All That Is Evil Is Not Dark/Chapter 19

Darin considered Tralin and Myr with some considerable alarm. While Myr had fervently opposed Tralin's use of the Metanoia, in the time since his recovery Tralin and Myr had become very close, as if the Drakel had not just gone berserk for all the world to see and killed the entire undead army. Alright, to be fair, it was not really an army any more, just a battalion, but still.

Delnar approached Darin then from the east. Darin had become used to the undead's presence by now and the addition of further magics by Tralin and Myr had suspended the decay completely. Unless one knew directly that Delnar was not among the living, there was no obvious outward way to tell.

"The ship is made ready, Darin, Tralin."

"Are you sure you wish to stay in Stone Deep, Delnar?" Darin asked the knight. "A warrior that cannot be killed would be a welcome addition to the Derenian armies."

"Ah, but I can be killed, was killed, which is more the point. No, Darin, my obligation to Deren died with the king. I would have died too had Myr not persuaded me so fervently."

"Your friendship with Myr is a fascinating beast. You have a fierce defender in him..."

"And he in me..." Delnar paused before continuing. "One might say we saved each other's lives, such as they are... Tralin helped finalize my decision, though. He gave me his leave and freed me of my obligation. I take up service to Myr's temple at the next new moons."

"Dark time is a little over a month and a half away; what do you do in the interim?"

"I suspect keeping busy will not prove too challenging. The Brilhado and undead are bound to return. Even if the original ones do not, those located elsewhere in the realms will. Myr was a prize... he was snatched from their grasp."

"A very expensive prize...." Darin commented, looking about the grounds.

"I never would have expected that of you, Vandarian."

"What?"

"Remorse, regret. You seemed the less fanatical when I met with your general, but I heard the news later that you were the real driving force behind the fanaticism. You have changed..."

"As I said once, I am a vampire. I latch on to what makes me survive."

"That is not vampirism," Delnar responded.

"No?"

"No," he affirmed. "That is humanity."

Tralin moved from Myr to Darin deftly, his emotionless features chilling in their inexpressiveness now that Darin knew just what they might conceal.

"Commander," Tralin said, "are you ready?"

"I am, my lord."

"Then let us go. I imagine Jano is anxious to be freed from his obligations, considering his apparent reluctance when I last left him. Goodbye, Sir Delnar."

"I am no longer a knight, Lord Tralin."

"And I am no longer your lord, so we are even." Tralin looked at him again. "Though I suppose that you will be a knight again. Your temple employs them."

"Yes," Myr responded with a chuckle, "it does."

"Flee now if you know what’s good for you, Delnar," Darin advised mockingly. "I recognize this conversation style. Last time it was employed on me, I ended up commanding the front line."