Chapter 10

• *Whispering Port*
• Therzana had called a meeting with the people of Whispering Port. Sitting behind a long rectangular table with three chairs to each side, she waited for the council to sit down while the public chairs began to fill up. The citizens whispered wondering what the meeting was about.
• Therzana raised her hand to let the people know she was ready to begin. “With the winter season preparations underway …” There were a couple of cheers, “I would like to ask the captains to hold off on taking the floating devices out of the water for 14 to 21 days.”
• The room began to get loud as everyone had been shocked at this request.
• Therozana raised her hand to silence the people, “I know this sounds unrealistic. But I have had several respectable concerned citizens coming to me about their concerns of matters that have been going on in the east.”
• Verara Stonetop, the newest elected council member spoke up, “they are tales and nothing more.” She forced an uncertain chuckle.
• Therzana swallowed the saliva in her mouth, “I would agree with you if I could not get a hold of one leader or alpha from our allied kingdoms. I also could not get a hold of any ship that is scheduled to port here for the winter season. Nor could I get a hold of the shuttles that were to be stored here as well. I could not get a hold of Centaur, Bazzu, or Latun.”
• “The leaders and alpha’s are busy getting everything ready for the winter season.” A male from the town yelled.
• “I would agree with you! If I had gotten a hold of one of my family members from that location.” Therzana was trying to keep her emotions to herself. “I am not saying there is an issue nor am I denying there is an issue. What I am saying is that there are too many coincidences and many respectable citizens talking and their fears are real.”
• Captain Leashadow stood up, “What is 14 days …” He shrugged his shoulders knowing that he was one of the individuals who spoke to the mayor and told her to call her family. “Besides, when was the last time any of you spoke to your family that lived further south or to the east?”
• Everyone began looking at each other waiting for someone to speak. Some whispered that they had family that lived in the north or in the mountains, those that had family further south stood up and exited the area not wanting to cause a scene.
• Therzana raised her hand to quiet the mass, “we will continue with our tasks, but I recommend that each of us has an emergency bag ready for if we have to leave at a moment's time.”
• “You are starting to sound paranoid, Mayor Therzana!” Council member Marvon Marblefeet said with a forced smile on his face.
• “Marvon, I do not wish to bring fear to the people but I also do not want to be unprepared if something should happen. If someone can get a hold of our allied kingdoms to prove that there is no truth to the rumours then it will be just that a rumour. For now, I am taking precaution.” Therzana stated.
• Standing up and letting her presence known, “My name is Eilie, I have not been able to get a hold of my kin at Erolzwald. I was wondering if you had news?”
• Therzana took a deep breath as she lowered her hand for a moment, “the battle of alpha’s was devastating. There was a message sent asking for supplies and shuttles to get those that could afford fare to leave.”
• The area went into an uproar, with many citizens yelling. There were several who wanted to know why nothing had been done beforehand. Therzana explained to the concerned people that up to this point no aid had been asked for and with the telecommunication issues, conversations had not taken place.
• “When the shuttles from the southern kingdoms get here, I will be sending them to the capital for those who can pay the fare. I will also collect supplies and send them to those that are not able to leave.” Therzana kept her sight on Caid hoping this would appease his worried mind.
• A male stood up not announcing himself, “this will not be enough! By the time the shuttles get here, it will be too late for the people of Erolzwald. You need to send what we have now their way.”
• “Announce yourself!” Marvon ordered.
• “Nomad Marver!” His tone was cold
• Marvon began to laugh, “a vampire voicing his opinions at a meeting that does not concern him. Get out of here!” He pointed to the door.
• Marvel made his way toward the door to leave, “I give you one last warning, Mayor Therzana, you need to listen if you ever cared about these people. The telecommunication is just the beginning. The unregistered vampires are prepared to strike and when they do, you will not have time to run to the boats, cruise ship, or whatever floating devices you keep in the water. If anyone has two brain cells to rub together, you would leave now before they finish with the capital and come here!”
• Cain glanced around the room at his neighbours and friends. Each of them knew that Marvan was not wrong. The room was still in an uproar when Cain and the others stood up and walked out of the room. They did not need to remain there to see what was going to happen next. They knew the volume was going to get louder. The mayor would try to calm them down, playing the ignorance card. Reassuring them that she was going to take the necessary steps to get ahold of someone at Erolzwald.
• ***
• The group that left the meeting hall all knew that there would be no communication. And if they continued like this there would be no shuttles going their way. Caid and a few others went to the bay where all of the outdated shuttles had been stored.
• “We have two days until the shuttle will arrive here and leave for Dorasea.” Caid pointed out the obvious to the other men. “That means we have less than 14 days to get these old maids up and working.”
• The group looked at the old shuttles that had been sitting in the shed for close to a decade. scratching their heads wondering if the beast would even start their engines.
• *Dorasea*
• The war vessels had safely been stored away for the winter season. As everyone was getting prepared to settle and relax for the upcoming harsh weather. Alpha Bluffs went over all of the files that had been collected during his absence.
• “This was a great year!” Relzeiros told his brother, the alpha. “The silos are stocked and the people will have plenty to eat for the year.”
• “That is very good news! We should only have a few more travellers going in and out of Dorasea before the weather becomes harsh and movement will stall.” Alpha Bluffs closed the final file he was going to look over for the day. “Is there any other news before we call it a day?”
• Relzeiros tilted his head to the side a bit, “Weather forecasters are predicting a harsh winter season. One that he has not seen in decades. The northern winds have begun early and snow is expected to accumulate making things difficult for all of us!”
• “It is nothing we can control, only prepare for!” Alpha Bluffs got up from his chair and aimed his feet at the door, “let's eat!”
• *Seheath woods*
• The sun was high above the canopy as Marable silently exited out of the underground passage, carefully moving the overgrown bushes and fallen debris to the side. “There should be sounds of small woodland critters!” She muttered as she pushed the brush to the side letting the Ancillae warriors to emerge from the hiding. It did not take long for the group to pick up the scent of fresh blood.
• Quietly the group hid the entrance as if nothing had been there, silently moving and weaving between trees making sure that their feet were as silent as their breathing. Surveying the land, the group found 50 unregistered vampires. Hovering over the motionless bodies, the unregistered vampire continued to eat, not realizing their location had been compromised.
• Circling the group, Marable and the ancillae made themselves known, the unregistered vampires, “They are feral!” Damillan yelled as he noticed the vampire's eyes all had been red with hunger, not able to control their thrust. Senselessly the feral vampires charge the group.
• “Watch you sixth!” Marable yelled as their opponents tried to circle them wanting to get the advantage. Marable had a handle on dealing with the issue as Damillan and the others struggled to get their footing. Taking control of the situation and telling the fighters what they needed to do. Marable and the ancillae had no issues taking the fledglings on.
• “You all are great fighters, very strong but it is clear that you are accusation to open locations!” Marable commented once the last unregistered vampire was killed.
• “It is very clear that you hunt and fight in confined locations!” Nodin commented as he glanced around the location.
• “I have training in all harsh terrains, there isn’t one location where I can not gain my footing. Do I have stronger advantages? Yes, I do well in confined locations. I am small compared to you which makes it easier for me to manoeuvre. I do not do well in swamps.” Marable walked over to the 12 dead bodies that the unregistered vampires had killed. Pulling out a blade she began cutting the heads off the victims. “We have no idea if they were humans or not … Rimvan’s rules!” Muttering a prayer to the victims She finished the task.
• “We need to deal with the dead bodies!” Damillan commented as he began to move the corpse of their opponent.
• “I will deal with this,” Marable looked at Melantha, “do you remember who you are to find and what to say?”
• Melantha motioned with her head yes, “I need to say, ‘All the units of the species support each of the singular elements, and the elements vow to support the whole!’ I have to find Straightarrow and tell him this.”
• “Good!” Marable commented. “I will clean up this mess but this is where we split off! Keep travelling southward, there is no way you could miss the castle. You should see the tip of the crow nest in a day and a half.”
• Damillan shook Marable’s hand, “thank you for everything.”
• “If everything goes well and according to plan,” Marable smiled, “there will be a shuttle heading to the capital soon. He or she will have a white cloth hanging out of the shuttle cabin window. He will make sure the citizens of Erolzwald get to safety!”
• Melantha took a step towards Marable, “underground safe or another kingdom safe?”
• Forcing a smile on her face, “Underground! If we are correct there is not enough time to get to another kingdom that in the end will be attacked. If we are wrong and this is an isolated incident, the people later on can go on their way if they wish!” Marable answered.
• “In the end I guess it doesn’t matter, the people will be safe for the winter season.” Melantha took a step back.
• “If we are to stay on schedule,” Damillan nodded his head once, “we need to leave.”
• With one last farewell, Damillan led the group to Erolzwald as Marable continued to deal with the mess.
• *Yadah Plains*
• The once lush green plains of Yadah Plains were withering away, the morning dew had turned to ice crystals on the vegetation that was in the terrain. Only with the warmth of the sun, would it turn to water droplets, dropping to the soil and being absorbed by the land.
• With the forest thinning out, in more open land there were saplings sporadically growing, though there was not much shelter from the elements. The ground was saturated from the four days of rain. Slowing down the alpha from gaining distance each day.
• Amid his frustration of not gaining distance, he was becoming hangry. Having to rely on the plant life that was around the locations that he travelled. Alpha Zevar was using up more calories moving in the knee-high mud, if he did not get sufficient food, he was going to be one with the land and soon.
• Alpha Zevar had gotten himself out of the knee-high mud, as he could feel the depth of the soil thinning. This did not help the fact that he was feeling fatigued, yawning frequently and becoming more irritable. There were moments of anxiety and paranoia, and he was beginning to have little motivation to pursue further.
• The sun was starting to set as the alpha realized that he was lucky if he travelled 60 miles. Sitting on the muddy ground, the alpha dropped the pack that he was carrying in his mouth. With everything going on, the alpha had not acknowledged that he was being hunted. It wasn't until he picked up on the sound of a group of hunters coming his way did he noticed the trouble that he was in.
• “Put your weapons away, when was the last time you saw a wolf carry a bag in their mouths, this is a shifter.” One of the group of three hunters yelled.
• Exhausted the alpha shifted knowing that the humans would not be able to understand him and his dire wolf form. In the 15 days he had been travelling north Alpha Zevar had lost 50 percent of his body weight.
• One of the hunters pulled out some food and handed it to the alpha. Taking the food he thanked the male and introduced himself. The male who gave him the food introduced himself as Iun Lia and his sons Anvam and Blun.
• “You sure picked a path that not many take, I figure you would have died out here in a couple of days if it were not for us following your trail. What brings you this way?” Iun asked the alpha.
• Alpha Zevar wasted no time informing the hunters about the uprising of feral vampires. The hunters glanced at each other, an expression that the alpha could not quite read. Iun’s nose flared as he studied the boys, “so it has begun, took longer than I had thought with all the rumours going on in the east, but they finally came here.” Iun looked in his bag to see what supplies he had. Handing it over to the alpha, “I don't have much,” extending his arm, “Here, it will get you at least another two days worth of food. I'm going to show you the trail that you need to follow. It'll be a lot easier. We'll have to travel the rest of the day and until the celestial moon is high in the sky, but once you get on this path it'll be a lot easier. We hunters use it all the time. It will take you straight to the cliffs outside of Dorasea. From there on it is just a matter of you travelling to the city. But don't be surprised when you get there and tell everyone what is going on and they laugh at you. No one wants to believe nor hear about the tales of unregistered vampires.”
• At the mention of unregistered vampires coming out of Iun’s mouth, “you use the term the vampires use not what humans and shifters use. What is your connection?”
• Iun grinned from ear to ear, “a bloodline that has been long forgotten to the sands of time. Though we are only kin nethertheless related to the Ironwood clan. With a few members who feared death and chose immortality. Fear not alpha, my blood is registered with the emperor, we just live a life of a nomad, you have nothing to worry when it comes to us!” He reassured Alpha Zevar. Iun glanced over at his boys, telling them to head back to home base. They had to warn their clan of what was heading their way. They needed to make sure that they were prepared for what was coming their way.
• As Iun’s sons did as their father told them, “unless you want to walk around with your organs on display for everyone to see, it is safe to shift!” Iun told the alpha.
• *Emperor’s Castle*
• In his throne room, the emperor sat listening to the rumours of his castle. Not interested in the conversations of the ladies and lords of his kingdom. He waited for his informant to bring him news that was worth listening to.
• A male dressed in a warrior’s uniform bowed as he got closer to Emperor Baldwin. Motioning with his hand for the Ancillae to come forward, “what news do you have for me Arther?”
• “My excellency, the prisoner still remains silent, nothing we do will unseal his lips. The only thing he repeats is that he will only speak to you.” Arther promptly replied to the emperor.
• Emperor Baldwin kept his elbows on the arm of the chair as he brought the palms of his fingers together. “Is that so!” His tone was laced with bitterness. “What else do you have to report?”
• “We have been unsuccessful in getting a hold of Lord Ascelius. Lord Hannibel said that during a brief conversation he had with his brother. He mentioned that unregistered vampires had been killed in the area of Erolzwald. Lord Ascelius also mentioned their telecommunication system had been tampered with. Since that conversation, he had not been able to get a hold of Lord Ascelius by mind link or private telecommunicator.” Arthur waited to see if the emperor would have something to say. “Lord Hannabel has deployed two units to find the whereabouts of Asema. He is expecting to hear back from them in a day.” He gave the emperor the information that he had.
• “Is there anything else that you have to report?” Emperor Baldwin kept his tone flat and his expression as plain as a washboard.
• “That is all the information that I have to give at this time. I am still waiting to hear back from Hallowed City, Caerne valley and Briar tower.” Arthur bowed letting the emperor know there was nothing else that needed to be spoken.
• “In form me the moment there is communication … you are dismissed!” The emperor waved his hand.
• The moment the Ancillae had left the location, Emperor Baldwin stood up pausing all conversations in the area.
• “My excellency, would you like some company?” A female asked from behind the emperor.
• Not even turning his head to see who was speaking to him, “I want to be left alone!” He dismissed his mistress.
• *Whispering Port*
• Caid silently cursed as the shuttle left Whispering Port. There was nothing he could do to stop Balvalur from heading to Dorasea. The part that bothered him the most was the fact that Lamia was only a day away.
• Each night families would escape, through the hidden tunnel of the tavern. Not wanting to give way to their activity. Most of all none of them could say for sure if spies were watching the area. No one wanted to give way to their hidden city. The citizens were not the only ones who were leaving. In the shadows of the night, the nomadic vampires swiftly got their kin out of danger, not willing to wait for the attacks to begin. In the span of a week, the population had decreased by 1,583 citizens. Those who remained made sure that their words were heard. Therzana understood why they wanted to leave the location.