The Vampire & Her Witch
Chapter 394: A Magical Gathering (Part Two)

Chapter 394: A Magical Gathering (Part Two)

The trio didn’t have far to go, Ashlynn had requested a private dining room from the palace that was near to both her quarters and the passage underground where the vampires found refuge from the sun during the day.

When they arrived, Virve and Ignatious stood outside to greet them before opening the doors to an intimate dining room suitable for groups of ten or fewer. Plants filled the space, making it feel alive and green even as autumn painted the world outside in dark oranges, brilliant yellows and dull browns. At Ashlynn’s instruction, the normal table had been replaced by one that was round so as not to give higher status to any of the traditions present.

Two men stood from their seats as soon as Ashlynn and her companions entered. The first, she recognized immediately and Ashlynn put on a warm, welcoming smile when she realized how uncomfortable he seemed with the glitz and grandeur of the palace.

"Artificer Erkembalt," Ashlynn said, crossing the room to take his hands in greeting. "I’m glad you were willing to accept our invitation tonight."

"Well, it was hard to refuse considering who your messenger was, your Dominion," the aging artificer said with an awkward bow. Just months ago, this young woman had held only the faintest tinge of an emerald aura about her that carried a light scent of woodsap and evergreens. Now, only a few months had passed but he felt like her presence could easily envelop the entire room.

The young witch beside her was almost more shocking. From a humble servant girl to arena champion, Heila had not only taken on a silvery-green aura, but that aura felt like a leaf so thin that it could cut like a blade. She might not possess overwhelming strength, but what strength she did possess had been honed into a lethal weapon and she’d proven several times over how deadly it could be.

"Please, just Ashlynn will do, or Lady Ashlynn if you must. Tonight, we’re all here to share in our craft and titles will only get in the way," she said politely before turning to the man beside him.

And this must be Master Aspakos," Ashlynn greeted the feathered sorcerer. "I’ve heard many things about you but the rumors don’t do your presence justice," she said as she worked to keep a warm smile on her face.

She might not be able to see the dark aura that clung to him, but something about the man felt strangely detached, as though a piece of of him had been ripped away and cast so far away that it could no longer be touched, only noticed for it’s absence. And in the place of that missing thing, something else lurked in the darkness, too shrouded by other powers for her to see or understand.

"Nor you, Lady Ashlynn," Aspakos said with a polite bow. "Though I must admit that the city seems to have far more to say about their newest champion than any of the rest of us," he added with another bow in Heila’s direction.

"Please, take your seats everyone," Nyrielle interrupted, pulling Ashlynn away from the pair of sorcerers with a protective arm around her waist and gesturing for Heila to take a seat on Ashlynn’s opposite side.

Surprisingly, Ignatious joined the others in taking a seat at the table beside Nyrielle, making it clear that he had come as a participant rather than simply filling the absent Zedya’s place as Lady Nyrielle’s attendant. The move left Virve as the only one standing, hovering over Heila’s shoulder. If anyone needed protection tonight, it wouldn’t be Ashlynn, Lady Nyrielle would see to that, and while Heila appeared to have regained her strength after several days of rest, Virve knew all too well how easily someone as strong willed as Heila could put up a strong front even when they were as weak as straw underneath.

She hoped that it was simple professionalism that drove her to take a defensive position, but as she looked at the dark figure of Aspakos taking his seat beside Erkembalt, she couldn’t help but feel that a small measure of paranoia was justified. The man was supposed to be an ally, but even after months traveling together, his motives remained as cryptic as the ancient and forgotten glyphs that decorated his robes.

"We have much to discuss tonight, and there is one matter I’d like to get out of the way before dinner is served."

"If it’s about traveling with you," Erkembalt began nervously, his bushy tail swishing behind him as he took his seat. "I’ve discussed the matter..."

"It isn’t," Nyrielle said before he could say any more. "Whether or not you choose to travel with us is something we should discuss over a meal, but this is something that could spoil it. Truthfully, I feel uncomfortable just being in the same room with it," she said, gesturing to Ignatious.

Stepping forward, Ignatious retrieved a long, slender box wrapped faded crimson silk, embroidered with the emblem of a shining sun surrounded by golden flames. Just seeing it, Ashlynn’s breath caught in her chest and her heart began to pound as the former Inquisitor slowly unwrapped the elaborately decorated wooden box.

"Is that what I think it is?" she asked, unable to hold back her curiosity.

"It is," Ignatious said, opening clasps at both ends of the box and removing the lid to reveal a gleaming sword.

The moment the box opened, a palpable tension swept through the room. Virve, who had maintained a relaxed posture as this was supposed to be a gathering of allies instantly snapped to attention. Acting on reflex, she took half a step backward and her hands dropped to her fighting gauntlets before her mind even finished processing what she was seeing. Her amber eyes widened, pupils narrowing to slits as the fur on her body stood on end before she reminded herself that Ignatious had more than proven his loyalty, but the rapid rise and fall of her chest betrayed how deeply the sight of the blade affected her.

"Sweet mercy," she whispered, so softly that only those with enhanced hearing caught it. "I’ve heard horror stories of what those do to our kind, but I never thought..." she said as she struggled to regain her composure.

The hilt alone was a masterpiece of metalwork, wrapped in braided gold wire and set with spiralling rows of rubies before giving way to a golden pommel shaped like a radiant sun. At the crossguard, form gave way to function but the patterned steel still held a unique beauty, with rippling layers that resembled the wavy patterns of a flame even though the blade itself was straight and true.

"This is a Holy Flame Sword," the former Inquisitor said. "It was once my most prized possession. But blades like these can only be weilded by the faithful, and without a strong, pure faith, the flames its weilder ignites will only be pale and weak."

"This is why I’ve asked you here tonight, Breaker of Curses," Nyrielle said, looking directly at Erkembalt while doing her best to repress the urge to slam the lid back on the case that held the ’holy’ blade. Even now, she felt like standing near it was little different than standing outside while watching the sky grow brighter.

"A tool that cannot be used should be broken and remade into something that can be useful," Nyrielle said. "But I would like to find a way to put this weapon to use without breaking it. So tell me, Artificer Erkembalt. Are you up to the challenge? Can you unlock the power of this blade?"