7.

The minutes dragged and Sir Keldorn still sat on the padded floor, cradling limp Vesper to his chest. The girl's awareness had slipped away, used up on resisting the spells and alien magic. She did not speak much while she was still conscious, but the knight doubted that she knew more of her ordeal than she had told. It was fear: a formless, ancient fear that she was mostly speaking of. He had hard time distinguishing between the visions induced by that fear and what had happened in truth. Truth or lie, it stung Keldorn that him being a paladin made his daughter an especially delicious piece for a vampire. Uneasily he thought of Kamir's family targeted due to his service to the Order and pressed his cheek against Vesper's forehead. Judging from even warm breaths touching his skin and her heart's rhythm, evident in a pulsing artery on her throat, Vesper was peaceful now.

She is resting, thanks Torm.

Keldorn was growing tired himself, and finally he moved toward he wall and leaned against the shelves with a relieved, if resigned sigh. The chill breeze of the night did not penetrate so far into the crypt. The dead were best preserved in the stuffy atmosphere. It seemed that the undead were if not comforted, but at least not inconvenienced by it. The living however… Keldorn fought back a yawn, and his head started to swim. Even his stinging cheek was not enough to keep him alert. A sort of stupor ceased him. The old knight knew very well the danger of such condition so he forced himself to study the space of his confinement. From all sides skulls stared at him and the girls were but three lumps on the floor. Kamir's stiff figure stood black and erect against the lit square of the opened door. Not a restful setting, yet despite it, the strain left Keldorn's back, his excitement and worries evaporating. Danger became a dull shade on the edge of his mind.

'I am growing old,' Keldorn thought unhappily, 'It is up to men Kamir's age now…' But Kamir was broken, and ironically it was up to him to fix it. Sir Firecam coughed, and the younger knight tensed visibly. He was expecting the conversation, perhaps even fearing it. All Keldorn would get now is the same stubborn elusiveness. So the inquisitor asked instead: 'Can you hear anything?' The young knight started to shake his head negatively, but then straightened even more, impossible as it seemed, and replied: 'You have a great hearing, Sir. They are coming.'

Keldorn was so surprised to see Prelate Wessen in person, that it took him a moment to utter a greeting after he had lifted himself and stood on his aching legs. A half-dozen of knights that accompanied the Prelate, were immediately dispatched to search the crypt. Two priests, whom the Prelate also brought along, took Vesper from him and put her near other girls, crouching over them and speaking in low, concerned voices. Sir Keldorn tried to overhear, but Prelate took him by his elbow and Keldorn followed to the corner of the room.

'Sir Keldorn,' the Prelate said, 'firstly, I am quite happy that your daughter had been found; Under the current circumstances I am delighted to grant you a week's leave from service –'

'That would not be necessary,' Keldorn interrupted as respectfully as he could manage. 'I would like nothing more than to chase down Jistev.'

'My old friend,' the Prelate said comfortingly, placing a dry palm on Keldorn's shoulder. 'I am afraid that the Order does not know where Jistev is at the moment.'

Sir Keldorn stared at the Prelate unblinking: 'The Order failed to locate him? He must have sensed the chase then and is laying low. I suspect that the miscreant has a layer around here and it is a matter of time…'

'Sir Keldorn, I have never sent anyone after Jistev upon your request.' The Prelate stopped Keldorn's objections with a small motion of his frail hand. 'Because I want to prevent the greater evil. Our position is precarious, my friend. De Chatillon and his men whisper at every corner that we are but usurpers of the Radiant Heart's proud name. The smallfolk is scared of the foulness that the new Guild brought into this city and some ascribe its success to a conspiracy between to the nobles, the Order, the priests… everyone in power. O, and there are rumors of Bhaalspawn coming to Athkatla, Torm help us all. Will you have me sending a squadron of knights to hunt an affluent and respected nobleman or turn up graves, Sir Firecam?'

'Yes,' Sir Keldorn said without hesitation. 'For it will yield the answers that will calm the commoners and clear the streets of Athkatla once again. Before they see in our inactivity the proof to De Chatillion's accusations.'

'And if those answers do not calm the commoners, but fuel their rage? Would you have me sent my knights to subdue the disorder we ourselves had started? Still…' the Prelate cocked his head to one side, and Keldorn got an uneasy feeling that the man was watching a chessboard. 'Your words do have merit… That is why I love you so, Sir Firecam. Your outlook is refreshing.' He tapped at his lips lightly, considering what Sir Keldorn just have said. 'Many would like me to sit tight, but there are times indeed, when sitting tight does not work.' He finally came to a decision. 'Come see me when you are able, we should discuss this matter at length. Unfortunately… unfortunately, much of it now hangs in balance, and only Vesper's word can tip it. The other girls seem to be lowborn, so I doubt that their word will weigh much against Lord Jistev's. As for Hamish, apart from him being a shadowy character…'

Keldorn jerked his head worriedly: 'Where is he?'

The Prelate smiled: 'After a short discussion I had come to a conclusion that the halfman has a talent of sorts… I offered him to be trained as a… scout and he gladly accepted. It seems that was dissatisfied with his current employment, and your investigation… shall we say… awoke an uncannily interest in secret missions?'

Sir Firecam expelled air with sudden relief. 'But that makes you unwilling to present him as a witness for the Order, of course. That in truth leaves Vesper.' He looked toward the priests who now stood upright, chanting, causing the fiery crown of magical energies to gather around them. The hollow incantation strengthened and echoed against the walls; the priest's hands came aglow. They kneeled again and the healing palms made a few passes over every girl in turn. Vesper looked pale in the magical light. 'I am going home,' Sir Firecam said tiredly. The Prelate nodded majestically.

Lady Maria passed her fingers through Leona's hair. Like wisps of golden silk…

She chased all other feelings away; she just sat there on her huge bed and watched her small daughter. Then the nanny walked into the room timidly and made a courtesy, asking if the Lady wishes Leona to be put to bed. It must have taken the maid a few hours of painful deliberations with herself to come into this room to talk to Lady Maria. The stubborn ''tis for ye own good' was etched into her honest features. Lady Maria clutched her daughter's body instinctively, and the girl awoke. She was immediately cranky and started weeping in a high-pitched inconsolable voice. 'I have scared her,' Lady Maria thought and with a colossal effort of will allowed the maid to take the child away. If the gods judged it fair to leave her with just one child, she was glad it was her youngest. She startled at the thought, an awful disloyal thought and hot tears started rolling down her cheeks again. She cried soundlessly for her lost Vesper.

Vesper, who had come unbidden, Vesper who had swelled her belly and gave her almost virginal body its first taste of childbirth and maternity. She was fifteen at the time, wedded and bedded by a man ten years her elder. He loved her not, despite her best efforts – he was absent for weeks at a time, and when he came back, his eyes looked past her, searching for the places where he had just been or planning his next departure. It was in his absence that Lady Maria had learned that he had left her heavy with child; it was in his absence that she stood for hours in front of the mirrors looking at her quickly growing body and weeping. For the first time she was afraid that he'd come back too soon and will see her that way, for that ugliness would surely close his heart to her forever.

He did come though. Vesper was the only child that the good wives put in Sir Keldorn's hands after Lady Maria had birthed her. The only one he had named. What kind of a name is Vesper?

Lady Maria did not mind it back then, because she had seen a wonderful change in her husband. He was suddenly in love with her. She was starved for his attention for so long, and so relieved that there was no flaw in her. She did not heed the concerned frowns of the old women that attended her and whispered into her ear that the man should not be allowed to come to his wife until a year had passed after a child was born.

And so Lukian came, a year and two months after Vesper, before term and during the harshest days of winter. His hair was just like Leona's – golden silk, but he was stubborn, like his father, and a fighter. He lived for more than a week, even when the kindly priest of Ilmaater told her that if she persists, the undeath would claim her baby. Sir Keldorn returned to kneel by a fresh gravestone and by her sickbed. Lady Maria was sick all spring, the spring she had waited for so much. And Sir Keldorn's love became a distant memory. If not for Vesper, she would have long ago decided that she had dreamed it up. Leona was no proof of it, but rather a denial. From all Lady Maria Firecam's children Leona was most like her in character and appearance. If that was possible, one could have thought that she had made this child herself, without any intervention from Sir Keldorn.

Lady Maria's sad revelations were interrupted by the sound of the opened door and commotion downstairs. The happy shouts could mean only one thing. Hastily, whipping away her tears, Lady Maria ran for the hall, but when there was but a flight of stairs left, the strength had left her and she flung herself against the wall. Sir Keldorn stood surrounded by the servants, tall and gray-haired. In his hands he held Vesper wrapped in his own cloak. He looked up and saw Maria standing on the stairs. A familiar fondness lit his eyes as he smiled. 'She is well,' Lady maria thought, 'o, gods, she is well!' A familiar yet half-forgotten sensation flooded her, making her body came alive with longing while she saw to the maids that washed and dressed Vesper and put her to bed.

Then she picked up Keldorn's cloak, hastily discarded and hurried back to the hall. Keldorn was slumped into a chair, sleeping. Lady Maria walked on her tiptoes out of the hall and ordered a majordomo to take a bottle of Cormyrian out and send a tray of food into her room. 'Your Master will need something to eat.' She stopped only for a moment in her bedroom to spray a perfume onto her hair and then hurried back to the hall. Lady Maria leaned over her husband touching gently a fresh scar… he came awake and covered her small hand with his. The light of the morning dawn colored the hall pink and golden. 'Maria,' Keldorn said hoarsely, 'I am sorry it took so long, but Vesper is unhurt…' 'I know,' Maria replied simply, 'I have seen her… but you… you were hurt, my poor dear…' Maria cooed, kissing him gently. He smiled. 'A priest had started the healing, but you have just completed it.'

Feeling positively like a concubine, Lady Maria sat onto her husband's lap. 'I would like to drink with the great warrior I have married,' she announced almost giggling, delighted by the young smile that appeared on her husband's face. And she slipped away throwing him one longing look that almost made his heart jump out of his chest.

Sir Keldorn settled back in the chair, looking around, feeling happier than he had been in ages. How fortunate he was that his house stood, that his daughter was sleeping safely upstairs and that his Lady wife loved him. He felt invigorated, he felt young. The tiredness of the last night disappeared completely; Lady Maria was his guardian spirit and his best healer. If only every man would have a safe heaven to return to… Kamir's gaunt face swam up in front of him, desperate eyes glaring accusingly. 'Where were you?' the man asked, 'where were you when my house burned?' Sir Keldorn picked up his cloak from the floor and draped it around his shoulders.

When Lady Maria returned, Sir Keldorn took the goblet from the silver tray and took a tiny swallow. 'Excellent wine. Thank you, dear. You are the most beautiful woman on Faerun,' and he leaned to kiss his wife. 'You are a wizard, a veritable wizard – one look at you – and I feel ready to take on any foe! When I look at you I know that there are things worth fighting for!'

'Where do you think you are going?' Maria asked sharply staring at his hands that were now fastening a fistula under his chin. He is babbling…

'First to see the Prelate,' Keldorn reported readily, 'since the debriefing on Vesper's abductors cannot wait. We have finally uncovered the nature of the Thieves' Guild rival and there are political complications -'

'We?' Maria asked listlessly, 'was Vesper an undercover agent?'

'No, of course not! I meant the Order, not Vesper. Though the girl deserves every praise for being so brave. Tell her that I am very proud of her once she wakes.' He frowned worriedly. 'She seemed drained, though the priest said that there were no physical harm done to her. I hope she will be able to testify tomorrow. I have to convince Prelate Wessen, that it is crucial that we move against the vampires.'

His face showed the signs of agitation.

'Vampires, Maria, vampires in Athkatla! I'd rather have a viper's nest on my dinner table! But now, that we know whom we stand against we have to smoke them out!' He cut the air with his rigid palm so vigorously, that it made a whooshing sound, as if he swung a whip. Looking into the determined, merciless eyes of her husband, Lady Maria found pity stirring in her heart. Pity for those abominable, horrid, evil creatures that abducted and nearly killed her child. She suppressed it. They were already dead, she reminded herself, and they would continue murdering innocent children in their bloodlust if the Order will not put a stop to it. And Keldorn looked so strong and so young when he talked of defeating them.

'Will you… will you be coming back after reporting to Prelate?' she asked hopefully.

'Wish that I could,' Keldorn replied with sincere regret in his voice, 'but I was assigned to investigate the Cult of the Eyeless, and looking for Vesper did not move this forward a single bit.' He kissed her again and marched out of the house. Engrossed in his thoughts Sir Keldorn Firecam did not pay any attention to the poignant song of shattered glass and sonorous sound of metal hitting the terracotta tiles after Lady Maria Firecam had thrown the silver tray and all its contents on the floor.