As soon as Jodiah passed the portal, three heavily armored skeletons surrounded him, one leading the way to the gate. Exit from portal was on a scorched area, near a mountain. The temple was surrounded by smooth basalt walls that seemed grown from earth itself. Skeletons escorted the Death Knight through the gate, into the outer courtyard, and led him to the practice rings. The runeblade wasn't taken from him - though Jodiah wasn't allowed into the inner circle of the walls. The weather in the mountains was snowy and chilling, which added to the feel of dark magic coursing through the entire place. It was a contrast of black basalt, marble and gabbro, and white snow. On a black marble slab sat the vampire, dressed weirdly lightly - in shorts and simple linen shirt. Heavy broadsword was sheathed, strapped to her back. Rhaine hardly cared for outside image. May it be for naive fools... She was expecting the Death Knight she has learned about.

"Took you some courage to get through the gate?" vampiress smiled sarcastically.
"Courage is never in short supply, woman," he spoke as he slid his runeblade back into its sheath on his side, crossing his arms over his plate-and-mail covered chest. "I had business to attend to, and it's been attended."
His manner to address her, that was annoying. Rhaine responded in similar way.
"If you count on someone trying to convert you... don't hope that I would waste my time on this. Now, we can walk into inner circle. A potential ally like you can be allowed to see the temple. Clear, human?"
She almost spat the word, hardly avoiding calling him "dhoine". It was no time to show irritation. Naturally, the man kept the tone.
"Oh, good. That means you get to keep your pretty little face, then. I do so hate converters"
Cool it, Rhaine told herself. The human has some arrogance - that is natural for their sort. She laughed, showing that his attitude didn't touch her in the slightest. "Remember my warning, Jodiah. Next time you use "woman" to address me, I will not hear you."

Standing up, Rhaine moved in dancing steps towards the second gate. The silver and ruby sigils on the inner walls shimmered in fading daylight. The human follwed her, respectfully few paces behind. Priestess did care to supply him pieces and bits of information on the location - enough to tease curiosity, but not enough to endanger the place she held so dear. Never trust a human... As the inner gates opened in a silent flare of scanning spells, she asked him if he knew anything of using gateways for planar travel. Naturally, he was not too aware of it. But the basics were least of problems. The greater problem was keeping the destruction-crazed knight on a leash and in a collar.

"There are other, not so basic things, but only those initiated can be trusted with them. Usually we have precisely-targetted missions. Small groups of Baatezu, skeletal and mortal warriors, striking precisely on target. Only a priest of my rank can open a targetted gateway," she continued, watching the face of human. A skeletal servant brought two cups of hot wine with spices. Not the sort she preferred, but she couldn't afford being picky. Explaining the general goal of missions she's intended to use the knight for, she sipped wine, and watched Jodiah's reaction to her words. Altered, distorted eyesight noticed the slightest changes.

"And no knifework. Just wanton, total, and brutal destruction you say, hm?" his voice was thoughtful, and tone reminded of the discussions with Piotr, when they spoke of tactics for future missions. She shook off the memory. Those left in Clandestine were dead. There is no return.
"The assignments may vary. Sometimes it's brutal destruction. Sometimes - no. That is for us to decide," Rhaine spoke calmly, her tone almost emotionless.
He nodded again, turning away from her and taking a few steps. He held the spiced wine in his hand while closely examining the stonework of the inner cloister. For several minutes he did not respond. When he did, he turned around on his heel toward her again, his cloak flaring out in the sudden movement. "And who is "us," Rhaine? "
Slight smirk curved priestess' lips. She looked too simple for this gothic-styled place with elaborate flame-like columns and silver patterns of sigils and wards... "The trio that defines tactics - leaders of local temple." Leaning on a column, she took a sip of spicy hot liquid. "Judging from experience - we usually succeed"
"Who are these leaders then, Rhaine? Yourself being one, I assume?"
As if that wasn't obvious. Who else could afford enough confidence to be seen in casual practice attire in the main halls of the Temple? Vampire confirmed his assumption, adding that others he might not even meet. This resulted in a slightly toxic question (and this question, naturally, was expected.... otherwise she would have never mentioned others). "Oh, truly? And if I had qualms about working for someone I never got to see?"
"You will never get to see Lord Asmodeus, and He is the chief boss of these operations. So?"
"Hm. Excellent point..." the knight nodded slowly. "For generations I have slaughtered in the name of The Nihil, and have never been to Malfeas. It is said my body would rot within seconds of being in their presence, though, so I am lost for nothing in that regard."
Having an enhanced memory was a pain sometimes. "I've been to Baator," she said. "Those serving Him might be granted the power to survive a few hours in Avernus... some exceptions have ventured further. But it's not the most pleasant place for most mortals and semi-mortals."
Ashen taste of baatorian air... Twilight of Styx shores, the pit fiend that tried to stop her and her comrade... Rhaine washed that taste with a healthy sip of fragrant liquid.

As Jodiah suggested a demonstration of "priviledges" granted by Nihil, they ventured outside. The warding could go off at outsider's attempt to use his powers. Death Knight's head turned slightly, looking at the priestess. A flare of blackness crossed his eyes, similar to the one the priests of Midnight summoned for more complex tasks. The cup in her hand crinklesd softly as it began to contract. Spiced wine spilled out across her hand as the cup decayed, dark ruby wine contrasting oddly on white snow and pale golden skin. Several seconds after it started, she was left with a hand full of ash clinging to dripping wine. Death Knight sniffed softly, offering his cup to her.

Calm laugh only outlined her confidence. The accelerated decay was impressive. But... nothing could surprise someone of her rank. "Sweet," Rhaine spoke, shaking off the ashes. As Jodiah explained about the combat uses of such a power, he did mention it was taxing on him. Having a skeletal servant bring her another cup, Rhaine listened. Antimagic shell was almost effortless, and merging with shadow to pass the walls was as easy as breathing. Targetted rifts - those were initially a strain, as well as some other powers granted to higher-rank followers. Passing though one of tall dark cypress trees, she smiled hearing man's remark about such a skill being not as fun as battering the door down. Humans! Sometimes they were entertaining.

They talked, and gradually shifted to discussion of possible incentives. There was too much the Temple could offer, and if not the Temple - it could be offered by Rhaine herself. Longer lifespan - normal offer from a life mage. Additional magical powers - that depended mainly on the importance of mission, even an outsider could get a few neat tricks... Artifacts? Of course there were limits on them. A faint nod indicated that Jodiah did consider collaboration a worthy option. Sipping spiced wine, he turned to look back at the temple. "How many do you have, currently? What is the force we have to work with, I mean?"

Easy question it was. Rhaine explained about mixed forces, and there they could have found a common language of sorts - ex-Commander of Knight order and a Death Knight, Scourge Of Worlds. But Jodiah cut off the talk. Something he did not wish to speak of.
"What would be the preferred means to contact you?" Rhaine asked, knowing the answer in advance. In the end, the asmodean priestess had her own sources... She imagined his future surprise as he'd find a note near his bed, and smiled to herself. Smiled enough to show the vampire fangs.

Leading him out, Rhaine leaned on the cold marble of portal, and sighed. A good start. But... too early to speak of it before the human shows the skill she has heard of.

Sleek blackness of metal skin armor almost reflected no light as she paced along the rows of ideal, identical armored skeletons. When the human walked out of the portal, she nodded appreciatingly. The DeathKnight was ready for action. Rhaine handed him a holocrystal with map of the future battlefield.
The enemies were humanoids, with preference for melee combat, and some elementalist-like battlemages. The dark priestess watched human's reaction. Predictable. How predictable. The "metal skin" armor she used (with some additional plating to protect her from blunt weapons) seemed to absorb light.
"Any non-combatants to worry about?" the death knight finally asked.
"The casters. Do not let them get to you".
The warning was in her usual calm, matter-of-fact tone. Rhaine explained the situation, feeling the gaze of human on the blackness of her armor. Living metal, combination of technology of Mentar Station and magic of biomage. While his eyes raked on the metal surface, Ayreg asked about mounts they would have. Dhoine, Rhaine thought to herself. Two on horseback among skeleton footmen... idiot! unless he enjoys being a target. She summoned two shadowsteeds - beings they could use as horses. At least these guys would have the brains to follow the mental orders, she thought to herself... Large intelligent eyes of Lynver, her "mount", met hers, in a soft touch of mental embrace. Rhaine heard him asking Solfran, his shadowsteed, if any trouble would come from the animal. Solfran was far from delighted to carry the unconvenient saddle, it took much time to convince him that the human will not ride otherwise. Hopping on Lynver's back, she used her knees to control the animal, and leaned back looking at Jodiah.
"They accept orders. When they consider you superior to them, of course. Yours is called Solfran."
That was the minimum an outsider was entitled to. Death knight's lips curled into a wry half-smile before he turned away to mount Solfran.
"Good creatures, then. I can only assume you feel the same way about humans, Rhaine? "
Worse, was her mental remark. Good that the dhoine could not read her mind. Without a visible gesture (a showoff of sorts) she opened a rift. "You are in command, Jodiah. I would like to see your manner of work. I'm merely going to keep you safe from combat magic," Rhaine spoke aloud, keeping a sarcastic smile away from her lips. Ugly steel on the silky shadowy being... that looked disgusting. She allowed herself a moment of sheer humiliation as the human started trying to command using his voice. He barked his order to the skeletal warriors that remained still - at her mental order. "No voice here. Thoughts only," priestess laughed, transmitting the mental command. Was it that hard for human to understand, that skeletons had nothing to hear the voice command?
The fifty skeletal swordmasters and twelve casters marched through the rift. "Voice command can be intercepted. I have tuned them to your wavelength," she looked at Jodiah, and Lynver went through the rift. Necessary minimum of influence. Unpeccable clean cut into the fabric of reality. The way to act.
Solfran entered the rift in several long leaps. On the other side, it was morning, and slight mist flowed along the valley, covering the grasses. The ranks of enemy were about 300 yards away. They arrived right outside the gates of necromancer fort. Trumpets sounded, and the humanoids marched onto the fort. It was a crude, basic attack. Probably they didn't realize the relatively small regiment wasn't from the beginner necromancers of this world... Rhaine almost spat.
"Apes."
"Even the most backward army can overwhelm the world's greatest, Rhaine, if the commander is a fool," Jodiah's voice was soft, but the tone was hard as steel. He wheeled the horse about, kicking into its flanks to ride down the back of the line. The skeletal swordsmen in front formed their ranks, and closed. As one, the unit drew steel, holding their wickedly-shaped blades at precisely the same angle. The mages behind them were a bit more spread, but fire sprung to their eyes as their unholy magics prepared themselves. A soft whisper surrounded Rhaine with a forcefield - a version of distorting spell, and an antimagic shell over it. Now she could be sure that human's irrationality would not give her any extra work. The vampiress ordered her shadowsteed to keep up with Jodiah's, so that the forcefield surrounded the death knight.
At the same time, spells from the humanoids flashed in the air, targetting the mounted two. Just as Rhaine thought they would do. The spells were something based on fire and lightning, usual weapons of elementalists. The antimagic shell absorbed the spells, keeping the two intact. So far things were going CORRECT. Skeletal casters did not reply in a single spell - but magic seemed to accumulate in them, gaining power, ready to be unleashed. Priestess knew what the skeletons could do, and only hoped that the local necromancers would not interfere with that casting...
The human seemed to order skeletal casters to fire. The dark spells hit accurately on the closely knit groups of swordsmen that advanced towards the small skeletal troop. It looked like vortex of darkness surrounding a group of humanoids... and when the vortex cleared, there was no living flesh remaining, only skeletons in armor. Every vortex eliminated thirty to fourty humans, and their elementalist-like battlecasters had no idea what to do with the odd magic used against them.
As soon as the humanoids finally approached the skeletal ranks, front ranks of skeletal swordmasters stepped forth, and ensured certain small distance between themselves - enough space for starting to shred the humanoids. The fort walls were almost empty... only few necromancers dared to watch the battle. The necromancers started to cast something, and frown creased Rhaine's almost-indifferent face.
"They are smarter than I thought... good humans. But we can not control those they are raising now.."
And their spells might interfere with ours, she thought. However Jodiah seemed to have his own opinion on things.
"We 'mere humans' can surprise you, given the chance, Rhaine. Allow them to do as they will with the raised corpses of our foes -- if they turn them on us, we will crush them. If they keep them for themselves, then all the better for their future use on this world. Am I correct?"
"Sometimes you humans are a nice surprise, but more often - no," she smiled slightly, altering the necromancer' spell to keep it from interfering with the dark magic used by skeletal casters.
Flashing his teeth at her, Ayreg wheeled the shadowsteed about and gave the creature a quick kick to the flanks. Breaking forward, he moved to the far side of the line from where he was at. His reign-bearing hand rose, pointing a finger off to the side. The swordsmen on that end of the battleline turned outward, and moved forward several paces. Turning his head, he stared down the embattled line and watched the skeletal swordsmen work.
Vampiress added some power of her own into the spell of necromancers, as the smaller and charred armored skeletons added confusion to the ranks of humanoids. The skeletal swordmasters seemed to be whirlwinds of steel and blood... efficient, true.. very efficient. They were hardly vulnerable to simple, non-enchanted weapons of humans. The humanoids did bless some of their catapults, but those were crushed by the flanking skeletal minions. As Ayreg commanded to drive the humanoids from the field, Rhaine's face remained emotionless in silent disgust. The skeletal swordmasters moved forth, ideally efficient, almost invulnerable. Oh, a couple of them were crushed into pieces by magic, catapults and metal, but it took humans too much. Skeletons that flanked humans were less devastating, but there were MANY of them.

The skeletons swept through the field, when the remains of human mages and warriors tried to attack what appeared the "command center". It seemed to be the last effort... last drastic measure the humanoids could take. Arrows and stones flew at Jodiah and at the vampiress by his side, as well as fireballs and lightning. The field protected against the magics, even now. Jodiah gave a kick to the flanks of his shadowsteed and took off again, an arrow plinking away from his armored pauldron for the short time he was beyond the protection of the shield until Rhaine moved to follow him. He sent out a command to the blademasters and the casters to end their advance; to pull back, and to regroup. He looked out across the field of battle at the mangled remains of humanoid and charred pile of bone alike, and he nodded in satisfaction. He turned toward Rhaine, then, bowing his head low from his place in the saddle.
"We seem to be victorious. The field is yours, my lady."
"Well done, Jodiah. Very efficient," she bowed slightly, icy indifference surrounding her. It was duty. Duty they had to do.
" Efficient? Yes. Not very satisfying, though," death knight remarked.
"And what would you find satisfying? Commanding living ones?"
His eyes cut over to her, and then turn away again. "A cheering army beneath your feet. Cheering because they have faith in you. Their faith in you is founded by the fact that you lead them well, and win them battles. Smiles on the faces of soldiers, silent salutes, slaps on the back. It has a more visceral feel to it, Rhaine. The difference between cutting through someone's flesh with a knife, and pulling the dropcord on a gulliotine. The two are incomparable." He shook his head, briefly. "But, you did tell me there are other forces to be commanded in the field. Bateezu, I believe you said?"
Commanding Baatezu! Rhaine almost laughed inside. Even the lesser devils were beyond this human's power. It would take authority of an asmodean Knight Leader to command the lesser devilry if the Lord decides to send them over to participate. For a moment the pain of memory returned to her, but it was gone soon enough. The human could not be trusted with it.
"Enough. You've done a good job, and you can speak of the price. The fort will celebrate, and the next evening will be my time to work," she spoke calmly. The death knight slid the length of his runesword down into its steel sheath hanging off his flank. Leaning forward on the pommel of the saddle, Jodiah regarded the vampiress. "What sort of work do you mean, Rhaine?"
Dratted human curiosity! She replied in one word, and broke off the thread of conversation. The skeletons assembled around them, and a rift opened in front of Rhaine. "We can return," she said, her tone cold. A group of skeletons marched towards the fort, the rest entered the rift.

They were back to the area outside the temple walls, and Rhaine hopped off her shadowsteed in a smooth, agile move. When she came through on the other side, she found Jodiah had already dismounted. His hand was lightly caressing the shadowsteed's neck a final time before he turned away and took a few idle steps. As soon as both Solfran and Lynver were free to leave, they left - and only shadows stirred behind them. Rhaine turned to the death knight.
"So, what is the price, Jodiah?"

Infuriating? insulting? or just human? Rhaine watched the death knight in his mix of curiosity and slight fear, distaste and shadow of respect... Humans were always entertaining in their contradictions - in the end, it was human nature. Once again she smiled to herself, enjoying the ability to watch them without getting dragged into maelstrom of irrationality that human life was.

Calm, cold indifference. She caught him on displaying distaste for technology yet wearing a clockwork armor, and watched the outburst of fury when she showed that his past did not matter. The man did have his arrogance, his personality - and that was what made him special among the spineless, boring humanoid creatures.

As her fingers traced on the surface of his armor, Rhaine almost felt his... anger? disgust? repulsion? The feeling was almost palpable. Savoring every moment of holding the human's nerves, she looked at him again, knowing the effect of her touch.
"Let's set this clear once and forever, Jodiah. I can tolerate your prejudices and attitudes - as long as they do not hinder the efficiency of our partnership. I do not feed off my allies. As an Asmodean I follow my word literally. Enough said."

LITERALLY. That was the keyword. But that seemed to calm the human a little bit. Using the best of her arrogant, patronizing, vexing behavior patterns, Rhaine played with the human a bit, and after this left towards the necromancer fort. There was work that needed to be done.

Rhaine was venting her frustration in a sparring duel with her old acquaintance, when she sensed portal activation, and a skeletal warrior arrived, escorting Jodiah Ayreg. Another time I'm distracted from this, she thought, and I'll howl. She had too much to do over these days, she needed to relax, and needed badly... The death knight approached, with a deep nod, and as he looked at her, Rhaine sensed how he looked at her. Something in her practice outfit has bothered him... but what?
"Something happened in the Abyss that you decided to visit?" Rhaine spoke in her best toxic tone.
"Just that I have become fat, and bored. You had some bloody good sport for me the last time I was here. Wondering if, perhaps, one can hope against hope for another such interaction."
The bloodlust in the human amused her. "I do have my own work in the place whe've been .. visiting. But expect something much worse and much more... thrilling," she spoke, a soft purring in her tone - purring of a predator. "The chess match is on, and so far it's going as planned. How are your abilities in protecting yourself from Light-based or holy magic?"
She placed the sword in sheath behind her back, and looked at Jodiah, calm cold midnight-blue eyes scanning the knight. "We might have some enjoyable fighing coming up, you know... if the work goes according to my scheme." Priestess paused, walking to a seemingly solid wall."Not sure about you, but I'm quite in the mood for a snack. Coming?"
"I am, if you'll remember, quite human.. my lady. The magics of clerics and priests when used to turn the undead, or burn the infernal with holy bolts.. washes across me as it would any other human. I am untouched," a faint smile touched human's lips. His gaze touched her, surprising the priestess slightly - she was not wearing her armor, so why such weird interest? The hint of pride in his voice jerked her nerves.
"And you will still not tell me what you are up to on that world, hm? No matter. I am, as always, at your disposal, my lady," the irritating official tone and manners were at least expected from a dhoine that was in domain of High Priestess of Asmodeus. He followed her into the pitch black darkness of passage that opened in the wall. Turning around briefly before the inner circle of scanning spells, she warned the human.
The cold penetrating feeling of scanner could make a normal human shrink into a wimpering heap of flesh. Surprisingly, the death knight even remained standing. Only a shudder and change in his voice indicated how bad it was for him. For a split second Rhaine felt pity for the human. But only for a split second. He is disposable, she reminded herself. A mere human to be used and if necessary - sacrificed for the Lord.
Moving on, she opened something that sounded like a door. Rhaine's room was dimly lit, and it was much warmer there than in the passageway. Soft light poured from light-orbs, the floor was lined with something that looked like dark ash-colored fur, ebony wood was used for desk near the window overlooking mountains, and for a table near fireplace. Basic hospitality - human food was already served there, and spiced wine was steaming in a heavy quartz pot. Rhaine pulled an armchair for herself, and motioned for Ayreg to get the second one.
"Have a seat. I have to ask you about your abilities that might be useful in ... coming mission," she asked, taking a sip of fragrant steaming liquid from her cup, and taking a sandwich-like treat. "We are likely to get two problems - inside and outside - in the place where we went. In G'fenvass. First - the local Temple of Maedd. They have quite capable fighters, and magic that does affect living ones. Though undead warriors are the ones that truly need to worry about blessed weapons."
A hint of curiosity showed on death knight's face as she took the snack. But Rhaine ignored it.
"Holy magics that affect the living. An interesting thing, that. Clearly it's more elemental in nature than divine, and your reports from the world must be wrong," the tone in man's voice was ridiculously toxic... the dhoine was forgetting his place. "The Temple of Maedd. Do you have any agents on the inside of the temple, or is this plain and simple siege against those that reside within?"
"I do not have any agents there. Beings like me... they can not approach. Might be either siege or attack. The magic they use - it's a crossbreed of life and holy. And it does have a hint of elemental, but very small, mainly to adapt it for locals. I suspect an outside influence there, but can not be sure," vampiress replied, sipping wine. There was a reason she could not attack the Temple directly... but the human had no right to know it. "You've had ... encounters... with life mages before?"
The question was the one that intrigued her most. But noticing something a trained asmodean priest tries to hide - that takes much more than a human, it takes a seriously skilled telepath. So Ayreg's answer was his usual tone. "Only to know that they are sometimes impotent in combat, and sometimes can turn your own body against you. Though I have a secret or two that I can still call upon, my lady. After the wall of the temple is breeched, what then? What is the goal of the mission?"
"Destruction. I can not become an agent there for they would sense a vampire. Those living ones - they are not capable enough. But we may need to destroy the place. I hope that it won't end up in complete havoc, but we may have to do this."
Cold, deadly cold. It was painful to think of destroying those using Life magic... but it was a sacrifice for the cause of Grim Lord. A sacrifice she was more than willing to make.
"So I will function very alone," his voice had a slightly strange tone. What was it? Rhaine decided not to guess. There is no place for guilt or emotion when the assignment is clear.
"So far I have been trying to manipulate them into nowhere, and it's been working. The only thing that worries me, is the possibility of outside influence," she paused, looking for words. "If it's confirmed... and if it starts feeding them... we will work together. Probably a small group of my... acquaintances... my brother, you and I."
"Worse-case scenario at all times, Rhaine. That's how I view things. Suppose you hear whispers some sort of artifact that you wish to claim in the name of Asmodeus, hm? Destroying the temple then would not be conducive to your machinations at that point. I always look to the worst, my lady, because then things are a pleasant surprise when they do not have to be so."
"That is why I am talking to you now, Jodiah, instead of doing things my way."
This was maximum she allowed herself to show. The doubt, the concern - this had to stay inside. She dropped a few irrelevant remarks about learning of his past with life-oriented temple, and managed to push the conversation into more or less relaxed direction. Noticing human's response she smiled.
"Skeletal swordsmen are efficient, but they are tools. So far - how well do you resist life-based spells? Enough to survive against one of life-casters? I do not wish the coming mission to be too dangerous for you. We value efficient allies enough not to turn you into cannon fodder"
"As I said.. I've got a few surprises available to me that even you might not be aware of." Ayreg's lips curved in a thin hint of a smile, showing the slightest edge of his arrogance. His head canted to the side. "But, rather, yes. It is enough to survive against one life-caster. Perhaps several, so long as they're not all channeling at the same time."
"Care to spar a bit? I will be using spells the locals know"

Jodiah sat back onto the edge of the bed as she left, sighing softly to himself. A hand reached up, raking hair back out of his face before he squinted to examine his forearm in the faint moonlight.

Going back to Gen-- Geni-- Genivissfus.. whatever it's called. The Temple of Maedd. She had described it to him, briefly. A hack-and-slash affair, very strait-forward. He loved himself a good bloodbath.

Shaking his head, he mused briefly that it was a good thing he slept lightly. Soldiers were accustomed to having to sleep that way, after all, on the off-chance they got to sleep. It had been some time since he was living in the field, though. Sliding his hand across the mattress of the bed, he nodded faintly. Soldiers in the field did not have such luxuries available to them.

Rhaine herself was a curious creature. Cold and dispassionate, at even the best of times, she seemed to reveal a little more of herself here than she normally would have seemed comfortable with doing. It almost made him smile, but he was quite able to quench the desire to do so. She was not so as inhuman as he had previously thought.

She was still a vampire, though. He rubbed his forearm, idly, mulling the thought over. He knew Alysia was a blooddrinker, herself, though he revered the High Priestess of Rhilshen as if she was the shadow-made-flesh. The little harpy, Tara, was a leech as well. He did not hold her in as such high esteem.

"And better not to put me over your knee... I might like it , you know."

He shuddered as her words echoed in his head again like a bell. That was most unexpected. He really did anticipate her to scowl, at the very least, or perhaps threaten him for being too human again. He was almost shocked when that word dhoine didn't come from her lips.

The woman was almost completly and insufferably unshakeable.

He closed his eyes, remembering back to the calls of ancient antiquity, back in the Great City, when that vampire -- Vuela, was her name, he believed -- took him as her doll. Her... juicebag, as it were. A Paladin of the Temple of Life was a worthy goal, and Vuela worked her charms well.

He pushed the thought away. It was not out of desire to relive the ecstacy of the Kiss that he offered his arm to her. It was not!

She had asked him to help guard her back. She was placing her life into his hands. It was only polite to offer her the same.

He turned onto his bed, wrapping up in the blankets again. His thoughts turned to the Temple of Maedd, and the bloody dance awaiting them there.

It had nothing to do with the Kiss.

It didn't.

The death knight arrived as usual, with the feeling of portal activation and smell of mechanical armor. He was probably directed by one of skeletal guards at the Temple. Vampiress could hardly conceal an amused grin. Planar travel seemed to be distasteful to the dhoine. She walked in silent vampire steps. Nae'Bris, assigned by the Council as her bodyguard, followed her like a shadow.
"Priestess. Today is the day?" Ayreg spoke, with a brief bow. Extreme courtesy that vexed her more than reverence of locals.
"We shall move out in an hour", her voice was as calm as ever. Gradually her team started gathering around them - best among the gifted ones, talented with both magic and blade.
"This is Nae'Bris. He is my local bodyguard," Rhaine introduced the blademaster, and noticed how Ayreg regarded the man. Certainly the dhoine had his own ideas how could a male be useful to her, but this hardly bothered the priestess. In the end, the death knight was but a tool.
"And how far is the Temple of Maedd from here, my lady?" the above-mentioned tool inquired.
"About half an hour, we will use certain... transportation spells. We should not look differently from city dwellers, so no mounts. Well, one can be fine... did you bring any with you, or would you like me to summon?"
Another look at Nae'Bris. Rhaine sensed the death knight scanning her bodyguard, and for a split second regretted she didn't leave typical traces of vampire bites. No, one can't be THAT paranoid. Besides, the local boy had other uses. After the troop gathered, the priestess explained the disposition (which was easy to follow).

"Simple. There will be guards, probably two three-dozen regiments, on the sides of city square. They will get stuck in the crowd. Inside... expect groups of two-three. Life-casters and warriors. I doubt they suspect anything, but better be careful," her voice turned a bit louder, though as clear as ever. "Group of Vlai'Dooss, you move via east gate. We take west. Mix with the crowd. You know the plan... keep the paladins off my rear, and guards away from you, allow locals to crash everything they like"
It was time. No speeches, no flamboyant words. Only a job that needed to be done. Moving out of safety of the Fort, they entered the series of teleports called "shimmerport" - least detectable way to get to WolkVorn.

Soul Drinker.... "We will feed, Glaeddyv Sierthii... we will..." The words flared in her mind.

"They are too damn enhanced... something I feared.." Rhaine spoke almost in a whisper.
"Yes. I noticed that as well," Ayreg replied, keeping his voice quiet. Turning, he glanced down the hallway she had pulled him into, and scanned the walls for signs of traps or incoming enemies. "What's your plan of action, Rhaine? Do we continue?"
"We have no other choice," she sighed. "If we retreat, count us all dead. Move. This hallway would be a good way around.." and she rushed on, into the hallway.

It looked like living quarters - doors of small cells, some were open. Spartan way of life seemed quite common among Maeddans. After about 30 yards the corridor bent, and bent again. Jodiah nodded to Nae'Bris as he turned and bolted down the corridor after the vampiress. One door opened between Rhaine and Ayreg, and the death knight entreated the emerging man to a gauntleted fist in the face, and kept running. Behind him, Nae'Bris finished him off. He rounded the corner and stopped a pace or two ahead of Rhaine, runesword up and at the ready. Nae'Bris arrived seconds later.

The main worship hall still had six guards in it. "They are enhanced...no artifacts, looks a spell," Nae'Bris said, backing off into corridor. He sounded extremely calm. Instirrable.
"We've no choice. Nae'Bris, Jodiah... make sure I have several seconds", Rhaine replied with a grin. It was one hell of a problem for one Bound to use magic in domain of another Bound, but was there any other option. She shuddered at a flare of death power so close to her - it was one of death knight's "surprises". Everything was turning against her... Knight's runesword was raised, and he looked to the six guards now moving towards them.
"You shall have them."

Nae'Bris rushed forth, in an insane spiralling move distracting the temple warriors. Pallid white mist of condensed magic went over Rhaine's eyes, clouding them like a thick fog. SoulDrinker seemed to scream as tendrils of pale fog crawled to the paladins of Maedd. As soon as tentacles reached local warriors, the enchantment faded with an audible whine. Their speed was no longer insane.. only twice as much as of a human. The spell backfired on Rhaine - this was consequence of being in Maedd's domain. Another flare of death magic nearby... It couldn't make things any worse. She almost bumped into one of paladins retreating from insane swirl of steel that was Nae'bris, and unknowingly pierced his neck with SoulDrinker.

When the black sword pierced neck of one temple warrior, there was a flare of magic, and human turned into a mummified husk. Nae'bris' art was in slashing others to nothing but pieces of bleeding meat. A stain of blood was spreading on blademaster's side, but looked like he was not wounded seriously - it did not hinder his moves in the slightest. Death knight dealt with two remaining warriors, with cruelty admirable in a human.
"This went easy enough, High Priestess," blademaster grinned.
"If it requires my magic every time we meet them, it isn't easy. Move on. They will not be distracted long enough for us to have smooth passage. That way," she pointed to one of passages behind the altar. The white fog of condensed magic thickened over her eyes, to form something like glassy visor.

The labyrinth of passageways was ridden with guards. They seemed to jump out of nowhere. The only good thing was that the passage was narrow enough to allow one on one fights. Temple warriors weren't as enhanced as they could be, and they looked caught unaware. Some weren't even wearing full armor - only chainmail. Rhaine slammed one of them against the wall, white flare - and the man dropped dead, turning instantly extremely old. Another was slashed in half by the black sword. Nae'Bris danced against two, one ended up without head, another - sliced in half. The guards kept coming though.
"This probably is too close to barracks... soon we'll be in, I know the plan of the Temple," she rushed forward, allowing two men to cover her back. There was a door with a strange sigil on it.

Leaving Nae'Bris to cover one section of the hallway, Ayreg kept the other side clear, while she worked. Smatters of blood sprayed on the priestess, on the blademaster, on the death knight, and on the walls, and ceiling, and floors as the hallway turned into a carnal house. Rhaine caught a brief glance at the two... yes, the enhancement of Death power turned Ayreg into an equal of her bodyguard. Death surrounded her... death in a temple dedicated to Life.

Vampiress manipulated the magic that locked the door, and suddenly it opened, letting priestess enter. Nae'Bris stepped in, and pulled deathknight. the door slammed shut. The room was a dead end. It had no windows, and pale mist swirled in the center of it, like a tornado. In the twilight of the room, Rhaine's body seemed surrounded by palllid fog, similar to the one in the center. A cut on her shoulder was flowing with the mist either.
Rhaine wiped a streak of human blood from her cheek, and looked at Jodiah. "You are harmed? we've a moment when I can assist."
The knight frowned, seemingly annoyed. He was breathing quite heavily, and she sensed the scent of his blood.
"I will live, Rhaine. One of them got ahold of me, somewhere. I'm not even sure when it happened. The wound is superficial, at the worst."

"You will not assist anyone", the words appeared from the air itself. "Intruders are unwelcome here. As well as traitors"

"Maedd..." Nae'Bris whispered almost silently.

"Drop your weapons. They are useless." the voice said. The "presence" was in the air... something heavy and dangerous. Nae'Bris stepped protectively in front of Rhaine, but she pushed him aside slightly. It was her time. Her duty. Her... pain.

"This is nothing you can help with..." she stepped to the swirl of pale mist, gathering all courage she could afford.
"She's a grown woman; assume she knows her own business. Our task will be to hold the door, if need be," she heard the death knight's voice. But this did not matter. It COULD NOT matter.

"Bullshit, colleague. You have spat on the generic laws we are to follow to exactly the same extent, so a traitor you are as well" she spoke louder in her usual icily calm voice, managing to keep her breath even.
A man materialized walking out of the mist. He looked about 30, tall, ridiculously handsome - just like any biomage skilled enough for body modifications - and his eyes were covered by pallid whiteness just like Rhaine's. Maedd. Her colleague - yet her enemy. Victim of her duty.
"You.. bound to Life - and serving Asmodeus! and coming to My halls together with llyr-dhoine and THIS mortal!" Maedd pointed at Ayreg, rudely and obviously, with unmatched arrogance of superior being. "You are to find your world of linkage and stop this gallivanting around"
Tendrils of pale mist streamed towards Ayreg and Nae'Bris. Blademaster stepped back, and pulled human away from the tentacles. "Careful, it's worse than death itself... and no protection can aid"
"I figured that, lad..." as Jodiah stepped away, pressing his back against the door that was slammed shut. "Anytime you're in this kind of situation, nothing good can come of it."

Maedd and Rhaine circled, their moves visibly relaxed, but tension between them was growing. Streams of magic swirled around them, almost palpable even for non-gifted.
"Imagine, my dear Rhaine of Lerdann, we could share this cult... share their dedication, their worship... my dear little biomage, you hardly know how painful it is to know you are about to dissolve... you would be safe from dissolution this way" the voice of Maedd was soft, velvety, tempting. "Your companions would gain biological immortality, so you needn't be concerned with them. Join me."
Join him... leave the foolishness of attempts to remain a human. Eternity of remaining mostly yourself, supported by naive dhoine' faith... She clutched the cold hilt of SoulDrinker, strengthening her resolve. She forced herself to disregard the lure of these promises.
"Join you? You, a mage and a scientist, playing god games," Rhaine almost spat. "You had no guts to escape, and no willpower to resist the lure of their worship. A disgrace to our kin. A mediocrity that got to the power and never found what exactly to do with it, lacking creativity and intellect for a true ... colleague of mine!"
Suddenly a tentacle lunged towards Ayreg, circling around his throat. Second coiled around Nae'Bris'. Rhaine's eyes widened. Was Maedd counting on the remains of her humanity? Nae'Bris froze, and dropped to his knees. Priestess senses the connection establishing for direct energy transfer. There was no time.

Rhaine turned to Maedd, and without giving it much thought, assumed a strange position, left hand over bindrune glowing brilliant cyan on her neck, another - palm-open directed at Maedd. He mirrored her move. This meant no return... only a final, one on one duel. Until dissolution. The mist and magic energy engulfed the two, and as seconds passed, swirled and shivered. Maedd was mainly trying to exhaust his opponent. He already figured that he was mistaken by her aura... she was no beginner. The pure color of Binding in her was generously diluted by streaks of darkness. His only option was draining her strength, and counter-attacking...

She sensed it. She was losing strength, and the Bindrune seared her magical form. "Forgive me, Nae'Bris..." - and she gathered his life energy adding it to her own in one last, desperate attack.

Tentacles around her companions retreated. Anger showed on Maedd's face, turning handsome features into a mask of strain and ill concealed fear. It was a duel of two willpowers - and it was draining both of them, draining thoroughly. Could a mage, relaxed by centuries of using divine mask, stand against a priestess of Asmodeus? Maedd finally screamed "Stop this, you little baatorian bitch! You're dissolving me.." and disappeared. The mist faded as well. Rhaine dropped unconscious, the world fading in her eyes.

"And a traitor now I am... " was her last thought.

The meeting with deathknight in the Red Dragon Inn has seriously alarmed her. Maedd has told him too much. Way too much. She had to talk to Ayreg, and try to clarify how much he could understand.

Quasi-vampire arrived in the deathknight's room in her normal way - passing through the doors like a ghost. It was about half an hour after he finished "drinking, sitting, and talking" daily routine in the inn. He was seated at his desk, in the corner of the room. High-collared coat, cut in some military fashion, was slung over the back of the chair behind him, and the linen shirt worn beneath was partially unlaced. He appeared to be writing, but paused when motion caught his eye. His thin lips twitched slightly, but his work seemed important enough to resume.

She stopped as far as she could - to make sure he would see she isn't reading over his shoulder - and waited, calm shadow leaning on the wall, arms crossed. It was a good idea to display as much tact as possible. In the end, this was his domain, not hers. His room, not hers. Her distorted eyesight didn't allow her to see the writing. After a few minutes of her silent observation, he set his quill into the inkwell on the edge of the paper, and leaned up.
"Good evening, Rhaine. Two visits to Rhy'Din in one week? You're outdoing yourself."
"I spend more time in RhyDin than you might think, Jodiah," a negative shake of head to emphasize the answer. "I've more duties than just dealing with remains of Maedd's religion and political turmoils I'm disgusted in. However I've to clarify a few things you have asked about... I do not want my ally to consider me a .... deceitful baatorian bitch," these words made her grin slightly, dark blue eyes glowing from this grin. "You asked some questions, but the answers could not be told when others could overhear."
"A deceitful Baatorian bitch? No, though for some reason that particular phrase rings eerily familiar, " he rose to his feet, arching his back out to stretch. That particular action was also punctuated by the faint cracking of vertebrae down the length of his back. The distorted eyesight of biomage naturally caught this - the displaced vertebrae, rigid tissues, all signs of human ageing.
"Maedd called me this, " she frowned slightly, remembering the verbal duel together with the magical one.

She tried hard to imagine a good start for the explanation. Anxiety was a tight knot inside her stomach.

"You seem to know a bit about vampires. However try to think of one thing.... do they need blood, or vital energy of their victims?"
"Near as I know, it's the energy of their victim, somehow absorbed into their body through the blood. The energy is used to maintain their state of reanimation."

This sounded good enough. In the end, the man did have some talks with mages of decent class. "Well, that's better that I hoped.." she said quietly. "In this sense I'm more of a vampire than other vampires. I need purely life energy of my victims. Blood is unnecessary." Quasi-vampire moved behind his back, and her fingers moved a few millimeters away from his back, this move coupled with slight electric tingling, as if sparks were crackling between her hand and human's skin. "Touching the victim isn't even needed"

Only his head turned, and his hackles rose as the faint electrical sting was felt leaping into his body. Rhaine felt this in others - disgust, bordering on allergy. "An interesting requirement for existance. So all ths time, it has been a facade? But if you're not a vampire, how did I feel your feeding, the last time I hosted you here?" his lip twitched again as the little miniature jolts were continued to be felt. She continued scanning him. And he wonders about her masquerade! Dratted human!

"You liked it?" she smiled, and moved away. "I did tell you in the inn... I am a life mage. Imitating vampire feeding without the hazardous effects is not that hard... I have to pretend to be a vampire... Imitiating a human is too difficult"

A faint flush of color rising in his cheeks was a strange reaction. So she did hit the spot! He liked the euphoria of vampire bite!
"Imitating a human is too hard? How? I'd imagine that'd be one of the easiest things to masqurade as," his voice remained just as cold.
"Hell no. I would have to conceal the way I feed... behave like a idiotic human female, flirting and babbling idiocy... A human mage is supposed to be older than I look, and I'm well aware that my face isn't that of an old witch."

"Esuna Wilder did none of that, though she was more of a knightress than any sort of magic-user..." He trailed off, shaking his head. Aha, so you prefer those who work with the sword, not with their mind. "It is my understanding anyway that most mages tend to make themselves appear young and full of vitality. But the fact remains, Rhaine. Why decieve me?"

She blushed almost like a human.
"Because I had no reason to trust you. You could be recruited by Maedd... promising you long youth and long lifespan, he could buy your service and try to find out who was behind that ... stageing game ."

"You came to me, Rhaine, remember?"
"Yes. But I had to contact you sooner or later with bringing you information or assignment. You offered your blood, Jodiah, remember? It could be a test... a very crude but useful test, if you were working for Maedd"
"A little far-fetched to think that Maedd would know precisely which dhoine you would walk up to in a completly different realm, don't you think?"
"You were assisting me in the Fort, with the skellies."

How could he possibly underestimate two of them, both her and Maedd? They had been practicing mind games for centuries. Underestimating your opponent is usually a sure way to ruin. She learned that the hard way, and wasn't about to get new bumps from this.

Ayreg sniffed, softly, and nodded. Laughter laced his voice.
"For someone that pretends to be something pretending to be something else, you are remarkably still a woman. Always the tendency to be right -- and when you're not, you find a way to make people believe it anyway."
"I've been this way for a long time. Too late to change," she laughed in response."Either I calculate every step... or I panic. Which seldom happens though."
"Like I said..." said with a wry sort of smirk, "...infinitely still a woman."