Apostles of Doom

Rede’s story seemed consistent with what he had briefly told them yesterday. If this was a rehearsed story, then it was an extremely detailed story — right down to the symptoms of his mother’s illness, as well as on the nature of raising chickens. There were numerous very domestic details that she would not have expected a normal dhampyr to know.

Dhampyrs were generally groomed by very senior vampires to be their primary assistant. It would seem that they had managed to capture Rede before he’d had significant training. He claimed, apparently truthfully, to have not even met the vampire who had sired him. She found that unusual, or at least, it was not her expectation. To be honest, most of her knowledge of dhampyrs was from the books. This was the most significant interaction she had ever had with one.

“So, Rede,” Teresa continued the conversation she was having. “You’ve stated that you have never met your father.” Rede nodded. “But you do know his name, yes?”

“My mother told me his name. He had given her money to support our family,” Rede said.

“And what is his name?” Teresa asked.

“Czernobog von Smerti,” Rede said softly. He was still very reserved, but he had clearly become more comfortable over the last hour.

“Czernobog von Smerti?” Teresa repeated, startled. It was almost like she could not believe the name she’d heard.

“Do you know of him?” Hilda asked Teresa, who simply nodded.

“I’m told he has some seniority within the Storm Lords’ army,” Rede told them.

“Yes. We have heard of him, so he does have some seniority,” Teresa smiled, lying through her teeth, Hilda noted. Teresa knew exactly who this vampire was and was clearly suppressing her excitement, trying to remain calm. Hilda was fairly certain Rede could not sense her reaction, but as far as Hilda was concerned, the priestess might as well have been jumping up and down.

~

Hilda and Teresa left the dungeon about a half-hour later. Teresa had previously told Hilda that she had hard limits on how long she would interview a prisoner to get the optimal amount of information per session. By Hilda’s estimate, Teresa had pushed her own limit.

Once they were out of the dungeon region, Hilda immediately turned to the priestess.

“Okay, clearly you knew who his sire was,” Hilda said. “Could you perhaps enlighten me? I know nothing of politics.”

Teresa shook her head quickly — not in negation, but more as someone who had a big secret to reveal. “Everyone in the Citadel knows who he is. I find it amazing that Rede doesn’t know. Of course, being from a rural village, he probably wouldn’t.” She shook her head again. “But if you study the Storm Lords, you obviously know who he is,” she said very excitedly.

Hilda nodded and smiled patiently at the priestess’s excitement. “Yes, but I do not. Who is he?”

“He’s the most politically powerful vampire in the world!” Teresa gushed. “His power base is such that he is more an ally of the Storm Lords than a subject. Actually, I suppose you could argue, he is a Storm Lord — except those are all liches. But whatever, he is a very powerful agent of the Unlife! Almost, potentially, a rival power of darkness!”

“Interesting,” Hilda said.

“Amazing, actually. This is a huge prize!” Teresa said. “He is definitely the sort of hostage that we might be able to leverage! Having him wander right into you? Talk about miracles!”

The Inferno: Fourth Period

“Oh, this is going to be so much fun!” Melissance said as she came down the ladder from the main hatch of the Inferno. Samwell was certain that her behind was swaying as it was to tempt the males below her. Although, to be fair, climbing down a rung ladder in high heels could not have been that easy.

“I really cannot stress how much I think this is a bad idea,” Sir Samwell said to Captain Cranshall.

“I have my own misgivings,” the captain replied. “However, Chancellor Alighieri and the ship’s lawyers have spent the last three, nearly four, days, around the clock, hammering out contracts and legal agreements to protect both sides in this endeavor.”

“We are letting a damned soul, who happens to be married to an archdemon, along with her ‘fallen angel’ valet, live in very close quarters with us,” Samwell said. “While I can understand and appreciate a good contract as much as the next Oorstemothian, I really do not see how the Rod and priests are okay with this. It boggles the mind.”

“Well, she was formerly one of them, and they seem to feel some responsibility for her plight,” Cranshall said. “And most importantly, she can help us locate Talarius and the greater demon.”

“Okay, so rescue her, let her help us,” Samwell countered, “even at the risk of angering an archdemon. But why invite an actual demon onboard?”

“Fallen angel,” Chancellor Alighieri said, coming up the hallway behind them and inserting himself into their conversation.