Kameron Franklin: Maiden of Pain

To make things worse, with the removal of the Mage Society, Saestra's father, Jaerios, no longer ordered witch hunts within the walls of Luthcheq, effectively eliminating the story she used to cover up her nightly forages. She desperately needed to find a new means of discarding the bodies and misdirecting any inquiries made about their disappearances.

The creaking of old wood brought Saestra's attention back to her room. Against the left wall stood two matching sarcophagi of darkly stained wood. Stylized images of a Mulhorandi pharaoh and queen were carved into the covers of each. Saestra had imported them a while ago to decorate her apartments, though the pharaoh's sarcophagus had been in storage until recently.

Its cover now swung open, revealing the body of Naeros Karanok in a stately repose. Saestra smiled, her tongue playing over her fangs.

"I wondered when you were going to wake up."

Naeros's eyes fluttered open, and he glided forward, the cover of the sarcophagus closing behind him. Slowly his feet settled to the stone floor, and his arms unfolded. "Good evening, Mistress," he said, turning to look at Saestra. "What is your will?"

"Yes, yes." She stood up and wandered over to the balcony. The nights were still quite chilly, but Saestra was unaffected by such things. She glanced wistfully out across the stair-step skyline of the city.

"Do you think we should leave, dear brother?"

"Why would we have to leave?"

"Because things are becoming too risky to remain here for much longer. With each feeding, we move closer to discovery."

"Who cares?" Naeros snarled. "They cannot hurt us. We should just kill them all."

Saestra frowned. She thought turning Naeros into a spawn would be a wickedly cruel revenge at first, but he was just as much a bore undead as he had been while alive. Violence was always his answer, without any consideration of the consequences. She wished now that she had just killed him along with his thugs.

"And what about Father? Should we welcome him into our new family, or just kill him with the rest." Saestra didn't bother to keep the irritation and sarcasm from her voice, though it was wasted on Naeros anyway. She did not wait for his answer. "Never mind. I'll think of something." She walked back into the room and came over to Naeros.

"I bet you're hungry after sleeping for so long." She petted his head as she would a lost puppy. He nodded eagerly, a wide grin revealing his own set of fangs.

"Why don't we go find something to eat then, hmm?"

Iuna, Kestus, Kohtakah, Muctos, and Ythnel all sat around the table in the dining room of the Flaming Griffon. War was the topic of most hushed conversations amongst the inn's patrons; the city buzzed with preparations. Even without an official declaration, the signs were impossible to miss. Mordulkin was moving against Luthcheq.

The companions were making an effort not to talk about it. Everyone buried themselves in their meals, avoiding eye contact as they ate, struggling for something to say that had no connection to war during the awkward moments when everyone looked up at once.

"The leg looks nice," Ythnel said to Kohtakah after finishing her bowl of five-bean soup.

Kohtakah looked up, realizing she was speaking to him. "Yes. Thank you. Lord Jedea put up the coin for one of the local temples to regenerate it. In return, I agreed to join.. the army…" His voice faded as he realized he had spoken about the taboo subject. They all sat in relative silence for a while, their attention back on what was left of their meals.

"How are things over at the academy?" Kestus asked Muctos a few minutes later. Muctos had been appointed as an adjunct to the Jedea Academy while Kestus and Ythnel had been away.

"Oh, I'm really enjoying the work. I find teaching to be very fulfilling. My only complaint is the increase in class sizes due to how many professors.. have enlisted…" Muctos smiled apologetically.

"Why are you all so afraid to talk about the war?" Iuna blurted out. The four companions looked at each other and at Iuna, shocked by the question. Then they burst out laughing.

"Because some people think that if they don't talk about something, it's not really happening," Ythnel said, smiling fondly at the girl.

"That's stupid," Iuna replied.

"Yes, it is." Ythnel drew in a deep breath and met Kestus's gaze. "So when are you leaving?"

"Not for a few more days. The vanguard is already on the move, but there is still some planning to do before the main force marches. In fact, I have another intelligence meeting to attend in a couple of hours." Kestus had been asked by King Hercubes to help lead part of the assault against Luthcheq because of his intimate knowledge of the city. "What about you?"

Ythnel drained her ale tankard and sat back in her seat, a warm feeling of satisfaction washing over her. It was good to be among people who accepted her again, people who she could call friends. That she would be leaving them behind was painful, but Loviatar taught that life was full of pain and only the weak tried to avoid it.

"There is a ship leaving for Bezantur on the morrow. I've purchased passage for Iuna and myself aboard it. This will be our last night in Mordulkin." The others nodded, and a comfortable silence settled over the group. A serving girl came by, and they ordered another round of drinks.

They spent the rest of their time together reminiscing over their tankards. Finally Kestus stood up from the table and shook hands with Kohtakah and Muctos, saying he would see them in a day or so. When he turned to Ythnel, he paused. She could see the question in his eyes. It was the same question that had been growing in her heart since their return from Luthcheq, but she had no answer. Their paths were diverging, and the charge Ythnel had been given over Iuna was not something she would lay down for anyone.

"May Loviatar bless your endeavors," she whispered in Kestus's ear as they embraced warmly. Muctos cleared his throat and the two pulled apart.

"Good night, everyone." Kestus nodded and smiled then left.

"We should be going, too," Muctos said, standing. "Take care of this one," he said to Iuna while motioning to Ythnel. "She needs a lot of looking after."

He winked at her, and she smiled back. Kohtakah said his good-byes, and the two men left. Ythnel stared at the entrance of the Flaming Griffon for a few moments after they disappeared. She sat back down in her chair and gazed at the empty seats around the table. It was hard to believe this was it. Tomorrow they would be leaving. Tomorrow they would be returning home. Ythnel couldn't wait to see the faces of her sisters, to be back in the halls of the manor once more. She hoped Iuna felt as excited as she did.

"Well, I guess that leaves just us," Ythnel said, looking over at her young ward. "Why don't we head upstairs and get ready for bed. We have an early rise in the morning."

"Yes, Mistress Ythnel."