The Seventh Sword
Session Forty of the Notoriety of Kings Campaign

Terday, 16 Kindlesmoke 204 [contined]

Nicos is more than a little upset by this and starts asking around to find out what happened. He speaks to Huçon Lan of the Church of Fire, while Ravenna tries to see if she can find anyone who looks in charge. Elias groans and leans on Alessandre heavily for support. "Elias can't stay out here in the cold," says the bard. "I'm taking him to the temple of Vítaeous." The old watcher, Wendar, believes that that is a very good idea. He says to Elias, "The longer you leave it, the more difficult it is to cure." He goes on to say that he will attempt to keep the involvement of the Chosen of Narramac in this evening's events from the ears of Belsan Uneer. However, that may not be possible, given the disappearance of Tobin M'Kesh. Wendar, Nolan, Terrence, Pasha and Verrin wish the party well and try to melt away into the crowd without being seen by the other Watchers in the vicinity.

Shredder bounds off into the night as soon as the boat lands, but the possessed Brack makes no attempt to follow him. Raza announces that he is going to the Scrivener's temple of Libras to find out as much as he can. Oddly, Arvan says he will go with the monk. Arvan is unwilling to let Raza out of his sight. Ravenna scans the crowd and catches sight of Captain Holstein watching what is going on. He is the only member of the town-watch in the area. Then she sees the Wavemistress of the Coral Palace, a woman she knows is called Rosemary Telesko. Telesko is talking to a woman dressed in the robes of a Watcher. Ravenna hurries over to interrupt.

The Watcher, named Annarene Pluner, does not take kindly to such interruptions and is determined to put Ravenna in her place. However, a combination of the Wavemistress's distress at the death of one of her own, and the fact that she catches sight of Wendar moving through the crowd distract her enough for Ravenna to elbow her way into the conversation. In the discussion that follows, Ravenna reveals that the Chosen of Narramac did accompany Tobin M'Kesh to the Isle of the Dead and that M'Kesh is missing, making any future discretion on the part of Wendar meaningless. Annarene instructs Ravenna not to leave the city, as the Watchers will undoubtedly have questions for them regarding M'Kesh's disappearance.

Telesko recognises Ravenna as one of the Chosen of Narramac. Ravenna shows her the papers she received from Captain Holstein and explains that they are investigating the deaths caused by this vampire. Telesko says that she will happily answer questions when the current crisis is over. Ellwyn's body is now being conducted by a number of Watchers down Jenkin's wharf and to a boat to take it to the Isle of the Dead. Eventually the crowd disperses and Ravenna can have her interview with Telesko. Nicos, who is still around after having discovered nothing from the fire clerics, accompanies her.

In her private office in the Coral Palace, the Chosen question Rosemary Telesko. The Wavemistress explains that Ellwyn was very excited about having met the Chosen of Narramac. After they passed the temple earlier today she waited for them to return. It is believed that she wandered down Jenkin's Wharf after dark, very close to the spot where the monk Yinmé Delabel was murdered. It is deduced that the vampire came out of the water and pursued her as she tried to run back to the temple. It butchered her about a hundred yards from the front steps. No-one heard or saw anything, which is unusual but not incredibly suspicious.

"So, is this vampire a water cleric or what?" asks Nicos politely. Telesko says that she does not see how that can be the case. "Are any clerics missing from the temple? Any clerics missing from other water temples?" Ravenna asks. Telesko says that no-one is missing, but Ravenna does not believe her. After the interview she takes Nicos down to Jenkin's wharf where they look for evidence of Telesko's version of events. The blood spatters on the ground are consistent with a flying assailant raking out at a running target. Nicos shakes his head. He liked Ellwyn, and now because of the Chosen's fame, she is dead. Ravenna declares that she can find no more here, and that they should head back to the inn to rest. After making one kill, the vampire is unlikely to strike again tonight.

"I need some help, here!" cries Alessandre at the top of her magically augmented voice. She and Brack have carried Elias to the large temple of the Church of Life opposite St. Mathers and not far from the Astornis Fountain. Clerics come running. "He has been attacked by the vampire," Alessandre explains to the first one she sees. "We have money." The cleric asks them to wait while they summon a high ranking priest.

Raymon, a greasy, unwashed Latino eventually emerges and asks Elias to step into a side room. Elias does so, and enters a room with a few seats and a bed. "Remove you clothes," says the priest rubbing his filthy hands together, "and lie on the bed." Elias complies. The cleric allows his hands to wander over Elias in a manner that is most disconcerting. "Nasty," he says looking at the festering wound in Elias's side aggravated by the removal of his armour. "Well, lie back and think of Norandor."

Raymon casts a spell, channelling positive energy into Elias. Elias feels a pleasant warm sensation that swiftly changes into an unpleasant burning one. The impurities left inside him by the vampire spawn begin to boil away, rising as acrid black smoke through the pores in his skin. After a minute Raymon wipes his sweaty brow. "All done," he says. "You can come in now," he calls to Alessandre. The bard enters before Elias is dressed. He blushes. She grins. "Are you feeling all right?" she asks. He nods and sticks his glowing cheeks into a shirt. Alessandre rummages through Elias's money pouch and gives the cleric four hundred crowns. A service such as this does not come cheap. Fortunately Elias has the funds of Umbria to spend. Elias feels much better, much more like his old self, although the wound is still a little tender. "I think he fancied you," says Alessandre when the cleric leaves. Elias gives her a sour look. They collect Brack who has been standing quietly digesting the events of the evening and the three return to The Willow.

At Libras, Raza and Arvan enter and are greeted by a Scrivener in his customary black and blue robes. Raza explains that they want to find out information about the Vampire of Sorgar, and perhaps he can help them. He nods. Libras's collection is open to anyone with coin, but the stories surrounding the Vampire are known throughout Sorgar, and they come free. "The Vampire of Sorgar is a mythical creature. It has allegedly existed here long before Sorgar was built. People believe that it is a good vampire that watches over the city and protects it from evil. Few people truly believed in it until the recent killings and even now people are denying that it's the true Vampire of Sorgar. They say that the real vampire will sort out this interloper. I'm not sure I believe that the Vampire even exists myself. There are a few disappearances each year. Always down-and-outs and criminals or the like – people who won't be missed. Just enough to keep the legend alive."

Raza can feel the Vampire moving about inside his mind. He can tries to push it away with his force of will, and finds himself having to rely on the power of the sword to do that. "I want to see the books now," he says. Raza pays ten crowns for Arvan and himself and the pair are outfitted in white smocks and allowed to enter the library. It is less than half the size of Eurikas, but it is still an impressive repository of knowledge. Raza begins to look for books. Arvan just watches Raza.

Eventually Raza finds what he is looking for. A book on undersea races. What race was the vampiric creature that bewitched him and Brack and killed Tobin M'Kesh? The vampire's words come back to haunt Raza. "Do not reveal me." Raza begins to flip through the book but his hands begin to shake. The Vampire's will is upon him. Arvan just sits at the desk, watching him and saying nothing. Raza can go to the sword. He can overcome the vampire's compulsion at great cost to himself, for now he chooses not to. He closes the book, visibly shaking. "Let's go back to the inn," he says to Arvan. Arvan stands and Raza has to lean on him for support on the way home.

Two hours past midnight Ravenna hears a knock on her bedroom door. Standing slowly and pulling a blanket around her shoulders she walks cautiously to it. Snowy is awake and alert, the wolf's hackles are up. Ravenna readies a spell and opens the door. It is Arvan. She steps back and the druid walks in with no word of greeting. Arvan fishes something out of his robes and throws it on the bed. Ravenna bends to look at it. It is a silver scythe and hour-glass set in a circle of ebony.

"That is the holy symbol of Tobin M'Kesh," Arvan explains. "I found it on the floor of one of the mausoleums near some steps descending into the water. I also found evidence to suggest that he was overpowered and dragged into the water by a large bipedal creature with webbed feet. Probably the Vampire of Sorgar."

Ravenna doesn't know what to say. "Why didn't you mention this before?" Arvan shrugs. "Because Tobin's death was witnessed by Raza, and Raza has been dominated by the creature. I could not speak in front of the Watchers, and I have given some serious consideration over who I should tell."

Ravenna says that Arvan was right to tell her. The question is, how to free Raza. "I'm not convinced that is such a good idea," says Arvan. "While I was in the Dark I encountered many vampires. Creatures far worse than the thing that attacked Elias. They possessed their victims with a form of mental domination, they bent them to their will. But this domination created a link between the vampire and the victim." Ravenna knows where this is going. "A link we can follow back to the source?" Arvan nods. "I am unskilled in such matters. Is such a thing possible? If it is, how do we go about it?"

Ravenna sits on the bed and gives the matter a little thought. It should be possible. She says that the pendant Derriac gave her works in much the same way, although Derriac has no control over her mind. The pendant allows Derriac to know where she is at all times. She takes the pendant in her hand and holds it up to look at it. She doesn't have a clue how it works, but she isn't going to admit that to Arvan. "Let me sleep on it, and we'll talk again in the morning." Arvan nods. "Caius is watching Raza, I do not intend to let him out of my sight."

Zephday, 17 Kindlesmoke 204

At breakfast Brack, Arvan, Ravenna, Nicos, Elias and Alessandre sit down to decide their next move. Raza is unwell. Arvan knows the true reason – fighting the vampire's domination with the Blade of Temperance has cost him his health, at least for the short term. Caius is again on guard duty. The group compare their notes from the previous evening. There's not much to add to the stewing pot. Ravenna is looking over the list of murders and says that she thinks there must be a pattern there somewhere. Brack, Nicos, Arvan and Elias put their heads together, but they can't seem to find one.

An hour later, Caius appears in a puff of smoke and walks up to Arvan. He growls something that Arvan understands as "Raza has just left the inn by the back door." Arvan gives Ravenna a serious look and leaves quickly. Once outside he wildshapes into a seagull (the perfect disguise) and quickly spots the monk. Arvan begins to track Raza in case he does something stupid.

In hindsight, Raza himself will admit that what he is about to do may not have been the wisest thing in the world. The events of the last few months have taken their toll on Raza. His conversation with Arvan in the boat yesterday has been playing over in his mind. He doesn't think his companions are up to the task of seizing the seventh sword and destroying Karatath, and now dominated as he is by this vampire is Raza himself strong enough? They need help, but from where? Raza wishes that Zookie was there to guide him, but he has come to a decision without the gnome's aid. Raza is a godspeaker. It is about time he started living up to that name.

After leaving the inn Raza walks inland. He passes several bridges and finds himself on in shoretown, not too far away from Illtilmus's residence. The thought of speaking to the gods fills him with fear and trepidation. But what has he got to lose? he asks himself. At the very least this will probably get the attention of the elves. The elves should be involved in the destruction of Karatath. Walking into an alley Raza looks all around him. All he can see are seagulls whirling overhead. Shutting his eyes, he pictures the moons in his mind and at the top of his voice screams: "What do you want from me?"

The seagulls give up a tremendous sky and scatter. People in the streets of Sorgar instinctively stop what they are doing. Then the ground begins to tremble. The water in the bay becomes choppy, then rough. Boats are tossed wildly about. Moorings snap. An ill-constructed bridge breaks in two as the island it leads to shifts its position slightly. Then the panic begins. The terrified shrieking and the pointing to the sky.

An enormous shape has move in front of the sun blocking it from view. Darkness falls over Sorgar. Some declare that it is the work of the Vampire. Others that the gods are punishing the unworthy. Both are wrong. Raza de Luna, Yisweran Larrien, monk, moon-child, godspeaker stands in an abandoned alley as chaos reigns around him, waiting for a reply. And then it comes. A stunning bolt of telepathy and suddenly a million voices babble in Raza's mind at once. His mind shuts down and he falls stiffly to the ground.

In The Willow Elias rushes to the window. The group can hear other patrons running for the exits. Ravenna barely looks up from her work. "It's Raza isn't it?" Alessandre is amazed. There are no eclipses in Urova. The moons never pass in front of the sun. What is currently passing before the sun is no moon – so what the hell is it? Then the shape begins to move away. Daylight slowly returns to the city streets. The mood of Sorgar changes from panic to shock and for the first time in many weeks the threat of the vampire is forgotten – pushed aside by a far stranger event.

The inn door bangs open and Arvan walks in carrying Raza. He lays the unconscious monk down on the table. Ravenna still appears aloof, but there is a dangerous edge to Arvan's voice that makes her look up. Even Nicos is overawed by the druids words. "He did it. He spoke to the moon gods." Arvan can offer no explanation as to why Raza did it, or what he sought to gain, but he did it. Alessandre is shocked, and Elias quickly explains to her Raza's history and how the group discovered he was a godspeaker. Nicos is uncomfortable. If anyone in this group should be rapping with Calafax, it's him. Raza opens his eyes and looks at Arvan. He begins to mumble, "Something is dragging me somewhere. Whenever I try to deny it, I fail." Arvan picks up Raza and carries him to his bed.

As the hubbub dies down, Alessandre says that she is going to see her Great Aunt, Alamanda. "Alamanda knows everything there is to know about this city. If there's any relation between the murders, she'll know. Besides I haven't seen her in ages and after that thing that went across the sun I want to see if she's all right. Anyone want to come?" Alessandre's question is directly solely at Elias who smiles and says that he'd be delighted to come.

Ravenna curses at Elias's departure. She wanted to bring him onboard in the knowledge that Raza is possessed. He has a small understanding of spellcraft compared to her, but she hasn't a clue how to use the principles of the pendant to find the Vampire of Sorgar through Raza. She has a sinking feeling that she needs the help of someone skilled in the creation of magical items. The only person in the group with those skills is Nicos. She sighs and turns again to the list.

Raza awakes soon after Arvan has left him alone in his room. He can still here the babbling of the gods in his mind. He cannot understand what they are saying no matter how hard he tries. He is frustrated. What is the point of being a godspeaker if you can't understand what the gods say? He climbs shakily to his feet. If he leaves through the bar he will be seen. He opens the window and looks out. It is a twenty foot drop to the ground. Using his monkish powers, Raza drops the distance with no difficulty and heads back across town to the spot where he spoke to the gods. There he sits and tries to sift through the alien thoughts in his head. Then another thought pops in there. He has not gained the attention of gods or elves, but of the Vampire.

"What are you?" the Vampire's voice asks Raza. "What have you done." Raza tries to ignore the voice and continue to make sense of the god's words. "I must know," says the Vampire. "Come to me." Raza stands at the command. He is frustrated, but he dare not use the sword to resist. "Go to Jenkin's Wharf. Take a boat and row into the middle of the bay." Raza follows the directions to the letter, leaving an irate boat owner on the shore. "Now," says the vampire. "Climb into the water and sink to the bottom of the bay." Raza complies.

Alessandre leads Elias through a network of narrow, cobbled streets, over hidden bridges and across concealed courtyards. The homes in this area of Sorgar are evidently expensive and well-cared for. Great-aunt Alamanda is evidently not short of cash. Alessandre seems a little ill at ease during the journey, and when Elias asks what is troubling her, she blushes and smiles slightly. "It's just that I've never brought a man home to meet my aunt before," she explains. Elias makes splutters slightly and looks at the scenery.

Eventually, the pair come to a well-appointed dwelling that stands apart from the terraces with its own small garden. In common with other buildings of Sorgar design the ground floor is made of stone while the upper floors are wooden. Here the wood has been elegantly carved. The entire structure has been painted white, with hanging baskets of flowers giving colour to the scene. Alessandre steps up onto the veranda, that looks out onto the bay, and walks into the house. Elias follows.

As they enter the passage, Elias hears a deep growling sound from within. Suddenly, an interior door bangs open and a massive, gangly-limbed dog bounds awkwardly toward them. The dog stands a hand-shy of Shredder's height, but where Shredder is all muscle and attitude, this animal appears all legs and slobber. It bounds toward Alessandre, crashing into her and bringing her to the floor. It then proceeds to lick her thoroughly about the face, its long tail a blur all the while.

"Bruno! Get off me!" says Alessandre, making no real attempt to fend off the dog. Elias takes his hand from his sword, as he hears another voice. "Alessandre! Alessandre it is you! My girl!" Standing in the doorway is a woman a little shorter than Alessandre. She is dressed in an outfit that is, perhaps, a little too daring for a woman of her age. As to that age, to call the woman well-preserved would not begin to do her justice. If all Alessandre has said about her aunt is true, and she did meet Hieronymous Klazid years ago, she must be older than King Yaddagon by a fair few seasons. Alamanda, as she stands before Elias, appears no more than fifty. Her long hair, once golden, is now white and there are the tell-tale signs of age around her eyes and mouth, but she does not look like a woman in her eighties. However, that is not what Elias notices first about the woman. It is her resemblance to Alessandre that strikes him. He could be looking at the future; seeing Alessandre in her old age.

The bard leaps off the floor and hurtles to her aunt, whom she embraces affectionately. Alamanda mutters something about wondering when she would get a visit, as Alessandre arrived in town yesterday. Then Alamanda notices Elias for the first time. She regards him thoughtfully. Elias feels as though Alamanda can see through his clothes. Only one other person has made him feel like that, and she is also standing before him. "And who is this handsome young man?" Alamanda asks. Alessandre blushes slightly. "This is Elias, Alamanda." The older woman smiles knowingly. "Elias!" she steps forward offering her hand, "Alessandre has told me all about you." Elias feels both gratified and terrified as he takes Alamanda's hand. She then turns and leads the way to the sitting room.

The room is full of cats. "You must excuse them," says Alamanda. "They are a little frightened after the eclipse." – "Have you ever seen such a thing?" asks Elias. Alamanda shakes her head. "Never. I have heard stories, but I suspect the average citizen of Sorgar has not even heard them. If the vampire was not enough to frighten them. Now there is this." Elias picks up a cat so he can sit down, and it nearly claws his eyes out. "We need your help, Alamanda," says Alessandre, coming straight to the point. The bard quickly retells the reason for coming to Sorgar, the mission given to them by the count and their progress (or lack of it so far).

"I see," says Alamanda slowly. "You do lead an exciting life, don't you? I like to think the Vampire of Sorgar does exist. It's such a nice story. The fact that the Watchers have not found him means that he is incredibly powerful or incredibly careful, or both. People believe that he is a good vampire who is looking after them, they point to the fact that he only seems to take convicted criminals or the scum of society. That could be him just being careful, and none of the disappearances over the years has ever been traced to a vampire. This makes me reach the same conclusion that you have. The killer than stalks the city is not the Vampire of Sorgar, just a vampire of Sorgar," she chuckles. "The true vampire would never reveal himself in this fashion. Some people have disappeared over the years only to return very weak and with no memory of where they have been. There are no puncture wounds on the body, but the Vampire is too clever to show himself like that."

Alamanda's voice has the same lyrical, hypnotic quality as Alessandre's. She can spin a good story, and she obviously has a passion for stories about the vampire. She doesn't reveal much more than Raza learned from the Scrivener at Libras, but she tells it much better. The fact that some alleged victims are returned is news however. Elias asks most of the questions, and Alamanda directs her replies to him. Alessandre sits on the floor playing with Bruno. Elias steadfastly does his best to ignore how adorable she looks.

"He needs feeding," Alamanda tells her niece. Alessandre rises and heads off to the kitchen with Bruno lumbering after her. Alamanda lays her chin on her fist and smiles at Elias. It is the same smile that Alessandre uses. Elias feels immediately uncomfortable and threatened. "Alone at last," says the older woman. "Alessandre has told me so much about you, I feel that I know you all ready."

Raza continues to sink until he strikes the bottom of the bay. He sits there for one minute, then two. He is using his sword to resist the need to breathe, but his body still needs oxygen. Suddenly a scaled hand snatches him by the wrist and swims away with Raza in tow. Quickly it swims deep under the water. A volcanic rock appears before them and it dives into a deep cave, carrying Raza behind it. Down and down, through twists and turns until almost ten minutes have passed and Raza is on the verge of death. Suddenly he breaks the surface and lies panting on the floor, breathing in the stale air of the subterranean chamber around him.

Standing above him is the Vampire of Sorgar. The creature that he saw the previous evening on the Isles of the Dead. It looks down upon him. "You are a remarkable human, Yisweran Larrien. Come with me, you have much to reveal." The vampire walks away, unable to resist the summons, Raza stands and staggers along behind through stone tunnels constructed over hundreds of years. Eventually he comes to a balcony that winds around the edge of an extremely large room. He can hear music. In the room more than a hundred figures are dancing very formally two. As soon as the Vampire enters the dancers stop. Many fly up the balcony and congregate around him. With a sinking heart Raza realises that all these creatures are vampires. He knows that he will never leave this place alive. The Vampire raises his hand. "He is not for you. I will bring fresh meat soon."

The crowd of vampires pull back as Raza and their master pass. They soon enter a small room and the vampire commands Raza to sit on the cold floor. "I am your master," says the Vampire, "and you are quite, quite unusual. It was as though you reached up and spoke with the gods themselves." Raza nods. "I am a godspeaker," he explains. "Tell me everything." Raza sits back. "You ask me a question, I'll give you an answer." Such impudence is alien to the Vampire who snarls with rage and comes close to biting Raza's face off. "Tell me!" - Raza shrugs. "Why do you want to know?"

"Berethani taught me curiosity. I have never managed to purge it." Raza is interested. "Who is Berethani?" The Vampire pauses. He is not used to being asked questions. "She was an elf, a wizardess and my companion." – "What happened to her?" – "I killed her." For a moment there is silence. Then the vampire asks his questions again, and this time Raza tells him everything.

Meanwhile, Elias asks Alamanda what she knows about the Order of the Dragon. She calls them a bunch of thugs. Elias should make a point of trying to keep Alessandre safe from them. It is obvious that she doesn't think that contacting them is a good idea. "What do you know about Mínaris?" he asks as a crash comes from the kitchen and Alessandre yells a mumbled apology. Elias retells their encounter with him and she is shocked. "He spoke to my girl? What….. what did he say to her?" Elias casts his mind back. "He said that Alessandre was on the wrong side." – "He didn't threaten her directly." Elias shakes his head, "No. He was more interested in the Chosen."

Alamanda lets out a deep sigh of relief. "You must think me a foolish old woman, Elias. I've always looked on Alessandre as my child. To think of her threatened by such a man." – "What is your relationship with Alessandre?" – "I am her great aunt, Elias. I was sister to her grandmother, Vítaeous rest her soul. And I am Alessandre's only living relative. She was only three seasons old when I took her in. Terrible business, but then you would know all about that."

"No," says Elias. "I don't." – "Alessandre has never told you?" Alamanda seems surprised, and then she shrugs. "A tragic story. No more tragic that a thousand others, I am sure, but made so much more acute by how much we care for Alessandre. Alessandre's mother died when Alessandre was born. She was brought up by her father. The man never got over his wife's death, and he took it out on the child. He used to beat her, you see. Often quite badly." Elias visibly bridles, and Alamanda sees anger flash across his face. "It was a long time ago," she says soothingly. "When I found out what was going on I took Alessandre away. Her father killed himself with drink not long after. I've done my best raising the girl. I don't think I've done too bad a job, do you?"

Elias says that he can see where Alessandre gets it all from, and Alamanda laughs. "Maybe I wasn't the best role-model, but I had passed my fifteenth year by then, I was beginning to slow down." Alamanda sighs and gets misty-eyed. "She was the sweetest and kindest girl you could hope to meet. And she hasn't changed. She would risk anything for those she loves, and she would never turn away if she could help some one. But that's something you do know all about, yes?"

Elias nods, not entirely happy with the turn the conversation has taken. Alamanda beams at him with a strange maternal look. "You don't need to be coy. I've seen the way she looks at you. Alessandre has snared many men's hearts in her life, but her own has always been free. Until now." Elias swallows to discover his throat has run dry." – "You are a very lucky boy," Alamanda continues. "But then, she is a very lucky girl, I think."

Before Elias can reply Alessandre skips back into the room, and Elias self-consciously switches back to asking her questions about the case. Elias is incredibly impressed by her knowledge of Sorgar. There doesn't seem to be anything that goes on in the city without her knowledge. Even the list of suspicious ships that Ravenna retrieved from the harbour master is known to Alamanda. She says that the two crates taken from the paladin's ship contained statues, although she does not know for what purpose. She knows of Talamides and the confiscation of the Genbassi refugees. Elias is disgusted by the treatment, but Alamanda is more philosophical.

"Even in a country ruled by a king as just as Yaddagon there is evil. Just as when Galahyde takes the throne there will still be good. Unless, of course that monster Minaris is allowed to continue pulling the duke's strings. He is evil incarnate and must be opposed. But that is the job of the young," she smiles. "My days of glory are well behind me. I look to you and Alessandre to save the country."

Eventually, it seems the interview is at an end. Elias can think of nothing else to ask Alamanda. Besides, the old woman's words have made him feel uncomfortable, and he wants to be gone. As a parting question he tells her of the interview Ravenna and Nicos had with the Wavemistress of the Coral Palace. When asked if any clerics were missing, she seemed to be hiding something.

"I'm sure that is not the case. The Church of Water can ill afford another scandal." Alamanda's words take a moment to sink in. "Meaning there's been a scandal recently?" Elias asks. Alamanda nods. "Let me see, I write down all the choicest bits of gossip." She takes a battered book from a high shelf and begins to flip through it. The Coral Palace was indeed gripped in scandal about two months ago. A high-ranking cleric called Eckerbar was caught stealing money from the church by the cleric, Matisse. He reported Eckerbar to the Wavemistress, Rosemary Telesko. Eckerbar was stripped him of rank and set him to cleaning out the sewers; he vowed revenge. No-one took that vow seriously until the 37th Lollmeadow when Matisse was found murdered in his rooms in the Coral Palace. Eckerbar was arrested a few days later, but he escaped at the beginning of Midsummer, broke into the Coral Palace and tried to kill Telesko. He almost succeeded, but he was over-powered and carted off to prison a second time. Then on the 10th of Midsummer he vanished from the cells. He has not been heard from since. "Of course," Alamanda continues, "the gossip has died down after all this time, but even so, something of a worry that he is still at large."

Elias begins to put two and two together. This Eckerbar disappears from his cell on the 10th of Midsummer, just two days before the first murder. All the murders seem to be coming closer and closer to the Coral Palace. Alamanda may have given him the information he needs to find the killer and get out of Sorgar. Elias stands and thanks Alamanda for her help. He emphasises what a big help she has been. Alamanda is pleased and tells Elias to call again. "Any friend of Alessandre's is always welcome here." The emphasis she puts on 'friend' shames Elias.

The Vampire of Sorgar listens to what Raza has had to say with rapt attention. When Raza finally stops speaking he has told the Vampire almost everything about his life including the Brotherhood of the Black Rose, the swords given by Narramac and his adventures with the rest of the party. The Vampire stands and begins to pace. It has a dilemma. "If I kill you and make you one of my family you may lose this gift to speak to the gods. I must, therefore keep you alive." Raza says that the Vampire must release him. He has a mission to complete. The Vampire cares nothing for Raza's mission to Hadras or the defeat of Karatath. He knows of the demon and seems to be old enough to remember the war against it. He simply doesn't care if Karatath conquers the world and turns it into a place of darkness.

"Raza's gone," says Arvan to Ravenna. The druid checked Raza's room to see if the monk was resting, but the window was open and there was no sign of Raza. "I'll look for him," says Brack. The dwarf senses that Raza's disappearance has something to do with the Vampire, with his master. Perhaps he will get to meet him. "I'll come with you," say Nicos. Brack agrees unwillingly. The pair depart leaving Arvan and Ravenna alone. Ravenna explains that, after having given it some thought she doesn't know how to trace the Vampire using Raza. They may have to ask for Nicos's help. Arvan says that he's not sure it matters if Raza has gone missing.

As Elias leaves the house he realises that many of the things Alamanda said shamed him. He doesn't know why he didn't tell the old woman that he and Alessandre were not lovers. It would not have taken much. He looks at Alessandre as she walks beside him, ababble with what they can do with the new information. And then he thinks of Drasha. Something snaps inside Elias he puts a hand on the bard's shoulder to stop her.

"Alessandre," he says hurriedly. She can sense that he has something important to say, and the searching look she gives him makes Elias shift uneasy on his feet. "I could not live with myself if I did not tell you this, you may not like what I say but hear it you must." Elias coughs while he summons sufficient courage to continue. "There are three women that I love, each in a unique way. Ravenna is like a younger sister I never knew, impetuous and rash, but still someone I care for deeply. Then there is Drasha, my lady Drasha..." he sighs and shakes his head "... this love is like a delicate rose, I adore it for it has come out of comradeship, respect and knowledge of each other, and I know that as we live together the bond between us with strengthen and grow as one. Yet I am afraid that if I become too demanding or indecisive it will be crushed for it is a delicate bloom."

Then he turns and looks directly at Alessandre. "Then there you are, my Sun. Looking at you my heart blazes with an inferno of emotions, passion, compassion, desire, need, and deepest and most overwhelming of all love. Since the moment I met you I felt my heart was lost to you, that when we were together I could do anything, that I was free, led by my enticing angel. But every time I got near to expressing myself to you, you danced away from me, but I never lost hope. I so long to be with you but I must also look after those I also love, Drasha – otherwise I would not be me. When we were at Umbria I felt my soul was being torn in two but I had to make that decision, please believe me I had to."

Elias takes Alessandre by her hands. "But know that you are and always will be my first truest Love." He lets go of her hands reluctantly. "The others would condemn me for speaking this way but you shouldn't be treated so poorly and made to believe I do not care for you. Ravenna's and Nicos's cruelty is just their way of trying to protect me from the heartbreak that inevitably follows your appearance, do not be angry with them. There you are, my heart laid bare. Now tell me how do you feel?"

Alessandre reaches up and takes Elias by the head, bringing him down into a deep and passionate kiss. Elias is completely overwhelmed as he feels the frustration, the desperation, the need and the love Alessandre has for him. Before he can pull away she releases him and steps back, her face awash with tears. "You made the wrong choice," she says.

Elias tenderly wipes the tears from her eyes whilst a single tear rolls down his cheek. "I once told someone I cared for that I always make the wrong decision, that everything I do for people ends in disappointment. For once I want to be proven wrong." His tears begin to flow more freely. "I love you. I…. LOVE…. you."

Elias sweeps Alessandre up off her feet and kisses her with an intensity and depth of feeling equal to her own earlier embrace. He reluctantly puts her down and controls his emotions. "My life swings from disaster to disaster and you'll prove to be my downfall. I ought to be true to my promise to Drasha and to Umbria... but oh, how your very presence intoxicates me! How could life be so cruel?"

"Life isn't cruel," Alessandre says taking hold of Elias's hands and staring into his eyes. "It isn't kind either. It's what we make it. I don't want to hurt you Elias. I don't want to hurt Drasha, either, but I can't ignore how I feel. I didn't come back for Nicos, or Brack or the others. I didn't come back to help save the world. I came back for you. I love you, Elias. I've loved you since the day we met, I was just too stupid to realise it."

Elias moves to say something, but the bard raises her hand. "Elias. No-one's ever seen me as you do. I'm a good time girl, out for a laugh and a tumble. A Sensationalist that no-one takes seriously. But you took me seriously. You told me I was worth something. No-one's ever told me that before. You bring out the best in me, you make me want to be a better person."

Alessandre collapses into Elias's arms, pressing her cheek tightly against his chest. "When I came back to Uris.... when I found out.... I thought I'd lost you. It was horrible." Elias can feel Alessandre shaking, he does his best to comfort her. Then she asks the question that has been ricocheting around his own mind. "What are we going to do now?"

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