Still, leaving my mates at a time like this, with Sephania’s mother missing and a recent attack on Skartovius’ home, will raise suspicion.
There’s nothing to be done about it. When the headache building behind my eyes from my master’s incessantpushbecomes too much to bear, I leave the manor in the dead of night.
My boots drag me to the Military Ward without pause. I march through the gates, past my scowling Red Spawn brethren, and up the winding tower stairs to Barnabac’s chambers.
Barnabac is not alone in his room. The ancient vampire lord is surrounded by four bloodthralls, including my “brother” Kamlirn, whose jaw and neck look much better now that months have passed since I broke them.
I raise my brow, wondering why my master has an entourage. “Fearing something, my lord?”
“Have you seen Nuhav, boy? The cattle have set fire to their whole city!”
I nod slowly. “It does not bode well for Olhav if the Five Ministries cannot stop the rioting in the lower city.”
His sagging chin sways as he jumps to his feet from his sturdy chair. “Do you think I don’t know that? I won’t take any chances with this lot.”
“This lot, sire? You mean your Five Ministry brethren?”
Barnabac scoffs and throws his head back. “Brethren? The other four Ministers are just as much my brethren as the Red Spawn are yours, foolish brute.”
I say nothing. He is in a sour mood. At the very least, having four “offspring” at his side as bodyguards means I am less likely to be raped by my master. That is something he does when we are alone, not in mixed company.
I’ve never seen Barnabac’s beady eyes so darting. He glances out the window of his tower over and over, as if expecting a coup at any moment. After all, he may have said he reconciled with Alacine Mortis after the botched Trithea Plaza situation, where so many vampires died, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true.
“Might I ask why you have called me here, Master?”
“To join my retinue, of course.”
My stomach twists. “I am not to return to my coven?”
“Your coven ishere, you impertinent ogre!” Spittle flies from his mouth as he yells, landing on the long braid of his beard.
“Then I shall stay, my lord.” My response is clipped.
“I know. I’ve instructed your brothers and sisters to cage you if you try to leave, in fact.” His eyes glitter with mischief, happy with the way my stoic face twitches.
I can do nothing to harm Barnabac Craxon, which means I can do nothing if he prefers to keep me caged.
I don’t care about being jailed. I’ve been imprisoned for decades of my life.
No, I’m only angry I will not see Sephania for so many evenings, locked at the beck and call of this demon.
Two evenings pass, and sure enough, I am kept in an iron-wrought cage, even though I said nothing insubordinate, or implied I might try to leave Castle Galfeld. Barnabac took preemptive measures and the cage he shoved me in is hardly large enough to fit my frame.
It’s more annoying than anything. I’m not sure why Master Barnabac is punishing me this time. He hasn’t told me anything I’ve done wrong, and I wonder if it’s solely because he can—because it delights him to see me suffer, after being away for so many years, which he takes as a personal affront.
On the third evening, a tall, stocky, female Red Spawn who used to throw spears at me for fun to see if I could dodge them, arrives in my cell room. “Overlord Aramastun Wyvox has called for an urgent meeting of the Five Ministries,” she tells me.
Sitting in the back of my cell, bored beyond belief, I slant my head. “Why are you telling me this, sister?”
“Because Master Barnabac wants you there. Wants as many Red Spawn as he can muster.”
A rumble starts in my chest, scoffing at my master’s aim. “Does he fear a knife in the back that severely?”
The flat-faced woman comes to the bars and presses her forehead to them, showing her fangs. “If you had the power Master Barnabac has, oaf, with the responsibilities of the Blood Baron, you would do the same.”
I shrug. She can get as angry at me as she wants, but that doesn’t stop her from releasing me from the prison under Barnabac’s orders.
Early that evening, our company leaves the Military Ward, heading past Trithea Plaza toward Aramastun’s sector.
