Ist chewed on his fingernails as he watched Elder Amir grind some paste from an assortment of alchemical ingredients. The fledglings had grown used to the elder's concoctions, but it was clear that Karlo was not looking forward to the bitter taste.
The wizened-looking elder carefully poured a few drops of some foul-smelling liquid into the mix, causing it to spark and hiss.
It glowed with a strange red light and, only when the potion had settled did Elder Amir start filtering it into a little cup.
"You will need to drink it all," Elder Amir said, noting the look of disgust on Karlo's face. "If you do not, it will be likely you will never use your hands again."
"I understand," Karlo sighed. "But isn't there a way to make it tastier? Can't I mix it with some blood at least?"
"Are you stupid?"
"I… I don't think so?"
"Then why are you asking to pollute the ingredients of my fine potion? Have you any idea how much of a miracle this is? And you want to dilute it just so it tastes better?" The elder's words were sharp. "I should speak to Elder Laszlo. Clearly he has hit you on the head too many times."
"Or Vlad did," Ist put in. Then he paled and shot a look to the doorway. "Shit. He didn't hear that, did he? I didn't mean to say it!"
Karlo shot an incredulous glance at his brother. "What are you afraid of that bastard for?"
"Are you joking?" Ist gave him the same look back, leaving Elder Amir with no doubts the two were related. "Look at yourself!"
"I'll be fine…"
"I'm telling you, Karlo. Whatever he wants you to do, you should do it without complaining."
"Hmph." Karlo wanted to slap Ist. How could he suggest such a thing? "Ridiculous. Don't you think so, Elder Amir?"
"Absolutely," the elder said wryly. "As an alchemist, I enjoy testing all my potions on willing guinea pigs. The boy's gentle touch has given me many opportunities to perfect this bone-repairing potion. Feel free to argue with him some more. I do feel my potion for repairing exploded limbs needs some work."
"Exploded… limbs?"
"Hmm?"
"Did you say exploded limbs?"
"Yes," the elder confirmed. "You seem surprised. Are you doubting the boy's dedication to… training his brothers?"
"Training?" He glanced back at Ist. "Exploding limbs?"
Ist shrugged. "If you want to know more about it, talk to Galosh. He's lost three arms and a leg."
Karlo stared.
He couldn't believe it.
The worst he'd ever had in training was a few cuts and bruises. Although, one time his pinky finger had been fractured.
Vlad was exploding limbs?
What kind of horror was this?
Elder Amir patted his shoulder and lifted the cup to his lips. "Forget about it, Knight Karlo. Drink this. You will feel better in a few days."
Ist nodded along to the elder's words in a way that made Karlo's heart go cold.
It was a nod of personal experience.
Just what have we returned to?
Andras moaned, clutching his head. He had a terrible headache.
Elder Andras had given him some rancid potion and sent him away.
Stumbling back to his cell, he wondered just what had happened. He could remember darting out of the shadows and aiming for Vlad's back.
He wasn't meaning to do anything sneaky.
He just wanted to stop the fledgling from brutally beating Karlo.
He could remember getting close.
Then…
Nothing.
Had someone else hit him from behind?
The fledgling, Piers, had claimed it was Vlad who hit him. But that was impossible. He'd have had to be incredibly fast. Faster than Katalin, and that just wasn't possible.
Was it?
He dropped into his coffin, clutching his head. The throbbing wasn't easing despite what Elder Amir had said.
Closing his eyes, Andras committed himself to one of Elder Laszlo's mental training exercises. He focused on his heart. Feeling the blood pumping in waves.
Crimson waves.
Resonating with the constant tidal movement was key to the Crimson Wave Technique. When he felt the cresting wave, he knew his power was at its peak.
When he tuned himself to the rhythm of the waves, he felt unstoppable. It was like the world around him slowed to a crawl. In those moments, fighting was easy.
His master over the Crimson Wave had impressed all the elders.
Only Katalin might be better.
But he'd been training. Working hard.
So why was he laying in his coffin with a pounding head?
What had happened in the Court while he was away?
Groaning again, he clenched his jaw.
Whatever had happened, he would fix it. Even if it meant killing the fledgling called Vlad.
Yes.
He might have to do that.
Not tonight though.
Tomorrow.
He slumped in his coffin, close to weeping in agony.
Yes. Tomorrow.
Or the night after…
Katalin sat on the roof of the Great Hall. Her gaze was on the fledglings below.
She'd been waiting eagerly for Vlad to arrive since her return.
Her hope had been to thrash him until he couldn't move.
And then, when he'd healed, she was going to do it again.
And again.
For at least a month.
The reason why was simple.
She had several places she liked to sit when she wanted to be alone, but by far her favourite was on top of the ruined tower which had been home to her favourite legend of the Court.
It was an unfair coincidence that this fledgling shared the name of her idol.
Vlad's tower had been a place where she could sit and dream of what might have been if the Court hadn't decayed after the days of Vlad and Prince Ferenc. If the Pope and his Church hadn't come to Transylvania, would she be learning the true martial arts of the Black Dragon Court at his feet?
That dream was all that had kept her from leaving the Court and becoming an Unbound vampire. One with no affiliation.
It was a dangerous existence, but she'd always felt more comfortable alone anyway.
She could rely on herself.
On her strength.
That strength was something she'd never doubted before. She knew she could defeat Karlo easily. And Andras wasn't too much challenge, though she was careful not to beat him too fast or he would sulk.
She also suspected she could defeat Elder Miklos.
But, in the last few years, the feel of the mace in her hands had started to feel strange. It had started to feel like a training weapon. One she found harder and harder to respect.
She wanted something else.
Something more tangible.
Watching Tibor ignited something in her. The fledgling stomped down as part of some form he was practicing. When he did, the ground split under his heel and she could feel a slight shudder even from the top of the Great Hall.
Awed by the power of it, her mouth had dropped open.
Was he some kind of martial genius?
Then Vlad had shouted at him. Told him he was doing it wrong.
She'd almost jumped down and scoffed in the bastard's face.
But then Vlad had done it.
And the effect was incredible.
Half the fledglings near him fell on their asses as the strength of his stomp blew a shockwave in all directions. It was a good thing most of the glass in the nearby windows was already broken.
"How…?"
A new feeling began to form in her belly. A feeling of deep desire. Her fingers twitched as she watched Vlad adjust Tibor's grip on the stick in his hand. Tibor seemed to be getting it right, but Vlad swatted Tibor's head and made him shift his thumb more.
He was, Katalin thought, a terrible teacher.
When Elder Laszlo had taught her the mace, he had been firm in his demands. But also calm in his explanations. She always knew why she was supposed to do something in a certain way.
And if she wasn't sure, she could ask questions. As many as she liked.
He might battle his impatience at times, but would always answer.
Vlad didn't seem to like questions at all.
Some questions earned grunts. Others a slap.
Vlad's method was closer to bullying them all until they just automatically did what he told them to.
It was like they weren't being trained to fight but to obey without question.
Her gaze slid to the vacant spot where the tower of his namesake used to sit.
There was, she'd been told, a secret basement lair beneath which held an incredible fortune.
A fortune no one had known until this young fledgling had demanded the others clean up the rubble.
He was a lucky find for the Court, she heard Elder Matyas say in the room directly under her.
Lucky?
"Hmph." It didn't sound like luck to her. It sounded like something else.
But the elders couldn't see too far past their noses, she thought. She would find out Vlad's secret herself.
Her slitted eyes focused on the intense-looking fledgling.
He has nice shoulders.
Then blinked.
Had she really thought that?
Katalin pursed her lips. It didn't matter. He could be as ugly as Karlo's ass, and she would still sleep with Vlad if it meant he would teach her his sword art.