By the Grace of Blood, Part VIII

The Nesseri asked her about humans, their nature, their civilizations. The woman told them, but her words were poisoned. Poisoned by loss, by hardship, by pain. She told them of human ingenuity, tainted by greed. She told them of human love, tainted by cruelty. She told of them of human companionship, tainted by war. The Nesseri learned of humans. They learned to fear them. When the humans came one day, they were met with suspicion and anger. The humans reacted in fear of these strange creatures, horrifying to their eyes, and fought them. The war lasted generations. In time, the Nesseri learned to consume human blood and take their from. Not out of reverence, but out of strategy. They disappeared, making it seem as if the humans had wiped them out. They became fractured, hiding in plain sight among human villages and cities. They used their real forms rarely. Their way of life changed, and humans forgot them. Their talents were remembered. From the remnants of their work, human discovered how to create blood magick. A mixing of land and blood. In this discovery, their gods were born.

~

The tables set up throughout the town center were packed with people. Most seemed merry and content. They filled the open space with laughter and chatter. The delight of festival foods felt hollow to Clym. She ate silently. She knew the food was good, it was what she had looked forward to after all, but it brought her no joy.

How in the Sacred House will we compete for a position at a curio shop? Sell the most trinkets? Deliver a product to a customer faster than the other competitor? The rest of town doesn’t know about its other purpose. Does Jera? Why else would she challenge me for it?

The rest of the day offered little comfort. Father and Mother gave her encouragement, told her this was just the next step in obtaining her True Path, and said they would be trusting in the gods for her success. She knew they were sincere. They tried. It did not help.

When the day of feasting concluded, those who had challenged for a stone gathered at the stage again. The rest, who had traded or kept their stones, would have to wait the week out before their position was confirmed. Someone who had challenged the first day might fail and challenge a new position the next day. All challenges had to be completed by the end of the week. Anyone who did not put forth a challenge the first day could not challenge any of the previous days. Often, most young neran did not challenge over two positions. Many families considered it disrespectful to do so, an attempt to avoid the True Path given, an avoiding of fate.

“Challengers. The leading neran of your chosen position will lay out the terms for your competition. The type of competition will determine how the winner is decided. Some may be based on town votes, while others may be based on pace or quantity. The winner will keep the stone if they were challenged, or exchange stones if they were the challenger. The winner and loser may choose to challenge again, but not in the same position. If someone declines a challenge, they must exchange stones with the challenger, as refusal equates loss. Now, let us begin,” Lord Dallifred said.

Several neran of various crafts stepped forward and announced the competition taking place for their craft. The townspeople clapped after each competition was announced. Families yelled in support of their eighteen year olds. Halma stepped forward.

“Challengers for the position of apprentice at my shop must travel to the next closest town, Aredvale, and retrieve an item that seems significant or unique to the town. When they return, I will judge them based on their speed and chosen item. Because research, exploration, and travel are part of this challenge, challengers will have the enter challenge cycle to complete the task, and therefore will not be able to challenge anything else,” Halma said.

Many townspeople gasped or murmured to each other in surprise. A competition this long was unusual. Not being able to challenge again was unusual. No one protested. They were too curious. Too invested in a competition from a curio shop woman. A strangeness already hung in the air this festival, what would a little more oddity do?

Clym’s heart was beating fast. Excitement shoved her nervousness aside. Another town? Finally. And I have to explore it to better understand what is unique to it. This is incredible. I just have to keep an eye out for Jera. If she knows, she might not hesitate to use blood magick against me, or to win. That’s if she has blood magick at all. I’ll beat her. I have to. This will change everything.

Jera stood beside her. She was taller than Clym by a few inches. She was resolute. There was no hint of nervousness in her posture, nor any excitement in her face.. Her smile was deadly, her eyes piercing. She seemed hungry, ravenous, starving. She was the predator, the challenge her prey. Clym was nothing but a snack.

“I will bring these two to the edge of town to start the challenge after they have prepared their supplies,” Halma said. She looked at the young neran. “Two hours, meet me at the west gate,” she said. Soon after the crowd dispersed, heading to smaller gathering or activities within town. Most of the challenges would begin tomorrow. Jera left to prepare. Clym turned to find her Mother and Father.

“Neran Andros,” Halma said. Clym turned around.

“I thought we weren’t to use such formal speech?” Clym said.

“While we are under such scrutiny from the town, it may be wise to appear more professional,” Halma said. She lowered her voice. “We wouldn’t want them to think I’m giving you an unfair advantage even if I am,” she said. Clym cocked her head.

“You are?” Clym said.

“Yes. That girl knows who I am, what I intend for you to be. She wishes to steal that spot, learn from me, force me to teach her what she wants to know. To what ends, I cannot say. This is what your real challenge will be. Learn who she really is. What she wants, who she works for. She might be connected to the events of late, but we have to be sure. I will supply you with a kit of potions that can aid in your discovery. You must careful, I would not be surprised if she has access to blood magick as well. Meet me after you gather your things and speak with your family. I’ll get things ready,” Halma said.

Clym nodded. “Thank you for your encouragement, neran Halma,” she said.

“Be well, neran Andros,” Halma said.

Clym walked home with Mother and Father. They did not speak. They entered the door, lit an oil lamp, and sat at the table. Mother and Father exchanged a glance.

“It is time, Daughter,” they said together.

“Don’t you think it can wait till after the challenge?” Clym said.

“We do not. We know the risks you will soon be taking. We found the potions you kept under your bed the night you were out. We stumbled on them while frantically searching for you as chaos erupted. You did not bring it up in our discussion, and kept them hidden while the town went into lockdown. We did not feel the need to press. We just had to make sure you knew what you were getting into,” Father said.

“You may face danger you have never seen before. You may be involved in things outside your understanding, and outside our grasp to defend you. I know it it early, daughter. I know it will be different. Things change, as they must, and this is just another of those changes,” Mother said.

Clym looked down. Tears pooled at the edges of her eyes. She wiped them away. More streamed down her face. She looked up. “I love you. I love you both so very much,” she said.

“We love you daughter,” they said. “We always will.”

~

“It is time. Bring Callifen and Kelbys to the meeting room. We will conduct our final investigation there,” Lady Blyme said.

“Of course Lady Blyme,” Guard Master Pollway said. He walked to the stairs and descended to the cells.

“I will retrieve the necessary materials,” Lord Dallifred said.

The Guard Master unlocked the cell door. Lindel looked at the man.

“What do they mean to do? Torture me with blood magick? They will receive no new answers from me. I have spoken only truth,” Lindel said.

“You shall soon find out, Callifen. Hold on to your precious pride for what little time you have left. We shall soon determine the truth. Now get up. Don’t make me drag you,” Pollway said.

Lindel did as asked. The Guard Master escorted him to the meeting room and sat him down with his arms bound. He left and then returned shortly with Kelbys, who had been provided a room to stay in while waiting for questioning. A guarded room, but still not a cell.

The man looked at the room with an arched eyebrow.

“My Lady and Lord, what have you gathered me for? Have you finally proven this man to be the conniving creature he is?” Kelbys said.

“Not quite. He has provided a testimony that, while preposterous at first glance, may have some room for validity. To make sure we have total proof, we will be conducting a test using blood magick. Please be seated,” Lady Blyme said.

Kelbys furrowed his eyebrows at this but sat. He crossed his legs and placed his chin in his palm. He looked ponderous.

Lord Dallifred pulled out a potion from a box he carried. It was green. “This potion is an ether magick used to project the memories of its consumer as images that others can see. While a rather specific subclass of magick, and costly at that, this is a perfect situation to have it for. We had this sent in from the city of Merin, they have a potion-master that works out in the open there. Rather unlike whoever one of you got your blood magick from, I imagine,” he said.

Kelbys frowned. Lindel smiled. This is exactly what I needed. I’ll be able to prove my innocence. This bastard won’t be able to pin his plot on me anymore. I can’t help feeling there is more to his plans. Who does he work for? What does he want? Hopefully they will be able to get answers from him.

“Callifen, you will go first. Drink the potion,” Lady Blyme said. She took the potion from Lord Dallifred and walked it over to Lindel and placed it in his hands. Lindel gulped the potion down. His eyes flashed green. The warmth spread through him quickly. It burned hotter than the transformation potions had. It burned hotter still. His insides felt as if they were on fire.

“Gaah! Something, something is wrong,” Lindel said. He fell forward out of his chair and slumped to the ground. The empty potion bottle hit the stone floor, shattering.

“Unfortunate. It appears your blood is incompatible with ether potions. This will make the investigation harder,” Lord Dallifred said.

“Wait, my Lady and Lord!” Kelbys said. He stood up. “What if this is merely a ploy? A way to get out of sharing his memories?”

Lord Dallifred grimaced. “He has a point. Callifen, it will hurt, but you must try to force the magick to work. Guard Master, help him up,” he said.

Pollway lifted Lindel from the ground and propped him against the wall. Lindel did not struggle. He clenched his teeth and focused. The air shimmered in front of him. An image began flickering in and out. An image of the town at night from the vantage of the treasury roof. Lindel pushed against the pain surging through him. He forced the memory forward. Dallifred, Blyme, and Pollway watched intently. Kelbys reached down into his boot. The memory showed Lindel’s point of view, watching a man move towards the alehouse, following the man inside, and then Lindel collapsed. Dallifred and Blyme looked at each other. Pollway checked Lindel.

“Alive. He seems to be unconscious,” Pollway said.

“It appears the strain was too much. Kelbys, you will have to provide the missing pieces,” Lord Dallifred said. He turned to see the man holding a vial of black liquid. Kelbys ingested the black liquid.

“What was that? What are you doing?” Lady Blyme demanded.

“Guard Master Pollway, draw your sword. Do not let him do anything to jeopardize our investigation. Kelbys, we will force you drink the potion if necessary, don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be,” Lord Dallifed said.

“Kelbys is not my true name. It never was. You are not deserving of my true name. You are deserving of nothing. Humans will learn what it means to be erased from the annals of history. To be unimportant. To be forgotten. You will be nothing,” the man said.

Pollway drew his sword.

“Humans? And what do you claim to be? A mad fool?” Lady Blyme said.

Not-Kelbys smiled. He smiled a smile of sharp dagger white teeth.

“Is this some kind of transformation magick? Why change your teeth?” Lord Dallifred said.

Not-Kelbys walked forward. Pollway maneuvered in front of him. He held his sword out, point towards Not-Kelbys. Not-Kelbys withered. His frame became thin and his skin pulled tight. His nose collapsed into his head and his hands thinned out into long talons. He stared at them with black eyes. Lord Dallifred and Lady Blyme stumbled back, mouths agape. Pollway’s eyes widened, but he did not move. A black tongue snaked out of the creature’s mouth and tasted the air.

“Delicious. The chaos to follow will make this town ripe for takeover. All will belong to the Queen and King. All will belong to the Nesseri,” the creature said. It’s voice was gravelly and deep.

“The Nesseri? They are but legends, foul creatures that killed and became what they ate!” Lord Dallifred said.

“I am no legend,” the creature said.

“No, you are a demon,” Lady Blyme said.

“None more than you, human,” the creature said. It raised a taloned hand towards them. Pollway thrust his sword forward. The creature remained still and the sword plunged into its chest. The creature grabbed Pollway’s sword arm and pulled him closer. The sword’s blade burst out the other side of the creature, and its hilt pushed all the way up to the creature’s chest. The creature sheared off Pollway’s sword hand with its talons. Pollway stared at the stump where his hand had been and screamed. The creature sprung forward and slashed the man’s neck. The screaming stopped. Lord Dallifred and Lady Blyme were pale.

“Oh sacred keepers, holy blood and divine givers, Sanguinate on high, protect us from the evil that stirs around us, aid us in our battle, grant us your power,” Lady Blyme said.

A talon pierced her heart and she dropped.

“Your gods care only for blood, for in blood they are born. Ironic, that I am the one sating them, even as I hate them, and kill their subjects,” the creature said.

Lord Dallifred growled and rushed at the creature. The creature dodged the man and then stuck a foot out. Dallifred tripped and crashed to the ground. The creature stood over him and swung its talons at his back. Dallifred’s spine gave. He could not move.

“I prefer to take my meals alive. It’s jus tone of those habits I’ve picked up over the years.” the creature said. The creature leaned down and unhinged its mouth. Rows and rows of teeth stuck out. The creature sunk its maw into Lord Dallifred and drained him of his blood. Every last drop. “I am called Dreeslaw. You may know my name, now that you are a part of me,” Dreeslaw said. After thirty seconds passed, Dreeslaw began to change, reforming human features, weight, and skin tone. He looked exactly like Lord Dallifred. The main difference was the sword rammed through his chest. The creature-lord pulled the sword from his chest used it to cut Lindel’s bindings. Then he laid the sword in one of Lindel’s hands. He grabbed another vial from his boot and drank it. His eyes flashed blue. The wound in his chest closed and reknit itself into unblemished flesh. He took out one last vial and drank it. His eyes flashed red. He transformed the body of Lord Dallifred into that of Kelbys. Kelbys had been a helpful disguise, and he could be used as a tool this one last time. Dreeslaw/lord changed clothes with the dead Dallifred and walked into the hall. He began screaming. Guards rushed to him from other places in the manor.

“Did you not hear the screams earlier? Where have you been?” Dreeslaw said in Dallifred’s voice.

“Sorry Lord, Lady Blyme told us to ignore any screaming, in case the investigation took a turn for the worse,” one of the guards said.

“Well it has. The man Kelbys, Guard Master Pollway, and, and, and…by the gods she, she’s dead. Lady Blyme is dead. That man, Callifen, he killed them all,” the creature-lord said. He looked at the guards and then fell to his knees. The guards looked at each other and then rushed into the room. They gasped. Blood was everywhere. Lindel stirred. They stared at him as he lifted his head and looked around. His eyes widened. He got to his feet. The soldiers drew their swords.

“Not again, no, no no. This can’t be happening. This wasn’t me! This wasn’t me!” Lindel said. He screamed. The guards did not move. Lindel looked at the sword in his hand, covered in blood. He raised it.

“Not again, I won’t pay for someone else’s mistakes. You won’t make me,” he said.

Outside the room, the creature-lord smiled.