Everliving Kings (the Heroes of Darkness Saga) (4 page)

“I saw only savages and ruthless
warlords in the desert and the Moors are welcome to it as far as I am concerned. I care only for England, but that does bring up a question for you. Why is it you have no kingdom of your own, if you and the others like you are so powerful, then why is there no Risen empire by now?”

Anya smiled at him. “Ever heard of the Vat
ican? I care nothing about a kingdom my Lord or I would have had one by now. Oh I imagine there are a few of us in high courts around the globe by now but most of us just want to be left alone. Most of us hate humans; we can’t stand you. We usually view humans as nothing more than hairless apes, who now reserve your poo flinging for wars and call yourselves civilized. You were nothing before my father and uncle taught you how to think and build and speak, and still you waste your potential. Oh, there have been a few of you worthy of the gifts of the Elders, Alexander, Plato, Archimedes and Hammurabi to name some, but for the most part you are all a lost cause.”

The sheriff crossed his arms and smiled. “Well my lady, perhaps we have more in common then I at first had thought. I will see to it a guest room is pr
epared for you, something more fitting of your station. As for tomorrow’s meal do you have a preference?”

“Alive.” She responded flatly. “So do you e
xpect me to give you my word I won’t try to escape or something?”

“No
, not at all my lady, you have already made your intentions quite clear. I do believe we can come to a mutual pact, one good for both of us.”

Anya raised her eyebrows in surprise at the nerve the man was showing. “Oh, really? You think you can offer me aid against my father?
”

Brewer leaned closer to her, “My own brot
her… is a bishop, now… how do you suppose the church would react if it were to find out that the well respected and very wealthy land baron, Lord Rathbone, has been poisoned by the devil! Why what a shock that he needs to drink human blood to survive and even cursed his own innocent child. Oh just think of the scandal!”

Anya let a smile slide across her fangs, “Oh sheriff, I like the way you think. And what
, pray tell would be the cost of the churches involvement?”

Now it was his turn to smile, “Well
Lord Rathbone has so many estates, I am sure you wouldn’t mind keeping the best for yourself and donating the others to the church.”

“Ok that would be for your brother’s involv
ement, but what is it you want out of this?”

B
rewer nodded and headed for the stairs. “I will have your rooms prepared and a feast in your honor this evening. You can still eat food as well can’t you? Yes? Good then I…”

“Sheriff.”
She called after him as he headed for the stairs.

He stopped with one foot on the stone steps. “Oh me…nothing much really, just England.”

4

The
Risen only had to wait an hour or so before the castle staff had made good on the sheriff’s promise for better accommodations. To her surprise her only escorts to her new quarters were a trembling hand maiden, who no doubt had drawn the shortest straw, and the shriveled old house matron. For her obviously advanced age the woman was quite mobile and Anya had to pace herself to keep up with her.

“So I see the Sheriff can be a man of his word when he so chooses.” The
Vampire said as they entered yet another wide stone hallway. If her conversation was intended to rattle the old house mother it didn’t work, as the old woman only raised an eyebrow and ignored the undead until the trio reached the tower guest suite.

“These are your accommodations my Lady, Macy will be here to clean your rooms and help you dress as needed, if you require anything else…”

Anya stepped in front of the woman and said. “Actually, yes, I require information.”

Jingrid raised her eyebrows saying, “We are here to clean up your rooms
only, not to tell you how to defeat our laird.”

Anya smiled at the courage of the woman; she could smell only contempt and annoyance with no trace of fear from her at all. “Actually I don’t need any help in that
area; I just want to know how close the sheriff is to achieving his goal of taking over the country. How many men does he have that are loyal to him, and will aid him in this coup?” As Anya spoke she relaxed her body and voice using a tonal chanting technique to layer her own voice.

The house matron blinked before answering in a flat tone as if she were asleep, “He has made a deal with a French Knight for fifty thousand knights and archers to land on the south of England when he gives the word. He still owes the
mercenary five thousand gold florins, but with the new taxes he should soon be able to call them to England.”

Anya smiled at the woman, “Thank you Ji
ngrid, you have been most helpful; I imagine you will let me know when dinner is ready?”

The house mother curtsied before answering, “Yes mi lady.”

Anya felt a twinge of magic as she crossed the threshold of the room and had to smile knowing the good Friar must have blessed the rooms. Relaxing her eyes she looked around and could make out the faint afterglow of Brother James’s prayers of protection. “No doubt intended to keep the evil Vampire girl in check.” She snickered to herself. As she turned back towards the door a heat shimmer drifted into view and knocked on the still open door.

“My lady Anya, I would like to formally intr
oduce myself at last.” The young man said.

The
Risen did not need an introduction to know who the young Sir Robert was. For the many weeks of their travel from the holy lands Anya listened and felt and smelled all of those who got close enough. She counted their footfalls measuring their height and their weight; she counted their breaths and studied the sounds of their voices. As they thought she was asleep and unaware she listened and waited.

“Sir Robert, have you come to scold me once more or do you intend to welcome me to your lands?”

The Lord blinked in confusion before answering “Huh? No my lady…I…I just wanted to speak with you.”

Anya rolled her eyes before sweeping a hand
passed her hip, “Please Sir Robert, do come in. I know it is just another prison box, but at least this one has chairs in it.”

When the boy paled and hesitated and she could hear his pulse quicken, the
Risen giggled at him. “Oh don’t worry Sir Robert, I won’t kill you, we haven’t even had a good chat yet.”

Robert gave a slight bow before taking a few cautious steps into the tower apartment.
“I spoke with Brother James at some length about you my lady.” He began.

“You mean fat friar Tuck?” the
Vampire said with a smirk as she glided away to sit.

“Hmm, yes he told me you called him that, it is not very nice you know.”

Anya let her eyebrows go up in surprise, “Oh, no, I had no idea! Perhaps I should try to keep my insults more kindly in the future. Why do I get the feeling that you and Jimmy Tuck think you can help me in some way?”

“Oh yes my lady! That is what I wanted to talk to you about; Brother James said you seem to still have a Christian soul.”

Anya closed her eyes and laughed at him. “I think I know what you mean to say, but please keep in mind I was born many years before your prophet and many before the Muslim prophet as well. My soul is mine, not your churches or your god’s. I do appreciate your desire to help me though, it has been many years since any one has thought of my best interest first, so please forgive me if I am somewhat suspicious of your motives.

I will request however that you leave
the castle before my father returns. I am sure he will be ready for a fight and I mean to give him one. Anyone in the way when it happens will most likely die.”

Robert shook his head, “But it doesn’t have to be that way my lady. Don’t you see, your father, Brother James and I we all want to help you! The fr
iar told me you seemed quite capable of controlling yourself if you were of a mind to, perhaps all you need is a reason.”

Anya smiled at him again, “You are a dreamer Sir Robert, a noble soul in an age of darkness and your convictions are as admirable as they are powe
rful. But you are mistaken; I have a reason to exist Sir Robert…it’s called revenge. I was locked away, starved, chanted to, prayed at tortured, raped, beaten and burned just for being what I am. The worst part is all of it came on the orders of my dear father to try and cure me. Oh yes it taught me to control all of my abilities and then some, and the need for violence. For example if you ever run across a gang of men intent on raping you and killing anyone with you, it is amazing how fast you can kill the mood just by ripping one heart out of a chest.

I have been subjected to many methods to r
emove the devil from within and yet we both still thrive.”

Robert was horrified at the thought that a beautiful girl not much older than himself had seen such abuse. “Oh no my lady! Brother James would never try to harm you! That would go against his b
eliefs of peace and love.”

Anya just shook her head convinced the young man was as resolute
in his faith as the good friar. “Sir Robert, would you not agree that violence is sometimes necessary to achieve the cause of peace or perhaps to protect the innocent or weak from those who would do them harm?”

“Well I suppose but what about forgive and forget
then?”

“Nothing is forgotten, nothing is ever forgo
tten.”

“Well what about the crusade? Is that not necessary and ordained by God?”

The Risen smiled wide showing her fangs. “Ah yes, heaven sanctioned murder, there you see you do know the concept.”

The noble frowned, “But you make it sound so wrong!” he protested.

“Isn’t it? You have seen the battle fields in the holy land haven’t you? It is quite hard to tell the holy and just ones from the unholy ones. The blood and death look and smell the same. You seem to me to be a person with a well-defined sense of right and wrong, but you must be careful not to jump to conclusions as good and evil use the same methods to achieve their goals.”

Robert frowned and leaned forward now so i
ntent on the conversation he forgot he was speaking to an age old Risen. “But if true then what is the difference? How can one tell what side to choose?”

Anya smiled impressed the young man was willing to even listen to her side, let alone ponder the wisdom of her words. “The difference my
Lord is in the reasons behind the actions, it is the intentions that really matter most. Before you say it I am well aware that my father’s intentions have been to cure me but that is misguided. I do not need a cure, I needed acceptance for what I have become. I am not so different from him since the plague changed me. Oh I know the madness had me for several years, but there are some who never gain control of the hunger. Now I am the same as any Elder, in need of blood to survive, it is the thought that we are unclean that bothers him.

His attempts to cure me are all self-motivated out of shame and guilt not love. He has done it all for him not for me, that is the intent I mean.”

Sir Robert let his surprise show on his face “So your father is truly like you then? A Risen Vampire?”

“No, he was born an Elder, one of the great undying kings, not human better than that. The Greeks called them the Hemosapiens of Olympus the gods who drank blood. But the plague born like me, we were hunted as being monsters of the unde
rworld, minions of Hades or Hades children, female death-spirits the Keres or the daughters of Nyx, they called us.

Humans are the real monsters Robert, willing to murder and rape with the thinnest of excuses. Think about it Sir Robert and then decide what side you wish to serve.”

Robert rose from his seat and bowed to his host, “My lady I thank you, you have given me much to think about, I look forward to seeing you at dinner.”

Anya thought about a snide remark as he made his way out but held back instead.

5

A rumble of horse and carriage once more made its way to the
Risen girl’s ears just a few moments before the servant girl Macy returned to help her dress for dinner. In the great hall of Nottingham castle the High Sheriff bowed to greet his guest and kiss the holy ring on his left hand.

“
Your Eminence, welcome again!”

“Oh stop it William! I raced all the way over here, just barely beating the darkness to your door and now you would mock me as well?”

The Sheriff laughed at his brother, “Oh, Edward don’t be such a fusspot, I called you over for a very good reason. I need you to meet one of my noble guests tonight. One who holds the keys to both the crown of England and the Archdiocese!”

The red robed man frowned and waved a di
smissive hand, “William, talk that will get us both the block! I hope for your sake this is no joke.”

Undeterred William went on, “How would you like to live on one of
Lord Rathbone’s estates? Eh?”

The bishop shook his head and made his way to a comfortable chair calling for a drink as he went.
“Have you gone mad since I have seen you last? First you are the King and I am the Archbishop now you are giving out thousand acre estates, what’s next pray tell, the Vatican? Perhaps you could be an emperor and I the Pope? Bahh, madness!”

The sheriff smiled at the thought, “Why not?”

Before the Bishop could launch into any one of a thousand answers he was interrupted by a beautiful female voice. “I told you Brewer, that one is already taken.” Anya said as she glided down the stairs, with the train of a pale blue dress trailing behind her. “And you must be Bishop Brewer, the High Sheriff’s brother.” She said with a curtsy as she reached the pair.

The Bishop beamed a smile from ear to ear as he rose from his seat, “Please call me Edward my L
ady, but you seem to have me at disadvantage.” He said with a bow.

The sheriff mumbled under his breath, “More than you know.” Before jumping in to play host sa
ying, “Edward this is the Lady Anya Rathbone, my lady may I present my brother his eminence, Bishop Edward Brewer. Edward, it is the lady Anya I wished to introduce you to.”

The Bishop was far too taken with the shapely young woman in front
of him to hear let alone understand what his brother was saying. “My Lady it is quite an honor indeed, I trust your journey was comfortable?”

Anya smiled at seeing the look on the sheriff
’s face as she answered, “It was…restful you’re Grace, thank you for asking, but I dare say my accommodations here in the castle made my trip seem…as if I were locked in a tiny box for weeks on end!” she giggled.

The Bishop laughed at her humor, “Oh I know what you mean my dear, and those carriage rides can be so stuffy.” 

Anya smiled and replied, “Yes, quite. Now you’re Grace, the Lord Sheriff has mentioned to me that you may be able to help me with a little… problem I have.” She said as she slid a delicate arm under his.

“Oh yes, of course if it is in my power to grant, what is it I can do for you my dear?”

Anya steered him towards the dining hall and then pretended to be surprised when Brother James and Sir Robert came into view. “Oh look the other guests are here already; perhaps we should discuss business affairs after supper?”

The Bishop blushed over as red as his robes and said, “Ah, yes that would be the polite thing to do would it not?”

Behind him the Sheriff could only shake his head in amazement at how easily Anya was playing his usually shrewd brother.

Once the introductions and pleasant small talk made the table rounds, the tension at the table changed in an instant with
the serving of the first course.

As the
Risen had expected, all eyes but the bishop’s stared her way to see how she would react to the food.