James said, “So that would mean the great and powerful magic-using vampire is out there somewhere. And he - it -is behind all this.”
Solon said, “Aye. The Temple teaches what it knows about the forces of darkness. The blood-drinkers are an old and powerful line of evil, said to have descended from a single, cursed magician who lived ages ago in some distant and unknown land. No one knows if the tale is true, but it has been told in the chronicles that from time to time such a cursed one appears, and woe betide those who chance upon him.”
“Why?” asked Kendaric.
All eyes turned to him.
Solon asked, “Why does ‘woe betide’ those who chance across him?”
“No, I mean why do such creatures exist?”
Solon replied, “No one knows. What the Temple teaches is that the forces of darkness often benefit when chaos reigns, so much of what they do is merely to cause problems for order and good.”
Kendaric nodded. “All right, I can accept that. But why here?”
James said, “It should be obvious. Someone doesn’t want us to reach the Tear.”
‘The Tear?” Farmer Nathan asked, bewildered.
James waved away the question with a gesture. “You don’t really wish to know, trust me. Just suffice it to say that magic around here is not what it should be.”
“That is the truth, “ agreed Jazhara.
“It must be that witch,” said Nathan. “She’s the only user of magic in these parts.”
Jazhara said, “Has she been a problem before?”
“No,” admitted the farmer. “But. . . well, who else could it be?”
“That is what we must find out,” said James. Listening to the voices from outside, he added, “How long will they keep this up?”
Nathan said, “Until first light. They perish from its touch, it is said.”
James said, “Said by whom?”
Nathan blinked. “Sir?”
“Never mind,” said James, as he lay down on the floor. “I’m dubious as to the origin of many beliefs. It’s a character flaw. Wake me when they go away.”
Jazhara nodded and said, “Then what do we do?”
“Find this magic-using vampire and put him out of his misery.”
“Aye,” said Solon. “If we can do that, the rest will fade away, it is said.”
James resisted the urge to ask again “by whom” and merely said, “There can’t be many places around here for such a one to hide.”
“Oh, I can tell you where one such place is,” said Nathan.
James sat upright. “Where?”
“In the graveyard, south of the village. There’s a crypt there that has been broken into. There’s something in there, I’m certain.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“I did,” said Nathan. “But Toddy and the others wanted to hear no part of it. Father Rowland said something about the forces of the gods would protect the properly buried, or something like that, and ignored me.”
“That’s odd,” said Solon. “A priest of Sung the Pure would be among those most interested in investigating such a desecration. Their order is in the forefront of the battle against just these kinds of dark forces.”
“Maybe others are,” said Nathan. “But he just holds his prayer meetings and rails against the witch. Maybe he’s right.”
“Again, ‘the witch!’” said Jazhara with open contempt. “What has this woman done?”
“Well, Farmer Alton claims she’s poisoned his cows, and Farmer Merrick’s little girl lies abed with some cursed sickness the witch sent her way.”
“But why?” asked Solon. “If this woman has been kind to you before, why’d she turn her hand on you now?”
Nathan shrugged. “You tell me. You’re a priest - “
“Monk,” corrected Solon.
“ - monk, so you must know why these things happen.”
Shaking his head, Solon said, “Ah, if only it were so. No, the ways of evil are a mystery.”
James said, “Hold the theological debate down, will you? I’m going to get some sleep.”
Listening to the low voices from outside and the shuffling of footsteps around the house, Kendaric said, “How can you sleep with that going on?”
James opened one eye and said, “Practice.” He closed it and within minutes was asleep.
Just before sunrise the voices ceased. James woke up to find Solon sound asleep on the floor, while a fatigued Jazhara sat with her arms around her knees, her staff at hand, watching the door. Nathan sat silently nearby. Kendaric had succumbed to sleep and lay on the wooden floor, snoring.
James rolled over, his joints protesting a night spent on such an unyielding surface, and got to his feet. He gently nudged Kendaric with his boot. The wrecker sat up with an alarmed expression on his face, shouting, “What!”
Solon was instantly awake, then realizing it was only Kendaric making the noise, sat back again. “Sunrise?”
James nodded.
Nathan stood as well and asked, “What will you do this day?”
Jazhara said, “Find the source of this evil.”