Chapter Six: Hunter Becomes Hunted
At long last, it seems Sara has arrived in the forest. It is as Rinaldo described, blacker than night. A true night, almost, nary even a star in the sky.
She dismounted from her horse only a few acres previous, intent to take in her surroundings, and as she dismounted, a noise cased it to rear back and, seemingly afraid of the very air itself, absconded posthaste. It was then that she knew she drew near.
A strange burst of light appears as she approaches the castle, catching her off her guard, and she cannot find a source for it.
This is the castle of a vampire. He is like to have many…. unexplained magical spells surrounding it.
Sara continues walking on, taking in her strange surroundings, the castle looming in the distance.
Though it may be difficult to recognize to begin with, it becomes plain when one knows the truth of their situation; this is no ordinary forest.
The birds have no song, the crickets no chirp, not even the howling of wolves keeps her company within this wood.
Sara continues on the beaten path, making her way towards the castle, when she sees a small shanty of wood.
Housing? This far into the woods? How very odd.
She readies her bow, and prowls toward this small hovel. There is no way to know what lay inside.
She nudges the door gingerly, hoping it will make no noise—thankfully it does not—and enters.
She makes her way within. It smells of smoke, as though of candles recently extinguished, and it remains dark, slivers of moonlight filtering through only the door, shining upon the inside. Sara slowly adapts to the dark, catching sight of what seems as a counter, behind which are shelves which house many strange trinkets whose shapes she struggles to parse. She makes note of cabinets, further within, which one might keep personal belongings within.
And sees but a single man lying within.
He does not… seem a vampire, though 'tis difficult to tell, specially so at such distance.
Sara stealths closer. It would do her better to know her friends from her enemies… and to know a potential knife in the back before it comes.
She must not maintain her quiet well enough, however, as he appears to bolt upright, his eyes flying open, and he surveys her quickly, tense and anxious to begin, searching her, though for what she knows not.
He calms, breathing out, his posture relaxing itself.
“Do you require help?”
Sara takes a moment’s pause, closely studying her current situation. Her hand remains upon her bow.
“Who… who are you?”
“Rinaldo Gandolfi. And you?”
Sara allows her bow to loosen. “Rinaldo. I am Sara. Sara Trantoul. We have written before.”
“Ah, Sara. If I am to be candid I yet hoped you would not come. But now you are here—“ he slowly rises from his cot, “I have something I must give you.”
“I—‘tis appreciated, truly. What manner of… of gift… is this?”
“One that will help you to survive.” He lights a candle, bringing light to the cabin, and begins searching behind the counter she had noticed.
“I had assumed you lived near the castle when you wrote me, yet not… so close. Are you not in danger, living so close to the castle of a vampire?”
He pauses for a moment, before continuing his shuffling, setting several objects aside aside before reaching for another. “I imagine eternal life is quite… monotonous. I mentioned Walter’s… game, yes? I believe he thinks my helping the various hunters makes this game more… exciting,” he answers her query, following with a small “ah!”
“I… see. That is not entirely encouraging to hear.”
“Nor is it intended to be. Though I should hope to help you. In truth it has been far too long since I happened across one as… spirited… as you.” He approaches her. “Here you are.” He passes her a weapon.
Sara stares at it, grip wrapped in brown fabric, with a crossguard which gives way to metallic chains which shine a brilliant silver, coiling ‘round each other, and ending in a spiked ball of some sort.
“A… whip?”
“‘Tis a whip whose properties have been augmented with alchemy.”
”…Alchemy?” she has heard the term before to be sure, but is unsure of its meaning.
”A natural philosophy which seeks to study the principles of God’s creation of the world. The only person I have been acquainted with to truly understand it, is Lord Mathias Cronqvist.”
“Lord Cronqvist is a dear friend of my betrothed. You know him?”
“I have known him for years, longer than your intended has to be sure.
“The Cronqvist family is in possession of a book of secret arts, arts originally imparted orally. ‘Tis like that even the Baron himself does not know of this; only a few people within this world do.”
“Of course… many would consider the practice of such an art to be heresy. You would not count yourself… one of them?”
Sara senses there to be a deeper question here.
She must ponder this question. Surely there are those within the church which would… discourage… such practices. Still, Leon would be like to trust such an art given Lord Cronqvist’s apparent practice of it.
But Sara is not the church, and Sara is not Leon. So what exactly is it that Sara thinks of such practices?
She will not lie that the idea of an art kept so secret does fill her with trepidation. Yet… she understands having such need for answers. She has, herself, always been curious in nature, how can she condemn others for the same?
“No… no, I think not. I have no reason to quarrel with such practices,” Sara states.
Rinaldo sighs. “In that case, I should be honored to impart upon you this whip.”
“Fascinating. I thank you.”
She focuses upon the whip. It feels… correct. Natural. As though it was always intended to be hers. Never has she found herself to feel so strongly towards such an object.
She fastens it to her belt.
“One more thing, before you are to depart. Come toward me. Bow your head, don the hood of your cloak, and do not move.”
“I—alright.”
She does as told, and feels some sort of strange… feeling surround her. Like a warm quilt surrounding her upon a cold winter’s night—though, with mirth, she supposes that is the purpose of a cloak.
“What have you done?” she questions, curiously.
“A simple enchantment. I mentioned this war council, of a fashion, yes? This enchantment shall hide your presence, and your scent, from the many vampires and creatures of the night that lie within. But keep to mind, this enchantment will only be complete when you don your cloak’s hood.”
“‘Tis appreciated.”
“Afore you depart, you must know… Bernhard’s throne room is locked behind five beasts. I have no guarantee that this is where your Leon is kept, but it is where he keeps all others he takes.”
Sara breathes out deeply. “I see. I will keep this in my mind. And… Rinaldo? I thank you. for everything.”
“Of course.”
———
Sara walks the path to the castle entrance.
“I thank you for waiting, Leon.” She breathes deeply of the night air. “I have come for you.”
The drawbridge has been allowed down, most like for the impending council. Upon entering, she sees three doors. One is to her left, one to her right. There is a third, up atop a small staircase, with five orbs below. Five orbs. Five beasts she must defeat.
As she enters, she sees another. A man.
“Hello? Sir?”
The man turns.
“‘Ello? Who goes there?”
“I am only here to seek after a loved one. I assume that is the reason behind your presence as well?”
“Mind your business. Who the vampire has taken matters none to you.”
“I—suppose not. Still, I have heard tale that the castle is dangerous to traverse alone. Perhaps we ought assist each other in our respective quests?”
The man guffaws. “With you? In none but a wrong-size breastplate, a hunting bow, and a sword much to large for the likes of you? You’d be far more like to stand in my way. I shall take my chances alone.”
Sara huffs. “Very well then! And when we both wind up dead, will your point be proven?”
The man sneers. “Mayhap you will. I’m more like to be celebrated in my resounding success at taking down the horrid monster what lives here. And when they cheer me I’ll not be like to remember you.”
The sheer arrogance! Sara huffs, turns upon her heel, and enters a door upon the left.
She is climbs to the door within the next room, only to find herself within an arena.
Her first fight within.
Two skeletons stand within the room.
They throw their bones, meaning to hit her, as Sara uses the whip, swiftly snapping them to pieces as they soar through the air.
She weaves through their attempts at barrage, slashing and snapping, ‘till finally, she is able to reach the skeletons themselves.
One makes to strike her with the bone it holds, though she dodges, and strikes the skeleton once, twice, thrice, before it falls.
She turns to the other, which trundles backward ever so slight, startled at her dismantling its friend so swiftly, but Sara is faster, rushing toward it. She lashes, landing a blow, before it attempts to strike her with its bone as the last.
However, this skeleton strikes true. This frustrates Sara, and in a rage, she seizes the bone from it.
Sara stares at the bone she’s just acquired, and the skeleton stares at it as well, both in surprise.
But before it has so much as the time to respond, Sara takes her opportunity. She strikes it again, and again with its very own bone, before it, too, is felled.
In truth, it is but two skeletons, not difficult to handle, but she learns the heat of battle is… exhilarating.
Is this why Leon so enjoys his knighthood?
Sara continues on to another room, where she must battle a more difficult enemy, and, though it proves difficult, she is able to best it. She enters the next room…
…only to discover she has but made a large circle, and ultimately gotten nowhere.
Unfortunate.
She leaves the area, entering the entrance foyer again, this time entering the door to her right.
She discovers a blue door, leading to a room in which she can seek rest. She sits for a moment, filling her hand with water, and letting it fall through. She sees, in the center of the room, a molten sphere of quicksilver afront a statue. She approaches, curious, and the sphere approaches her. She reaches out to touch it, and it fills her with energy, almost such that she has taken a long rest and awoke feeling quite refreshed. ‘Tis a lovely area, to be sure, but she cannot allow herself to become distracted.
Still, not a terrible thing to keep at the forefront of her mind.
She leaves the room, making to continue her exploration, and next discovering a room with five floating pedestals.
Five pedestals. Five orbs. Five creatures.
Very well.
She approaches one, and stands upon it.