Here we go!
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Episode1
The sun was rising, bringing the light into the darkness of the night. The sounds of the new day could be heard throughout the region and the smell of the wild roses, growing freely, filled the air.
There was only one form outside the town, walking in silence and enjoying the warm rays of the sun. He was a young man and a guard of the town, checking that everything was in order for the new day.
The guard was deep in his thoughts, thinking about his wife, a beautiful, young girl named Jasmine and about the baby they would soon have. He loved them more than anything and the man would build them a safe house. He had always wished for much, but his god had given him more.
But then something changed in the air. The smell of the wild flowers wasn’t pure anymore, but mixed with something bad. It was the smell of rotten flesh and a repulsive feeling filled his mind and body, making him feel nauseous. Memories of the scenes about a year ago came back, as the smell became stronger.
They had been investigating a mysterious case of murders in a dark alley and he and few other guards had been the first ones to find the dead bodies, lying on the cold ground. The same smell had been there but stronger, much stronger and he could still see the bodies, twisted in strange positions.
“Hey, what is that smell?” Delryn quietly asked. “I’m not feeling very well.”
“It comes from here.” Rill noticed soon and drew his long sword. “Be on your guard!”
They began to walk towards the end of the alley, weapons drawn and senses going through every sound they heard.
“I don’t like the smell nor the alley.” Denryl whispered and then halted. The others felt the quick stop and they ended their walk too.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “What happened?”
“I hit something.” Delryn said, nervously. “I hit something heavy! And I think I know what it is!”
“I think I’m going to…” Rill ended and following the words came the lunch he had eaten half an hour ago. “I need to get out of here!” Rill continued and ran away.
“Asir, go and get the commanders here! I’ll stay here and check the corpses.” Delryn commanded and crouched. “Now!”
Asir had ran into the Council building and straight to speak with the four commanders. Without any hesitation the commanders had followed him, into the alley and to the bodies.
The scene in the candle light had been awful and for many months the pictures of the corpses had haunted him.
Two bodies lay on the dirty ground, their blood staining the cold stone under them. Their eyes, wide open, watched into nothingness and they had terrified expressions on their faces, their mouths screaming in pain. Asir could feel the air getting colder as the commanders analysed the corpses, twisted in awful positions.
Why did it always have to happen on his watch turn?
“We must move these people,” the commander analysing the smallest body told the others thoughtfully. “Asir, you take this one with me. You two take the other.” He gave the orders and then added, “And you make sure nobody sees us. This cannot get out on the streets!”
Asir remembered how it had felt to lift the cold, slimy body and carry it through the town. He recalled how he had felt the lunch rising inside of him and he had been so sure that if they wouldn’t soon reach to the Council construction -which felt to be hundred miles away- he would throw up. The stench was awful and sometimes the smell suddenly came back, filling his nostrils, and the guard could still feel the slimy skin on his bare hands. It never left his memories.
They had told Asir that if he wanted to keep his job, he would shut his mouth and forget that he saw anything. He had done what they told him to do.
When Asir now noticed the dark, strange forms on the ground far away from him, he began to run and as he reached the bodies, Asir decided to analyse the corpses before going to the Council building. Two of them lay near the back gate of the town. The gate was black, decorated with carved roses and fine leaves. It was usually locked and nobody used it, but he could see that the gate had been forced open. Three other bodies lay almost 20 feet away and one of them had an open throat, cut with something really sharp.
The murderer was surely a sick man, Asir thought angrily, or then they killed each other, but I don’t believe that.
And besides, there should be one still alive and Asir thought that he or she would have come to the town, asking for help, but any of this had not happened. Could it be that the bigger group had been a band of assassins, ordered to kill the two near the gate and…
“Hello.” Asir said aloud, curiously. “What’s this.”
The guard found two little marks on the side of the necks of the corpses near the black gate. The marks were round-shaped and small and as Asir examined them closely, he noticed that they were deep wounds and an uncomfortable feeling of terror filled his mind.
There’s a vampire in the town!
“Hey!” Somebody called, frightening Asir. “Get away of the bodies, you murderer!”
Asir quickly rose, turning around and saw another guard standing many feet away.
“I found these just a moment ago.” Asir explained and walked towards the other guard. “Can’t you see I’m a guard of this town like you? Oh, and we must tell the commanders that there’s a vampire in our town.”
“A what?” The startled guard stammered. “Oh gods!”
“Go now!” Asir demanded quickly. “I’ll stay here and keep the citizens away. This is a serious matter and we don’t want to create chaos within the walls of our village.”
“Yes, yes!” The other man said and turned around to leave but Asir told him to use the gate near them, because it was open and much quicker road to the Council construction.
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Soon the other man returned with the commanders and few other guards. They moved the corpses into the same room under the great building of the Council as a year ago and then one of the commanders turned to face Asir and the rest of the guards.
“I think I don’t need to remind you, but you have to keep your mouth shut if you want to keep your jobs as the guards of this town. Betray your town and you will not only lose your jobs, but you will stay in the jail for the rest of your lives.” He told matter-of-factly.
The commander continued but the guard who had found Asir crouching besides the corpses couldn’t remain silent and whispered to Asir, “Does he mean what he says? Would they keep us in the jail for our whole lives?”
“Maybe they would. This is a serious matter, like I said and they will do anything to keep the town and its citizens in order.” Asir answered thoughtfully. “But it’s easier for you to keep your mouth shut so do as they say.”
“You will receive a bigger payment this month for the help to your town and few days off when you want.” The same commander continued and then left the guards.
“Well, let’s go. If I must be here anymore, even for a minute my head will explode!” Asir said grimly. “I need to wash my hands and a tankard of cold beer would be okay.”
“I’ll come with you!” The other one said. “I can still feel the coldness of the corpse on my hands. I’m Don, by the way!”
Don offered his hand to shake Asir’s hand but then remembered what had just happened and followed Asir out. They walked towards the little river near the town as dark clouds started to gather on the sky. Soon it would start to rain down.
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The counsellor walked quickly through the long corridors of the Council building. The construction wasn’t very old one and it was made of grey stone. The fine wooden doors, leading to a majestic hall, highlighted the nobility of this house and the balcony above the pair of doors was full of hum of serious conversation. When stepped into the building through the doorway, the great hall opens before your eyes. The lines of doors fill the wall on the right side and between the doors, beautiful paintings hang on the brown wall. To the left there is great and expensive tables and chairs around them, probably meant for conferences with other towns and cities. The hall was full of shouting and the loud steps of the people on the floor echoed throughout the whole Council construction.
The mayor of this town was waiting for the counsellor, so he was in hurry. The news of the dead men near the very gates of their town had not reached the ears of the leader and the counsellor was the one to bring the awful information.
The doors went by and finally as he came to the right door, he knocked few times and stepped in.
“Ah, greetings.” The mayor said and smiled. “What is it now?”
“I am sorry to interrupt you,” The counsellor began. “but there has been some… incidents which need your attention.”
The mayor waited for a while, but as the silence only grew, he got nervous. “And?” He asked.
“Oh, yes!” The short man said behind the brown, wooden desk. “This morning a pair of guards found five dead men near our village. Asir and Don were the ones.”
“Really? Isn’t Asir the one who found the bodies back then?” The mayor stammered nervously.
“Yes, he is.” The counsellor answered.
“Who else knows of this?” The mayor asked, worry audible in his voice.
“The commanders, Asir, Don and few others.” The counsellor told the mayor and continued after a moment. “Not even a single citizen know about this and we have made sure no one will ever find out, if you do not want it. Is this what you wanted to know?”
“Yes, yes.” The mayor said quietly. “Does the commanders have any clues who it might be? I mean the murderer.”
“No…” The adviser said and frowned. “But Asir found two little marks or wounds on the side of the necks of the victims. Could it be him?”
The nervous expression of the mayor changed into terrified and his eyes widened. “Is it possible? We send the slayers after him.” He said, fear ringing in his voice.
“We have not heard anything about them since the day before yesterday. And when the commanders described the victims, they reminded me of the slayers.”
“What can we do?” The mayor asked helplessly.
“We could always hire Reigh.” The adviser suggested. “Not that I want to, but he is our last chance.”
“No! There must be some other way!” The mayor answered immediately. “Reigh cannot be our last option left!”
“He is the best vampire slayer I have ever heard of and although his payment can compensate the amount of a small treasure, he can get the job done.” The adviser told the man sitting in his comfortable armchair. “And we need to get rid of this vampire, Tead!”
“It is the money we need, Nilo! It is the money our town and its citizens need.” Tead said quietly. “We need it!”
“Can you tell me that you have thought about the welfare of your town and its people, when you built this building? Or when you used the money to travel through Faerûn?” The counsellor laughed.
“Nilo!” Tead shouted angrily. “Do not tell me what to do as the mayor of this town, or your job is not the only thing you lose! It is my money and I decide what I do with it!”
“All right. Send the word to Reigh that we need him.” The mayor said after he calmed. “But I’m not going to pay him over 5000 gold pieces and that’s it! Is it clear, Nilo?”
“Yes. I will tell him to come here and he will reach our town in a week or so.”
“Good.” Tead agreed. “Now, I have important things to do, so leave me alone.”
“Sure.” Nile smiled a feign smile. I hope Reigh will rob your money, he thought and left.
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On the other side of the town, Asir and Don walked towards the nice inn. The day had almost reached the night and the sun was beginning to set. They both wanted to have few tankards of cold beer and then head back to their homes to sleep.
As they stepped through the doorway and into the inn, they were greeted by the loud murmur of drunken words and the scents of fine wine and beer. The inn was full of men and women, drinking and singing and the journey to the bartender was a hard one. (Not that they got themselves into troubles…) The place was illuminated by great chandeliers, hanging from the ceiling and by the candles on the walls, and the dim candlelight made the inn feel cosy and the atmosphere was just perfect.
As they finally got to the other side of the inn where the drinks were bought they had to wait for a while, for the bartender was very busy.
“What do ye want?” The man snapped at them when it was Asir’s and Don’s turn to order something.
“Good day to you too.” Don retorted. “We’ll take the normal.”
The bartender sighed. “Which is?” He asked. “I haven’t got all day, so tell me what ye want!”
“Listen!” Asir shouted angrily after a moment. “This day has been a hell for me and for my friend too! First I…” Don interrupted him, by stepping on his toes.
“We cannot tell him any of it.” He whispered to Asir’s ear. “Two beers!” Don then told the bartender.
“Thanks.” Asir said to Don as the bartender left them alone. “Without you the whole town might know now.”
“Nah, it is okay.” Asir’s friend told him and smiled. “But I’m still quite scared. A vampire?”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought too.” Asir said quietly, almost whispering.
“Here ye go.” The bartender said as he put the mugs full of golden liquid on the desk. “Eight gold pieces, thank ye!”
Asir paid for them both and they walked through the thick jungle of drunken people to an empty table in a remote corner and sat down.
“I had always thought that nothing strange would ever happen in this town and here I am, keeping my mouth shut and feeling frightened because of a vampire I’ve never seen.” Don said and laughed. “I feel like I’m a part of a big and secret conspiracy.”
“Well, in a way you are.” Asir smiled. “This has happened to me before, you know.”
“Really?” Don sounded interesting. “When?”
“About a year ago we found these dead men in a dark alley and the commanders told us to shut our mouths if we wanted to keep our lives. Just like today!” Asir said like it wasn’t a big thing.
But for Don it was. “Could it be the same murderer.” He asked.
“Don’t think so.” Asir said, thoughtfully as he recalled the scenes. “No, I don’t think so.”
Just as Don was opening his mouth to ask something, a drunken man rose up and started to talk about his life. Neither of the two were interested in him, but as the man continued to talk the words attacked them.
“Today I saw something strange.” He said and Don noticed he was one of the guards carrying the bodies.
Asir knew they should make him end the story so he quickly made up a plan. “Why should we believe you? You are drunk,” He said and continued. “Always!” The other customers of the inn laughed at that but it ended soon.
“Who was that?” The guard demanded and let his gaze wander in the crowd. “Well, anyway. Today I was walking outside the walls of this town and…”
“You never leave this place!” Don interrupted him.
“I’ll kill you, if you don’t shut up!” The man threatened.
“You couldn’t hit even a castle with your weak fists!” Don shouted and laughed a bit. Asir thought Don was getting too excited and he told Don to stay back for a while.
“Shut up! I will kill you!”
“You can try,” Asir told the drunkard and continued. “Let’s go out?”
“Yes! Right now!” The drunk one answered and began to walk towards the door with unsure steps. Unfortunately he had four of his friends in the inn and they followed him out. They didn’t seem to be very drunk…
As they met, the guard looked at them and seemed to be thinking something. “Oh it’s you two!” The man said. “You two found the bodies!”
“Yes,” Asir said, not at all frightened. “and we will shut your mouth, even if it means that we must fight!”
“Well, fight then.” The drunk man laughed. “But I can do what I please to do with the knowledge of the dead people.”
“No you cannot!” Don quickly snapped. “You are not only playing with your own life, but with ours too!”
“So?” The leader of the opposing group answered. “I’m leaving this little village and its boring life. It will do me no harm if I accidentally spread a rumour or two and provoke chaos in this town.”
“They will hunt you down if you do it.” Asir said matter-of-factly and smiled. “And I will be the one to catch you!”
The drunk man growled and pulled out his short sword. “I will not listen to this! You shall meet your death!” The man attacked and growled, “Make peace with your god!”
NEXT: Well, the fight continues and then you'll meet the 'hero' of this story.
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Thanks for reading!
I am not pleased with this one... but hey, I can always change it.
