The Blood Of Vampire: Chapter 15 - The First Whispers of Sedition
The Citadel, once a sanctuary of cold, controlled Vaelanar discipline, now felt like a pressurized powder keg. Aeliana, seated at the carved stone table, traced the shifting lines on the defensive maps with a finger that trembled only slightly. Two weeks had passed since Jatex departed for the Tundra, and every hour had brought a new surge in pressure, both external and internal.
As the self-proclaimed Hand of the King, Aeliana's authority was legitimate—granted by Jatex through the visible Shadow-Blood Weave link that still pulsed faintly beneath her skin. But legitimacy was meaningless to those who refused to accept the Iron Throne or the necessity of a half-breed like Jatex.
The Siege Approaches
General Marius was not subtle. Aerthos siege columns, slow but relentless, were advancing toward the First Defensive Ring of the Vaelanar mountains. The primary threat was not their infantry, but the specialized magi regiments accompanying them.
"Intercepts confirm the presence of Iron-Sunder Weave payloads," reported Lyra, the lead acolyte of the Crimson Watch, her voice muffled by her cowl. "They are targeting the structural nexus points Jatex identified. If they breach the second layer, the Citadel's entrance is exposed, and the movement of the Throne becomes inevitable."
Aeliana rubbed her temples. Jatex had ordered her to prepare aggressive counter-weaves. The Vaelanar were masters of subtlety and defense, not overt spiritual warfare. Training the few loyal acolytes to shift their spiritual discipline from silent containment to explosive counter-attack was proving a slow, frustrating task.
"Continue the reinforcement weaves at Nexus Point Gamma. Double the depth, and use the cold iron shards Jatex salvaged.
Lyra, the moment they begin charging the Iron-Sunder—"
"We fire the counter-weave," Lyra finished, her tone flat. "We understand the risk, Hand of the King. But the cost in spiritual life force will be immense."
The Poison of Doubt
The greatest threat, however, was not the approaching Aerthos army, but the dissent brewing inside the walls. Elder Kael was a spiritual refugee, severely wounded by the Gem of Frozen Tears in the North, but his malice—and his lieutenants—remained.
Acolyte Torvin, a powerfully built veteran Vaelanar warrior who served under Kael for decades, was the main source of the poison.
He wasn't overtly rebellious, but his every word chipped away at Aeliana's authority.
Aeliana found Torvin overseeing the dispersal of supplies in the main barracks, his presence instantly radiating antagonism.
He spoke loudly enough for the dozen working Vaelanar acolytes to hear.
"It is a disgrace," Torvin muttered, tossing a package of dried rations with unnecessary force. "Our Guardian Key—the self-proclaimed king—runs from the fight while the Shepherd's loyalists are left to burn the life out of their cores fighting a siege that is his fault. He is a coward and a thief, concerned only with gathering ancient artifacts for his unholy throne."
Aeliana stepped into the center of the barracks, the movement cutting the low-level noise to immediate, fearful silence. The air chilled with the focused, controlled power of her glare.
"Acolyte Torvin," Aeliana's voice was low, cutting through the vast space. "You speak of duty and honor, yet you use the time meant for preparation to sow doubt. You question the King's decisions while his Hand fights to keep you alive."
Torvin turned, his face a mask of false reverence and open challenge. "I question the sanity of trusting a creature of the Source Blood to protect the realm. He broke our Oath, then fled to chase ghosts while true Vaelanar bled. The Hand of the King title means nothing to those who follow the true discipline, Aeliana. And you are Vaelanar, yet you embrace his darkness."
The Authority of the Shadow-Blood
Aeliana knew this moment was the breaking point. If she allowed this sedition, the barracks would turn against her before the week was out, and Marius would walk through an open gate. She had to demonstrate Jatex's authority, even if it meant risking a spiritual duel she was ill-prepared for.
She lifted her right hand, focusing on the psychic link Jatex had created. She didn't have his ability to consume, but she had his absolute control. A visible corona of crimson-indigo energy—Jatex's unique Shadow-Blood Weave signature—flared around her wrist, a silent, terrifying display of borrowed power.
The energy was concentrated, focused entirely on Torvin, pressing against his spiritual aura with the cold, hungry weight of the Thirst. It was a promise of swift, absolute termination.
"Torvin," she decreed, her voice now layered with the cold spiritual echo of the Source Blood, "Your duty is not to judge the King's survival, but to obey his mandate. Jatex is securing the tools to prevent the end of all existence. His departure was a necessary tactical withdrawal.
Elder Kael failed the Oath. He failed the Vaelanar. And he now runs from the consequences of his own failure. If you believe otherwise, I will not debate you."
She advanced two steps, the crimson-indigo glow intensifying. "You will be silent. You will obey my orders. I am not simply Aeliana; I am the Hand of the King. You will address me as such, or I will use the authority vested in me by the Iron Throne to remove your tongue and expel your spiritual consciousness from this Citadel. Choose your path: Shepherd, or traitor."
Torvin's face went white. The pressure of the alien, predatory Shadow-Blood Weave was an agony against his rigid Vaelanar discipline. He collapsed onto one knee, not in reverence, but in shock and painful submission.
"Hand… Hand of the King," he gasped, the words bitter in his mouth.
Aeliana maintained the spiritual pressure for a full five seconds, ensuring the lesson was branded onto his mind and the minds of the other acolytes watching. Then, she withdrew the borrowed power.
"Good," she stated, her own breathing tight with the exhaustion of the massive exertion. "Now, return to your duties. The Aerthos army waits for no one."
Aeliana left the barracks, the silence she left behind heavy with fear and resentment. She had won the immediate battle against sedition, but she was bleeding spiritual life force to maintain the illusion of Jatex's immediate presence.
She knew the political truce was temporary. If Jatex did not return with the Wards before Marius initiated the final siege, her own spiritual core would shatter, and the Shadow-Blood Weave would consume their desperate little kingdom from the inside.
Aeliana has stabilized the Citadel but confirmed that Elder Kael's influence is still a serious threat. Jatex is now racing against time and war.