Blood and Silver [slash]

Part 3 - Doubt

"Is that so?" Warden Waragus lifted his bushy eyebrows while listening to Kelron's report the next morning. The two men slowly walked across the courtyard where Master Mergil was training some squires in the finer art of sword fighting.

 "And it's really willing to tell you details if you swear to it to keep the information to yourself and let it go?"

"Yes, Master. But I don't know if I can actually believe that," Kelron replied. "I rather think it's a cheap ruse to get free."

"But it is a chance nevertheless," Waragus said, pondering. "It might work with some careful measures to ensure that the bloodsucker doesn't get away before it actually talks."

"But Master, what use is there in just me knowing Valendar's whereabouts?" the younger paladin reminded his superior. "As tempting as the thought is to go and face that demon alone, I couldn't possibly count on its honor."

"Nevertheless, I won't completely discard that possibility. For example, a group of paladins could follow you to Lord Valendar's hideout. You wouldn't be breaking your word."

Kelron frowned. "No, Master. I'm sorry, but it would be dishonorable, nevertheless. We have to find another way."

Waragus gazed at him. "Your attitude is laudable, and you're right, of course. But we have to find something out, no matter how we do so, and so I've decided to actually let our prisoner go if it tells us the truth. The vampire will get my solemn oath as warden that no paladin will harm it until it has left our territory."

"It said it would rather die than take this offer from you," Kelron answered.

"Well, we'll see about that." Waragus' smile was unpleasant.

"If you don't take Master Waragus' offer, he'll infuse your wounds with silver every night. And when you get too weak, you'll get some blood. There's no escape from this," Kelron explained.

He had returned to the dungeon just before sunset, but it had taken Silverian a long time to wake up. The wounds were not healed at all, and the vampire moved very slowly. The red eyes, however, still burned.

"And whose blood do you want to give me? Animal blood? I cannot drink it. And which of you humans would give me their blood willingly?" the bloodsucker asked with a sneer. "Oh no, Kelron, your oh-so-clever master is wrong. A few days more, and I will fall into a rigor. And if the silver is not removed from my skin until then, it will poison me and slowly kill me while I sleep."

The paladin knew that the creature wasn't lying. Its poor condition was all too clear for everyone to see. So if Kelron didn't want to make any promises he couldn't keep, then there was just one thing for him to do. He was a bit horrified by the prospect, but it was his task to help his order to find Valendar at last. And Silverian was his only hope.

Kelron took a deep breath. "You can have a bit of my blood," he finally said.

Hunger suddenly glistened in Silverian's eyes, and the paladin shivered involuntarily at this sight.

The vampire smirked. "Your blood? You are giving it willingly?"

Kelron nodded. "Because I don't think you want to die. And as long as you live, you have a chance for freedom."

"Wise words from such a young human," Silverian said. "But I am warning you: if you do not mean what you say, your blood will be wasted."

"I mean it. And before you ask: it's not my master's order. He doesn't even know."

"So you have secrets from your master now?" Silverian wrapped a long silver strand of hair around a bony finger; the formerly silky mane was now matted and frayed. "Did he by any chance ask something of you that you found dishonorable?"