LORE: Training a Hell Hound (MATURE)

[Emora Deen]

Atul looked at him and then up at the stars. "They really think she is the Goddess Attara," he mused with a slight smile. Vlad was definitely right. She didn't need to rush head long in to martyr herself. That would not bode well with the men who looked at her. A mortal bound Goddess fighting with the son of the God who had cursed her to human form, or at least that is how he suspected they thought of it. "I need to speak with some of my generals, but I think I have a pretty good idea about what needs to be done. I'll discuss with them the possibility of a trap. I have two that know that city inside and out and maybe they can brainstorm the possibility of what we can expect." He grew suddenly quiet when he heard the sound of the door to the tower opening.

Tenele came out onto the patio and held the door for Stalker, smiling at him as he followed her. She had the urge to just lie over his back and let him carry her around, but that was getting a bit too lazy. It was really funny how she used to loathe being carried, and then Vlad continuely insisted in some situations and now she rather liked it. Well, liked it when he was carrying her. Though, anything involving being in Vlad's arms was appealing to her. At the moment, she wanted to fall a sleep in them.

When she was close she came and sat between the two men, worming her way into the space between them. She leaned over Vlad and rested her head in his lap. "There's a monster in my bathroom who thinks I look pretty in red," she said in a faint voice, yawning softly. Given her head injury it was fair to say that one could assume she was just being a little delusional and over look it.

Atul arched an eyebrow and glanced at Vlad. “That seed giving you hallucinations?” he asked her playfully as he stood up.

“No,” she replied defensively, and the tone of her voice was strangely adorable. She sounded so irrefutably tired. “I haven’t taken it yet.”

“You should, it might make you feel more awake,” he told her his eyes moving to meet Vlad’s gaze. “I’m going to talk with my men. I’ll brief you in the morning, Tenele, when your not seeing monsters in your bathroom.” He chuckled lightly and turned to walk away, leaving the two of them alone in the cold night air.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad glanced down at Tenele as the prince disappeared around a corner. "Lying down tends to lead to sleeping, my maiden," he observed teasingly. He felt experimentally for the line of psychic connection that had been there earlier, but it had faded to the point that it was barely perceptible. He didn't need access to her emotions to know that she seemed ready to pass out for the night. That wasn't going to be an option. And tomorrow, she was going to ride in the heat and fight a battle? Assuming there would be enemies to fight...it wasn't clear what to expect, but the vampire had an uncommonly bad feeling about the next day.

Of course, he didn't say as much. "Seeing things hitting on you in the closet, eh? Am I going to have to kick this monster's ass?" he scoffed, raising her gently by her shoulders so that she couldn't fall asleep in his lap.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele looked at him, all her weight resting on his hands. Strands of damp silver hair were all messily hanging about her face, but she peered through them with her jade green eyes and watched him rather seriously for a moment. Nodding as if that was just the thing he'd have to do. Then, she laughed, and it was a sweetly soft laugh. "Well, it would be entertaining," she admitted, taking the seed she had been holding in her hand for a while. "Okay... Here goes nothing," she told him with a sigh, dropping the tiny thing into her mouth and swallowing.

"Watch a palm tree sprout out of my head or something," she joked with him, glancing to Stalker and then to Vlad. "Well... You're supposed to keep me awake all night... Or most of it. How do you plan on being so effective?" She brushed his chin with her fingertips.

[Soran Nightblade]

"I've never had trouble entertaining you at night before," Vlad returned cockily, "Though I suppose I'd be a bit much to handle under the current circumstances." His voice was teasing, but not truly seductive. He really did think it would be too much strain on her, no matter how well it might keep her alert or how careful he was with her. He decided to try to adjust the subject instead. "How was the banquet?" he asked, smelling the food on her breath. He personally found banquets pretentious and insufferably dull, but she always seemed able to enjoy and go on about them, and he liked her voice well enough regardless of the topic.

[Emora Deen]

"It is nice... not entirely different from the one we attended when we first got here. Except, thankfully, Verin was not invited... Not to my knowledge at least," she said, smirking. "But, it was awefully lonely in there despite the fact I had several dancing offers." She stood up and tugged on his hand. "Maybe I can talk you into a dance, good sir?" she asked him as the cloak swished off her shoulder on one side to reveal the gleam of red silk beneath the charcoal gray cotton cloak.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled and took her hand, kneeling to kiss her knuckles. "If I ever require persuasion to dance with you, it will be because I am dead," he said dramatically. There was an element of parody to his words, but also a part that seemed completely genuine.

So they danced in a slow waltz to the sound of the fountains in the dark. When Tenele's legs got tired, she stood on Vlad's feet and they went on a little longer. Then they found what looked like an old board game similar to chess in their quarters and made up rules to that, although the rules always suspiciously seemed to favor Vlad and changed regularly. After playing that for several hours, they wound up talking, and then chess again. It was horribly dull and involved a lot of Vlad prodding Tenele not to fall asleep. Water was splashed, pillows were confiscated, and all the while the sun slowly, slowly came toward the horizon. Finally, there was noise outside as the men began moving from their tents and preparing for the day's battle.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele walked to the window after losing yet another game. She leaned out into the morning light that was slowly getting brighter. She looked down at her dress and then out at the soldiers as they prepared themself for riding into battle. "I guess its back to my old clothes," she replied softly, turning to him with a smile.

She dressed into her old clothes, the tan pants, the white sleevless shirt, the knee high brown boots and the calf length tan coat. She was lacing her boots when Atul knocked on the door. "Is it alright if I come in?" he asked them, instead of barging in this time.

"Sure," Tenele called, sounding not quite like herself. It had been a very long time since she'd stayed up the entire night. Now, she was supposed to fight a war like this? She'd have to suck it up, or... at least try.

Atul came in warily, as if he expected to be tricked. "We'll be heading out soon, and I think you might want to know what your jobs will be when we arrive," he told her, glancing to Vlad.

"Okay, lay it on me..." Tenele replied, resting her hands in her lap.

“We’ll get to the capital by midday. We’re expecting a trap, and because of this we’re going to be doing things very differently. Vlad and I will lead a small scouting party into the city, if there is no one there then we’ll seize the city. If no one is there I will send up blue smoke. If it is a trap, we want them to think we’re still there to take the city. I will send up red smoke if it is a trap, and you Tenele will lead the bulk of the military in to ensure that none of my father’s forces escape us.”

“I understand escape is bad, but why do I feel there is more to it.”

“We are, in all essence, a major distraction to what is really happening. Your priests have a greed, and have talked to several of my men… They will be creating a giant holy ruin that will in circle the entire city. They have several to help, since the city is so big… It will be timed, so we’ll have to do this right or Vlad and I could be fried with the rest of them. Any of my father’s devils and demons will by destroyed… Then, the army can handle the human minions.”

“How will you know when your out of time?” Tenele asked warily.

“The priest will send up green smoke… That means we have exactly a minute to get the hell out of the ruin or we’re toast with them,” Atul told her, glancing to Vlad.

Tenele sat there staring at the both of them, unable to really say anything.

“There is a catch,” Atul replied. “I don’t want you heading in first, Tenele. I want you to give the order for you men to go in… and you to go in after them.”

Tenele narrowed her eyes on him dangerously. “Why is that?” she asked him.

“Because, it will be hard for my men to concentrate on the battle if they are worried about the Goddess. Its for the good of the men,” he told her gently.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad glanced at Tenele, curious how she'd be able to take Atul's instructions. "Tenele, you've been awake all night. As talented as you are, today, you have to trust your men to fight as you've taught them."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele sighed softly, glancing down at her hands in her lap. She could not deny that she wasn't exhausted, or that she had complete faith in herself at the moment. Her mind was so fuzzy with the need for sleep that she didn't think she'd be completely alert. "I don't like it," she admitted to them both, glancing up. "I want to fight... But, you are right." It sounded as if she hated the words she was speaking, and in truth she did. She did not want Atul and Vlad going into battle without her. She feared that they'd both be lost without her. She clenched her teeth, rising to her feet and walking to the window, looking out. "I'll do as you ask."

"Thank you," Atul told her looking to Vlad. "Okay, be down soon. We leave in ten minutes." He gave Vlad a reassuring nod while Tenele was not looking and left them to there own devices.

"I don't like this," Tenele told him. "I won't like knowing whether you're alright or not. How will I know if you made it out in time?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"Assuming I make it out, which of course I will, as soon as there's a way for me to re-enter the city, I'll find you," Vlad said. "In the unlikely event that I don't, well, you'll be finding me," he smirked morbidly. Frankly, he was much more concerned about Tenele than himself. In the worst-case scenario, they'd be fighting in close quarters at a huge tactical and numerical disadvantage until a bunch of holy men got their act together. Relying on clergy was far from Vlad's favorite plan, and the chances that Tenele could be kept out of the fighting entirely were nearly none in such a scenario. Still, it had to be done.

"Really, be careful, Tenele," he said seriously, looking into her eyes.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele went to Vlad and rested her hands on his chest as she met his red gaze. She thought about so many things she wanted to say to him, and couldn’t find the right words. “I’d claim to be careful… but we both know how I really am. I won’t be reckless, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Her eyes flickered away for a moment and she looked back at him very seriously. “You see that green smoke and you run for it. Okay? No matter what. You go. Do you understand me? If you don’t, and I loose you, I’ll hunt you down to the ends of the underworld and kick your ass.”

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smirked. She was the only mortal who talked to him that way, and it was part of what he loved about her. "Well, if you insist," he teased, touching her chin with his finger and tilting it upward so that he could kiss her lips. Her warm skin tingled against his. After a long moment he drew back again, looking pleased. "Alright, general. Your army awaits."

It was a long, busy morning. The troops were collected and packed at about the time the sun grew strong enough to see by. They set out into the sands in the still-cool air, but by midday, the heat had reached a peak and the neat lines of their small army began dragging their feet in the sand.

However, shortly after noon, they finally came within sight of their destination. The capital loomed in the distance, surrounded by dunes on three sides and the cliffy ocean shore on the last. Wait, ocean shore?

Vlad's expression flattened as peered from the thin crack in the turban he'd used to almost completely cover his field of vision. He had not thought about how to complete the priests' circle on the harbor side, and wondered if Atul had. "Oh, right. The sea," he commented to the prince who was riding next to him, pulling up on his reins.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele rode up next to them, leaning forward on the saddle horn a bit. She had the scarf around her neck pulled up over her silver hair so it wouldn’t blind anyone, and up the front of her face to where only her piercing gaze could be seen. She glanced from Vlad to Atul.

“A priest will accompany us in,” Atul told him. “Which means you get the lovely job of ensuring his safety.” Atul nodded to a thin and nearly deathly frightened man.

“Well, this is already going smoothly,” Tenele muttered. Atul might as well leave the poor man to die if he thought that Vlad was going to stick his neck out to someone who’d rather burn him alive with the rest of the demons.

“You and your men will stay here, Tenele,” Atul told her. “We’ll send off the signal… whatever it may be.”

Tenele’s green eyes flashed to the city, and it looked quiet. Even the harbor. “What if Verin is there? How do you suppose you’ll keep him occupied long enough so that he doesn’t see what your doing and warn his men?”

“That’s why your men will not let them escape… If he is unable to be occupied,” Atul told her. “That’s why your part is so important, and why you go in last.”

Tenele swallowed, looking to Vlad. She didn’t want to watch him leave, it was as if she were watching him for the last time. She hated war, and it always filled her with a grave apprehension. She always assumed the worst when it came to battles, maybe that was so no matter the outcome, it was better than what she’d originally thought? But, no matter the outcome today, whether they won or lost, if Vlad did not come back to her, nothing could make it seem like victory.

Gods, she thought, when had she become so sappy? She was a warrioress after all. “Well, good luck…” Tenele told him, nodding her head as her eyes fixated on Vlad again. “All of you.”

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's ruby eyes caught Tenele's. "I'll see you soon," he said somewhat awkwardly, since he, too, was not so used to being this invested in someone other than himself in a battle. He took several steps backward in the direction Atul was already departing before finally turning away. Something didn't feel right. What was Verin planning? It was time to find out the hard way.

A few minutes later, he and Atul began marching on the city, leading a force of a hundred men with them. The exploratory group did its best not to look like what it was. They rode in with swords drawn and mounts sweating, as if to size up the position of Verin's forces within the city. The men seemed confused as they rode to the front gates and met no resistance, but for Vlad and Atul, it was exactly what they'd expected.

The question was, what was the hook. They didn't have to act as they slowed to a watchful trot to pass through the gates and onto the deserted streets of the capitol. "The city would appear empty, prince," Vlad commented for the sake of their men, who seemed barely able to contain their confusion. The rode forward in silence until they reached the very center of the town, lined on every side by deserted carts and shuttered buildings.

They came to a stop there, silent and listening for signs of life. Vlad dismounted and walked to the door of the nearest building, which was a tavern crowned by an inn. He gave a nod to Atul, and then, without touching the door, he teleported inside. The vampire stood in the center of a large empty bar, and stood stock still. He saw not a soul in the room, but now, away from the thrumming chorus of the soldiers and horses outside, he clearly heard them. Many, many of them, completely surrounding him. One heartbeat came toward him, until he was sure it was close enough to touch. Turning as casually as possible, the vampire teleported back outside and stared hard at Atul, who stood with the men. "No one inside, either," he said casually, walking back toward the prince. "May as well call the rest in. Almost disappointing, really." He leaned toward Atul's ear as he reached him. "Red smoke," he whispered.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele sat on her horse, watching the skyline so intently that nothing else around her seemed to matter. “Goddess, what are your orders?” one of her men asked, in fact he asked her twice before she snapped out of it. Her head was swimming, at least, that’s what it felt like. Then again, of course it was. She hadn’t slept in twenty-four hours or more. Not to mention she had a lovely knot on the back of her head that was considerably sore.

“If we see blue smoke, we go in safe. Red smoke… I want you two split into groups of three. There are three gates into the city. You,” she pointed to the man to her left. “will take your militia and go to the north gate.” She split the other two up, one staying with her as they would go through the west gate. The east gate was nothing but ocean, and unless they planned to swim to safety, they would not be getting out that way.

“Priests… ready yourselves… And send your signal high into the sky when you are ready,” Tenele ordered, glancing back to the skyline as something caught her eye.

For a moment it was a black dot until it exploded in the air and rained down red smoke over the city. More smoke filtered up from the ground as the men around Atul lit the canisters.

“Ready yourselves!” Tenele called, glancing up and down the line. She’d promised to lead them in from the back. “I want you to take them in, I’ll cover the rear.”

“Are you ready?!” Tenele asked as she turned her horse to do a sweep across the front.

They grunted into the air, and she swept through them and to the back of her group. The man she’d told to lead the group yelled something in the ancient language that her Queen’s wizards had not equipped her with the knowledge of and suddenly the sea of people were moving over the sand dunes.

Tenele waited a moment, watching as they ran, as they rode. She almost watched sadly, for something just didn’t feel right. Her eyes glanced back at the red smoke, and swallowing hard, she gave her horse a swift kick and rode after them.

The horse seemed to be tolerate of the loose sand, used to it she assumed. He plowed across the desert until he reached the harder cracked earth. She followed them into the city, and watched as they did as they were told… They branched off. Some went into the city, some went towards the gates that they were moving to block. She slowed her pace when she entered the city, her horse shifting uneasily as she stood just inside the gate. There was no one there…

Not a soul.

In fact… as soon as her men entered and realized no one was rushing to bleed them dry, they slowed there running. She narrowed her eyes, wondering fearfully what the red smoke had been for.