.

"At least invite a small party in as a gesture of good will. We need to keep peace until the king returns, then he can make the decision on what to do with them."

Tenele took a seat at the table, pinching the bridge of her nose.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Atul," Vlad said discretely, pulling up next to the king as they walked. "We may need to talk and ride. A fleet of Arken "assistance" is heading for the capitol."

[Emora Deen]

Atul faltered in his step. "Assistance to Ringuard?" he paused, his eyes scanning the city, the desert, his men. "These people need me, Vlad. What will it look like if I turn tail back to the capital? Granted, obviously I have no idea what's going on or what I should do... But, the capital is two days from here..." It was clear by Atul's gaze he was torn on what to do.

He sighed. "What should I do? Do you think Tenele can handle them?" He put a hand to his head. "We don't know how many there are... Damn it. I don't know what to do!"