Valen, part three

Three weeks later.

Already, Valen had become accustomed to sleeping in the vampire hold underground. No longer was it a crypt, now it was a sanctuary. The somewhat musty, spicy smell of vampires no longer troubled her.

Tizzak was nervous, indeed, but capable. His spidery, thin fingers showed her the sneaksman's trade; the picking of locks and of pockets, but most of all the disarming of traps, and to a lesser degree, the study of poisons.

She was apprenticed first in Mae'Var's guild, so as not to draw the attention of Renal Bloodscalp or Aran Linvail. Mae'Var was a cruel man, with his own shifting loyalties. But he had no idea he was inadvertantly helping the vampires. Tizzak advised Valen to keep it that way. Mae'Var's guild, Bhodi would eventually want, yes. The guildmaster himself, no. For that she had in mind a fighting woman in Mae'Var's employ, named Anishai; or perhaps, if she proved worthy enough, Valen herself.

Valen was coming to understand that she would become a vampire eventually, if she suceeded. If she failed, of course, she would die. Valen was still of two minds about that transformation. She would not contest her Mistress' will in the matter, of course; but while she was no longer troubled by vampires, she was still unsure about becoming one.

She did not voice these thoughts aloud; but Bhodi, with her peircing violet gaze, might have read the thought. She smiled and said nothing.

----

More time passed. Valen was brought to the main guildhouse and worked directly for Renal, and began to learn that the Shadowmaster was, in fact, below. She entered those labyrinthine tunnels and learned something of their layout. She knew generally wheir Aran's personal stronghold was but not what security measures it would take to enter it. Nor could she ask without drawing suspicion; Bhodi did not expect her to. The Shadow Thieves knew Bhodi's name and general location and disposition. That those mages in their employ could not divine more was due to the dark magics of Bhodi's own folk; and one particular mage ally she could call upon but did not speak much of. Valen was not expected to ask pointed questions; if she did she would give the game away.

----

Now Valen was almost as skilled as a thief as she had been as a warrior. One night she returned to the sanctum, to find Bhodi conversing with a muscular, leather clad man.

Obviously an important visitor, Valen waited silently in the corner until her Mistress was finished speaking to him. As he turned to leave, Valen saw his face; he wore a mask that looked as though it were made from preserved flesh; and his eyes were cold blue shards of clinical indifference.

His glance at her regarded her as little more than an insect. Then he was gone.

Irenicus.

A mage of great power; and one of Bhodi's few allies outside her coven. This much Valen knew; and she did not ask more.

"Ah, Valen, good." Bhodi licked her fangs. "It is time for the next phase of your service to me."

"I am...to become a vampire, Mistress?"

Bhodi laughed. "Not completely, not yet. But in part..."

Why am I sensing that a fight scene is coming next?

Good stuff! Valen acquiring thief levels, proving that she's competent and intelligent enough, and now getting her mission... More, please?

Three weeks later.

Already, Valen had become accustomed to sleeping in the vampire hold underground. No longer was it a crypt, now it was a sanctuary. The somewhat musty, spicy smell of vampires no longer troubled her.

Interesting ...

Tizzak was nervous, indeed, but capable. His spidery, thin fingers showed her the sneaksman's trade; the picking of locks and of pockets, but most of all the disarming of traps, and to a lesser degree, the study of poisons.

An attempt to show her thieving scores? I wonder how the study of poisons will go ...

Valen was coming to understand that she would become a vampire eventually, if she suceeded. If she failed, of course, she would die. Valen was still of two minds about that transformation. She would not contest her Mistress' will in the matter, of course; but while she was no longer troubled by vampires, she was still unsure about becoming one.

She did not voice these thoughts aloud; but Bhodi, with her peircing violet gaze, might have read the thought. She smiled and said nothing.

Creepy. I like it!

----

Now Valen was almost as skilled as a thief as she had been as a warrior. One night she returned to the sanctum, to find Bhodi conversing with a muscular, leather clad man.

Obviously an important visitor, Valen waited silently in the corner until her Mistress was finished speaking to him. As he turned to leave, Valen saw his face; he wore a mask that looked as though it were made from preserved flesh; and his eyes were cold blue shards of clinical indifference.

His glance at her regarded her as little more than an insect. Then he was gone.

Irenicus.

A mage of great power; and one of Bhodi's few allies outside her coven. This much Valen knew; and she did not ask more.

Love the description of Irenicus.

"Ah, Valen, good." Bhodi licked her fangs. "It is time for the next phase of your service to me."

"I am...to become a vampire, Mistress?"

Bhodi laughed. "Not completely, not yet. But in part..."