Holier Than Thou

[Soran Nightblade]

"That's very kind advice," Vlad appraised. He clapped an approving hand on the man's shoulder and enjoyed the way he flinched under his touch. "Thanks."

He turned and made his way back to the city gate, leaning against the inside of archway to think a minute.

[Emora Deen]

"What did that man say to you..." Espha muttered, looking warily down at the dead body some several yards away. "Is he dead?" She forced her frightened gaze to lock on the vampire. "Do you normally kill so easily?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"It's rarely hard, if that's what you mean," Vlad smirked. He pushed off the wall and studied her. "Look, I didn't come here to babysit. I'll get some food off the ship, and you can lie low out here until the caravan's back. Do you know a place to sleep without entering the city?"

[Emora Deen]

Espha shook her head. "No... there is nothing beyond the city walls but sand." She glanced back at the desert. "And you don't have to babysit me."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad frowned, studying her a moment. "Suit yourself," he shrugged. He gave her a sarcastic bow and strode off into the city to get the lay of the land. Within a few hours, he had discovered the location of the sick ward and scoped out many of the remaining healthy families. Not many were willing to speak with him, and he didn't try too hard. He kept his distance to avoid spreading illness any further than necessary, but it seemed a moot point. Almost everyone was beginning to show signs of the plague. For all the men they'd brought, Arken's medical personnel were few, and didn't impress Vlad much.

So, after several hours of study, he wound up back in the high lord's office. The man was ill and clearly needed rest, but he made it out of bed to speak with the vampire who had returned to his midst. Of course, several of Arken's men insisted on being in the room as well.

"As I was saying, Arken's ships are stocked with food. Let me distribute the supplies to the shut-ins. I can decontaminate between trips. Then, the plague need not spread until we've determined it's cause." He'd been making the argument to the high lord for ten minutes now, but the Arken men in the room kept managing to twist the subject, arguing that the supplies were needed for the men they were putting to work.

"More supplies will arrive with the king's return. If your intentions are true, you have nothing to fear for your return journey. He will see that you are well stocked," Vlad argued, exasperated and unable to tell if they were being malicious or just plain ignorant in their resistance.

[Emora Deen]

Sifan sat wearily in his chair. "I can request that the they agree to this, Ambassador Dracul, but ultimately it is the Arken's food. They will have to give consent." Sifan turned his eyes to the General. "What say you?"

The General ground his teeth in a circle, like a cow chewing cud and glanced to the vampire. "Okay," he sighed. "We'll share the food with the shutins." It appeared to pain him very much to say those words.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Your generosity is thrilling," Vlad said. "Lead the way, then."

He spent the next several hours partitioning a small but substantial fraction of the Arken men's food. Since they seemed squeamish about his coming and going from the ship, he established an outpost in a vacant building inside the town. He convinced (read: threatened) a few of the guards to help in relaying the food to him, while he went in and spent some time with each family, documenting a census of those ill and healthy and providing whatever care he could, which was honestly not much beyond the clean food and water.

It exhausted him, and not just because he had to immolate himself after each home (the men were only too glad to 'help' with the process.) He was a warrior. He wasn't used to being a caretaker, especially for people so weak and miserable. Some were angry, some were depressed, some were simply scared to death, and a brief visit from a char-broiled stranger didn't even come close to relief for them.

The sun was setting when the vampire trudged back outside the city gates and slumped down against the city wall.

[Emora Deen]

Espha was already sitting against the wall, near the same place the vampire had left her earlier that day. She glanced over at him, curling her arms around her legs. "You didn't happen to bring any water did you?" She pulled Atul's cloak around her a little tighter as the setting sun cooled the desert earth.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad pulled aside his cloak and produced a cloth bundle full of bread, dried fish and a canteen of water. He slid it to her across the sand, his final delivery for the day. "It should be enough for several days, until the others return," he said. He sounded stiff, which was a lot better than he felt. He leaned his head back against the wall and watched the oranges and reds stretch across the horizon. Soon, the burning hot sands would be frigid with the sunless evening winds.

"You've no place to sleep?" he muttered. He'd intended to ignore her, but the exhaustion of the day had weakened his stubbornness.

[Emora Deen]

Espha shook her head quietly. "You took me out of the city. I should have gone with the king... I could go back in, but I risk getting sick." Espha glanced inside the city walls. "I can stay out here one night... I'll find a place tomorrow." Espha enjoyed the food and water, trying not to drink too much encase she needed to conserve.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad nodded in silence, and closed his eyes. He was thirsty. The work of the day had been draining, and there was no one here in any position to offer blood. Those who had health could not afford to risk it. It would only be for a few days, and he'd held out longer than that before. But burning alive was a taxing thing. It wore him out in other ways.

He kept the need well hidden. The last thing he needed to put up with all night was the nervous fear of young blood a few yards away from him. Assuming she could weather the cold at all.

[Emora Deen]

Espha hunkered down and waited for morning. She tugged Atul's hood over her head and tucked the fabric in around her.

* * *

A day and a half later...

“We have a problem,” an adviser murmured to Tenele as she and Stalker stepped towards the main doors to the palace. “The courtyard is filled with peasants.”

“Why is that a problem? Don’t peasants normally come to the palace?” Tenele asked him, eyeing the Arken men loitering near the door suspiciously.

“The problem is…” the adviser reached out and took Tenele’s arm. Stalker snarled at him, and he immediately released her. “The problem is that… something strange is happening. These birds appeared this morning over the city and now…”

“Why are you speaking in such a hushed voice, I can barely hear you,” Tenele told him. “Just tell me, what is it?”

“A sickness. People are growing ill. No one has died yet, that’s reported… But, many of them believe it’s a curse. Verin’s old priests are telling the people that it is his wrath being brought upon us for forsaking him.” The adviser glanced up warily, as if he expected the God to fall on his head.

Tenele laughed without meaning too. “That’s not possible. Trust me. Verin will never place his wrath on anyone again.”

“Behave,” she warned Stalker quietly as she opened the door and stepped out into the warm sun. A rush of voices filled her ears now that the silence of the hall was broken. The setting sun was glaring. Angery, and frightened faces turned to look up at her. Several Arken men stood dispersed throughout the crowd. Tenele lifted her hands, and the crowd grew quiet. Her eyes turned upwards to the sky, and the swirling mass of birds. Large black vultures looping overhead.

“Its punishment for disobeying Verin!” a Priest of Darkness roared, pointing to the sky. “It’s a curse!”

“My child got sick this morning. Black blood leaked from his nose. What do we do? Can you heal him, Goddess?”

The square erupted in a flurry of voices to the point Tenele couldn’t figure out what was being said. She raised her hand again, but another voice called them to silence.

“Ida has the plague too! Ida has fallen under Verin’s wrath.”

“Verin is not the cause of this!” Tenele called over the voices.

“We must appease the God of Darkness and the plague will go away,” the priest muttered. “We have been outlawed from paying a proper tribute to him for over a year now. Mighty Verin demands a sacrifice of blood and fire!”

“You will do no such thing!” Tenele roared. “Verin demands nothing. Verin holds no power over you. Verin is gone.”

“You brought this!” someone screeched. “You! You and your husband. You angered the God. You defied him!”

Tenele shook her head. “This is not Verin!” Stalker began to pace nervously next to her, as if sensing the rising tension in the crowd.

"Only a sacrifice of blood and fire!" a voice called, an Arken leader. "This is true! Mighty Verin demands it. We must pay him homage. It is the way of both Arken and Hajaria. If we truly want to please our God, we should offer up the one responsible for your disillusions! Burn her!"

Tenele blinked, the crowd grew quieter, and then suddenly loud and angry. "You brought this!"

The crowd surged forward.

"Wait! Stop!" Tenele held up her hands, but they flood of frightened people just kept coming.

Stalker lashed out the first one to reach for her. The Arken's swarmed, carrying chains and roped Stalker's neck with them, snatching him away.

Hands, so many hands.. and faces. They were so frightened and angry. Tenele struggled and the sea of people overcame her. They moved, but everything happened so fast and quick and the ground was taken out from under her. She couldn't register where she was going until the darkness of a cave overtook her. They dragged Tenele down the steps and across the plank to the center of Verin's old temple, where the pillar stood waiting for a sacrifice. It seemed someone had already been proactive about placing wood around it.

"Don't do this," Tenele muttered as they hoisted her up to the pole. "Don't do this! You're letting your fear guide you! Stop this, it won't do any good. Verin isn't the cause for this. Verin is gone!" The rope pinched her hands down at her sides. "Stop!" Her heart began to race with panic. "Do you know what your doing? I've helped your people. I've healed your sick children and your wounded. I have not brought this. The King would not want you to do this. Think of your King!"

"Where is he again?" an Arken called. He stood up at the top level with his men. Stalker snarled and pulled and tugged and it took nearly fifteen of them to hold him still. "Burn the Ighten woman! Burn the enemy!"

The glare of fire caught Tenele's attention as a man lit a torch and began carrying it towards her.

"Don't," Tenele whispered. "I healed you. I remember you. I've healed you!"

He paused, his dark eyes appraising her. "You brought this."

"No!" Tenele screamed as he lowered the torch to the wood. "Sagra ne reion, Knight!"

Nothing. The fire started to spread.

"Sagra ne reion, Knight!"

Tenele jerked against the ropes as the fire caught more wood. "Knight!!"

The Priest of Verin stepped towards the fire. "Mighty Verin, merciful as you are dark... Forgive our ways. Accept your enemy as a token of our allegiance!"

* * *

Atul halted the convoy at the city gates, glaring up at the birds looping over the city. He spotted the silver haired brother of Tenele wandering around the city. "When did they show up?" Atul asked Talon, trying to hide his displeasure at seeing the vampire.

"I'm not sure. I only just arrived back," he admitted.

Atul felt something odd ripple through him. He couldn't quite put his finger on it. It was faint, but distinct. Like something was pulling him, or calling to him. Like if he left a light on, or forgotten to do something.

"They're burning her!" Someone screamed, high and shrill from within the city.

Burning?

Atul stepped towards the gate.

"Sir! Don't! The sickness is here too!" a guard placed a hand on his shoulder. But, Atul knew he had to go in. Something... something needed him. Tenele. Why did he know that?

"You're sister needs us," he muttered, not sure how he knew that. He charged forward, Talon alongside him and his men following. "Follow the crowd!"

* * *

The heat burned her skin. Tenele struggled and screamed as the fire grew closer. It caught the dress she wore, burning holes around her legs. Her flesh scalded. The fire leaped up onto the sleeve of her robe, and spread up her arm. Tenele screamed, tilting her face away from the flames. She struggled, coughing from the smoke. "Knight!"

"STOP!!" A great force rippled through the air. The fire snuffed out, leaving the air around Tenele full of smoke. Atul shoved through the crowd, pushing people off the dock and into the water to get through. He stomped through the ash and embers until he reached her.

"What is the meaning of this?!" He seethed. His voice carried power, and the cavern walls shook. He cut the ropes from Tenele's arms. Her right arm was blistered, burned worst in some places than others. He couldn't tell about her legs yet.

"I called him," Tenele cried, tears running down soot covered cheeks. "He didn't come."

"Shh," Atul whispered, lifting her carefully out of the woodpile. Talon was near them, trying to inspect her as Atul carried her away from the alter. "What is going on?" he said more evenly. "Who told you to do this?"

His eyes immediately caught the Arken guards holding Stalker. A dark glare crossed his features. "GUARDS!!!"

His men flooded the back entrance of the room. "Call the soldiers. Take every Arken in this city, tie them up, put them on their ship, sail it out into the ocean... and burn it."

"Put me down," Tenele mumbled to Atul.

"What?"

"Put me down," she said more firmly.

"But, Tenele you..."

Tenele struggled, until Atul did as she asked for fear of hurting her. When she was on her blistered feet she hobbled forward to the man who lit the fire. He backed away until he hit a wall of people and froze.

"You..." she seethed. "I helped you. I healed you." She shook with rage. "I've spent my entire life fighting for people like you. Since I was old enough to hold a sword. I've lost people that I love in the name of saving those who could not save themselves. And every time I'm put in this situation the people I'm trying to protect forsake me! I'm tired. I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of fighting for people like you." Tenele reached out with her burned hand and grabbed his arm. "I shouldn't have healed you. I shouldn't have healed any of you."

The man shook, glancing to his arm. A patch of blood formed on the sleeve of his shirt, far away from where Tenele's hand gripped his wrist. He screamed. "My wound! My wound is back!"

"Tenele!" Talon called. He took her hand away form him. She screamed as his fingers closed roughly over singed flesh, but it was enough to shake her from the rage.

"What was that?" Atul muttered, coming nearer them.

"I don't know," Talon whispered, stepping in front of Tenele. "I've never seen her do that before."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad was leaning against the wall of the city, exhausted beyond reason. The girl sat a few yards away from him. She looked tired too, but more from exposure to the elements. He'd been looking in the city all day, and a few things were off. There was a sorcerer who had supposedly been with the Arken fleet, but he had yet to locate the man. The buzzards overhead continued to swarm....yet Vlad hadn't seen them eat anything. He was beginning to think of some dangerous theories, and if they were right, the girl was not safe just because she was outside.

"You need to find shelter tonight," he said. "Something-" He broke off and dropped back against the wall as a strange feeling tugged through him. Something calling him, pulling at his soul, demanding him, needing him. It coursed through him and then fizzled out. The rush left him breathless and wide-eyed as he stared across the sands.

Toward the capitol.

Toward Tenele.

"No," he murmured. He took a step away from the wall, the jogged out into the sands. "No, no, no!" he snarled.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele looked down at her bandaged arm. The gauze wrapped down, and circled each finger. She flexed her hand, watching the fabric move like a glove. Then, she cast her eyes to her feet, where Talon had meticulously wrapped them.

"I don't think you should put shoes on," Talon muttered.

Tenele did it anyway, clenching her teeth as she laced the boots up tight enough to keep them from shifting across her hurt skin. "If we're travelling to Ida I don't want sand getting between the bandages."

"Talon is travelling to Ida with the supplies," Atul told her firmly. "I am leaving right behind him as soon as I get things settled hear after that fiasco. When my men torch those boats I'll head out."

"I am going," Tenele replied, her green eyes flashing to him dangerously. "You really expect me to stay in a city full of people who just tried to burn me alive? I think not."

"They were frightened," Atul told her softly. "They were misled by dark men, and knew no better."

Tenele scoffed. "You can make excuses for them. I understand. You need a population to be a King."

"Tenele, that's not it and you know it!" Atul argued. His brow furrowed. "You are staying here, and you are resting."

"You are not my husband," Tenele seethed. "I'm fine. I'm singed. I don't feel weak, I just feel angry."

Atul gritted his teeth, and eventually nodded very slowly. "You're right. I'm not your husband. Go with your brother in your condition. I'll let you meet your husband's wrath in Ida."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad was about thirty paces out when the same psychic tug hauled at him in vain. "I'll go," he growled. "Knight, you bastard, I said I'll go!"

Was it because he was too drained? Was the spell rejecting him? What was happening to her? He thought of Arken's fleets descending on the capitol. She was with Atul. What had been so bad that he couldn't handle it on his own?

He closed his eyes and focused as hard as he could. The teleport didn't want to accept him. He forced his way through the unwilling spell, and wound up five yards in the wrong direction. His legs wanted to fold under him, but he was too maddened with protective anger for that. He braced himself upward and struggled to decide what to do, wondering what would come of it if he literally ran for the capitol.