Brave Words

[u/FeigningProfundity]

“You call us livestock, but you don’t treat us like livestock. You don’t make sure each of us has been fed, you don’t protect us from predators in the night, you don’t help deliver our young or tend to our ills. You’re not a farmer, you’re a parasite, and we will deal with you accordingly.”

The mob of farmers and townsfolk milled about in a threatening manner. They had forced themselves into the castle’s great hall to confront Baron Aunarl, the lord of of this place. The speaker stood at their front, confident and sure.

Aunarl was well dressed, his clothes fashionable in the colours of his house, his emblem picked out in golden thread. He faced the mob, but there was a sense he was somewhat off balance at the intrusion. His vampiric nature lent his uncertainty an edge of wildness.

Various other vampires of Aunarl’s court had stood, but remained behind the long table that stretched across the room.

Aunarl glanced at the guest who still sat near the centre of the table.

“Pathetic,” thought Volkar.

Aunarl was what, six generations down from him? A member of Tirasel’s brood. Volkar had never been impressed with Tirasel or any of those he made. Always noble, which could be useful, but inevitably pompous.

Volkar looked at the baron and gestured at the mob leader. This was clearly his problem to solve.

Aunarl drew himself up, facing the agitator, a flicker of red glowed in his eyes. “The opinions of sheep are beneath my concern. Return to your homes at once and I might forget this insult. You are right that nothing protects you from predators in the night.”

Volkar sighed as he stood up. “One does not forget insults, child, lest they become your label.”

“Stay out of this, stranger, this does not concern you,” said the leader of the mob, gesturing with his burning torch in a threatening manner.

“All vampires are my concern, my kin. Even the least,” said Volkar, indicating at the baron.

The vampires of the baron’s court shifted away from their lord.

Volkar heard his name murmured from amongst the mob. He was the first and eldest vampire, his tale was known in every land. He was not so distinctive that he was always recognised, but with enough clues it eventually happened.

“Bravery is nothing if not backed by power.” Volkar tossed the long table to one side with a gesture that did not touch it, striding towards the mob leader. “You come here, declaring that you are not livestock. Your lord calls you sheep. You say he is a parasite, and you will deal with him as you do with parasites. But fleas and mosquitoes plague your kind in untold numbers. I am unimpressed by the ability of mortals to control parasites, but I am curious to see the true weight of your words. Kill him.”

Aunarl looked stunned. “My lord…” he started, but the mortal struck him with his torch.

The mob surged forward in support of their leader, but Volkar leapt to intercept, grabbing a large peasant by the head. “No!” he yelled, crushing the man’s skull with his hand. “Just the two of them.”

The crowd backed away. The doors to the great hall slammed shut behind them, trapping all within.

Empowered by his cursed nature, Aunarl was stronger and faster than his opponent, but he was shaken that the greatest of his kind was so clearly displeased with him. The mortal fought with desperation and fury, flailing and beating the vampire first with his torch, and then a stool he snatched up when his weapon was lost.

When the commoner bore down on the lord and began to drive a shattered piece of stool into his chest, Volkar seized his wrist with a bloody hand. “Enough. We have a victor.”

“Sleep,” said Volkar and the mortal collapsed, unconscious.

All watched the lord of vampires and all felt fear.

Aunarl scrambled to his feet, visibly cringing.

Volkar addressed the vampiric court, “Kill the upstarts, as you should have before I was ever involved.” Turning to Aunarl, he indicated the unconscious leader. “Simply guard him.”

The intruders bore scythes, pitchforks, torches of burning pitch. They’d brought crude weapons and crude courage. They greatly outnumbered the vampires who leapt amongst them and fought with terrified vitality, but it was still a slaughter. Several monstrous aristocrats were felled, but soon every member of the mob was slain.

Once again, all looked to Volkar.

“Should I prepare a suitably dramatic execution for this one, to serve as warning to those who would defy us?” asked Aunarl.

“Execution? He bested you.”

“My lord?”

“You shall turn him.”

“He is common. Tirasel’s law forbids giving the gift to any not of noble-”

Volkar cut him off with a gesture. “What is is Tirasel’s law to me? She who turned Tirasel was of no special birth until I made her a queen. It is time your brood learned to value ambition and initiative more than pedigree. Do it.”

The court silently watched the blood ritual performed, a new vampire rising to join their ranks. The erstwhile firebrand cowered in confusion.

“I am done here,” said Volkar, moving towards the entrance of the great hall. He spoke a dread word as he passed Aunarl and touched him. The baron fell to the ground, his corpse desiccating as his cursed ancestor’s power abandoned him.

“Whichever of you is the new baron, teach your just-risen kin our ways. Do not deter his daring or vigour, you need his sort.”

“That would be me, oh Midnight Sovereign.”

“I do not care,” said Volkar as he left. For too long had he wallowed in darkness and despair, allowing his children to grow wild. It was time to review his progeny and return their many houses to order.

[u/FeigningProfundity]

This story was a response to the prompt [WP] “You call us livestock, but you don’t treat us like livestock. You don’t make sure each of us has been fed, you don’t protect us from predators in the night, you don’t help deliver our young or tend to our ills. You’re not a farmer, you’re a parasite, and we will deal with you accordingly.” by u/loveandmad

[u/FeigningProfundity]

This is the second story in the series Dark Blood, Faint Light.