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 There is a right way to turn someone and a wrong way. Carefully
done, there is clarity and a minimum of pain. The wrong way, the
forced way, is agony, an unholy baptism of blood and madness.
 I m guessing this whole vamp thing wasn t exactly consensual
for you. Josh stroked his hair, encouraging him to continue.
 I was& long ago& the Captain of the house guard for Henry
the Lion, Duke of Bavaria and Saxony. A Christian knight. A good
Catholic who went on crusade and fought at my liege s side, sworn
to defend the weak and combat evil. A& paladin of sorts, if you
like.
 When was this?
 Twelfth century.
 Oh. Josh buried his fingers in Richard s hair to stop his hand
shaking. He had slept with a being nearly a thousand years old and
was having trouble getting his brain past that fact. This wasn t
about him, though.  Go on. You came this far, babe. May as well
tell me the rest.
Richard sat back on his heels, his dark head bowed.  Very well.
You will most likely leave me once you have heard. But I cannot
51
A DIFFERENT BREED
keep you here with me on false pretenses.
* * *
 My lord, please help us. The petitioner fell to his knees,
though the Duke would never have demanded it.  We are all
damned if you cannot save us.
Henry leaned his head on his hand, regarding the Count of
Eschenwald with narrowed eyes.  You cannot protect your people.
You cannot control your own wife. So now you come to me
begging for my men, whom I can hardly spare at the moment.
 Please, your grace! I cannot trust my own men. She has taken
so many under her influence or made them like her.
 Precisely how long have you known your wife is a demon?
Richard took advantage of the man s hesitation to lean over
from his place at Henry s right hand and speak in his liege s ear.
 My lord, give me ten men. I ll burn this devil s nest out.
Henry gave him a sharp look.  I can least afford to be without
you.
 I ll be back inside a week, my lord. Well before the king s
march on Lombardy. Richard rose, towering over every man in
the court.  As a knight of St. Michael s, I cannot let the call go
unanswered.
 I would be unwise to curse the day you took holy orders, but I
most certainly regret it, Henry said with a wry smile. Then he
turned back to the groveling count.  Happily for you, Captain von
Schaumburg speaks for you. I find it difficult to refuse him an
honorable request. You may have his assistance and ten of my men
to accompany him.
The count stared up at Richard, slack-jawed.  Your grace, if all
52
A DIFFERENT BREED
of your men are of such heroic size, the devil himself would not
prevail.
In the bright light of morning, the quest seemed a brave and
noble thing. Richard s knights gathered in the courtyard, armor
gleaming, tabards emblazoned with the golden lion, rampant, that
the duke had adopted as his coat of arms.
 Have a care, my boy. Henry took Richard by the shoulders
before he mounted.  No rash heroics. If there is truth to the tale,
and you deem it as dire as this craven man insinuates, come home.
I won t lose you for bravado s sake.
 Understood, my lord. We will proceed with all necessary
caution.
Henry s clap on his armored shoulder rang across the
courtyard.  As you do in all things, Captain. Godspeed.
Richard s heart brimmed with pride at such a warm send-off.
He turned in his saddle as they rode out to wave farewell and to
catch a last glimpse of his beloved duke. Henry stood with his
arms crossed over his broad chest, golden hair catching fire in the
sunlight. The duke was both husband and father, and would never
take his guard captain to his bed. Richard did penance each Sunday
for his sinful thoughts about Henry s body, but he was content to
guard Henry s back and live at his side as his trusted companion. It
was enough.
They rode into the Schwarzwald at a ground-eating clip.
Richard kept the men spread out across the road, with outriders at
the rear and vanguard to scout for ambush. Like any knight of that
time, an attack from above never occurred to him.
Twilight glowed indigo between the evergreen branches when
the first shadow plummeted from the trees. The man it took down
hardly had time to scream before it tore out his throat.
53
A DIFFERENT BREED
 Close up! Richard bellowed.  Into the middle of the road!
His desperate orders came a heartbeat too late and might not
have been enough regardless. A dozen shadows joined the first, his
men dragged from their saddles and slaughtered before they could
draw steel. A hair faster than the rest, Richard had his blade out
when the first creature dropped on his back, tumbling him to the
hard-packed dirt. He caught a nightmare flash of pale skin and
sharp fangs before he flung the creature off and struck its head
from its shoulders.
The creatures beset him on all sides, hissing and snarling. Their
faces were masks of feral madness but they were not beasts, since
weapons flashed in their hands. One slashed at Richard s shield
arm, cutting to the bone. Unable to bring his shield up any longer,
he gave ground, trying to get his back to one of the huge trees. He
plunged his sword into one creature s stomach and watched in [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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