What just happened?
Damoxte considered the demons. Could they be at work here? How did this vamp party know where these furres were? The ancient warrior watched anxiously as Gorian's shield lifted.
Don't do anything stupid, Mar.
The furre of Time managed to defend Gorian and Mar from the arrows, for the most part. Gorian got hit in the shoulder. She did not anticipate him running back to the dead vamp while they were being attacked. And Gelae ... Damoxte did not anticipate a vamp raid at all. Furre of Ice was impaled through his back before she realized their lives were in danger. This was her failure. Despite the wrath she expected from Dark Harvest, no one could punish her like herself. She should have been on her guard.
Moraine was the first out of the shield, although it was not exactly voluntary. A couple of vamps pulled her out. It was ironic. Back in the days of Xte, the vamps were some of the most loyal furres in Furcadia. Their diverse culture was embraced by the kingdom. Now over a century later, they were the aggressors.
Damoxte grimaced. Perhaps they had a right to be. But today, she had a duty. She had to protect Gorian, Mar, and Gelae. Her master ordered her to keep Gelae and Cyiet her priority. However, she promised Kaelin she would protect her orphans. Typically, Damoxte would not care for promises she made. They were usually fatal distractions. But she owed Kaelin.
The vamps flipped the shield upside down and laid the wounded Gelae inside the curvature. It took four furres to lift the shield and the large feline inside. Moraine was led away by two furres while Gorian and Mar were lead by one each. All four were surrounded by at least a dozen others, heading northward. The warrior followed.
Damoxte wondered if she should risk revealing herself for battle now. She could do it too. She had the ability to exist in their time, albeit for only a short while. But could she save the captured felines? It was a tactical scenario. Three of the furres must live. Moraine would have to be sacrificed, she could not risk the lives of the other three for her. However, the ancient warrior would not dismiss the black feline yet. She appeared to be a formidable warrior in her own right.
However, even if she were able to rescue them, she would soon disappear. If Moraine died, only Mar could carry Gelae since Gorian was injured. Mar could not even lift the shield. How would he be able to do it? The vamps would surely catch up to them.
And what of the shield? It was a stroke of luck that Gorian was able to spot it in Slen's market. They would have to carry it with them.
No. She would have to wait before she could rescue them. They were approaching the vamp colony now. Inside were literally hundreds if not thousands of royals, dukes, and refugees. She would have to plan the rescue carefully.
The wooden gate was already open when they arrived. Damoxte looked up the numerous stories of the fortress. They certainly expanded since the last time she came here. Inside the gate was darkness. It was almost dusk, she thought, but still, the vamps were typically a bright culture. They never hid in darkness. Had so much changed within the last century?
The vamps pulled Moraine and Mar inside first. Damoxte considered going inside right then, but decided to wait it out. Gelae was seriously wounded. It would be best if she kept an eye on him. It took a moment before the vamps returned for Gorian and Gelae. They too were led inside.
Perhaps Roone was still alive, Damoxte thought.
He was the wisest of the vamps in the colony a century ago. She might
be able to convince him to let them go. It was certainly worth the
try. Damoxte walked into the darkness ...
... only to be hit by a wall. Damoxte blinked. There's no wall here. She could just make out the dark figures inside. Yet as she placed her palm against ... something ... there was definitely something here. The warrior blinked again, but this time because a realization hit her. She was controlled by the son of Ayem and only one thing could prevent her from going inside. There was a demon here.