The Vampire & Her Witch

Chapter 71 - 71: For Her Own Good

As the night grew late, while Ashlynn and Nyrielle were discussing their plans for their future campaign against the Lothians, the hunter Eamon crouched in one corner of the common room he shared with the other soldiers, talking to one of his companions in hushed tones.

Their accommodations weren't bad by any definition of the word. The room was large enough for a dozen men and the soft beds were covered with fine wool blankets that warded off the chilly night air even when the fire in the hearth had burned low. Even more luxurious, heavy wool curtains hung between each of the beds, offering the men more privacy than they usually enjoyed in a common barracks.

"I know Daithi is trying to speak for us," a young hunter whispered to Eamon. "But we all followed Sir Kaefin, and you are the most senior hunter here. I just wanna say, I'll follow your orders, whatever they are."

"You're a good man, Darragh," Eamon whispered, keeping his voice low. "I'll be counting on you and the others in the days to come. Her Holiness needs our help."

"Then, you believe she really is one of the chosen ones?" Darragh said. He'd knelt and bowed and said all the words with the others but that was when Ashlynn was right in front of them. Now, after having his family threatened by the vampire called Marcell, he wasn't so certain that what they'd seen was real. What kind of holy woman would threaten their families?

"I think something strange is going on here," Eamon whispered. Standing up, he peeked around the curtain to ensure no one else was close enough to listen and that the horned demon guard outside hadn't decided to poke his head in before he continued.

"My gran used to tell stories about vampires," the aging hunter said quietly, his eyes never ceasing their

"They'll probably reward us with anything we ask for," Darragh said, his eyes growing wide. "We, we could retire with a home of our own, maybe even a parcel of land to work so we don't have to spend so much time in the wilderness," he said eagerly.

"Think bigger lad. Sir Broll and Sir Kaefin are both dead," Eamon said, gripping the young man's arm firmly with his weathered, leathery hands. "Sir Owain will need new knights to serve at his side. Who better than the men who rescued his wife from the demons who tried to beguile her?"

"But you can't be rash," he said before the young man could speak to express the joy blossoming across his face at the notion of becoming a knight. "Her Holiness is still very strong and she has many defenders here. So first, we have to conceal ourselves perfectly."

"Then, it's just a matter of patience," the young man said, calming himself. He'd been on enough hunts to know that patience, more than anything else, was the essential skill of a hunter. "And when we see our opportunity…"

"When we see our opportunity," Eamon whispered. "Then we free her from these demons, and we take her home to the temple where she belongs."