As the golden hues of the setting sun dipped below the horizon, Hillside's main street transformed into a lively tapestry of colours and sounds. Lanterns in vibrant shades of blue, white, red, and green swayed gently in the evening breeze, casting a warm, inviting glow that illuminated the bustling stalls lining the street.
The air was filled with the tantalizing aromas of freshly grilled meats, sweet pastries, and, of course, the rich scent of aged wine, a testament to the town's bountiful grape harvest. Children darted from game to game, their laughter mingling with the sounds of playful tunes from street musicians. From ring tosses to face painting, there was a game to delight every age.
Women in airy summer dresses adorned with delicate flower motifs moved gracefully through the crowd, their vibrant attire echoing the natural beauty of the surrounding vineyards. The men, dressed in casual short-sleeve shirts and stylish sleeveless jackets, added to the festive atmosphere with their relaxed, carefree demeanour.
Bonfires dotted the length of the street, their crackling flames dancing merrily and casting flickering shadows that chased away the chill of the night. Families and friends gathered around these fires, sharing stories, laughter, and the fruits of their labour. The festival was a vivid celebration of community and gratitude, a reminder of the town's shared prosperity and the simple joys of life.
Zarkon steps out of a shadow next to Ignatius. "Lovely evening, Master."
Ignatius watches as the women try their hand at a game. "Yes, it is a lovely evening."
"The meeting is set, Master. He will see you when you get near the bakery down the street."
"Good, thank you for arranging it."
Zarkon bowed. "The ladies are in high spirits, Master."
"They deserve the break," Ignatius says as he smiles at Luna's antics when she throws four balls through the moving hoop, winning a small fluffy orange cat stuffed toy. Zarkon grinned, watching the young women, who chatted and laughed, each carrying one to three animal toys—his shadows, in their shadows.
As the sun set over Hillside, Ignatius followed his women down the lantern-lit street. The air was rich with the scent of food and the sounds of laughter. Paying at each stall, he watched the ladies play games and indulge in sweet treats.
Zarkon walked beside him. His eyes focused on the women as they moved from one side of the street to the other, each time excitedly discovering new stalls with unfamiliar games or food. At every clothing stall, Zarkon bought Elysia something, carrying it for her with pride.
Ignatius and Zarkon had their eyes on all the young men daring to approach the women. The men felt dread and death as those cold, dead stares focused on them, making them retreat like rats running from a tiger.
"Master, they have forgotten about you," Zarkon remarked.
"Let them have their fun," Ignatius replied with a grin. "It's a feast for the eyes, would you not agree?"
"True, Master. My descendant seems to be enjoying herself tremendously."
Ignatius chuckled. Zarkon had never shown concern for other vampires before. "She is special, you should be proud. You have a lovely granddaughter, old friend."
Zarkon puffed out his chest. "Very proud, Master. She has become the joy in my life. Though, don't get me wrong, young naked women still take priority."
"I understand," Ignatius nodded.
"Elysia will make you proud, Master," Zarkon said.
"Luna still has demons to exorcise from her old life. One of them is her father."
"Let's give Luna our support. She will need it in the future," Ignatius agreed.
A figure stepped out of the shadows near the bakery. Ignatius moved through the crowd to meet him.
"Thomas, nice to meet you," Ignatius said, placing a hand on the man's shoulder.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Thorn. Come with me," Thomas replied.
After navigating the backstreets for a few minutes, they sat in a cosy study. Warm tea steamed on a small table, and a young maid brought them biscuits. Ignatius inspected her—calluses in her hands, a swordswoman. She walked with the confidence of a bodyguard.
"There is a tower not far from here," Thomas began, sipping his tea.
"Walk along the beach for half an hour."
"When you pass the cliff, it looms on the side."
"It used to be a lookout tower to spot enemies nearing the coast."
The maid unfolded a map on the table. "Beyond that point, grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see."
"As you know, that part of the continent lies unexplored due to the beasts that roam there."
"Do these beasts come closer to town and the vineyards?" Ignatius asked, taking a biscuit.
Thomas nodded at the maid. "Farmers near the grasslands have spotted beasts. But they seem to avoid areas where civilization thrives."
"May I know your wife's name?" Ignatius inquired. "She is beautiful."
They exchanged stunned looks. "Tracey, Mr. Thorn," she said, fear in her demeanour.
"Your wife is safe from me, Thomas. You've seen my women—more than I can handle."
"You do seem to attract beauties," Tracey giggled.
"Be careful when out and about," Thomas warned. "When a woman is a maid, they do not generally take an interest. But when she is your wife, they want her. Now, look at the map."
Thomas pointed. "You will find a secret door in this room on the second level from the top."
"This is the blueprint of the building." He handed Ignatius a rolled-up blue scroll.
Ignatius took two gold coins from his pouch and handed them to Thomas. "Thank you."
Thomas hugged his wife. "This will get us to a new town."
"Misty Cove is a small, quiet town by the ocean," Ignatius said.
"People around here always speak ill about the place," Tracey added.
"Lies. It is a town for elves like yourself. Ninety per cent of the population is elves. We have a stable economy and do trade with Mithrilen."
"You should see the library in the dwarven city," Ignatius said, taking another biscuit. He could understand their plight. Hillside was a human town. Humans grew the best grapes and made the best wine.
"We will be leaving tonight before the festival ends," Thomas said, standing.
Ignatius bid them goodbye and wished them a safe and speedy journey as they closed the door. They had their suitcases in hand, leaving everything they owned behind.
Ignatius retraced his steps through the alleys. Three hooded human men shoved past him.
"Tonight, Tracey will be ours, boys," one said.
"Yeah, she is fine," another agreed.
Ignatius grinned as he ducked into another alley. Thomas had a five-minute head start. He should be okay. They had been planning their escape for a while now. Ignatius rushed back to the women. Confident that Zarkon and Christie could handle any troublemakers they encountered.
Rounding the corner, Ignatius heard a commotion. "You will be mine, cow," a blond man in a cape said. "All these women are mine from this day forward."
"You have no right, sir," Elysia replied, her voice firm.
Five men backed up the man in the cape. "My estate produces the finest wine. As a noble merchant, common women are mine to pluck as I please," the blond man boasted.
Zarkon stood behind Elysia, his expression unreadable. Luna held Elysia's left arm. The other women huddled together with their parents. The man was going to get killed what an idiot, Ignatius thought as he walked between the two arguing.
"Ignatius, finally," Luna said, playing with her ring nervously.
The man spoke out in indignation. "Do you know who—" Whack. Ignatius used a martial arts technique, hitting the blond man on the head. He crumpled to the ground.
Ignatius glared at the five nobles. "Take this piece of trash away," he growled.
Christie took two macadamia nuts in one hand and crushed them. The sound of nut shells splitting open echoed through the silence. The men grabbed their crotches with pained expressions. Visual stimulation causes them imaginary pain.
Ignatius turned to Christie. "You could have warned me." He said as he removed his hand from his crotch. Christie lifted her shoulders, indifferent to his imagined pain as she ate a nut.
Ignatius turned to his family as the men dragged the unconscious noble away. "I need a pie," Ignatius said as the women swarmed him.
****************
Knock, knock, knock. Ignatius lifted his head. "Lunchtime," a voice announced from behind the closed door.
Luna groaned, "Lunch already?"
The weather outside was perfect for an outdoor adventure. Ignatius greeted the elders. The girls had washed each other's backs in the giant bathhouse. His back had been washed a lot; it felt sensitive as his shirt touched it. The elders gathered around the table as their daughters sauntered out of the baths. The group ate lunch, and the elders reminisced about yesterday at the festival.
Ignatius listened. Knowing that these elders rarely had the opportunity to leave their villages. Some had not ventured beyond their homes in over two thousand years.
"Luna and Elysia will go with me today," Ignatius announced. "We have business to attend to."
"Christie and Zarkon will remain here in case any problems arise."
"Ayla, stick to Christie's side. We do not want a noble to kidnap you."
"Why me?" She asked. Your adorable and well endowed." Elysia answered.
Ayla looked at the elders, and they nodded their heads. She covered her bosom, standing behind Christie.
Luna and Elysia strapped their swords to their thighs, Ignatius appreciating the view. Their ankle-length dresses would protect their legs from the sun. They took two water skins each and departed.
Heading toward the path leading to the cliff. A border between the rolling hills covered in vineyards. And the expansive grass plains, flat and treeless as far as the eye could see.
Luna spotted the tower first as she drank from her water skin. The sun was now past its zenith. Deer grazed near the tower, creating a serene scene. The stairs were stone, eroded by time and wind.
"Walk carefully, Luna. You're the smallest. You lead," Ignatius instructed.
Elysia followed them up, and no incidents occurred. The door to the room was made of thick wood and locked. Luna took two of her hairpins.
"I'll open this old lock," she said, inserting the bent pins. After fifteen minutes of swearing and wiggling the pins, a click sounded. "Yahoo!" Luna jumped up, kissing them.
Ignatius pushed open the door to reveal a furnished room. Two broken windows, weather-stained furniture, and a layer of dust filled the space.
"This must have been the commander's room," Elysia said, wiping dust from a picture frame.
An elf in uniform stood with three women and seven children, the tower behind them pristine. Soldiers with their families sat at tables, eating and laughing.
"What happened to them?" Elysia asked.
"War happened," Ignatius replied, touching her cheek. Elysia had known war. She held Ignatius, placing her head on his shoulder. The terrible scenes of elves dying still haunted her dreams some nights.
"It's sad," Luna said, her eyes downcast as she stared at the photo.
He held them for ten minutes until their sadness passed. "Alright, let's search for the door," Luna said, wiping her eyes.
"You're right. We have a mission to complete," Elysia agreed, using the back of her hand to wipe her eyes.
Rolling the scroll out on the dusty table, Ignatius said, "Look for something with this shape."
They searched the room, making jokes to make the tedious work more interesting. Elysia had many Chief Magnus jokes.
On the side of the fireplace, they found a strange piece of metal decorated like a leaf. Pushing it up, the grinding of stone upon stone echoed through the room.
"Look, an opening," Luna pointed to the fireplace. At the back, there were stairs leading down.
The stairs wound around and around as they descended. It opened into a room the size of a small house. Lined with barrels, stone tables with benches in the middle.
Two ovens with counters against the other wall. Lamps flickered to life as they entered, and jovial tavern music played in the background.
Elysia placed her ear to a wooden door at the far end. "The music comes from beyond this door. There are people talking as well."
"Leave the door for now." Ignatius said. "The thick layer of dust. Shows us that no one has entered this room in years.
Ignatius inspected the ovens on the sides. "Look, it's the symbols we found at the blacksmith."
Inside the ovens, symbols carved into the stone. Luna touched one, and the oven filled with heat. She touched it again, and the heat died down.
"Old magic," she whispered.
Ignatius spotted a strange symbol at the back of the oven. "Help me, please," he said, climbing into the oven with Elysia and Luna's help.
"If this thing comes alive, pull me out."
"We eat our sausage raw," Elysia joked. "Hee, hee, hee."
Luna laughed. "Foo, foo, foo."
He shook his head, stretching his hand forward. The ovens were deep. His fingers touched the symbol, which glowed, and a script of flame entered his hand in a stream.
"Now!" he yelled.
They yanked him out of the oven as flames burst inside, heating up the oven fast. The flames died down.
Luna pushed him off her. "Now is not the time for that," she scolded.
Elysia helped him up. "There is always time for that," she said with a wink.
Script appeared before them. Ignatius translated for them. He gained Spectral Flame, Luna gained Blade Storm, and Elysia gained Shadow Step.
They looked at each other. The knowledge that they were growing stronger evident in their eyes. Elysia and Ignatius took Luna's hands, pulling her up. They hugged, jumping up and down with joy. Elysia stopped, staring into Ignatius's eyes before kissing him. Luna kissed him too.
"Wait, we have to get out of here first," Ignatius said as they loosened the buttons on their blouses.
"We can try the door," Elysia said, pointing with her thumb at the thick wooden door.
"We should use caution," Ignatius warned.
The door opened, and light poured in. On the other side, they saw the inside of a tavern with two dwarfs drinking at a table. Through the window, they glimpsed Mithrilen City. Ignatius pulled the door closed.
"Let's head back," he said. They made sure to push the leaf back down, and the door closed. Luna used her pins to lock the door behind them.
They discovered a portal room connecting the tower to the dwarven city. The room not used in a long time. The tavern keeper did not have access to the room but, for reasons unknown to them. "It could be a one-way portal." Ignatius speculated.