30 Lucian

The older vampire had quite literally not seen this coming. A letter, he knew, would be arriving from his father, but a letter from the King? Unthinkable. Marcaius typically dealt with matters related to the royals, it was the main reason his father had decided to take up residence at the court of the King. That and his love for women and lavish parties. Lucian was more...technical. As appealing as his nature was, the older vampire was more suited to diplomacy rather than debauchery.

That was what the Ibudali Kings court had become in recent years. Matters of the state were generally beneath King Undair, the monarch only cared for acquisition. Whether it be land or money, it was well known Undair desired power and took any threat to such seriously.

Lucian vaguely pondered if this could be the reason the King had summoned them as he handed Ender the letter in the middle of the dense forest. Lucian brushed pollen from his elegant black suit. The vampire had finally changed clothes but had yet to sleep since Caroline arrived at the castle. Lucian enjoyed nature to an extent, primarily from afar. While the landscape of Ibudal was quite beautiful at times, he preferred being inside where things were cleaner and more orderly. It was also where the paleness of his vampire skin wasn't accentuated so much by natural daylight.

Vampires were not dead, not precisely. Still, he knew that his body functioned differently than humans and wasn't sure if he would be considered fully living. Even after surviving the better part of five hundred years, Lucian still harbored questions about the species he had joined so long ago.

Lucian folded his arms and leaned casually against a nearby tree as Ender, who was still seated on the ground next to the corpse of the devoured bear, thoughtfully read through the short letter.

The missive only consisted of a short formal invitation to the court and to meet with the Undair himself. Lucian could glean no further details or motives from the text. A soft wind rustled through the branches above them, and after a long silence, Ender finally stood turning to face his brother.

"Aye, you knew we would be leaving brother. So we leave. We should depart within the week, no later." the younger vampire told him flatly.

Lucian could not understand Ender's simplicity sometimes. Clearly, there were implications to be discussed, why had the King summoned them? Did Undair mean them, especially Caroline harm? Ender was a smart man and always had been, surely he understood that there was an agenda at play here. As usual, though, Lucian knew he must drag the words out of his brother.

"Yes, of course, brother, we must leave for Ravin-Sha soon. What do you think it is the King wants, though? Surely Greir must have sent word about Caroline. But why would the King take an interest in her? Do you suppose Grier knew the significance of her marking?" Lucian asked, pacing back and forth through the brush while absently swatting at a butterfly that passed by.

Lucian felt the hands of his brother grip both his shoulders from behind, stopping him in his tracks. Ender turned the older vampire to face him and spoke his red eyes meeting Lucian's with a sympathetic glance,

"Easy brother, easy. We cannot ignore the summons, you and I both know to do so would mean great consequences. It is a two-week ride to the capital, there will be time to discuss all matters." Ender said.

Lucian nodded. Ender was right, he knew. Still, it was difficult to slow the constant analysis running through his mind. Though their relationship had been rocky for a time in Ender's younger, more rebellious days, the younger vampire had grown to be one of the few people in this world that understood him.

"We should bring Aniyoh with us. Caroline will need guidance for a time." Ender said simply while loosening Murf's reins and walking the horse over.

"Must we? Her smart mouth will get us killed, you know. That is if Caroline doesn't burn us alive first." Lucian said with grimly as the two started the walk back to the castle.

"Aye, we must take our chances, brother," Ender said with a low chuckle.

Lucian continued walking alongside his brother for some time at a leisurely pace. The silence was not uncomfortable with Ender, his brother seemed to exist in a state of readied calm. He tried to focus on the younger vampire's words, there would be time to discuss the King's invitation throughout their journey. Preparations should be finished by the end of the week, and then Lucian could throw his full energy into scheming their way into Undair's good graces and hopefully leave Ravin-Sha alive.

As the pair broke through the tree line with Murf in tow, Lucian decided to give voice to the obvious. "You care for the girl," he said quietly, not looking at Ender, keeping his gaze settled on the castle ahead. It was still some distance away, but with his keen sight, Lucian could even make out fine details on the stone architecture.

Ender said nothing, but Lucian could feel his stance shift slightly as they continued on the short journey back home.

"She is quite remarkable, isn't she?" Lucian continued. "Almost as if the room shifts around her when she enters to accommodate her power." The latter he didn't mean to speak aloud, a problem Lucian rarely had as someone so careful with his words. The girl seemed to bring that out in him, though.

Lucian noticed that his brother had slowed his pace, not stopping completely. He looked back, and it seemed the vampire was lost in thought. After a few moments of tense silence, Ender finally nodded.

"Aye, she is a force." was all he said before catching up quickly.

"Do not tell her yet that the King has requested her presence. She already knows we are leaving, best not to worry her." Lucian said as they approached the stable.

"One might think it is you that cares for the girl," Ender replied without looking at Lucian and opening the stable doors.

The older vampire remained outside, the forest was a place he could visit briefly, but he did not enter stables if he could avoid it. "Or, and this is entirely possible, brother, I do not want her to throw a tantrum again and burn down our home," he said, returning to his typical style of speech. The time for niceties had passed.

"Caroline has been lied to, her entire life. I will not do the same, nor keep the truth from her." Ender said, coming back to meet Lucian outside the stable after securing Murf in his stall.

"Is that so? Are you so quickly forgetting that it was you who told her that she could be released from the contract after a year knowing full well that it may not be possible." Lucian quipped back. "Do not be so quick to claim the moral high ground, brother."

Ender stared stonily into Lucian's eyes for a long moment before replying through clenched teeth, "I had little choice at the moment. If she had not signed when she did, we all would have been beheaded for treason."

"I do not fault you for the lie, but it was a lie none the less. You know as well as I that only the blood of the dying can break the contract. Yours or hers." Lucian said.

Lucian watched as Ender ran his large hands through tangles of wild red curls. Anguish creased the younger vampire's features before he finally spoke so quietly it was almost a whisper,

"I will find a way to release her." before storming past him to the keep.

Lucian was left in the afternoon sun, alone with his thoughts.