Valerian cleared his throat as he drew nearer to me.I asked, "When do you leave?" as I looked at him.“Immediately.”Are you going on your own?"No, he also asked for Ivan, so I'll be going with him," I replied."How much time will you be gone?"Knowing that I had almost not asked, I was so anxious.The short response is, "I'm not sure."I gave a nod and turned away from him.My throat became dry and my heart sank.How long does a tyrannical king require the general's presence or assistance?I thought.I couldn't think of a time frame that didn't make me feel down and put me in real danger of being alone.The longer version of that response states that I may be absent for a number of days at a time.I might even be gone for a week or more, depending on what he needs me to do.He opened my palm, gave me a kiss, and held my left hand in his right.I remained aloof and silent.He exclaimed softly, "Look at me, Catelyn."As I looked at him, I used my right hand to sweep my hair behind my ears."I p

Dragos gave a nod.After that, he stood up more quickly than most would have expected from an elderly vampire.When he stood just a step away from me as he was walking toward me, he closed his eyes completely on me.I kept my face expressionless, but on the inside, I was terrified beyond belief.Did I say or act improperly?Was I judged to be disrespectful or lacking in any way?Or was he aware that I have protected the direct descendant of the High Witch Priestess Annora for the past few years?I stood straight and kept my head down, but I could feel the sweat trickling down my spine. I could also feel Ivan projecting himself into my mind and slowly calming my nerves.Dragos quickly cleared his throat and turned away from me.Has the last Emerald Tablets fragment been discovered?Dragos cocked his ear slightly in my direction from where he stood at his window, so my relief must have been heard.It's possible that he simply awaited my response."No, Sir!"“I see.Prepare to immediately set out

Ivan was yelling directions to the gathering of vampires we would leave with on our most recent mission when I tracked down him. They numbered somewhat north of 100. He had made them wear and initiate their following groups so we could constantly tell where they were. He was causing them to remember the names of each other when I strolled into the field. "He's most likely going to deliver that discourse about battling for the endurance of the individual standing right close to you rather than battling for the whole local area you left back home," I thought. That discourse generally supported the spirits of our fighters as a matter of course. I began lifting my hands to shout to him when I abruptly felt unmistakable fear and fear smash into me and go through my body. It seemed like my body was engrossing floods of dread, and as I multiplied over rapidly, I got Ivan grimacing and hurrying towards me. "What is befalling me?" I thought, I'd never felt this apprehensive. Then my eyes broad

I took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly through my mouth. “Moment of truth”, I thought as I placed my hands on the doorknob and turned it slowly. The door creaked open to show a very dark room. I walked in, shut the door behind me, found the light switch and flicked it on.I gasped aloud in shock.The room was a shrine to a woman that could have been my identical twin. Everything was in pristine condition, and I concluded that even though it had no living occupant, the room was cleaned several days in a week. The bed was made and a woman’s day dress had been laid out on the bed. There were dozens of photos on the walls, and on her dressing table, memories of a life brutally taken. There was a photo of Maura astride a horse, and in it the wind was blowing her wild red hair into her face. There was a photo of her laughingly kissing Valerian as her green eyes reflected her love for him, and in yet another photo her face was turned towards the sun.As soon as I entered Valerian's vaul

"Where is Catelyn!" you ask.Through my extended fangs, I growled."I told her to hurry over to the safe!"As his fear caused him to collide with the ground, he raised his hands in surrender.My sword's tip was aimed at his throat.You ought to ask God to keep her safe!As I sniffed the air for Catelyn's scent, he shook beneath the blade.She had a faint scent, as though she were deeper inside the property or even underground.Underground.While I was in a state of panic, the memory of the recognition snapped.She is in the dungeon with one of the most perilous rogue vampires I have ever encountered.Why didn't she just do what was told to her?Her stubborn mind just couldn't seem to understand that everything that was ever asked of her was for her safety.Ivan sped ahead of me as I rushed through the castle grounds.My army protected us as we made our way to the dungeon by destroying any rogues that got in our way.I prayed that the monster wouldn't harm my lovely bride and that Catelyn would