Bloodrites [Vampyre Lore Inspired Story]

AREMORTAGNE 

- Moriville Keep - 

Astenne watched the woven knights clad in romantic steel breastplates and gauntlets crawl over the limbs of the bending wyvern. His brown eyes trace the steps on the beast’s spine along its serpentine body towards its flailing head. The grey fire serpent spat flames that were sewn like petals of a flower and given curves like the clouds above. This garden of reds and oranges bloomed all over the bottom of the tapestry. But what his eyes latched to was the image of a woman, dressed in armored plating with long dangled hair of ginger wrestling the wyvern’s neck just below his jaw. It looked as though she was embracing the beast and using words as her method of slaying the beast rather than adopting the failed tactics of the scattered knights. He had always wanted to know the story of this tapestry, his mother, the Countess Isolde, had mentioned that one day the story would be told and that with it she guaranteed a new whole story would follow.  

The thought of his mother made his head droop and his eyes roll towards the arched windows beside him that looked out onto the peaked rooftops of Moriville. Grey clouds drifted above and left the scent of freshly drizzled rain and the salt of the sea in their wake. He had watched the same landscape change in color and weather for the past month. Each day kept in this room, the library turned sleeping chamber. To Astenne it was a cell. He had only heard smatterings of what was going on outside. He knew that there was a great battle raging on in the counties around Moriville. His mother and the Bishop Nikola had ridden out to meet this fight. This fight against “oppressor” as Nikola would proselytize. Astenne didn’t fully understand how the oppression was manifested. But, the people were angered by it and riled up into armed mobility. For an entire season Moriville was the epicenter of rebellion and chaos. Chaos that was indecipherable for Astenne. On one of his spy games he remembered hearing his bodyguard Oudes speak to mother’s retainers of the scourge of the “Imperial chains” and the city of Sanctadad. Astenne new of the city, the seat of the Lord of the Nine Progenitors, the head of the Church. What had they done to oppress Moriville?  

Mother had once spoke lightly, in more cryptic words than usual, about the war. About Nikola’s rebellion. She said it was to free the people, from what he did not know. And now he would never know. He had tried to use the faded stories of the tapestry that spanned across the entire front wall of his chamber as a portal to remove himself from the world but, everything reminded him of his mother. Yesterday, that black day, came the news of the rebellion’s death and that of his mother. Astenne still could not fathom what he felt. Hatred? Sorrow? It was all the same. His mind practice cruel alchemy with his emotions and nothing could supply the antidote. It was since that day he was removed to the upper library of the keep at the center of Moriville by Oudes. Busied by the tormenting memories of his mother he hadn’t even considered what would happen to himself. Perhaps it was too selfish to do so. He had not respite from crying to do so. Only the tapestry relieved and distracted. Astenne used the images to retell the same story over and over. The tale of the wyvern and the lady knight.  

The story was always frozen at its climax, with the lady embracing the beast. Astenne wondered if she ever defeated the fiery oppressor or she too was killed. Stomping foot steps ended his fantastical studies. Astenne rubbed his cheeks removing the residue of tears and pushed himself from the floor to scurry to his bed. He crossed his legs and adjusted his green tunic by his leather belt strap. The footsteps became a roaring cacophony of various gates and strides pounded into audible clues. The noise came closer and closer and then farther and farther. Astenne’s shoulders loosened and he slumped into his palms. The door then suddenly banged twice. Astenne back jolted straight and his voice vanished for a second before he could speak.  

“Yes?” Astenne’s voice broke and then gained volume. “Who is it?”  

“It’s Oudes my lord.” A young man’s voice barked. “My I enter?” 

“Please do!” Astenne’s voice betrayed his state more than he liked. “What is it Oudes! Is there news?” The hopeful heart wanted to ask of his mother but the stark mind restrained Astenne to ask generally.  

Oudes stood in the archway of the door, halted by the image of Astenne and his ill-hidden tears. It was moments like these Oudes wished he could be less of a bodyguard and more of a brother or anything to the lost lord. Astenne watched Oudes close the door in silence, like he did when the news of his mother’s death at the River Isles was brought to him. He wore a red doublet with slashed gaps that revealed a black fabric beneath in slender ribs. A leather strap draped diagonally across his chest to a sabre scabbard slung on his right waist. He sighed as he drew near and removed his brown broad rimmed gloves.  

“No news to tell you my lord.” Oudes said. He couldn’t tell him of the doom that lay outside these walls. But, he would protect him from what they planned.  

“But, I do have something very important to share with you my lord. So as much as it is difficult I need you to be ready to be strong.” He continued.  

“Strong? What is it Oudes!” Astenne became frightened and fevered all at once. “Is something coming?”  

Oudes’ grey eyes widened. And another sigh followed once the shock passed. There was little to hide at this point he thought. But, it would only confuse the boy. His survival now hinged on how he would heed his advice. So to be light was key but firm in instructions. It would be cruel but, necessary. There were plots in motion that no longer he could counter manipulate.  

The rebellion against the church and the Imperial consortium was dead, along with its seven founding members. And the Pauper’s Army left to defend Moriville while the crop of the knightly nobility was squandered by Bishop Nikola now ran rampant like a mob looting and deserting as they the time grew closer to the arrival of the Imperial Army. Their leader Onphroy was busy running witch hunts as an excuse to persecute the nobility left as he haphazardly directed the mob of peasants and farmers. Rumors began to spread, plots to turn over the Lord to the Imperials in leverage to gain pardon or the chance to recant their virtues. So came the end to the Alliance of the Unified Spectre. Rebels of religious freedom, now the very basic of criminals. How would he explain this all to Astenne? It was just all noise at this point. What mattered was he listened and understood what would happen next, what was to be, by the help of the One Spectre, his avenue of escape.  

“Oudes!” Astenne yelled impatiently.  

“Yes.” Oudes had to remove himself from his thoughts. “My Lord. Moriville. Most of Aremortagne will soon be taken by the Imperial Army. They are coming any day now. And when they do. Terrible things will happen.” 

The words made sense to Astenne but, his imagination was what conjured the consequences. The power to speak back retreated from his command and he sat there in silence. Oudes placed both of his hands on Astenne’s shoulders as to dispel his trance.  “My lord. Listen carefully.” Oudes’ said his warning carefully. “I have sent for someone to come and get you.” Astenne’s eyes strained and he glared at Oudes. “Get me? What about the city! And you?” 

“I will be fine and so will Henry. But, you are this place’ Lord know and you must be seen to first do you understand.” Oudes said. Astenne couldn’t process the logic. He wouldn’t abandon his friends. Bad enough he had to flee the city. “We will be fine my lord. I will be fine. Before the city is taken I will go after you do.” Oudes reinforced his promise. “See.” 

Astenne didn’t by it. He watched Oudes’ face. The slightest micro twitch and he would demand the truth. But, Oudes kept his stare. He was always so much better than Henry in keeping a look. Astenne took in a deep breath and as if he was issuing a royal command as to his vassal he attempted to deepen his voice. 

“You had better. Oudes vi Moriville. You had better.” Astenne growled. Oudes cracked a smirk and nodded. “On my honour as a Knight of Moriville. It shall be done.”  

Oudes noticing his work derailed shook his head and tried to finish what he had originally come for. “Now this person who is coming to get you. She and her knights will be coming by the back gate that leads into the forest coast, remember? The one we se when we went hunting with Henry?”  

The lord remembered the gate, it led to a forest. A thin wood but, stretched out over miles across the coast and cliffs of southern Aremortagne. He, along with Oudes and Knight Master Henry, would go on hunts which always doubled as martial lessons. Astenne recalled the time he had killed his first creature. A hare, that had run across his bow. He couldn’t remember how he felt at the time. Astenne always preferred the philosophy lesson, reading about the world, its great thinkers and legendary leaders. All escape for the women in the tapestry for some reason. She was never spoken off. He had angered mother once when his inquiries cut too close to some hidden fact. Astenne shot a short glance at the women in that tapestry. Oudes caught the glance and his face became more stern.  

“Lord Astenne.” Oudes’ voice boomed. Astenne shocked jolted and returned his attention. “This is the most important part. You must make it to that gate. At all costs. With all your power, no matter what.” The terrifying precision of his voice and commands made Astenne’s mind clear of clutter. “And no matter what they may appear as. What they maybe you will go with them. Understood? Understood!?” 

Astenne blinked and muttered back, “Yes, yes. I promise Oudes. I promise on mother’s soul.” He didn’t want to ask about the absurdity in the demand. No matter what they appeared as? What were they monsters? Astenne instead decided to respect the urgency of Oudes’ voice. If he was serious it was for a reason. Oudes’ face loosened and he patted Astenne. “Good. I have to leave for now. But, tonight I will come and get you. And point you too the gate. You know what to do yes.” 

Astenne could feel his emotions swelling again. Something was wrong. This didn’t feel like a temporary separation. He stood up from his bed and stood right close to Oudes. “You will meet me. Yes? You will. I command you!” he shouted. Oudes flared his nostrils and pounded his chest before kneeling. “Yes my lord. As you command. For now, I must leave you.”  

Astenne nodded. “You are dismissed. I shall see you later on sir.” Oudes smiled and rose back up. He said nothing and shut the door softly before passing down the corridor.