Chapter 148: The Black Host

Chapter 148: The Black Host

A woman sat atop her throne of platinum and silver. She had ghostly pale skin, glowing red eyes, white hair that looks like it has been bleached, long pointed ears that showed her elven heritage and sharp fangs to show that she has abandoned said heritage.

“My lady Rosa the foe’s hive continues to resist us.” a voice says from the side. Rosa lazily turned her head to one of her lesser vampire thralls and she raised a brow.

“Will we be delayed?” Rosa asked.

“Not anymore than we already have, we have instructed the rats to break off and delay the hive.” the thrall said.

“Good, but I expect not to be delayed...” Rosa said as she opened her hand and the thrall’s face was magically pulled forward. Rosa grasped his head in her palm and long nails started to grow out of her hand and the nails pierced his skin drawing blood. The vampire thrall stiffened but made no sound, he knew any reaction other than submission would only put himself at greater risk.

The Lady of the Sanguine Citadel, Rosa Maledicta was well known both for her power and her cruelty. She was a tyrant in the purest sense of the word, she crawled her way to the top and now she sat on a throne built on a million dead souls. If there ever was a being on Terra that could be compared to a demon, Rosa Maledicta would be a prime candidate.

“I expect that fortress to be ready for my arrival, my timely arrival...” Rosa said as her pupils narrowed and her mouth filled with needle-like fangs. Her once beautiful face contorted to reveal a beast with an unhinged jaw that seemed almost like a skin covered snake.

“If I am not appropriately welcomed, I will flay all of you alive and have you put on poles for the crows.” Rosa said and the thrall shifted his head forward slightly as if to nod.

“Good.” Rosa said as she released him and her face instantly morphed back into a petite and beautiful elven face.

“Now be a dear and make sure the children know what to do.” Rosa said as she turned away. The thrall simply bowed as rivulets of blood ran down his face from the puncture wounds before exiting the room.

“Are you truly that confident in those beasts that ancient gave you?” another male voice said, his tone betraying a challenge.

Rosa turned to look at the speaker and it was an elf just like her albeit he looked much older. He had the same washed out white hair that looked like it had faded from their race's usual lustrous blonde hair. His face as per his natural state was locked in a stern grimace.

Rosa sneered at his question but she couldn’t outright dismiss him. Whether she liked it or not, this man Ordias Derenge was essential to the success of this Black Crusade. The vampires were not this cohesive force, they were made of individual courts that often bickered and competed. War amongst themselves were regular occurrences and schemes were just part of your daily schedule. Right now in the black waste that was Necoronas there were two prominent factions. The first being Rosa Maledicta’s faction that was built on necromantic constructs, she created power through creating undead abominations. She was an agent of chaos who held nothing sacred and preferred to revel in depravity and debauchery.

Ordias Derenge was quite the opposite and was a strange vampire overall. He was an instrument or order and would be considered the perfect disciplined soldier in many armies. The story goes that Ordias was exiled from the Elven homeland for being too extreme in his methods. He then proceeded to conquer the nearest bastion to the Elven homeland and turned it into a home for warriors of order who held his rather extreme beliefs. So now he leads a large army of exiles and devotees from his Black Iron Fortress. To the Elves eternal frustration he was just in arms reach for any exiles. It was said that the Elves have launched a hundred campaigns against his Fortress and a hundred campaigns were repelled.

One notable quote from the infamous Ordias Derenge was one said to an Elven general.

I was exiled because all of you were too weak to do what must be done

You lost here today because you were too weak to do what must be done

You had all the conditions for victory and you wasted it for petty sentimentality

Ordias Derenge led the Order of the Blood Knights, the largest collection of vampires in Necoronas and they were all military trained. If Rosa wanted any hope of storming fortifications effectively she would need military expertise of Ordias Derenge. Normally she would loathe to bring someone like him along but with the Black Crusade facing a Hive she would need the additional combat power he provided.

“I have seen the beasts myself, they are truly something to behold. The ancients truly do know far more than we do.” Rosa said with a wicked smile as her mind went to the four abominations that were gifted to her. They were her trump card and she was relishing the moment to unleash her horrors upon the putrid lizards.

“The lizards may not be the only problem, my spies within the Lizards say that the Averlonian Empire has joined the fray. We can expect our foes to double. I doubt we will find easy prey in this desert.” Ordias said as if reading her mind. Rosa snarled as she heard news that soured her mood, she wanted to rip his smug face off but she needed him.

“Then I hope your toy soldiers are able to prevent any delays. We do not want to get caught while we are attacking a fortress. That would be, as you would say, tactically unsound.” Rosa said her tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Yes you are right, getting flanked in the middle of an assault would risk encirclement. An obvious situation to avoid. Anyone with a rudimentary grasp of field combat tactics would understand this.” Ordias said calmly as he raised a brow at Rosa who in turn narrowed her eyes in annoyance.

“Then I hope your knights do their duty, the rabble can be hard to control.” Rosa said.

“They are Blood Knights, they know their duty.” Ordias replied calmly.

Jena didn’t even dare to breathe as she watched the man get swallowed. Then she saw a flash of black and red as a Blood Knight appeared and hacked the creature’s head off. Then with another swift cut it opened the belly. From the belly emerged half a dozen Thralls which were still alive. The Thralls gasped and yelped as they desperately tried to crawl out from the depths of the creature.

“Yes it appears the Hive is trying to take the Thralls alive. Your suspicion on the herding behavior was correct” the Blood Knight said dispassionately.

Jena didn’t move a muscle, she was half buried in the sand and she silently trembled as she watched the scene before her.

“We should go, the bait has been expended.” another Blood Knight said. This one had a special armor that denoted him as a Blood Knight Signifier, which just Blood Knight magic specialists.

“Agreed.” the other Blood Knight said and Jena watched as he began to channel a spell as they walked away from the beast’s corpse. They ended up standing not too far away from where Jena was. At that moment Jena had to make a decision. If she stayed here she would just be food or worse. So the decision was clear and Jena scrambled to her feet and ran towards the Blood Knights. The Blood Knights turned to look at her just as the spell activated.

Jena was engulfed in a blue light and the next thing she knew she found herself back in the ziggurat she knew all too well. Jena looked around in vague happiness but the next thing she knew she felt an armored fist strike her face.

Jena went sprawling onto the cold stones as blood dribbled from her ruined nose and mouth.

“You wretch.” the cold voice of the Blood Knight hissed as he approached.

“Please.” Jena sputtered through a mouthful of blood. She could feel the warm liquid flowing down her mouth and dripping off her chin. She suddenly realized what she had done, in the moment she didn’t think but now she was all too aware of what was going to happen.

Jena in a last desperate bid threw herself at the feet of the Blood Knight, she grabbed his armored foot and started sputtering apologies and excuses.

In response the Blood Knight yanked his foot up and stomped on her hands. Jena screamed in agony as she felt the bones in her hands snap from the shock.

“Deserter.” the Blood Knight spat.

Jena by now was just a sobbing heap on the ground. What was she to do? If she came back here at least she had a chance. She may be worthless trash but she wanted to live, she didn't want to die...

What is going on here?

A cold voice said and Jena’s voice caught in her throat for a moment as she recognised that voice. Then she brought her head to the ground and began to wail like a wounded animal. It was over for her, if that person was here then it was all over...

“Lictor Ordias Derenge, apologies. This Thrall managed to get within range of our teleportation circle.” the Blood Knight said.

“A deserter then. You failed to remain in control of your troops. Do you have an explanation Maralictor?” Ordias said coldly as he glanced at the sobbing pile of refuse on his stone floor.

“I have no excuses Lictor Derenge. I accept any responsibility for this error.” the Blood Knight replied.

“Then a hundred lashes for each of you. As for the Thrall, have her flogged before the other Thralls. We cannot tolerate desertion within our ranks.” Ordias said coldly and Jena looked up for a moment to see him staring at her. The gaze she received was one reserved for the lowliest of trash. Not even actual feces would qualify, at least feces could be forgiven for being useless beyond being used as fertilizer.

“Should I have one of her family join her as per protocol?” the Blood Knight said.

“Of course, she deserted her post. The punishment must match the crime.” Ordias said as he approached Jena. She looked up at him, her eyes pleading in the vain hope of mercy.

“Mercy...” Jena begged but Ordias didn’t even react to the words.

As per protocol both of them are to be flogged to the bone...

And then some more...

Until they expire...