𝙳𝚊𝚜 𝙷𝚎𝚛𝚣: 𝙱𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝙴𝚒𝚗𝚜

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒

𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚, 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚

Strigoi Mort – Of Romanian origin. Said to be more akin to a witch. This dangerous and ambiguous undead is described as both human and demonic. If a person dies without being married, is the seventh son of a seventh son, or has sinned in life, they rise from their graves as a Strigoi Mort. There are even legends of the creatures returning to the lives they had with friends and family before death. For example, a soldier who has died in war coming home.

After some days of travel, they stand on the hills to the south of Loviturä and stare down onto the large fortress city of their King. King Alaric Berin, ruler of Der Vorfahr, a country that spreads approximately 800,000 square kilometers. He is a man with nigh on 300,000 soldiers at his disposal and with the marriage to the Princess of Italy, Aletea Benesi, giving him more power and assistance when needed, he has been made a formidable man. In fact, the only resistance that has proven to be any challenge against him has been Ambrozij Kasimir, the head of the Christian church within Loviturä.

Eber looks up from the King's castle of Reinhard that lay right before them, from where the bulk of the castle is nestled among the mountainous hills of the south, across the city to the church. Reinhard, resting on one border of Loviturä and the church resting on the opposite one, entices a feel of rivalry. Taking into account the looks of each impressive force, it makes the feeling even stronger.

Reinhard is a castle of width rather than height, built with sturdy grey stones brandished by time with chips, gouges and deep scratches not giving testament to weakness, but inspiring resilience. It is scarred the same as many of the warriors who have defended it.

The church, however, is made of new white stone and rises to the heavens of the one it is meant to worship, ever expanding and growing. It is a might that has long since begun its encroaching assault.

Eber knows that what he and his men now are must be kept secretive. No one must know they are the undead or

they will meet a death they will not return from by the hands of not God, but Ambrozij Kasimir, a man who desires to be one.

They begin to make their way down onto the grounds of the castle that in places branches out into the city, but mostly is a community unto itself. It is a society of soldiers and servants as well as other lower status individuals. The surrounding grounds of the castle offer practically all the conveniences of the city, food, lodging, drink, further instilling the notion of keeping the insignificant from the higher society of the city.

Having entered the grounds of the castle they are in familiar territory, they walk through the narrow streets, passing by blacksmiths that forge and repair swords as well as tend to horse tack and wagons. They pass by merchants that cater sales only to soldiers. "People are staring at us, do you think they can sense something?" Thayer asks, leaning over to Koza.

In a hushed voice Koza replies, "They are not staring at us, Johann. They are staring at the head." The severed head of Larkonov sways in Eber's grasp at his side.

Ermanno sets his hands to his hips. "You would think they'd all be used to seeing the Commander hauling around a severed head by now." Koza and Thayer glance back at the man, then run into the back of Eber who has stopped unexpectedly.

Eber turns and faces the three men. "You are to appear as though everything is normal and continue with your usual behaviors so that no suspicion is drawn. However, you are not to eat or drink anything. I have no idea how food or drink will affect us." His orders always having a relaxed tone, but a commanding presence just the same.