Blood and Silver [slash]

Part 4 - Promise

Kelron was unable to sleep during the following day. He had retreated to his room after breakfast to rest, but was unable to sleep. His thoughts continuously revolved around Silverian and what the vampire had told him.

What if Lord Valendar really had rescued Kelron? What if the vampires just did what every living being would do and fight for their survival? What if the code of honor Kelron had been following his whole life was based on a misassumption?

All these thoughts were so terrible and blasphemous that Kelron was afraid of them, but once these questions had been raised, they demanded an answer. If he couldn't find a way to ease his doubts, his whole life needed to be questioned. And that was something Kelron couldn't bear.

But those weren't the only things plaguing the paladin. Every time he closed his eyes, Silverian's seductive smile came to mind. It didn't help to remind himself that this attraction wasn't real, just part of the vampire's power, because for Kelron, it felt real.

The paladins of the Order of the Silver Blade neither took a vow of celibacy nor were they forbidden to marry, but in these trying times, the wardens wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble and strictly separated men and women. There was not a single woman at Castle Northwall; the female paladins, who existed in large numbers, had their own fortresses.

Kelron had always been too busy to waste his time and energy on women. During his training in the capital, he had made some intimate acquaintances with girls, but those encounters had remained shallow. At Castle Northwall, it wasn't uncommon for men to seek intimate relationships with each other, and it was tolerated as long as it didn't affect their work. Kelron had never understood this. He didn't want to feel calloused hands and a coarse, stubbly face against his skin, but preferred tender, cool fingers and satiny hair... soft, warm lips...

The paladin noticed unwanted heat filling his body, and with a discontented growl, he got up from his bed and tried to banish every thought about the vampire. If Silverian had been human, it wouldn't have disturbed Kelron that much, but having indecent thoughts about a damned monster was absolutely shameful.

Kelron went to his wash basin and splashed lots of cold water onto his face. He'd love to take a bath, but he didn't want to endure the looks of the other paladins in the bathing room. He finally decided to put on his armor and work off his frustration with some good fighting practice.

He found Mergil in the courtyard, training the younger paladins and making them sweat profusely. Kelron watched the movements for a while. His old master was agile and fast, depending on his dexterity, not his strength. He seemed to foresee his opponent's movements and reacted accordingly.

Involuntarily, Kelron was reminded of the imprisoned bloodsucker, and he shook his head to clear his thoughts. How dare he compare his beloved and admired master with that creature! Nevertheless, there was a similarity in their way of reacting to an opponent. And as much as he hated to admit it, Kelron's abilities were inferior to both.