The Cost of Peace

[Emora Deen]

She nodded, taking several deep breaths just for measure. She buried her face into his shirt, closing her eyes to keep the sand from getting in. Her fingers knotting her fingers in his clothing. And before he could drop the shield the sand had died down to a low breeze. It had gone just as quickly as it had come.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad felt the weight of cathartic release as the spell unburdened itself and he was lying almost comfortably over Tenele in the hot breeze. The sand that had piled against his shield slid down on them like a blanket, and for the moment, he didn't particularly mind. He lay still and took inventory of his senses as his energy began to return, like the pulse to a sleeping limb. He could feel now that he hadn't gone too far. He wasn't feeling his best, but he was far from losing his control. He lifted up on his elbows, letting the sand slide off and around him as he rolled onto his back next to Tenele. "Are you hurt anywhere?" he asked her, coughing once to get the annoying sand out of his throat.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele looked at the cloudy sky that was slowly starting to clear and become once again unbearably bright. "I'm fine," she replied, closing her eyes for a moment. She was nestled comfortably in the sand. "Tired."

There was a sound off, not too far away. It sounded like sand shifting, and suddenly a hump came up, and then a head. A figure began to push up from the sand, their back and head emerging first. Atul sat up, sand sliding from his body, his hair dangling in front of his face. He stumbled to his feet, and began dusting up. He grinned at them, happy to see that they were alright.

"Sandstorms," he said, shaking his head as his grin stayed on his face. "Well, ready?"

He turned towards the direction they had been heading, and off in the distance you could just see the white outline of a village. "We're almost there."

Tenele groaned. "You two go on. I'll catch up, promise." She rolled over onto her side, laying her head on Vlad's chest, and draping her arm across his waist. "Second thought..."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad had to grin in vague disbelief at how casually the other demon recovered from the storm. He had a moment to decide if he wanted to give the prince a good beatdown or second Tenele's motion to nap in the cool sand. After a few moments, reason won out and he sat up, collecting Tenele in his arms. Sand poured off of them both as he stood up and began following Atul toward the distant square of white buildings. He was sorely tempted to hassle the prince for not being more help in covering Tenele, but he thought it best not to alert the man to the fact he'd used a taxing spell during the storm. No need to create a fuss where none was due. "Who lives in the village?" Vlad asked, testing Atul. He still wasn't entirely sure this whole thing wasn't some elaborately conceived trap to weaken and then capture them.

[Emora Deen]

Atul glanced sideways at him. "A friend," he replied simply. The only thing that could be heard after his simple satement was the wind agaisnt their ears. He gave a sigh. "His name is Fero. He's an old High Priest of Verin." He knew this wasn't going to go over well at all, Vlad wouldn't want to trust an old Dark Priest. If he did, then he wasn't exactly who Atul had suspected him to be. "He has denounced the practice of worship. He's a wealthy village leader, and a very accomplished magic user. He will know a way to get you back home. But, I doubt he'll do it for free." Atul glanced at Vlad. "He's denounced the ways of Verin, doesn't mean he's denounced the ways of a Dark Priest."

"We haven't got any money," Tenele mentioned.

"He's wealthy, he won't want money," Atul explained.

"Then, what will he want?" she asked, arching an eyebrow at him as she tilted her head to look at him better.

Atul said nothing, because he honestly didn't know what he would want.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad didn't hold back on the incredulity as he cast Atul and cynical stare. "Religion and I don't get along. I don't care if he's retired, I'm not playing any stupid games," he said flatly, though he didn't exactly seem angry. If anything, his demeanor gave off the impression that he could care less if their mysterious savior was a talking donkey with five heads. He held no trust in the first place for anyone Atul might introduce them to, so this news changed the situation very little. Right now, his goal was to reach water, which meant finding civilization. They could deal with this country's definition of 'civilized' when they got there. He couched Tenele against his chest and shifted her up a little higher. It bothered him that his arms could actually be tired, but if anything, it wasn't hunger that was dazing his senses. As vampires went, Vlad had a very high tolerance for sunlight, but the persistent blaze reflecting off the naked sands was gradually raking his nerves raw. The footing here was too steep to accomplish much with his eyes closed, but he'd gone from ignoring the brightness entirely to squinting his scarlet eyes into the white-hot landscape before them.

[Emora Deen]

"I don't like making deals with people. Oweing someone I barely know isn't my idea of a solid contract," Tenele smoke softly, her mouth utterly parched.

"Sometimes you have to make deals with devils..." Atul muttered, and it ended there conversation.

Tenele had half a mind to argue with him, because she didn't believe in making deals with them. Unless it was for the most dire reason she would never make a deal with one. Vlad, being the exception.

The sun set, and night came. Not quite as cold as the last, but still very near freezing. Atul managed to keep Tenele in the spirit to keep moving, so by morning they were just outside the city. When the sun was well in the sky, and it was a little past early morning, they reached the village.

Tenele was standing near Vlad, having forced him to put her down during the night. She felt like she had been burdening him, for she knew he had to be getting just as hungry as she. She didn't need to take his energy, for when Vlad got the munchies it wasn't a very safe thing.

"Cover your hair," Atul muttered as they reached the village gates. Tenele did as she was told, not really in the mood to find out what would happen if she didn't. Truely, she wasn't quite sure what the big deal was about her hair. Besides the fact she hadn't seen many people with silver hair.

"How much further?" Tenele sighed out wearily.

"Not much at all."

Her eyes found Vlad's. "Are you doing well?" A bit worried that if he was hungrier than she was thinking, he'd go off and attack some innocent villager. "I can give you a bit of my blood if you really need it."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's eyes flickered to Tenele with a spark of pride and anger. He was hungry, to be sure, and growing restless with their journey, but she was dehydrated. And exhausted. And not accepting his invitation to carry her. She was far too worried about him and insufficiently concerned about herself. He kept the displeasure that was in his eyes out of his voice when he spoke. "I am perfectly fine. You underestimate me," he scoffed in a lighthearted, arrogant tone. He straightened his back somewhat as he continued walking, determined not to bear evidence of whatever weakness she sensed in him. He looked ahead at the gates of the city. No one appeared to be rushing them with torches, yet. He gave Atul a stiff look and the three of them proceeded through the gates into what appeared to be a quieter and much smaller version of the capital they had fled two days ago. Stands were rolled out into a wide square, where the locals were quietly shopping and trading for their necessities. It seemed a more practical town, much less full of gaudy pomp and circumstance than the markets near the palace. It wasn't a surprise that their presence in the square drew some attention from the passersby. It was clear even without their blank stares that the remove city rarely saw three visitors on the same morning, unannounced, with no camels or sacks of wares to trade. They had 'stragglers' written all over them.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele's feet dragged as she walked. Her body was continuously telling her that if she didn't stop soon she'd end up flat on the ground. She kept telling herself that she could make it, that it was just a little further. Still, as they walked the village streets she felt her legs seem to grow heavier by the minute. They wheeved in and out of streets, creating a zig-zag patter until they came to an open square right before a two story building. The courtyard was open, and villagers just seemed to come and go as the pleased.

In the middle of the courtyard was a fountain, and children played gleefully in it. The fountain’s base was wide, and several small trenches flowed out, spreading water like a river that cut the garden in half. Lovely old trees hung low, some branches so low one could sit on them. Ionic pillars held up the front of the two story house, the capital painted a beautiful deep shade of primary blue.

There on the steps at the front of his house sat a hefty man. He was carefully reading over a scroll in his hands when his eyes glanced up at them.

“I was wondering when you would show up,” he spoke evenly the corner of his mouth tugging into a grin. “And you brought them so soon!” He came forward, stretching out his hand to Vlad and Tenele. “I was expecting you.”

“You were?” Tenele asked cautiously.

“Of course, the oracle told me you would be coming.” He waved a finger adjusting the robe on his shoulders. “And the oracle never lies.”

“Oracle?” Tenele was growing wary and suspicious. Her knees suddenly buckled, but she just managed to catch herself, instinctively leaning towards Vlad and holding on to his arm for support.

“Dear girl, you look terrible. A human like you in the desert! I bet your starving. Hold on...” He turned and hobbled into a bet step as he walked, stopping at the wide open doorway and leaning in. “Nadia, come here.” With a grin he came back to them and moments later a tall thin woman came out. She walked with careful regal grace. “Nadia, would you lead Lady Tenele into the house and show her to the wash room. Give her a fresh pair of clothing, and have Usa and Reese prepare a room for she and Lord Dracul. Oh! And have them bring her food as well.”

Nadia smiled warmly at Tenele, who indeed looked in need of a wash, food, and a bed. “Come with me.”

“Yes, yes, the men and I will discuss everything. You attend to yourself.” Fero urged.

Tenele glanced to Vlad, wondering in the back of her mind if she should go with the woman or not. This man had known their names without introduction, and had known there arrival by the use of an oracle. Then, on second thought, she’d risk it if it meant a hot bath and good food.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's eyes met Nadia's quickly as she moved to bring Tenele inside. "I remain with the girl. Nadia," he said almost charmingly, using the name he'd heard the man speak. He was carefully watching both the woman and the stranger, as well as Atul, distrusting them all as subtly as was possible under the circumstances. He continued in a tone that was polite, but unyielding. "The luxury of a bath can wait until we know each other better. Perhaps she can drink while we all speak, in the shade," he said, trying not to squint his sun-bruised eyes as he said it.

[Emora Deen]

Nadia looked to her husband, who nodded. "I will have something cool to drink brought to you," Nadia told Tenele. She turned and disappeared through the open doorway.

Fero lead them to one of the large trees and took a seet on the limb. Tenele slid down the trunk of the tree to rest on her side, leaning her head against it. "So, you need a way back to Ighten."

Tenele's green eyes glanced up to him. "Yes, as quickly as possible."

Nadia nudged Tenele's shoulder with the cup of water. Tenele took it, and within a few seconds it was gone and Nadia was poring more in from a pitcher. It seemed no matter how much she drank she still felt like her mouth was full of sand. Wearily she rested her head on the bark of the tree.

Fero chuckled. "Yes, I'd assume your eager to get back to your usual climate. Unfortunately, to preform a traveling spell of this magnitude I must prepare. Which will take time. Until then... Maybe we could work something out?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"Exactly what does that mean, Mr...." Vlad prodded skeptically, fishing for the stranger's name.

[Emora Deen]

Fero chuckled. “Fero. Really, should we be talking about business so soon? Are you all not eager to rest?”

“If I recall, you suggested that only I rest while you spoke with everyone else,” Tenele shot back.

“Well, I see why you infuriate him so.”

Tenele blinked. “Who?”

He turned his attention elsewhere. “Atul, your father will send his men here. He knows that you will be coming here. I would reckon that they are no more than a day behind you. They want you to feel safe here, or else they would have warned the guards a head of time and you’d have been caught at the gate.”

“We should leave,” Tenele whispered, speaking with her eyes closed.

“You should rest. You will not make it another day without food or water. You may hide here.” He ran a hand over his head, pushing back his hair.

Atul side. “Just tell them what you want, already so this stubborn vampire will allow her to go bath and sleep. She needs rest,” Atul replied a bit short tempered.

“I want them to help me run the Outer land army out of my village. I want to succeed from your father’s empire... and I want you to help.” He looked to Vlad. “These people need to see that a demon can stand up to Verin, and that not all hope is lost. These people, here in this village, want to be free. Its just a matter of being unsure on how to achieve it. They need something to believe in. I want you to be that something.”

Atul's eyes glanced from Vlad to Tenele, who didn't even seem to be awake anymore.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled Darkly, as if something was terribly and morbidly amusing about his suggestion. "I admit I haven't been here long, but I see no fighters among your people here," he said cryptically, "Do you intend to dress farmhands and merchants as soldiers and hold off an empire alone? Even assuming I do as you ask, I'm not so kind as to babysit this place forever. If these people mean to throw their lives away, I see no reason to do it for them."

[Emora Deen]

"You judge to quickly. These people are not mere merchants or farmers. A being who desires freedom is the most dangerous foe of all," Fero said through a grin as he leaned forward. "And these people are willing to bleed for it. They just fear the wrath of Verin..."

Atul sighed, folding his arms. "Your waisting you breath, Fero. This vampire is stubborn, and will not help you. The only thing he cares about is..." His eyes fell on Tenele and averted to Vlad. "He won't help you sacrifice your people for your greed to make yourself a king."

"I'm not doing it for my own good!" Fero argued.

"Really? You're risking people's lives out of the kindness of your heart?"

"Shouldn't you yourself want to over throw your father? With you on the throne we could change things..."

"You know as well as I that things will not change while I am on the throne. They will be the same as ever. I cannot appose Verin as King." Atul stood up. "Maybe this was the wrong idea." He turned to walk away.

"You think you can't appose him because your his bastard son. Just because his blood flows through your veins doesn't mean you will be unable to fight his power." He called to Atul. Tenele's eyes fluttered open and she slowly looked up to Atul. His back was rigid, and his fists notted at his sides. Slowly he turned to look at them. His eyes were a flame with blue fire, and those scales ran along in jagged lengths across his cheek.

"Fero, no well your place when you speak of such things. He... is not my father." And Atul disapeared into the house.

Fero nodded off to Atul. "Verin gets his claws in empires by fathering the rulers. His clutches wound tight with Arken when he took the sorceress as his mistress and she bore the Queen. Atul comes from a long line of Verin's children. He would be made king, and his wife would bare Verin's child. He would take it as his own... and so on. Atul is an exception from all the rest, because he was born with a heart."