The warrior threw off his ebony helm and revealed a care-worn face, rugged and handsome. "I am Lord Tenet. . A vampire attacked us. . Our horses went wild with panic. They threw us. . "He gasped in exhaustion. "I fought the creature, but it seized my sister, Lady Larom. . Help her, please!"
"Rest easy, young warrior. I'll do what I can, with my god's help. Did you kill the vampire? "
"No, damn me for a weak fool. My sword cut deeply into it, but the monster turned into mist and floated away, leaving me to tend my sister. Cease this questioning! Can you help her, or must I…" He was too weak to continue.
Lifting Lady Larom up as if she were a weightless child, Friar Whelm placed her on the snowy marble altar. The white of the stone matched the ashen color of her flesh.
"Pray for her, my people," Friar Whelm asked as he examined the huge bruises on her arms and face. He noticed several hidden pockets in her crimson gown, holding what he took to be mage's spell components.
Lord Tenet needed help to rise and come to the side of his sister. "She's only seventeen. If anything happens to her, I don't know what it will do to me."
"I feel the same way about my flock. Don't worry, I can take care of most of her wounds. Lady Larom — is that her name? "
"Yes, that's right. Her friends and I call her Lar."
The friar closed his eyes and stroked his hands over the unconscious woman's tangled hair. Her pallid expression marked her blood loss as did the fang marks in her neck. Even near death, her beauty showed through. There was an energy and power in this woman that the friar very much appreciated.
Several of the more helpful parishioners gathered behind the warrior at the altar. They noted the woman's pallid skin and wan movements. Her eyes opened, but there was no intelligence behind them. "Grave's work for sure," some of the watchers whispered. Most of the congregation held little hope for her survival. Looking at the brother, some of the parishioners backed away at the thought of having to tell him about his sister: it was common to stake the heart and take the head of someone bitten by Crave.
A smile filled Whelm's face as he chanted words of hope and love. His hands moved deftly and swiftly, circling over the still form of the woman. A chalky mist spewed from his palms and drifted over the bruised flesh. Frosty blasts of air hit everyone in the congregation.
Truly their friar worked a miracle this day.
In seconds the woman was lightly covered in snow.
"What insanity is this?" Lord Tenet reached for his weapon, but didn't have the strength to draw the blade. "Stop him, someone stop. . "The warrior fainted. He'd done too much that day, already, and his body collapsed into blessed unconsciousness.
Friar Whelm stopped his hand motions and lightly blew the snow from Lady Larom's body. The flakes of frigid whiteness wafted throughout the temple and melted as they touched the worshipers. Each one singled out by these cold flakes sighed in wonder, touched in a mystical way by the icy flakes.
Most of the snow, however, fell on the warrior. His bruises and fatigue melted away with the flakes. Where wounds were, now only chalky, undefiled skin remained on brother and sister.
The healing took a toll on the friar. He looked visibly older. One of the congregation moved to steady the friar, but was waved off.
Reaching down, the friar helped Lady Larom rise from the altar. She shook her lovely head, and a cascade of raven-black hair moved in a tumble down her shoulders to her supple waist. Life and intelligence clearly returned to her.
"Where am I?"
"You're in a house of hope and light!" Friar Whelm said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Hope and light!" The congregation chanted back, all with mindless smiles on their faces. Miracles! They'd seen wonders to tell their grandchildren. Truly wondrous occurrences filled their hearts with joy.
Lord Tenet woke, surprise filling his face. A born warrior, he knew how long it should have taken to recover from the exhaustion of the vampire battle. Stretching his whole body, he found himself free of pain and full of vigor. In the past, he'd never had much use for friars and their talk of peace and brotherhood, but this cleric had saved his sister and healed him.
"Brothers and sisters, let us welcome Lord Tenet and his sister, Lady Larom."
Awe and respect filled Lady Larom's face. "I've never met anyone like you. What did you say your order was? "
"I serve hope, the light of truth. If you will permit me, we can talk of the faith in the weeks ahead as you rest and recover."
"Rest!" interrupted Lord Tenet. "That's just what we can't do. We're going to ride out of this valley while there's daylight!"
"You will be attacked by minions of the vampire in countless numbers, numbers even too great for your magical blade and battle skills."
"Then I'll lead you and some of these other men to kill the creature," Lord Tenet said. "I've killed vampires before. We must go, now!"
Many in the congregation shook their heads. They knew what the knight was feeling.
"My order and my people are of a peaceful nature.
None of us can stand against the might of the undead Crave. With faith in the light and enough hope in your heart, the monster won't come and attack you again. Won't you believe, Sister?" The friar took Lady Larom's hands in his and smiled down at her.
A shining glow of faith filled her pale face as she turned toward her brother. "Tenet, I feel so weak. I can't help you with my magic. Won't you wait until I'm stronger?"
"I've weakened the creature. I know it. Now is the time to strike. Won't anyone help me?"
Everyone's head bent down. No one could look into the bold eyes of this powerful man.
"My congregation, be not ashamed that you don't go with this man. None of us are warriors, but all of us do what we can for our families and city. Lord Tenet, if you must go — and I recommend against it — you'll find the creature in the cemetery north of the walls. Crave is guarded by minions who don't fear the light, and by cunning traps. It will know of your coming and will be prepared. May hope and light go with you, my son."
"Hope and light," The congregation intoned without conviction.
Lady Larom turned, trying to leave with her brother, but the good friar held her back. "You can't go with him. I have restored his strength, but you are still weak."
One hand went to her brow, and a rush of fever overtook her.
"I, I do feel faint. Please, where can I lie down? I need to rest."
The friar took her into his study, and the congregation let itself out. Lord Tenet stood for a moment, worried about his sister. He couldn't think of a safer place for her than behind the walls of a temple. Holy ground was usually safe from most foul creatures, and especially the undead. Grasping the hilt of his sword with grim determination, the warrior went to kill the foul beast that dared to harm his sister. Looking at the sky overhead, he saw the sun come out of a light scattering of clouds and took it as a good omen.
Lord Tenet easily found the tumble of toppled gravestones that marked the cemetery beyond the walls. Warrior's senses, sharpened from hundreds of battles, searched the area for traps and enemies. Several large mausoleums dotted the fenced area, but a large one in the center caught and held Tenet's attention.
"Why is it always the center one?"
As he had expected, skeletons, zombies, and ghouls leapt out at him as he approached the vampire's lair, but his sword of magical flame made short work of these lesser foes. Holding his flaming blade aloft, he charged the crypt door with quick steps and an armored shoulder. The ancient wood gave way with a splintering crack, and he was inside.
"Crave! I've come to kill you!"
The light of day and the fire of his sword revealed a huge stone sarcophagus in the room beyond, and on the far side of the room, a set of stairs spiraling down into the depths. There was no doubt where those stairs led, but a sound of crying came from beside the stone coffin, in this very room.