Bloodlines

Chapter 1: Deadly Journey

Winter frost coated the eternal green pines. The fading sunlight reflected off the white caps of the Carpathian Mountains. Near the base of the mountain among the evening dew stood a withered cabin. Inside, a young woman with blackened brown hair, her dull pink gaze towards the door. She sat at a table treating her wounded waistline with rags she found on the ground.
“Vanda run,” The scream filled Vanda’s head as much as blood that spilled onto the floor. The fear pulsing through her heart and the sudden urge to cry. She had to hold on. Tears would not solve anything for her right now.
“Why did the human’s attack us? We meant no harm to them,” Vanda spoke.
Her voice hoarse and rough from the many miles she ran. The door opened, in the frame stood a shadowed figure. The light from the lantern shined onto her, it was a woman in the armor of their family guard, the crest of a dragon embossed on it.
“Lady Vanda? You’re alive thank the gods,” Alina sighed.
“Alina, I thought the guards called for your execution? How did you escape?” Vanda said.
“They were well trained, unfortunately for them, I have experience. I believe they no longer have the ability to acquire any longer.”
“It’s over, Alina. The traitors cut father and mother down. Without a male heir, the throne is forfeit.”
Alina approached the princess moving her hand away to check the wound then looked up into Vanda’s eyes.
“We have hope, you still draw breath princess you will be the avatar of Tepes vengeance.”
“How can I fight if I cannot even use a sword like you or father? I know more of politics and courtly poetry than cutting throats.”
“I shall train you, with your cunning you will be a master in no time.” Alina’s said in a soft airy tone.
“Alina, thank you for finding me. We should move I am sure that we will be found eventually.”
“Then we make for Moldovia, the guards of Wallachia will not trespass into there without fear of starting a war. For now rest dearest Vanda.”
“I… will try Alina, what of you?” Vanda yawned.
“I will keep watch then once you wake we shall finish this journey.”
Vanda left her chair making for the only empty bed available laying to rest using her hands to hold the pillow under her. All the while Alina moved to the chair that Vanda once occupied sitting and facing the door.
Light bared down into the windows forming heavenly squares near an empty chair. Alina stood over by the bed looking down at the resting heir.
“Lady Vanda, it’s time to rise and get moving now.” Alina held out a somewhat tattered fur coat sized for the young vampire.
“Alina I can’t be expected to wear it right?” Vanda sat up in bed locking eyes with her guard.
“You’d be right to assume that you wouldn’t expect to wear that. That’s the point. As for me I will have to lose the armor before it draws attention.” Alina placed the coat down on the bed next to Vanda going to the other end, releasing the bindings on her breastplate letting it drop on the floor.
Vanda rose from the blankets looking back to Alina who now cloaked her form as to hide her sword against her waist.
“So once we get to Moldovia, what is the plan? We sell valuables and buy a mercenary force to retake home?” Vanda placed her coat scoffed turning to assist her charge with the coat.
“Once we get to Moldovia we make contact with some old friends of house Tepes. I only hope the message I sent arrived on time.”
“Do you really believe we have friends Alina? Grandfather made most of our old friends hate us.” Vanda walked out hood draped over her hair Alina following closely to her.
“Your grandfather eroded most of our relationships with the houses of old. However, I expect we still have at least one true ally left.”
“Perhaps we do, we should be moving. Have a lot of ground to cover. You know a path out of this forest right?”
“There’s a stable on the outskirts of the nearby village. We buy two horses then ride to Moldovia.” Alina walked ahead down a path through the tall pines followed closely by Vanda.

The village guards were out in force as midday came. The guard stopped many wagons coming through. Searching for the runaways of Wallachia, in hopes of earning a reward in return. Fortunately nobody would question what seemed to be a pair of sisters making their ways to the stables.
“Sir? We are in need of a couple of horses.” Alina said. Her hood obscured her eyes from the man. A rather well-built bearded man approached looking at both of the women.
“You have come to the right man for the job. If you do not mind my curiosity, what do you need these horses for doamnă?”
“We are going to visit my brother in Moldovia, he is getting married you see.” Alina looked to Vanda, her hand was against Vanda’s back bringing them closer together.
“Of course, I suspect that this wedding is soon, and you need to be there yesterday?” The man gave a heavy laugh as he walked over to his horses grabbing the reins of two darkly colored horses back over to the women. His eyes fixated on Vanda and her tattered coat.
“Something like that, how much do we owe you sir?”
“They’re yours free of charge, on account of the young lady with you. It would be my pleasure to help.”
Vanda took the man’s free hand as to shake it.
“You’re quite welcome young lady, now I shall leave you to your journey ladies.” The reins passed to Alina now the man walked away to his stables.
Vanda opened the gate while Alina led them to the gate to leave their old home. One set of reins passed from Alina to Vanda the guard assisting the princess onto the saddle. Once in Alina got onto the other horse looking to the road out of town. Both sets of reins snapping with the women and their horses making way to Moldovia.

The sunset through the trees, light was fading as was the safety on the road. Branches on the side of the road snapped, whether it was fauna or hunters was uncertain.
“Stay close Vanda, we are nearly to the border.” Alina soon slowed her horses pace seeing a wagon roadblock and seven men adorned in leather armor the cross embedded into their armor.
“Halt, hand over the descendant of the devil and we will let you go about your day.” The leader of the men had his hands on a short sword the rest blades at a ready for a fight. Vanda moved to be behind Alina sensing the heat of her cold blood rise.
“So is this how your god tells you to treat a young woman? Perhaps your mothers taught you lot nothing?” Alina got off her horse reaching for her sword to as she neared the men.
“She is a monster like her family, it is our duty to God to prevent her from allowing a wretched line to continue. It is noble that you protect her seeing as she is but a child to your kind.” The leader approached Vanda and her horse.
“It is my duty to protect her, from all manners of villainy including the scum of your kind.” Alina drew her blade aimed at the leader for a strike while his lackeys were posed to stab her in the back.
“We have you both outnumbered, no matter your skill or strength this engagement ends with you both dying. Better to save yourself and repent to God fanged Valkyrie.” The leaders hand grabbed onto Vanda’s wrist, then his hand went limp Alina’s sword halfway through the mans lower back and abdomen.
“Then I die as a warrior doing her duty to her lords’ daughter.” She pulled the sword out spinning around to stop an incoming strike from one of the men. A crossbow bolt flew through the air to embed into another mans skull. Suddenly a yell rang out from the forest.
“Save some of these zealot bastards for me Iron Guard.” The voice carried a thick low Gaelic tone to it repeated by another bolt being fired at a man approaching Alina’s left flank.
Alina grabbed the man she locked blades with by his wrist he carried the blade with twisting it to shatter the joint. She stabbed her sword into his chest grabbing his blade throwing it to the throat of the man to her left.
The remaining three men ran past Vanda and Alina screaming as they dropped their blades. A hooded figure came out of the forest crossbow in hand letting out a chuckled breath.
“Callum Blackheart ladies, at your service I spose.” He looked to Vanda then stopped as he made full eye contact with Alina.
“Callum? It’s been too long since we spoke last. Glad it was you to get my message.” Alina’s tone of voice lightened after she removed her sword from the corpse it was in.
“Felt like a century since we last spoke you still think of me?” Callum holstered his crossbow onto his back. All the while behind them Vanda’s eyes rolled.
“Alina, weren’t we suppose to stop and chat with allies in Moldovia?” Vanda’s tone sounded like a young girl watching her parents’ flirt.
“Ah, yes well Callum would you be so kind as to take the wagon to the border with us?” Alina had a slight smile on her face as she got back onto her horse. She watched carefully with as their new companion called for his horse to the wagon.
“Just be glad young one, could’ve been my brother who received the message.” He hooked his horse to the wagon now able to have it be pulled to the first town in Moldovia the other two horses following behind closely.