Chapter 4

• *Unnash*
• Shankha remained in the infirmary aiding the doctors and nurses with the care of the patients.
• Gently she rubbed Zehna’s back as she remained at Howley's side. “He is strong, Howley will wake up. The poison needs time to leave his body.”
• Zehna’s eyes were swollen from the hours and days of crying, “Howley hasn’t moved in three days!”
• Bobbing her head, “it could take another four or five more days before Howley will be able to move a finger. The fact he has a heartbeat is a sign of his strength. There were multiple teeth marks. Add in the blood loss … he is lucky to be with the living.”
• Hearing Shankha’s words set Zehna in another fit of tears as she lowered her head to Howley’s body. “I can’t lose the only man I will ever love!” Lifting her head, “I will do anything … PLEASE help my mate!”
• Patting Zehna’s hand, “time! You will have to be patient like everyone here.” Turning around Shankha continued with her rounds.
• ***
• “Where is Alore?” Shankha placed a hand on the top of Amuse’s head.
• Lifting his head off Fiathuen's hospital bed. Rubbing his eyes, “Alore is working on the processor. She believes she can fix it!” Yawning, “Fiathuen’s ribs are completely healed. She just needs to wake up now!”
• Smiling, “give her time! She is a wee little thing and has gone through an event that no one should have.” Shankha said encouragingly. “Get something to eat and get some rest. I know you were aiding patrol during the night.”
• “I can’t sleep! What if we are attacked again and I am sleeping like last time?”
• Placing her hands behind her back, “You are truly a Bloodrose! And even the mighty Lamia needs his rest.” Shankha realized quickly the bond her mate and the youth had been forming.
• Amuse was quick to quote anything his sister Finja would say. Red Fang was a name that also came out of his mouth many times. A vampire, the siblings seemed to revere with great importance. Yet lately, Amuse has been clinging on to everything Lamia had to say and do.
• “I know! Lamia told me to go to bed, but …”
• Many times she and Amuse had been at odds. Viewing him as a child, she treated him as such. Yet every time push came to shove, Amuse showed that he was capable. Lamia had reminded Shankha several times that the youth's upbringing was that of a military family.
• As such Amuse had to grow up faster than the other children. To treat him less than would be an insult to his intelligence and skills.
• “You are far too young to be treated as if you were 21. You're 12 years old!” Shankha made sure that her words were spoken out of kindness and concern for his well-being.
• “13 … today I am 13!” Amuse said as a tear rolled down his face.
• Shankha could not help herself, she wrapped her arms around Amuse in a motherly way. Kissing the side of his head. “I did not know it was your birthday.” Releasing him, “when we get to Ironwood Castle, I have something for you. I am sure that your father and Finja would approve!”
• Amuse appeared confused, “Ironwood?”
• “Yes!” Shankha could feel that Amuse was going to argue. “All youths and non-fighters will be leaving once things have been organized. This is an order from Mistress Hel, it is not coming from me.”
• Amuse glanced at the body that slumbered in the bed beside him. “Mistress Hel wants my niece doesn’t she?”
• ‘What a smart boy!’ Shankha thought to herself. “Get some rest. Once Mistress Hel has decided when everyone will leave … she expects obedience.”
• ***
• Cilla rested her body on top of her dead husband's body, not wanting to let go. Softly she cried as the grief of losing her mate was crippling her senses. Knowing that her son Howley was in the same condition that her mate, Beta Vemos, was in did not aid. The worry consumed her, “I can’t lose them both!”
• Cilla could feel a warm hand on her back, words of sorrow reaching her ears, “he fought to protect his family and will be dearly missed.”
• Cilla shot her head up to see the one man who had been unconscious for days, “Zevar!” She screamed as she stood up and wrapped her arms around him gently.
• “Where is my brother?” Alpha Zevar choked out as his sight was still locked on his cousin’s body.
• Stepping back, more tears rolled down her face as she shook her head. “He was found with Cithra!”
• "Both of them?" Cilla only nodded her head. Leaning his head back Alpha Zevar allowed the tears to roll down his face freely. Balling his fist over his mouth, he bit into his knuckles. Words could not be spoken as the gravity of the losses seeped into his mind.
• “Zylstina? My boys?”
• Cilla forced a smile, “Zylstina is buzy making sure that nothing more falls apart. All the children have aided her in getting everything completed. There is something you need to know!”
• Alpha Zevar took a couple of breaths to steady himself.
• “Zevar … Goddess Hel is here! She plans on taking the children and those who can’t fight to Ironwood … to the heart of the land!”
• ***
• “And what will this contraption do again?” Mistress Hel stood over Alore as she worked on the busted processor.
• Forcing a smile, “we will have communication with allied kingdoms and my sister.” Alore brought her head back down so that she could get back to work.
• Marvade picked up a cord, “Alore … What is this for? It looks important.”
• Standing up, “you are correct!”
• Alore continued to work as she explained to her mate and Mistress Hel what everything was supposed to do. After connecting things and plugging in the processor to the mobile battery source. Alore pressed the key to power the processor.
• Sighing, “nothing!” Alore sounded defeated.
• “It sounds like you need the teck team!” Alpha Zevar’s voice came from the entranceway.
• “Alpha!” Marvade said with a smile on her face, “you are finally awake!”
• Sniffling, Alore rushed over to the man who had been nothing but kind to her family. Wrapping her arms around the man softly she spotted Zylstina. “You have been greatly missed.”
• Zylstina bobbed her head with tears rolling down her face with a smile reaching ear to ear. “Have you figured out how to fix the processor?”
• “The child is still working on the contraption!” Mistress Hel spoke.
• Sluggish Alpha Zevar moved towards the Goddess, “Mistress Hel!” He bowed, giving her the respect her title deserved.
• “You need to sit pup, you do not appear well!”
• Chuckling, “It has been a while since the last time I was called a pup.” Alpha Zevar pulled out a chair and sat near his Goddess. “I hear that you want to move the children and non-fighters out of here and to your kingdom!”
• “Alpha Zevar!” Mistress Hel made sure her sights were locked on the alpha. “I know that the shifters do not like the thought of parting from their family. After what I had seen, I believe this action to be necessary!”
• “I agree! And if I had known there was an option to ask for your aid … I would have asked before now!” Alpha Zevar tried to keep his tone of authority, though could not keep the thoughts of his losses out of his mind.
• “My sons have already begun moving those that can walk, out of the territory. They will take the tunnels. When they come back … they will take the next group. With them will be a force that will protect my lands.” Mistress Hel kept her tone flat and commanding. “I understand that it might be hard for you to adjust to these temporary changes … but … my blood has been attacked and I will not forgive this injustice.”
• “I will take all the aid that you are offering. As we speak there is to be a fleet of expert fighters heading this way. They are being guided by Northern borns, Alpha Crajor of the nomad clan.”
• “I see!” Mistress Hel glanced at the females that were in the location. “If there is nothing for you to work on, you may leave!”
• Alore glanced over at her mate, “I could use a break while I try to brainstorm on how to fix things.”
• Marvade bowed her head once to the Goddess then to the Alpha. “I should see if my mum needs any assistance!”
• “If she doesn’t I need aid in getting things ready for the departure of the children.” Zylstina had her hand on the door handle as she waited for the ladies to pass her. “Your brother is going to be an issue.” Her eyes were on Alore.
• “He is a fighter!”
• Mistress Hel’s voice echoed, “he will be leaving as well. I will not chance his demise on his eagerness to prove his worth.”
• “He will not listen to anyone but our sister!” Alore added, “Amuse … is angry!”
• “I completely understand his school of thought!” Mistress Hel raised a brow. “Yet I know even his father would not see Amuse on the battlefield. The fact that he has done this once, tells me of how careless he is. A child he is and until he reaches his 19th birthday, he will remain as such!”
• Alore covered her mouth with her hands to stifle her cries, “Finja would have said the same. She would have given him a tongue lashing for his actions. He …” Alore choked on her words. “He is hurting so much! The loss of our father … now … mum!” She squawked. Shaking her head back and forth rapidly, “Fiathuen!”
• “Pup! I am not without a heart, I understand completely the actions of the many. But there are still consequences for all of your actions.” Mistress Hel’s words were stern but coated with warmth.
• “You sound so much like my sister!” Alore forced a smile on her face.
• Softening her expression, “Complete the tasks ahead of you, Alpha Zevar and I need to have a private conversation. You can continue here later.”
• *Dorasea*
• “Nirvana!” Addan noticed that his father's consort had entered the alpha’s office. “Have you completed your tasks?”
• Alpha Relzeiros and Beta Nilked directed their attention to the female who was bowing.
• “I did Prince Addan, there was no resistance from the people. The borders have been reinforced as you have ordered.” Nirvana kept her words low and soft as the finest silks.
• “Check up on the castle repairs, I want the foundation to be completed before my father returns.” His tone was laced with ice.
• “As you wish Prince Addan!” Bowing again Nirvana left to complete the order that was given to her.
• “I don’t mean to overstep and if I do, it will not happen again. Don’t you think that your words were too harsh toward Nirvana?” Alpha Relzeiros was shocked at the mannerism that he witnessed.
• Addan raised a brow, “I keep my friends close and betrayers even closer. You will find that none of my brothers and I trust her. The only reason my father allows her to walk freely is because she has won his forgiveness once again.”
• Beta Nilked shifted in his seat feeling uncomfortable with the conversation that was occurring.
• “I did not mean to intrude into family business!” Alpha Relzeiros nodded his head with respect.
• Addan forced a smile, “do not turn your back on the snake!” Pulling out a map of Dorasea and placing it on the table. “We will be sending a fleet of warriors here.” Addan rested his fingers over Yadha Cliffs. “Here!” He pointed to Daha Plains. “There!” Addan’s fingers were hovering over Toadfen Forest. “And lastly, here!” His finger was on the Toadfen River that divided the Dorasea and Dark Crystal territories.
• “We do not have the sorcerers that Dark Crystal has.” Beta Nilked added to the conversation. “I have asked Alpha Faetha if she has any practitioners that she could spare.”
• “I am sure the alpha will answer my father when he gets there. Until that time, we will do things the old-fashioned way.” Addan studied the alpha and beta reactions. “Each unit will be provided with the fastest runners we have to offer. With them, they will carry a signalling rod.”
• “It will have to do!” Alpha Relzeiros did not dispute the plan. “I have a few runners in mind. They are capable fighters, trained under Rimvan Longarm. They would have joined the Underground cadets this year if things had not happened as they have.”
• “Are they of age now?” Addan knew of his father's rulings when it came to children being on the battleground.
• “Many of them are 19, the age of recruitment. The other pups are going to turn 19 in a couple of months.” Beta Nilked replied.
• Addan thought about things for a moment, “get their caregivers permission. Then I will test them to make sure they meet my expectations.”
• ***
• ‘Stop moving!’ Emperor Baldwin linked the group. ‘They are here!’
• Crouching to the ground Emperor Baldwin studied the land. His nose told him that magick was being used to cover up what was not to be seen. Unlike other vampires, one of Emperor Baldwin's traits was the ability to sense the use of magick. Something he has kept to himself, not even his sons know of this ability.
• Closing his eyes, Emperor Baldwin allowed his mind to see what his eyes were looking for. Not even a mile ahead of him, General Viscarti’s kin and allies perched at the top of the trees. Darkening his features, Emperor Baldwin sent a mental link of what he was seeing to his fighters.
• Swiftly moving around Emperor Baldwin and his army, the enemy placed themselves so that they could jump down on them. Each side was equally matched. What would determine the outcome of events was who would have the jump start on the other. Emperor Baldwin relied on his skills that no many knew of. General Viscarti’s kin relied on sneak attacks.
• Extending his nails, Emperor Baldwin and his warriors stepped forward ready to kill what would fall on them.
• Three days and nights they had been searching for this group of unregistered vampires. With General Viscarti separating his fleet, this was the opportunity Emperor Baldwin needed to strike at his enemies.
• In the thicket of saplings and bushes, the unregistered vampires dropped on the group whom they had assumed did not know of their being there.
• “That was disappointing!” Balthazar uttered as he dropped the head of his last execution. “I was kind of expecting more of a fight!”
• Emperor Baldwin glanced over at his son, “You are truly my blood!” Studying the area, he too was disappointed. “Leave the bodies for General Viscarti to find. I want to hear his bellows once he finds out his kin are no more.”
• “We should cross the Toadfen River before the sun rises!” Odolff pointed out, “Do you want the Ancillae fighters to continue with us or turn back to Dorasea now?”
• Thinking about things for a moment, he had to calculate the possibilities that General Viscarti could be turning back around and heading toward them. “Send the Ancillae fighters back to Dorasea.” He stomped over a dead body without a second thought. “I need to get to the Dark Crystal Tower in four days. This has slowed us down a great deal.”
• Turning to the fighters, Balthazar gave the order for the Ancillae to leave. With only a group of 30, Emperor Baldwin knew that he could get to his destination faster. The trees and plant life were nothing but a blur as the emperor and his group rushed forward not wanting to waste another second.
• *Island*
• It had been close to three days since the shifters and the emperor’s fighters had left the island. After a great deal of discussing and coming to a conclusion. Lord Lewis was left in charge of the care of the Whispering Port citizens. Lord Kherr knew that the public would be more compliant with his order, unlike the shifter warriors.
• “The last time we were at Whispering Port, the buildings were ablaze.” Captains Xowrick and Xankin recalled the state of the location.
• “That does not matter. What matters is how many will make residence out of the rubble.” Lord Kherr commented dryly. “Do you recall the placement of the buildings?”
• The two captains scratched the top of their heads, “Vaguely!” Captain Xowrick answered. Taking a blank sheet and writing tool, he drew a map of what he remembered.
• Pulling an old map of the location, Lord Kherr and the Captains worked on a plan that would secure their safety.
• “We are going to be dropped off here!” Lord Kherr pointed at a point that was slightly North of Whispering Port. “From here, it will take us less than two days to get to our target.” With his finger over Whispering Port. “You and the rest of the shifters will get off at this point. If you see red flares … you will fire off all the missiles on this ship.”
• Captain Xankin directed his sight to the vampire lord, “what about you and your warriors?”
• Snickering, “that you will not have to worry about. You will remain on the vessels until you see a blue flare.”
• The two captains glanced at each other, “recap … you and your men are dropped off here. We will go to the harbour. If we see a red flare, bombs away … blue flare means all clear and we make landfall!” Captain Xowrick sums everything up.
• “I need you to get a hold of Hydrophiinae and let them know we will be at the target in six days. If they have a visual … I want the information.” Lord Kherr Stood up indicating that the meeting was over.
• ***
• “Little Island to Hydrophiinae!” Captain Xankin waited for a response.
• As he was waiting it occurred to him that Hydrophiinae may not be there but someone else might be listening and waiting for him to speak.
• “Little Island to Hydrophiinae! Little boat will make landfall in four days. We need a visual!”
• Placing the two-way receiver back down he ordered a private to remain stationed at the communication station as he wanted to look over the maps once more. He was not a politician but he was good at understanding the movement of animals and weather patterns. With his family originally from Centaur Woods, he had an idea of how the feral vampires might move to get to Whispering Port. He just had to jolt things down on paper before presenting his thoughts to Lord Kherr and Xowrick.