It felt strange leaving the place without having fully resolved the issue personally, but the monks seemed quite capable of solving it for themselves. Stathis carried Semari, Janaxia walking very close by, Hakara and Parth trailing behind. They returned to the chapter house, first dropping Semari off in her room to let her sleep, and then heading to Yeros’ office. She opened the door without knocking.

Yeros was at his desk, holding a pen although without much sign of doing any work. The reason for his lack of activity was obvious – Aimodia was present, the skirt of her servant’s uniform now rather shorter, suspender straps a stark black against her pale white legs, clouds of dust coming up from the books and curios as she attacked them with a duster, bent over more than seemed entirely necessary. Janaxia nodded in approval, as Stathis turned and knocked on the door, loudly enough to pull him out of whatever he was contemplating and drawing Aimodia’s attention. Aimodia looked at them, her earlier timidity seemingly now gone. She walked past them and left, hips rolling, heels on her shoes far too high for someone presumably working all day.

Yeros at least looked slightly guilty, clearing his throat. ‘I have heard that you were successful, so congratulations are in order.’

‘There’s still the vampire lord to deal with. And I’m not going to ask what that just was. I know you need to get the novices more used to women, but if she starts cleaning something high up, I can guess what the reaction will be. Are you even allowed to behave like that?’

He shrugged. ‘You’re not the first to mumble through the oaths. And she is quite well studied, and pleasant company for one in his dotage.’

‘Hey, you don’t need to justify yourself to me! Udaipur’s dead, so he’s not going to be giving you any shit for it either. Try not to bring any more disgrace upon the Order though. And I’m not going to ask where that outfit came from, that doesn’t look like a standard-issue uniform for a cleaner.’

‘Apparently it is the latest fashion, so she says.’

Janaxia nodded enthusiastically. ‘Oh yes, it is all the rage in the eastern courts, very chic and becoming, and she certainly has the form and legs for it.’ She ran a finger along the bookshelf, the tip coming back dusty. ‘Although could perhaps do with some more work on the “cleaning” part of her duties, this is decidedly slovenly work.’

‘Right. Anyway, you’ve probably already heard from somewhere else, but Semari turned out to be semi-divine or something, and Ronteah of the Shining Flash has now been released. You know anything about that?’

‘I had heard she was injured some years ago when fighting a demon and was recuperating, but I suppose that was a cover story. Impressive, to be able to bind a god to mortal flesh, even a weak god such as Ronteah. And Udaipur certainly seemed to hold the law as a concept in high reverence, above any other concerns such as worship of a deity. I can imagine the chain of thought that would lead to such an event.’

Stathis took out the spike and placed it on the table. ‘Another one of these was stuck in him. At least until Semari ripped it out, and then lightning was everywhere and Ronteah was released. Given that this was a few years back, then someone’s been making these things for longer than I thought.’

Yeros carefully touched it, then recoiled. ‘That feels bad. It’s like… pain and hate, made solid.’

‘Yup. I’d guess it was what Udaipur was using to keep the power sealed inside himself without exploding or anything. So the vampires were early converts to wherever these things were coming from? Some ancient evil uncovered about five years ago, and now starting to ramp up? Udaipur could probably be talked into it when Ronteah didn’t live up to his expectations. But the monks are all born and raised here, aren’t they? So how did he get hold of a spike, and where did Semari come from?’ Stathis picked up the spike and handed it over to Janaxia, who took it with a look of distaste.

‘Quite what do you expect me to do with this? At least wash it first, considering where it came from!’

It was already starting to disintegrate, the dirty metal collapsing into dust, the motes getting absorbed into Janaxia. Her tattoo gave a sudden, rapid spin before stopping. Was there another curved line there, or had Stathis just not noticed it before? Janaxia shook her head, last fragments of dust falling to the ground.

‘This really is poor quality workmanship. You would think that greater care would be taken in the construction of such things.’ She pulled out a handkerchief from somewhere, ostentatiously wiping her fingers down, but didn’t show any signs of going evil. Or at least any more evil than normal.

‘So someone made contact with Udaipur and did whatever happened with Ronteah. We’ll have to find out if anything was released or some seal broken or whatever at about that time. The vampire lord said he was descended from Balephrax, so must be pretty old. Yeros, any idea where else he might be hiding?’

‘Sadly, this city doesn’t lack for space. He has likely gone to ground for some time, until he feels the threat has passed. Such creatures do not survive the centuries through a lack of caution, after all.’

Aimodia spoke, bent at the waist as she swept up the remnants of the spike. ‘When I was captured, he made mention of somewhere hidden, within the Gleamstone District. I would surmise that it would be hidden beneath the grand market? There is little else there, at least that a vampire lord would consider appropriate.’ She had retreated to the darkest corner of the room, apparently uncomfortable from speaking out. Although from her outfit, and how Yeros was looking at her, there was something there. It would probably do him good, even if it wasn’t formally allowed, but the novices probably wouldn’t get much learning done.

‘Thanks.’ She glanced at the window – it was already long past mid-day. ‘Dammit, we should deal with this, but Semari’s down, you and Janaxia are going to be tapped out of spells – right, Hakara?’ Hakara nodded. ‘We’ll have to rest up and go looking at first light tomorrow. I don’t want to face him in the night if we can avoid it.’

Parth nodded. ‘Nightwalker, fears the eye of heaven. Fight beneath blessed light.’

‘Yeah, that. Yeros, if you’ve got any leads or anything, that would help. There’s probably going to be a whole mess of politicking going on as well, so you might want to go and be mysteriously vague at people until they agree with you.’

‘I am shocked, shocked that you would imply my behaviour is anything less than entirely correct and guided by the heavens!’ It might have been more convincing if his eyes hadn’t flicked over to Aimodia, clearly liking what he saw as she swept. ‘Yes, that mess will take quite a lot of clearing up. I’m sure there’s something in the prophecies about how lightning will fight lightning, a clash of thunders, a vast storm and so forth.’

‘Had that already!’ Parth shook her head, hard enough to make her necklace click and clack. ‘As is written, ”lighting shall rise, heaven’s spear shall fall, above the bloody beast bound in stone.” The beast was defeated.’

Stathis spoke. ‘See, this is why I don’t trust prophecies. That could refer to this, could refer to last time, could mean something else entirely, or be because the prophet had some dodgy fish and messed-up dreams, or was trying to make some obscure political point that makes no sense to anyone any more. So let’s focus on killing the vampire, right, and worry about whatever prophecy it may or may not have checked off later, right?’

Parth looked genuinely upset, her hands tense. ‘Lighting has fought, the storm was defeated.’

Stathis tried to console her. ‘Well, maybe there was more than one storm, and the seer or prophet couldn’t tell the difference through the drugs or dreams or whatever. Semari will probably be OK now, so it doesn’t really seem worth worrying about. Storms fight, ancient powers, all that stuff is hopefully over now, until the next thing.’

Parth said something incomprehensible, but very harsh sounding, Yeros and Aimodia both looking taken aback. Strange that she seemed to know elven, but she might have picked up some cursewords somewhere. She said something else, this time a series of short words, all dripping with venom.

‘Calm down, there’s nothing we can do about it now.’ The grumbling profanities subsided, although Parth still looked angry and annoyed. ‘I had no idea you took this stuff so seriously. Do you want to talk about it? Or have any idea about what might be happening next, or will that be equally vague?’ Parth’s amber eyes narrowed. ‘What? It’s going to be vague and not very useful. So if you have anything that might be useful, then share, but I’m not holding my breath. I’m going to guess, I don’t know “tainted holiness, besmirched by fallen blood”, that sound about right?’

Parth sighed, but at least she stuck around rather than ghosting through a wall.

‘So anything to offer?’ Parth shook her head. ‘OK. Then we rest first, then go hunting for the vampire.’ Janaxia coughed, looking about to speak, Stathis speaking first. ‘We’re not going for a meal now. I need to get some clothing first, and I can’t use magic to clean up, so need to have a bath and everything first.’

There was a pause before Janaxia nodded. ‘Very well, that seems acceptable. As long as my payment isn’t forgotten.’

‘Uh, thanks. Hakara, prep damage spells, we want to go in hard and not let him rest. Yeros and I can probably hammer him down, but we’ll need to try and keep him locked down so he can’t run away. Parth, Janaxia, you’re going to try and keep him off-balance and disorientated. He can probably see in the darkness well, but if he’s being slammed around with magical blasts and arrows it might stop him doing anything bad. And if Semari’s recovered enough, she’s fast enough to keep up if he tries to flee.’

Janaxia was looking bored at the mention of tactics already. ‘I daresay we will be able to manage. Elder vampires are said to be powerful, but considering the opponents we have fought before, I daresay we have a chance. But I must prepare myself for the trail ahead, and ready my mystic energy.’

‘If you’re tired after all that talking, you can just say so – it must have been draining. Hakara, Parth, either of you need anything?’

Parth shook her head, Hakara speaking. ‘I believe I have everything I need. There should be sufficient time to prepare my magic.’

‘Good. OK everyone – go rest, I need to speak to Master Yeros.’

Janaxia moved close. ‘I do hope you’re not planning anything foolish? While a last stand may have a certain romantic appeal, I am very much attached to being alive.’

‘It’s just a vampire, even if more powerful. No, I’m not going off alone to deal with it, there’s just something I want to talk to him about.’ Janaxia hesitated. ‘It’s not you, don’t worry. Just some battle planning stuff.’

‘Very well.’ She rubbed Stathis’ shoulder. ‘Please don’t do anything foolish. Now, I must go and prepare my most potent magics.’

‘Enjoy your nap, and sleep well.’ Janaxia’s answering look was decidedly cool, but she left, Stathis turning to Yeros. ‘Right. So, got anything useful? There’s got to be something powerful around the place.’

‘Sorry, no. Although I will lend you my aid, which should be sufficient. And that sword of yours is quite potent against the undead. But all the magical equipment has either been lost or is currently is use elsewhere. So we will have to tackle this without any additional gear.’

‘Dammit, that makes things harder. Let’s hope he doesn’t have any spawn or followers with him, he hits bloody hard! All of us together can probably bring him down though. So, what’s going on with your and Aimodia? Are you allowed to do whatever you’re doing?’

‘We’re not doing anything.’ He looked shifty. ‘Yet. She’s been through a lot, so I wanted to let her recover first, but she seems to be a fast mover, and seems rather, ah, keen on pushing affairs forward.’

‘So I see. So, is that all allowed? Or are you just hoping no-one notices?’

‘Mostly the latter, to be honest. It saves a lot of problems if people never notice you skirting around the rules – it’s a lot easier to never have to justify yourself at all, if you can avoid it. And she seems happy enough with it all.’ There were red marks on his neck, little imprints of teeth on flesh.

‘She’s certainly been at you, it looks like. Just go easy, OK? She’s been through a lot, and probably thinks you’re a great hero or something.’

‘I will politely ignore the implications of that statement. But she seems happy enough and has nowhere else to go. If nothing else, having someone to deal with cleaning and so forth is helpful, it’s more trouble than it’s worth to get the novices to do it. And she certainly suits that dress, don’t think I didn’t notice you looking! If the lads can learn to function with her around, then they just might be able to function in the real world without getting eaten.’

‘Sure you’re going to be able to keep up? You’re not getting any younger.’

‘I’m sure if I can’t, she can find someone else that can. I’m old enough to be long past jealousy; as long as she warms my bed at night, where she spends her days is her business. Just like you and that bard girl, you’re not exactly dedicated to each other, are you? Or you and Janaxia – neither of you seem likely to settle down soon.’

‘Yeah, but what happens on the road, stays on the road – I’m not running a chapterhouse, and I don’t pay Brina! And I’m not with Janaxia either. But I guess some company would do you good. So do you think we can take down this vampire?’

He shrugged. ‘Bloodsuckers are tough but go down if you hit them enough. And if you can do that sunlight trick again, they might keep him contained. Just maybe on something with a little more dignity this time? There are limits, Stathis.’

‘It was the only thing I could find! If we go in hard and fast, then hopefully we can bring him down before he turns to mist and runs away. Or if he does, maybe Semari can deal with him.’

He nodded. ‘You seem to have everything planned out. It’s not like you to worry.’

‘It’s not worry, just concern. If that thing gets to Hakara, he’s going to tear her apart. And vampires are fast, so we’ll have to watch out and be careful. But we’ve done everything we can, so I suppose it’s best to rest now.’

‘Yes – “seek sanctuary in the darkest of times, but know that the night shall pass, and the sun shall come”, as the prophecies state.’

‘Let’s not do the whole prophecy thing, OK? Parth’s already upset about it for some reason, and it’s not really doing anything useful, is it? So focus on tactics and what we can actually do, rather some ancient vague mumblings. Save it for someone that believes it.’