Beck Almgren mumbled darkly under his breath.
“How is Bruno?” the Heliwr asked, looking at the bedridden knight.
Merle took a deep breath. “He lives. He is a tough man with a hard spirit. Even with the healing draught I gave him, he will awaken soon, I think.”
“Who…or what…did this to him?”
“Before he called yeh to Rome, Bruno confided that a vampire of extraordinary power led the warriors in the catacombs,” Cardinal Ramirez said. “The creatures that lay dead before the portal? They are but toddlers to this monster. I think his wounds are evidence of that.”
Charles took note of the damage done to Bruno, a resolute pit of anger growing within. Vampires were dangerous, but not normally to the knights who warded the seven fixed entrances into Annwn. The guardians carried weapons imbued with fey magic and most knew spells from Merle to keep safe. The vampire who had overpowered Bruno had to be ancient and strong beyond recall.
The Heliwr found one aspect strange though. If a vampire had overcome Bruno, why did the knight still live? Especially without having been bitten and turned?
“Did anything else get past him?” Charles asked.
“Two or three others,” Merle said. “You will need Berrytrill to keep you safe.”
“Speaking of, where is yer guide, Charles?” Cardinal Ramirez asked. “I have not heard a whisper of his wings on the air since yeh entered.”
Charles removed the cloak he wore. He would look out of place if his pursuit took him topside into Vatican City anyway. Before he finished folding it, Berrytrill flew free like a sparrow released, the fairy hovering in midair, his wings a blur and his twig arms folded crossly as if to defend himself.
“We waste time, Charles,” the fey creature said.
“There he is,” the Seer said, smiling.
“Get that abomination out of here!” Beck Almgren snarled.
“He is only a fairy, my able companion and guide. He will remain, whether you like it or not, Captain,” Charles said pointedly. “You have my word that he will cause you no harm nor be observed by Rome’s denizens.”
“Cardinal Seer Ramirez, you have gone too far!” the captain grated. “To welcome such a creature onto holy ground is a sin beyond a sin. It is my duty to keep that creature out of Rome! If that thing gets near me, I’ll—”
“Do what, asssqueak?” Berrytrill sniffed. “Why I would want to sully my royal person with the likes of you is quite beyond my understanding.”
Beck Almgren reddened. “You little vermin—”
“Enough of this,” Merle cut in. The room went silent. “Ancient arguments and animosities do not serve us this day. An emissary of the Swiss Guard returns bearing news for all to hear.”
To this, a guard stormed into the room, bowing quickly. “Captain, we have it cornered!”
“Where?”
“It’s in the Vatican Secret Archives.”
“Whatever for?” Captain Almgren questioned. “What would it want with archaic writings and crumbling parchment?”
“Knowledge,” Merle said.
“How do you know that?” the captain asked.
“If I traveled from one world to another at great risk to visit a library, I’d be after information,” Merle said darkly. He looked to Charles. “And only one of us can assure the vampire is still there.”
Charles nodded and called the Dark Thorn. Magic infused the room. Moving to a rarely used corner, the Heliwr brought the staff up and stabbed it into Italy. Although fashioned from the Holy Thorn at Glastonbury Abbey in England, the butt of the Dark Thorn entered the rock easily, the magic pushing aside the physical boundaries of stone even as it connected with the world. Bringing his will to bear, Charles focused on his quarry, seeking what was hidden. It did not take long. The magic snaked upward from the Seer’s quarters, into the catacombs, to the surface of the Vatican grounds.
It ended within one of the buildings to the north of St. Peter’s Basilica.
There Charles would find the creature.
“I have my way,” he said.
“Is he in the Vatican Secret Archives still?” Cardinal Ramirez asked.
“He is.”
“What will you do?” Beck Almgren questioned Charles.
“What I must,” Charles said. With a hint of a smile, he added, “Talk first, I would think. Ask him to return to Annwn. If that fails and he won’t, I will…improvise.”
“One more thing, Captain Almgren,” the guard said. “It’s taken three prisoners. Cardinal Archivist Cesare Farina and two of his night interns.”
“That makes things more dangerous,” Cardinal Ramirez said.