Flesh and Bone Chapter 3

[biofreak659]

Shanoa stood on the train platform and wrinkled her nose at the smell of the smoke and smog. Cluj-Napoca was the biggest city she'd ever visited. There were so many people and horses, more than she’d ever imagined could have even existed in one place.

She watched curiously as a beautiful woman wearing red got into an argument with the station master. 

"I need to be in Bucharest yesterday! I have an appointment with Peter Karl in a week!"

Shanoa tuned out the rest of the argument. The train pulled into the station with a shriek and a puff of white steam.

She began walking towards the baggage car. Barlowe was sure to have brought back something from his trip. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a missing poster. It was for a young girl, orphaned after a wolf attack. Shanoa frowned. Albus and Beatrice had not returned by the time Shanoa had to leave for the city. She'd heard shots all night, until the small hours of the morning.

Albus was a cautious man; likely, he'd remained to ensure that the wolf was destroyed, and that anything else in the woods was dealt with.

She saw Barlowe approach, and waved to him. Puzzlement clouded his face.

*Shanoa?" He said, handing her his bag. "Albus was supposed to be here."

"There was an incident with a wolf." Shanoa said. "He has not returned from hunting it."

"And you aren't concerned?" Barlowe led her to the baggage car.

"I would know if something had happened to Albus." Shanoa said. Albus was her brother in all but blood. If the wolf had killed him, she would have felt it. She'd slept soundly through the night, egro, he was still breathing.

Barlowe looked upset as they unloaded his crate, and then loaded it onto the mule buggy Shanoa had taken from the Order.

"He'd better be back." Barlowe said once they'd gotten back on the road to the Order. "I have something important I need to discuss with him."

"Yes, sir."

"Have you been studying the glyphs?"

"I've nearly mastered them." Shanoa said. She wore a plain black dress, and the Order's robes to the city. Anything less, and the glint of power from her tattoos would show through the fabric.

"Good. You are our only hope to rid this world of Dracula's evil, forever." Barlowe said. He stared pensively into the middle distance. "Although I sometimes wonder…"

"Master Barlowe?"

"Nothing. The musings of a foolish old man." He gave her a genial smile. "Tell me about your studies."

 

---

 

The sun was setting by the time they returned to the Order. Barlowe had the brothers unload his crate, and had it placed in his private rooms. Shanoa went into the main entrance, expecting to find Albus.

Polyanna gestured her over.

"Yes, sister?"

"Did you see Albus or Beatrice on the road?" She asked. 

"They haven't returned yet?"

Polyanna shook her head. "Lucila went to the village to find them."

"Albus wouldn't stay in the village." A gnawing feeling surged in Shanoa's stomach.

"I tried to tell her that, but she insisted."

"Perhaps… he's become lost?" Even as she said it, the words felt hollow.

"Perhaps." Polyanna sounded just as doubtful. "Beatrice has a good sense of direction, even if they've gone deep into the forest. And Albus knows the place like the back of his hand. They'd just need to follow the river to get back to the road."

The road was a good fifteen miles from Ecclesia. It would take them hours if they were well rested. If they were lagging from an all night hunt, it would take them all day. The ill-feeling receded.

"Let me know when you see them," Shanoa said. Pollyanna looked hesitant, but nodded.

The bell sounded for mass. Barlowe was in his rooms and Lucila was on the road, so Brother Adolphus led them in service. Shanoa closed her eyes and recited from rote, but the words felt more empty than usual. There was a missing piece at her side.

After mass, she went to the courtyard, intending to practice her glyphs, but Barlowe waylaid her.

"Shanoa, may I speak with you?"

"Of course, Master Barlowe."

Ecclesia's ritual chamber always felt empty, despite the collection of arcane artifacts lining every empty surface. It was a room that felt like it echoed. Barlowe led her to the newest artifact.

It was a golden chalice, resting on the font in the center of the room. Water slowly burbled around it. It gleamed golden and sparkling under the light from the stained glass windows.

Shanoa eyed it curiously. There was text inscribed along the rim of it.

"It's Latin," she said, "but I can’t translate it off the cuff."

Barlowe sighed. "Yes. I'd wished to speak to Albus about it, but needs must. Are you familiar at all with Huber's libel about Dracula?"

Shanoa frowned, watching her golden reflection in the chalice. "Something about a turban?"

"That is one of the stories, yes. Dracula grew enraged that his Ottoman diplomats would not remove their hats in his presence, and had them nailed to their heads. Their bodies were sent back to the Sultan." Barlowe began pacing, his hands clasped behind his back. "There is another story. A merchant came visiting from distant lands and while he was in Targoviste, his money was stolen. He reported this to the city guards, who promised him that his money would be returned to him by the next day. He spent the day wandering around the city, and came across a cup at the city's public fountain. It was encrusted with jewels and gleaming gold.

"He watched as the townsfolk came and drank from the fountain with the cup. Even the poorest people drank from it, but no one stole it.

"He retired to his room at the inn, and the next day, his money was returned to him. When he counted it, he found that he had been given one too many ducats. He went to the palace and spoke with Dracula, thanking him for returning his money. He returned the extra coin, and asked about the golden cup."

Shanoa's eyes flicked to the chalice.

Barlowe continued pacing. "Dracula told the man that his rule was absolute, that his people knew and feared him. He led the man to a window overlooking the hill and pointed out. The hill was covered in staked bodies. 'That,' said Dracula, 'is the man who stole your money. If you had been dishonest, and not returned the extra coin, you would be next to him. I leave my fine things in the city, because I know that no one will take them.'"

"And this chalice is…"

Barlowe nodded briskly. "The very same. It is enchanted to reveal the honest form of anyone who drinks it."

"And what, exactly, would that do?"

Barlowe smiled wanly. "I have no clue. I was hoping that Albus had come across it in his studies."

"He's never mentioned anything similar." Shanoa wracked her brain. "Nothing recently, at least."

She looked upwards, tapping her toe. Her gaze alighted on a plain wooden box. Barlowe was pacing and muttering to himself, so she took the opportunity to peek. She caught a glimpse of pale white bone, cleaved neatly, before Barlowe slammed the lid shut.

"Don't snoop, Shanoa." He snapped.

"I—"

Barlowe sighed, and took her hand, patting the back of it. "There are dangerous things in here. You are our last hope to permanently destroy Dracula, Shanoa. No one else can master the glyphs like you."

"I understand, Master Barlowe."

"Chin up. And tell me when Albus has returned."

"Master Barlowe…" Shanoa began, "about Albus' fast…"

"I think he's learned his lesson, don't you? He's killed that wolf—why don't we celebrate when he returns?"

Shanoa beamed. "Of course!"

She curtsied and rushed out of the room. She finished her chores and sparred in the courtyard for a bit with Janus. The sun was beginning to set by the time she made it back to the main hall.

Polyanna gestured her over.

"Nothing?" Shanoa said.

"Nothing. I'm going to arrange a search. With Lucila missing too…"

"Silas and Gideon should—"

The door slammed open and Lucila staggered through, with Beatrice's arm slung over her shoulder.

"I need a healer!" She bellowed. Beatrice was soaked, and left a trail of watery blood behind her. Shanoa quickly ran over and took her other arm, and together, she and Lucila carried her into the infirmary.

"What's happened?" Barlowe swooped over them like some great bat, pressing a gauze over Beatrice's bleeding shoulder.

"I found her by the river, on my way back from the village," Lucila explained. She stepped out of the way to allow Brother Vedio to stem the blood. "She said they'd been attacked."

"By the villagers?" Shanoa asked. Lucila shook her head.

"By a monster. The rest of them…" Lucila looked at Shanoa with deep sympathy. "The rest of the hunting party are dead. They were all killed by the beast."