Priceless allies, priceless gifts (Kalinda)

[Kalinda]

The courtyard was small and surrounded by high walls. Above it was nothing save for rock. It was dark here – or it would have been dark if it weren’t for the fact that vysstichi possessed the gift of darkvision. There were only a few torches for those of the lady’s servants that were human. A bench stood opposite the one door that opened in the courtyard, and in one corner there was the Har’oloth equivalent of a flowerbed, colourful mushrooms surrounded by a low fence of black iron.

“Where did you get that sword?” Vashti wanted to know as Faust showed him his spare weapon. “Is it magical or just a normal sword?” He paused to pull his own blade out of its sheath and presented it to his cousin. Vashti’s blade was elven steel with a black and silver hilt and a single sapphire. It was shorter than Faust’s sword so that the boy would be able to wield it without problems.

“Mother gave it to me”, he said. “It was a gift for my birthday. I called it ‘Moonlight’ in honour of her because moonlight has a lot of meaning in her world. And when I’m like her, the moonlight is going to be all I have.”

The boy suddenly looked a little worried, but not because his mother would kill him when he was an adult as one would have thought. It was something completely different that worried him and embarrassed him.. “Do you think I should have given it a different name?” he wanted to know. “Like Orcslayer or Blooddrinker so that people are more afraid of it? I don’t think anybody’s afraid of the moonlight.”

[Faust D'Rinishad]

“Every sword is magical in the right hands, Vashti” the dark elf answered with a chuckle. Reversing his grip on Blood Winter, he set the tip into the ground and rested his hand atop the weapon’s ruby-bejeweled pommel. In actuality, the sword was arguably the most magically potent possession he carried; however, Faust rarely broadcasted his secrets –even to comrades and friends alike. There was something about the element of the surprise that could not be replaced. Some secrets were better left unknown.

“I’ve had this sword for a long time. It’s probably older than you.” Faust laughed. He had purchased the sword in Vortex many years ago –and ironically from a blacksmith whom his prospective forge was soon to be competing with. In any case, the weapon had been enchanted in Riparia shortly after Faust had defeated Blood Winter, an elemental demon that had plagued the city for an unprecedented amount of time. That particular engagement had left the dark elf more bruises and injuries than he cared to remember.

After learning the reasoning for Vashti’s naming the sword, Faust conceded an approving nod. “Moonlight is a good name, Vashti. Your mother is a strong woman, stronger than me even, and thus your sword bears strength through her.” He chuckled as Vashti contemplated whether or not anyone would be afraid of him later on, or rather, be afraid of his sword. “You could name your sword “dandelion” and it would inspire as much fear as a Cyraxian, but only so long as you wield it properly. As your skill and experience increases, so too will your reputation, and naturally Moonight as well.”

As if to emphasize his point, the dark elf smiled and snatched Blood Winter back into his left hand. “Your reputation grows today…” He said with a grin, implicitly suggesting the commencement of their lighthearted spar. After Vashti prepared himself, the dark elf slowly advanced to indicate his intent. He led with a light jab, lunging with mild speed but enough to force his younger cousin to act quickly.

[Kalinda]

„Older than me?“ The boy’s eyes widened as he looked at the sword again. “Is it older than mother as well? She’s very old. My sword’s very new. Mother had it made for me, so there is no other sword like it in Aelyria. It’s not magical though. Mother thinks I shouldn’t rely too much on the magic inside a sword when I’m fighting because I’d be lost if the magic stopped working.” Vashti clearly didn’t agree with this. He was a child, and he wasn’t always reasonable, and sometimes he just wanted to have a big, bad, powerful magical sword that he could kill his enemies with.

“I think somebody would beat me up if I named my sword ‘dandelion’”, he said, very seriously. “That’s a name for a girl’s sword.” But he seemed to have understood what Faust wanted to say because he nodded. The name wasn’t important, the one who wielded the sword was.

Vashti brought his sword up to meet Faust’s as his cousin attacked. The boy had a much smaller reach, and he wasn’t as strong – although he was probably stronger than most children his age – but he was very fast and had quick reflexes. Moments after his sword had come into contact with Faust’s he countered with a slash from middle left to middle right.

[Faust D'Rinishad]

A wide smile illuminated the dark elf’s face. He had absolutely no idea how old Shivanya Torbryn was, but he imagined that only Toherro himself rivaled her in years. Vampires were generally long-lived creatures when they kept their identities incognito, and the Lady Torbryn had done a fine job at that. “Your mother is absolutely right, Vashti. Those who rely on magic typically find themselves in dangerous positions when that magic is no longer working.” He grinned faintly, having learned that lesson from personal experience. Back when he, Serion, and Duncan had traveled the Cold South, the latter had certainly been at a loss when his powers had not obeyed his commands.

Faust chuckled then, obviously amused by Vashti’s straightforwardness. “Yes, a girl’s name, perhaps, but I guarantee you that no one would make fun of your sword’s name if you could beat them into a pulp.” Grinning, the dark elf bit his lower lip to refrain from laughing further. He enjoyed his younger cousin’s innocence; it reminded him of those days when he had trained under his former master, Jhael.

The Prince’s sword met Vashti’s midway, resulting in a noisy clamor. Observing the boy’s every movement with masked scrutiny, Faust was mildly surprised when Vashti countered with a well-executed slash. Considering that most children Vashti’s age were not even capable of handling a sword, Faust was impressed by his younger cousin’s prowess. Even within the initial seconds of their spar, it was self-evident that Vashti was both a quick learner and a gifted young man.

Deciding to challenge the boy a little bit, Faust back-stepped to evade Vashti's swing and then slipped Blood Winter underneath and behind Vashti’s blade, trailing its trajectory. He connected against it lightly, hoping to increase the momentum of the boy’s swing and send him into a light spin. Momentum was a key component of any fight. Those who controlled it controlled their opponent. Vashti clearly knew the basics. Maybe he was ready for something a little more advanced.

[Kalinda]

„I’ll beat them into a bloody pulp then“, the little boy decided, very seriously and nodded to himself. Most children his age weren’t even capable of handling a sword, but Vashti was not most children. The other children didn’t belong to one of the most powerful families of Har’oloth, and they did not have a vampire for a mother either. Vashti led a very different life from his peers.

He seemed to have a little trouble with Faust’s next attack. He didn’t manage to parry it or move away in time, but he recovered very quickly and was suddenly there again, facing Faust. His sword was aimed a little lower now and would surely disembowel Faust if he didn’t act quickly. While Vashti wasn’t as strong as an adult, he could reach parts of the body that wouldn’t be as easy to reach for somebody twice his size, and he could just duck under an attack – not that he had to do that now!

[Faust D'Rinishad]

The dark elf was enjoying himself immensely. Despite his many students over the years, Faust had never encountered a boy who reminded him of himself as much as Vashti did. Of course, the Vysstichi Lord had begun his training earlier than his younger cousin had, but Shivanya’s son was doing remarkably well. He had a sense of equilibrium that could only be learned through experience, and he seemed athletic enough to keep his balance. These were merely telltale traits of a becoming swordsman, but they could prove incredibly important in any fighter’s life later on.

“You're pretty good, Vashti. Who taught you everything you know?” Faust asked moments later. Blood Winter extended to intercept Vashti’s thrusting sword, and the Prince fluidly twisted its tip around Vashti’s own like a serpent coiling towards the younger boy’s hand. It was a simple disarming technique, one that, Faust hoped, his cousin would perceive in time to counter or to avoid entirely.

[Kalinda]

„One of mother’s friends taught me“, Vashti answered. “Mother has a picture of him in the house. He’s an Esh’lahier. They’ve known each other for centuries, but he’s not like mother. He’s just really, really old. He’s not as good as he used to be, but mother is convinced that he can still beat most people in a fight, most humans and elves at least. I think mother was a little in love with him once.” He didn’t elaborate on it further. Vashti wasn’t comfortable talking about his mother’s love life and the lack thereof. “He’s in Ethgan’tor at the moment. That’s where he lives. I wish I could go with him, but he says they kill vysstichi there, even little vysstichi boys like me.”

Vashti just didn’t understand racism and the reason for it. He’d grown up in a relatively tolerant environment. Vortex accepted almost all races – although light born elves had a few problems. Even Har’oloth was more tolerant than the normal vysstichi city, and Vashti’s mother was a half vysstichi vampire. He didn’t understand why people killed each other because they just happened to be a member of the wrong race, and if he had any say in this matter he’d just tell them all to stop because they were getting on his nerves.

Again Vashti managed to avoid the attack – barely, but that was still more than could be said of about ninety percent of the boys his age – and then he countered. He made a quick feint to the right. Almost immediately he pulled his sword back again and move forward with a thrust and then another attack aimed at wherever Faust’s sword would end up after the parry.

[Faust D'Rinishad]

“Your mother’s friend?” the older dark elf asked with a smile. “He must be good then. Your mother chooses her friends wisely.” Chuckling faintly, Faust observed Vashti’s reluctance to explicate with minor amusement. Knowing Shivanya, she probably safeguarded the most intimate details of her life –even from Vashti. Such information, although innocuous at first glance, could prove deadly in the wrong hands. Despite his intimate association with the woman, Faust was duly aware of her criminal reputation; in fact, it had been this criminal reputation that had drawn him to her in the first place. Naturally, then, it was inferable that Shivanya had powerful enemies as well, enemies that might benefit from learning of her possible weaknesses, or more specifically, people that meant dearly to her.

Faust vaguely remembered a portrait in Shivanya’s mansion displaying the image of an armored Esh’lahier. He had always presumed that figure to be the woman’s distant relative, but perhaps that presumption had just been supplanted. Faust had never taken Shivanya to be the romantic type, but now that he thought about it, he supposed that even vampires had interests akin to mortals.

“Your mother’s friend is right, too. Eth’gantor is no place for a one of our kind,” Faust agreed. Nodding approvingly as Vashti feinted to the right and lunged forward, the Prince’s sword slipped underneath the boy’s, batting it to the left while his own blade redirected ahead to poke towards Vashti’s chest.

“Does this man have a name by any chance? I’m curious if I know him.”

[Kalinda]

„I don’t know his name“, Vashti said with a hint of regret. “Mother always calls him ‘my old friend’ when I’m in his presence, and I call him ‘master’. Mother says he needs to be careful. In Ethgan’tor they execute necromancers and hang their corpses in front of the temple so that everybody can see them – or something like that – and mother doubts that they would give a man that associates with necromancers and vysstichi and vampires much better treatment. I understand it as well, why nobody is allowed to know who exactly he is.”

As he noticed that Faust’s sword was moving towards his chest, the boy’s eyes widened, but again he batted it away. “Do you think I should ask him? Or should I ask mother? I know why the servants and mothers business associates are not allowed to know – not all of them are completely trustworthy – but I would never betray mother. She acts strangely around master sometimes, and when he leaves, she is always very quiet. I think he makes her sad, sometimes. And sometimes she gets mad as well.”

[Faust D'Rinishad]

The dark elf’s silver brows arched slightly –the only indication that he was thoroughly interested in the unknown Esh’lahier’s identity. It was not unnatural for one sword scholar to be curious about another, particularly when the unidentified one was responsible for training the son of one of Vortex’s most dangerous criminals. Faust had, to some extent, systematically eliminated his competition over the years, and those he had not eradicated, he embraced as comrades. Of course any friend of Shivanya’s was basically a friend of his, but that still did not dispel his innate curiosity.

“I would advise against it, my young friend,” Faust said, retracting a parried Blood Winter. “If what you say is true, and I do not doubt that it is, then it would be wise to keep this man’s secret a secret. After all, we wouldn’t want anyone abducting you to learn of this Esh’lahier’s identity, would we?” the dark elf rhetorically asked with a smile. His grin masked his rising intrigue. Shivanya was generally a woman of few emotions. For the Esh’lahier to have the ability to make her both sad and mad spoke vibrantly of his status.

“Does he come around here more often or less now that you’re on your way to being a master swordsman?” Flashing a lighthearted expression, the dark elf stabbed Blood Winter towards the boy’s shoulder and followed with a simple, downwards cut.

[Kalinda]

„Then I will not ask about Master’s name“, Vashti decided. “I do not want to be abducted by anybody – although mother would most likely kill them and free me.” A smile flickered across the boy’s face. His mother was one of the most powerful people in this city, and anybody who tried to mess with her would pay dearly.

She would never allow her only child and heir to come to harm.

“He comes here more often, actually”, he replied. He parried both the stab towards his shoulder as well as the downward cut that followed and quickly drove his sword forward. The attack was both fast and precise so that Faust would find the weapon in his belly if he didn’t react quickly.

“He is here almost every cycle. He is teaching me, and that requires his presence. Do you want to meet him?” Vashti looked at his cousin questioningly. “I’m sure that something could be arranged. He wouldn’t mind meeting a swordsman of your skill.”

[Faust D'Rinishad]

The dark elf chuckled. “You’re right about that. Your mother would never let anything happen to you.” Conceding an affirming nod, the Vysstichi Lord’s eyes glimmered as Vashti’s sword redirected and dove towards his chest. The thrust was fast, faster than most children Vashti’s age were capable of moving, but the young boy was no ordinary child; he had the blood of a vampire coursing through his veins. Indeed, with time and practice, his skills would exceed Faust’s own.

The Prince of Har’oloth snapped Blood Winter downwards, driving the enchanted sword’s hilt against Vashti’s incoming blade. With the twist of his wrist, he locked the weapon against his, meanwhile steering the trajectory of the boy’s sword harmlessly to the side. It was a complicated maneuver, one that few in the world were capable of controlling, but the dark elf had a vast repertory of uncommon tricks.

“Perhaps one brightening, Vashti. This teacher of yours sounds like a fine fellow,” Faust commented. He tightened his grip on Blood Winter, purposely fastening Vashti’s sword in the process. The dark elf was candidly interested in learning how his young cousin intended to disengage himself –if at all.

Either way, there was an important lesson to be learned here.

"So, now that you are learning more and more as the years go by. What do you want to do with all it when you grow up?"

[Kalinda]

Faust’s question what he would do when he grew up distracted Vashti – enough that he didn’t manage to disengage himself. The boy put his sword down. He gnawed on his lower lip a bit as he thought about how he was supposed to answer, and finally he said, “I want to be a swordsman like you when I grow up, Faust. I also want to learn arcana as soon as mother lets me. Practicing with my sword gives me peace. When I fight, I forget everything else. I am also going to die when I grow up. It bothers me sometimes. I’m afraid that it is going to hurt. I know that it is a great honor to receive such a blessing, and I am looking forward to it, but sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a normal life.” The boy sighed. Was it a good idea to talk to Faust about this? Did Faust understand? Could anybody who was not a vampire or about to become one ever understand?

[Faust D'Rinishad]

Faust smiled. “Are you so sure?” He asked. Lowering Blood Winter to the ground, the dark elf regarded his younger cousin with latent empathy. He was touched that Vashti wanted to be like him, but the boy was too young and inexperienced to truly understand that aspiration. It was one thing to practice with a sword; it was another to take a person’s life with a sword. Vashti would discover in time that swordsmanship could not yield peace; it was paradoxical. The two could not coexist. There were many who promulgated peace with a sword, failing to realize that the sword itself negated any prospects of absolute peace.

Such was the way of the world.

As he studied Vashti’s reserved expression, Faust understood what the boy was getting it. He was scared and rightfully so. Death was a nerving outlook for anyone, and Vashti had every reason to be concerned about his future, his eternal future. If there was ever a time for a heartfelt conversation, it was now.

“Your mother is giving you a gift that many in this world would desire,” He explained. “It may hurt or it may not, but you will recognize its value as you get older and continue to grow stronger. And who is to say that you cannot live a normal life? That depends a lot upon how you define that. What is a normal life to you, my young friend?”

[Kalinda]

Vashti didn’t answer. He didn’t know what Faust wanted him to say. He only knew that he enjoyed practicing with his sword, that it made him calm. Was that wrong? He looked at his cousin, thoroughly confused, but instead of trying to answer his question, he just shrugged his shoulders. Of course Vashti didn’t have the experience that Faust had. While he knew how to fight, better than most his age, he had never had to kill.

“I know, and I’m grateful”, he told Faust as the conversation turned to his mother’s gift. He sounded very serious as he said this. “I just wonder if I’m going to miss the sunlight or food. I really like sweets. I tried to drink blood one time, but it didn’t taste particularly good.” He made a face. “In fact it made me sick. Mother really seems to like it though.” He looked confused here. “She told me that vampires can’t digest normal food, that they’ll just throw up. She also told me that she doesn’t really miss eating and drinking, that it’s just a nuisance.”

“I don’t know what a normal life is”, he admitted and sighed. “What you have, maybe. You seem to be pretty happy. Are you still going to like me when I’ve become a vampire, Faust? Do you think my friends still wantt o play with me when I drink their blood?” He looked really worried. In this moment he wasn’t really aware that his becoming a vampire was still decades in the future, and that he probably wouldn’t be interested in playing anymore by then because he’d be an adult.