Beyond Blood and Claws

"The moon and the stars guide me to your presence, Your Majesty. May the forces of nature bring you prosperity, but be wary of the shadows that follow" the shaman chanted, announcing her presence as she made her way towards the throne.

The sky outside was grey and cold. Darkness covered the great land of Valguardia, wiping off its former glory. The rich land, which had been blessed and highly favored by the heavens was now a cascading shadow of itself. It was starting to resemble what the humans feared the vampire kingdom looked like; a dark and empty waste land.

"Your presence I have waited upon for the longest" king Krov spoke back impatiently. His eyes stared instinctively at Elara, the shaman whom he had summoned, two days ago. He couldn't help but wonder what other duties might have been more important than his call, but decided not to act on her disobedience immediately.

"In the uncertainty of the night, I tread carefully. It is a challenging part that I walk" she spoke up confidently, before taking a bow to show her loyalty.

"Do my eyes fail me or are the guards slacking on their duties tonight ?" Elara observed, taking a look around her. The throne room she remembered was usually secured with a lot of guarding men. This was trying times for the land, a time where the king needed to be protected at all costs. It was not a time to take a vacation- she thought.

"They shall not be a part of tonight's activities" King Krov enlightened her, adjusting his shoulders. His eyes glowed with a fiery light, a burning desire that seemed to flicker and dance within his dark gaze. His lips were set in a grim line, the fear and concern were evident in the set of his jaw and the tension in his forehead.

"Trouble has befallen our great land, despite my greatest efforts to maintain peace. Evil crawls about every corner and I can not seem to find the cause" he spoke in a terse but guarded tone.

Elara took a deep breath before unveiling herself. Her fair supple skin, sipping out and blending with the lights from the room. Her gaze was sharp, the softness of her palms, slowly dropping the thick fabric to the ground.

Looking up, she raises her hands, her sleeves falling in a gentle wave, her voice a steady and strong command.

"Gabhair sinn na freagraí and aimsighfinnid."

(We sort answers and we shall find them.)

"Let the veil between the worlds be lifted and the tairis of the elder days be revealed to us" she chanted continuously, moving around in circles as she took part in an ancient ritual dance.

Suddenly, she dropped to the floor, picking out and lighting up some candles before drawing some lines on the floor with her fingers.

As the candles flickered around her, casting shadows across the room, she reached into her bag, pulling out a crystal ball. Elara held the ball in front of her, the soft candle light, causing the facet to shine and reflect.

She focuses her gaze on the swelling mists within the ball, her breathing slow and steady as she begins to chant.

"spirit of the past, hear my plea" she begins, her voice a gentle whisper.

"Guide my vision and give me insight".

The mist within the ball began to take shape, forming abstract images and symbols that only Elara could understand. Meanwhile, king Krov watched her closely, his eyes never leaving her as she performed her rituals.

"My lord, before we venture down the path that fate has set before us, I must first ask you if you have truly made peace with my kind".

King Krov sat up a little straighter at the hearing of this. He understood what she was referring to. Elara belonged to the race of the human kind. Long ago, Vampires and the humans had been at war but they had finally come to an agreement. Setting their boundaries and respecting the other's territory. It was something he fought to establish among his people when he became king of Valguardia.

"yes" he answered, his tone firm and resolute.

"The treaties have been signed, and peace has been established".

Elara nods, her eyes still fixed on the crystal ball.

"Good," she says.

"peace is a necessary foundation for the journey we must embark on".

The images on the crystal began to change as she said this, taking on a new shape and form.

" I must also ask if you had made peace with all of your neighboring kingdoms," she said, her voice still low and gentle.

The king hesitates for a moment before responding.

"yes" he answers, his gaze steady and unyielding.

Elara nodded, but she had a look of uncertainty in her eyes.

"And yet," she paused, her voice taking on a more serious tone.

"the land has fallen into darkness and I sense an ill presence in our midst".

King Krov frowned, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean by that ?".

She took in a deep breath, preparing for the next part of her message.

"I have found the answers. There is a kingdom nearby that is the source of the darkness that plagues your land".

"who dares to bring such darkness upon us?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Elara leaned forward, her grip on the crystal ball tightening.

"The people of Hamletvale have fallen under a dark influence. They have been corrupted, and their hearts have grown cold".

King Krov's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching as he processed the information.

"So you are saying that the people of Hamletvale are responsible for the darkness that has befallen us ?".

She nods slowly to this, her gaze focusing on the king's face.

"They have embraced a dark power that have consumed them, and they now seek to spread that power to other lands and kingdoms".

The king's expression hardened as he realizes the gravity of the situation.

"Then what must be done?" he asked, his voice almost a low growl.

Elara stared deeply into the king's cold eyes. He had not changed, neither has the determined look on his ever young face. He had his secrets, that she knew by heart. He was a vampire who had lived for many many years and had still kept a youthful glow. She was certain he would be equal to the task at hand.

"Hamletvale is the source of the darkness that has befallen us. You must lead your men to destroy the corruption, and you must go with them to ensure that it is fully eradicated."

"This is the oracle".

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