After everyone had a good laugh at Deacon’s expense, they continued on with the matter at hand. Deacon and Ralph explaining how the arena was run by an announcer who Deacon later found out was named Rolento Taurant. This caused a stir within the three guild masters. They then explained that the monster incident reported the other day was sent by House Taurant.

“That makes tonight’s dinner very strange.” Said Verus.

“Agreed. Taurant is supposed to be here. Must be in the other waiting room with the rest of the lords.” Nodded Mr. Clean.

“If that’s true, it’s like Christmas, my birthday, and a new bike all rolled into one. I’m gonna kick his ass!” Deacon shouted.

“You’ll do no such thing. You are going by the word of man you captured during a fight. You don’t know for sure it was him.” Jacob chided.

“I’ll know as soon as I hear his voice. Then its on!” Deacon said standing up.

“Just calm down lad, you’re not alone. If it’s true, we’ll help you bring him to justice. No need to start a fight in Armand’s home.” Typhus said trying to calm Deacon down. Just then the door opened to reveal a smiling Armand Desentes come strolling into the siting room. This was the first time Deacon had seen Armand cleaned up and without his armor.

“Welcome guests, dinner is about to be served. We are glad you were able to attend.” Armand said with a big smile.

“What’s with the theatrics? When are you going to tell us what’s really going on?” Typhus asked people began filing out of the room toward the dinning hall. Armand pulled typhus to the side and waived Elle and Deacon over.

“Look its bad. The invasion is going to start soon, and reinforcements won’t make it in time. My father is going to try and convince the guilds to lend support instead of forcing their hands with old kingdom contracts. Just try and keep your heads down. As a Cardinal Unit the three of us are expected to participate regardless. No offense Deacon.” Armand quickly explained with a plastered smile on his face.

“That sounds bad. Do you know if Rolento Taurant is here?” Deacon asked before getting slapped on the shoulder by Elle.

“He’s late, why?” Armand asked.

“Never mind him, have we sent word to the Kakiat Forest? Storm Riders may get here faster.” Elle asked.

“We’ve heard nothing from them. I’m sorry Elle. Now take your seats and just listen.” Armand urged.

Just then Eobard Desentes walked into the common hallway. He got one glimpse of Deacon and turned white as a ghost. One of the passing nobles grabbed him by the arm and began asking questions about this evenings entertainment as they walked toward the dinning hall. Armand walked with his friends into the dinning hall which had magic lanterns on the walls and a long table that could seat at least twenty people. On the table were various dishes ranging from fish to beef. At least that’s what Deacon thought was beef. They all took their seats as Lord Antonio Desentes began a toast. Deacon immediately tuned out trying to remember the last place he saw the man seated at Lord Desentes left side. Perhaps he was another one of Armand’s brothers since there was a strong family resemblance. Elle began to scratch her wrist at the same time Typhus was working an itch on his collar bone. Same with Armand’s chest and Deacon’s shoulder. Typhus stopped paying attention to the speech and looked over at Armand. Armand didn’t notice him. Elle on the other hand was looking at Deacon scratching his shoulder across the table. She kicked him under the table to get his attention.

“What?” Deacon said in hushed tones.

“Undead.” She whispered getting an eyebrow raise from Deacon. Armand was much closer to his father at the table and not looking down their way. Deacon began scanning the room before the central doors opened wide. Rolento Taurant along with Lord Cullep came into the dining hall.

“Lord Cullep. Why are you interrupting my guests at dinner? Why were you not announced? Where are my guards?” Said Lord Desentes.

“My invitation must have gotten lost. Forgive the lateness of my arrival. Surely the Lord of the Mines is necessary for your war council dinner.” Lord Cullep said receiving gasps from the other lords and ladies in attendance.

“You were not invited because you haven’t been seen outside of your manor for months. The mines are performing well enough, and that asset is already in play. Need I say more?” shot back Lord Desentes getting an even a deeper gasp from the assembled guests.

It was at this point that Deacon noticed blood on their footprints as they walked further into the room. Lord Cullep stepping closer in Lord Desentes direction. A flash of insight hit Deacon like a Mac truck. All the important players in the defense of the Iron Mountain Plateau were all in one room. All three guild masters, all the nobility of the region, and even the Cardinal Unit which is expected to play a role in the coming battle. This is a trap and they all walked right into it. Even got dressed up for it. He looked over at Elle wide eyed and she knew exactly what he was thinking. During the banter Rolento Taurant managed to get to the back door and started to pull it open.

“It’s a trap!” Elle yelled standing up and growing vines around her. That’s when the room erupted into chaos. Deacon put his right foot on the table and launched himself toward Rolento, at the same time Typhus dove into the shadows. Armand stood up only to be knocked down by a wave of Lord Cullep’s hand. Eobard ran into a corner of the room and cowered behind a large comfortable chair. Fenris was nowhere to be found as the sounds of fighting from outside finally reached the dining hall.

“Well no need for the soundproof spell anymore. Tonight I take back what rightfully belongs to me.” Lord Cullep said as his incisors grew, and his face became more gaunt.

“Vampire!” shouted Lord Desentes as he reached for the sword at his waist. Unfortunately Cullep was faster and slapped it out his hands with his left hand while his right-hand dove forward only to be blocked by a blue barrier of magic that cut the vampire off from the rest of the room.

“Lord Desentes, please see your guests to safety. We shall handle this.” Said Verus channeling the barrier spell. He received a curt nod in return as Lord Desentes began collecting noncombatants. Deacon had both of Rolento’s wrists and was dragging him away from the door which was being pounded on from the other side. Mr. Clean had a shoulder against the door while Jacob and Typhus were contending with Sanguine Vessels that were coming through the central doorway.

“Not that it matters now but were you the announcer in the arena?” Deacon asked Rolento.

“You ruined a perfectly good evening, and you need to pay.” Rolento replied as he started to push Deacon’s arms apart. It looked like he was struggling to do so before he opened his mouth wider than possible exposing circular row after row of teeth. Deacon immediately shoved his right foot into his chest firmly embedding him in the stone wall. It didn’t appear to be enough as he began to pull himself free.

“Deacon, down!” yelled Elle as she fired several magic arrows, she grew around her from a bow made of hardened vines. This situation was bad. Deacon saw his fellows struggling without their usual weapons of choice. Typhus was harassing the monsters in the doorway while Jacob was smashing them by materializing a large iron mallet that lasted for one attack before disappearing. Armand was defending Verus who needed to keep focusing on the barrier keeping Lord Cullep in place. That left Mr. Clean holding the door shut so no more of these things could come in from behind. That was all Deacon could see before turning his attention back to Rolento now halfway out of the wall riddled with arrows.

“What does it take to kill you?” Deacon said as he started blasting a Nether beam at him to keep him trapped in the wall. When that was done, he turned to see Jacob being overwhelmed. Typhus was trying to pull a Vessel off of him and Elle was shooting more arrows through the door. Deacon started in that direction when he heard a howl coming from Jacob. An orange glow as coming off of him as his opponent shot up into the door jamb with a sickening bone shattering crack. Deacon could now see orange streaks in Jacobs fur from the corner of his eyes around his ears and over the top of his head. That’s all Deacon got to see of that fight before Mr. Clean flung the doors wide open letting the Vessels flop on the ground in front of him. He began to chant words that Deacon couldn’t understand before the shadows in the hallway all coalesced around the Vessels tearing them apart.

“When they are done, seal this door with your ice.” Mr. Clean commanded.

Typhus was now back-to-back with Elle. Anything that got close to her was quickly taken down before it received its own arrow to the head. The head had been revealed to be their weakness as Elle no longer having to play defense could concentrate on her shots. That’s when the barrier surrounding Lord Cullep shattered. There was wheezing sound coming from the direction of Verus and Armand. Lord Cullep had shot forward and plunged his right hand into Armand’s chest. Armand had positioned himself in front of Verus. Mr. Clean pulled the sword out of his cane and sliced the air between him and Lord Cullep three times in rapid succession making three silver slashes appear and travel the distance. The first one took off Lord Cullep’s arm, the second scored a slice across his thigh and Lord Cullep dodged the final slice by unnaturally bending backwards. In an instant he was through one of the windows and into the night.

Deacon finished sealing the door turning around to find several people standing over Armand’s lifeless body. Mr. Clean had sheathed his cane sword and Jacob was returning bloody and battered from the hallway. Lord Cullep’s arm from the elbow down had been severed and hung from Armand’s chest. Elle began weeping and Typhus had to turn her away from the body. Mr. Clean was looking out of the window and Verus was trying cast restorative magic on the body.

“We need answers.” Jacob said.

“Then you better hurry and ask Rolento over here. Once he gets free, I’m going to tear him limb from limb.” Deacon said stalking his way over to the noble turned Sanguine Vessel trapped in stone and ice.