Chương 350: 7.6

Over Three hundred were slain. At least that was the best guess they could make. Not all of the bodies were complete. Almost none were in a recognizable state. By position, with no surviving family or friends to vouch for them most of the dead were sorted as travelers with the caravans, their names, identities or even homeland completely unknown. A few had been identified by scraps of cloth or personal items still left on their corpses.

And proper rites to their stars and people offered to the dessicated ruin made of them. Over three hundred people were slaughtered that night, torn apart and drained. Left so brittle and dry that their bodies burned like well dried kindling. It was an act of brutality and horror, made all the more stark for striking immediately after such a festive and joyous evening, like a brutal beheading at a feasting table.

And despite her best efforts Jewel, Erhard and his armored warriors were not the only ones who had to face the Wallachian Terrors. Only in ones and twos did they slip past the main fighting lines, but even against Jewel's senses some had found their way amidst not just the peddlers and their mercenaries, but all the way into the heart of Jewel's camp! Five had been stopped at her very tent! Apparently her Priest and Divine Advisor Leo had been given the necessary means to invoke Erhard's talismans of protection.

And with Paul's own blessing protecting him and the direct miracle of Asherah upon the tent they had held against the blood drinkers that had torn into the camp. Or as the surviving villagers were already whispering fearfully." Vampires" Jewel felt drained and defeated even in her victory. After final counting a dozen of her footmen and twenty of her staff were among those struck down by the stragglers that had broken through.

No one she knew very well, Murial and Smithson had even been part of the killing blow on a blood drinker! But even if they were not her inner circle that loss of her people, the death of those directly under her protection stung in her chest worse than her bruised and battered flanks and limbs. The vicious things were terribly fast!

Even without weapons, blades or anything but their own strength and teeth having three of them at any given time trying to pry, bite or simply pummel her out of the air had left her body an awful mess of bruises and aches. Fifteen of Erhard's armored soldiers had broken ribs from when the metal had dented around fists, but none of them had died. Few that had to stood up to the monsters could say as much.

Between the night long battle, the devastating initial surprise attack and utterly horrific massacre Jewel, her entourage and all the other caravaners had not the spirit to depart. Word had been sent by multiple runners and riders to the nearest towns that had a messenger aeries. Both north and south, all local Magarskan and thus able to be 'trusted' over Jewel's own 'foreign men'. But it was impossible to muster the will to pack.

So she rested in her tent in preparation of the funeral pyres she would oversee that night. She was so tired, yet there was far too much that needed doing and subjects that needed speaking to for her to take to sleep as some of her men were doing. She called Leo to join the rest of her council that afternoon to see to one such vital matter that came to light in the battle. Jewel already was trusting his judgement after seeing his experience and knowledge through Gem's eyes.

And this last act to defend her clutch and smaller self in the night? He'd more than shown his expertise and valor since joining her court. And this was a matter that she direly needed his experience with the heavens for. Looking around at those gathered in her tent there was only one face without a haggard look of fatigue from the night's trials. And for that one Jewel was pretty sure it was only because Erhard's wizardry had somehow made him forget how to feel tired.

Paul, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep had only just changed out of his actual war armor a few hours ago. Muriel had refused to leave her own even if it was leathers sparse on steel, but Jewel honestly suspected it was more because the stiffness of the armor was helping her stay standing. The weariness of age was just so starkly shown on her Captain's face in the tent. Lines heavily deepened by fatigue on her face and brow. Even Smithson looked years older than he had yesterday.

Also still in his armor despite the hours he had already spent in it. The Countess of Viznove sighed at the state of her council.

"The night was long, none of us got enough sleep and we've all suffered either strain or loss this day and night. Though I am glad you are all unharmed." Jewel considered each of them then nodded to the wizard.

"First matter, Erhard the crisis has passed, now you will explain to me what these protections you could provide so readily are and why is this very night the first I have heard of them!" The wizard with his rust red skin and blazing eyes nodded, face just as flat as always but the light and feel of his gaze pleased, almost eager to speak. Jewel was starting to suspect that the wizard did not in fact know how to smile so stone faced he was while brimming with joy.

"Of course Countess, It is a contingency that was woven into the deepest foundation of the ritual I developed for the High King Mathias. It-" Leo had looked particularly haggard from the battle but his back straightened and he stepped forward from the exhausted slouch he'd stood in with a furious shout." Ritual?! It was You that made those things!? How?! By the fortunes and their ire Why?! Asherah is a mother goddess, how could she possibly be associated with the making of these abominations!"

The wizard turned his face to stare at Leo then slowly turned and offered Jewel an extremely obvious questioning gaze, blatantly asking for permission to acknowledge the priest. At her nod, Erhard turned back to her counselor on the heavens.

"The initial working was one created by Jaska the Red, former Court wizard of the late Countess Bathory. Through great difficulty and trial the goddess Asherah was found to be the ideal divinity to provide means to control and anchor the otherwise feral results of Jaska's failure where by-" Leo huffed heavily." Control?! There was no control last night!" Erhard's brow began to lower minutely over his fiery eyes, an astounding amount of expression for the wizard in Jewel's experience.

"On the contrary, oh priest, the countermeasure instilled into the subjects of Tepe's use of the ritual shows that the proper controls have been maintained. For better or worse the attackers last night were acting in such a manner that did not violate the vows of their creation." Leo was standing directly in front of Erhard then, shouting in his face." Vows?! Which. Vows. Were. Made?!" The wizard's brows shifted ever so slightly closer together.

The spittle from Leo's outburst sizzling off his face in the heat of his metal skin.

"I cannot say precisely, the Ritual is one which could not be standardized, every enactment requires a personal vow between the subject and Asherah. Count Tepe's own vow was to uphold the health, happiness and security of his subjects in Wallachia. And it was only after he was found stable that the means of enacting the ritual was given to-" This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Jewel winced and Leo immediately collapsed with a pained scream.

The sound of someone breaking their bones trying to strike a body far too durable for their efforts was one she very much wished she did not intimately know. Erhard turned to look at Jewel, leaving the priest bawling incontinently from the pain of having most certainly broken his right hand on the wizard's face. Paul and Muriel stared down at the sobbing priest. Muriel especially was almost snarling at the sight. Jewel could only sigh.

"Court Wizard Erhard the Ironhand. Are you by chance knowledgeable enough in the work of sorcery that you could safely restore Priest Leo Haeborne's hand?" There was again little expression on the wizard's face but she could feel the exasperation in the fire in his eyes before he turned back to the crying Leo cradling his hand. Everyone's tempers were badly tested by the lack of sleep. And Jewel was not exactly pleased with the Court Wizard herself. So she'd forgive the unseemly act of striking Erhard.

Although the sobbing was grating on her frayed nerves. The wizard finally answered.

"I can mend it as well as any other, but I am told my methods are unpleasant." Jewel sighed heavily again.

"So long as the harm is not permanent I'll allow his sufferance of it as compensation for striking you without just cause. Is that fair Erhard? Would you please heal him then?" The wizard nodded and then with a snap of his fingers and an equally painful wrenching and another sharp scream from Leo there was no longer any wailing. Smithson sighed heavily in relief. Muriel simply muttered out " soft idiot" under her breath.

For a moment the lethargy from spending all night in battle, then half a day seeing to the ruin after leaving her entire council unsteadily enjoying the quiet. However Leo did not stir from his place on the tent's floor. Alas there was no time to let anyone in this tent to rest just yet. Jewel leaned languidly over to look and confirmed that the mangled knuckles did seem properly straightened and healed but there was another problem now.

"Erhard, Might you possibly also make sure that the man is once again awake as well? I requested him here as my counsel in matters of the heavens, not for his martial fortitude. I'm sure you can see how this discussion is justifiably related to his position?" The wizard's face did not change but Jewel could feel how aggrieved he was at the request. Still with another nod something happened and then Leo jolted awake with a gasp.

Then gave a pained wince and a groan before flexing his hand, looking up at Erhard, mouth twisting into a grimace, hate starting well up in his sweat again. But Jewel had no patience for another insult. Her voice filled the room." Priest Leo Haeborne, You are here to advise, while I can appreciate that all of us are deeply frayed and upset from the events of last night you will compose yourself as befits your station as my advisor!" There was not a hint of sorcery or flame on her tongue, only sheer volume and tone.

But as totally as any spell it silenced not just those in the tent but much of the bustle and murmurs far beyond it through the camp. Her priest looked like he was nearing another embarrassing faint, but then he visibly mastered himself and took a heavy inhalation and then a slow and shaky sigh before struggling to his feet and bowing to her. Voice suddenly serenely calm and even.

"My Countess I apologize, but the incompetence, nay the absolutely insane negligence of what the Court Wizard has proposed? No Diviner beyond an apprentice should have approved of thi-" Erhard's heavy metallic bellow was simultaneously flat in tone and simmering furious to Jewel's ear. Curiously he just droned flatly in Gem's hearing.

"The High Priestess of Asherah in the Capital of the Realm Itself set down the invocations of the goddess in person and dictated to me on numerous details of the precise nature that it was to trigger its exact execution. It was further refined and vouched for by a council of thirty other priests who each have been working with the heavens longer than you've breathed Leo Haeborne." Jewel raised a brow at that, watching to see how her counselor would respond.

She half expected another outburst, more fury, but instead he straightened out the rumpled cloth and leather armor that he had been wearing since she saw him at dawn.

"Be that as it may, an individually contingent vow as the sole means of control and binding a creature of this nature? Not just that but one made with the very target of the invoked miracle choosing it? That is not control! That is pissing into the wind and thinking you'd remain dry." Every word was said with calm, every utterance soft spoken. Jewel had to suppress her own grin, but Gem's lips were split so wide her cheeks were hurting. The delivery would have been delightful.

But even more she watched with amazement as the speech of even toned recrimination seemed to genuinely bring a visible pain to Erhard. It was fascinating. Twice now Leo had somehow spurned a reaction from the wizard that Jewel was almost certain had already replaced his face with near immovable iron! The wizard then even sighed in frustration!" It was the only option available. The damage the ritual does to the nature of its subject means no binding from outside their nature can be imposed.

The only bindings they will not fight, rage against and ultimately erode and break free of must only come from within their own selves. A vow made truly and uncoerced without duress or it doesn't work at all." Leo briefly seemed to struggle to retain his composure, then stilled again. Serenity filling his face.

"That is not control." Erhard's brows shifted together again." It is self control, Jaska's curse used to strip them of even that. But I was able to restore it. With divine vows and the work of the heavens I restored to them the ability to choose to follow their accursed starvation or not." Leo stared at the wizard, then actual emotion stirred in him, befuddlement and then a mounting horror, then again calm." That's why you needed a mother goddess!" Erhard nodded back to him.

But Jewel was either too addled by lack of sleep in both her heads or too inexperienced in the heavens despite her reading. Fortunately Erhard seemed inclined to elaborate.

"To birth a will once destroyed. To allow freedom tempered by guidance. And if necessary to call them home if they no longer can bear the burden of their existence." Leo stepped back and collapsed down into the cushions of Jewel's bedding.

"And you bound a judgement, a conditional enforced reflection and reconsidering, a fragile point of critical strain into the miracle itself that could be shattered if confronted by Asharah and her symbol." The priest who had been so full of fury and then serenely calm now seemed somewhat lost, almost broken by whatever he had pieced together. Erhard for his part nodded and Jewel could see a glint of respect in his eyes before he apparently dismissed Leo from consideration and turned back to Jewel.

"The Countess' judgement continues to prove exemplary, it took significantly longer for many of your priest's seniors in god working in the Capital to realize the intent behind that feature of the ritual. The vows are as rightfully identified and demonstrated last night insufficient control or protection for a weapon of this potency. Which is why greater assurances were needed." Jewel could hear a hoarse whisper barely pass Leo's lips echoing ' weapon?!'

The wizard either did not hear or did not care to pause in his explanation.

"While tests in the capital had appeared effective, the results demonstrated here in the field have proven the tree of Asharah's success as a countermeasure intrinsically embedded and irrevocably part of the working itself still holds despite attempts to sabotage them." Jewel glanced at Leo but he was apparently still too distraught over what had been revealed, she would have to confer with him later, perhaps after he got some rest.

In fact as she was wobbling a bit as Gem, after both of her got some rest would be good as well. She shifted her gaze back to the Wizard with great force of will. His droning voice threatened to lull her exhaustion into sleep. Still she needed to say something.

"But this attack was feral, they were hardly acting any more controlled then the original things from Bathory's dungeons." The Wizard nodded to Jewel.

"That is what I mean by attempts to sabotage it." Erhard turned to glare down at Leo then back at Jewel.

"As was so elegantly demonstrated, just because a stricture emerges from the heart of a man, that does not mean he will choose to not commit violent acts. If I was to guess, Count Tepes simply found subjects for the ritual who made significantly less restrictive vows for themselves than he himself or his soldiers had." His eyes like hot coals swept the rest of Jewel's council with his smoldering gaze.

"Then he let them loose beyond his borders at a convenient time and place." Jewel could see the fury rising in Muriel as the wizard finished his piece and she just knew that they were going to be at this until it was time for her to oversee the funerals. Jewel held strong. This discussion was necessary and it could no longer wait. But she was so tired.