Vero looked up. The girl on the Black Palatine’s arm was full of mirth at her humiliation. The master, however, appeared unsatisfied. His own grin had disappeared.

  Vero felt a hand on her arm pulling her up. Elizaveta helped right her on her feet, and cleaned the grime from her face.

  “Strength now, Vero. It’s over, you’re through it,” she whispered into Vero’s ear.

  The Black Palatine was so eager he had revealed that he already knew about the Curia and their fortress. If not, perhaps, their exact location. He obviously suspected treachery from one or more of his subjects, but his hold was not so monolithic that he could dispose of them without good reason to show the others. He probably hoped to have her provide a name and the evidence he needed, hence his disappointment.

  “I have been a negligent host, it seems. Sit and eat… if you wish.” The Black Palatine sounded distracted and returned to his seat. He did so abruptly, and his companions followed his example at unsteady rates.

  Vero gratefully retreated to her side of the table, where the heat of the fire restored some of her vitality. Elizaveta moved with her most of the way. She very visibly sat much nearer to Vero than her fellow undead; although she did still show signs of uncertainty being so near open flame.

  Was it wise to announce their affiliation so obviously? Vero was not certain, but it seemed that the antagonism between Elizaveta and her liege lord was no secret. Vero was also glad to have an ally near, though she be one of dubious loyalty. There were no better alternatives to be had at present.

  The Black Palatine had set himself to brooding, and there was no conversation from the other vampyres in his social absence. Each of his vassals were statuesque, waiting for him to speak again. Vero took the opportunity to lean towards Elizaveta.

  “Who are the others with the Black Palatine?” Vero used a low voice, although she would not say anything that she was not willing to have overheard.

  “The girl beside him is the young Landgravine Sidonie of Tharebrant. You can see how shamelessly she humiliates her aged husband by carrying on with another man so openly. The poor fellow is still under her power and serves her from afar- and by extension, the Black Palatine who cuckholds him.”

  Tharebrant was not an elector in Teutonia, though it was amongst the most powerful princedoms under the rule of the Kaiser. It was placed well to the east of them, and Vero considered that a worrying sign as to how far the vampyres had projected their power in the north.

  “The apostate priestess is Kunigunde the Wretched. She was once devout in her worship of the Veiled One. The Black Palatine cursed her with undeath and forbid her to destroy herself. That happened more than a century past now, and I believe she's lost her mind since. She has the title of chaplain, but I've never seen the Black Palatine express anything but derision towards the gods. So, I take it that too is only another cruel jest.”

  Vero’s mind drifted to Alexius for a moment. What would he make of such a pitiful creature? She pulled her attention back to the present.

  “The elf is named Suizei, and he can hear us, so I shall tell no gossip of him. You may form your own impressions. The man with the colored skin beside him is named Hasan. Like Suizei, he was already undead when he swore homage to the Black Palatine. Oh-” Elizaveta playfully put a hand to her lips. “-but I promised no gossip of him. Hasan came from one of the Oasis Cities, but I know not which one. Nor why he departed. He has been a member of this court for some centuries, much longer than Suizei, nearly so long as myself even. They both prefer to stay nearer to their lord than I, who finds it easier to love a master from afar.”

  Elizaveta had spoken of them to her together deliberately. Vero was sure these two were the counterweight which would shift if the Black Palatine acted too far out of turn against any of them. They were not tied to their master by blood. He could command them by the force of his hypnotism, but their loyalty was not complete.

  “Aside from ourselves, I consider each of them the most trustworthy in our company.”

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  “A low hurdle to clear.”

  “Indeed,” Elizaveta replied dryly. “The fat man is Gunther. During his time, he was something of a legend in the Teutonian Landtag. His stated trade was as a spice merchant, but once he had his position in the Landtag most of his wealth came from bribes, extortion, and blackmail. The Black Palatine took him to be his steward. The blood holds him thrall, but I still would not trust him with my coin purse. The man is utterly duplicitous, and holds true loyalty to nothing besides his own self-interest.”

  Vero began to realize why Elizaveta was so willing to be open in her opposition to her master. The entire lake was filled with crocodiles. How was the Black Palatine to know which of the traitors, whom he had further twisted and corrupted himself, held the knife to his back from moment to moment. A show of unity would be liable to arouse suspicion rather than alleviate it.

  “The yellow-haired giant is Jesper. He’s a Vangrian the Black Palatine took only some years ago, and he’s the youngest of our number. The Black Palatine’s previous body guard was a dwarf, but his kin eventually uncovered their ancestor and destroyed him. Jesper is a poor replacement, besides the intimidation offered by his size. Properly equipped, I believe you could best him in battle. As I understand it, the Black Palatine also uses him as a catamite. And I suspect that is his true purpose.”

  Vero waited for her to mention the last man, but she did not. “What about the final man? The beggar?”

  “His name is Robard. He is dangerous, and you should watch him carefully. I believe he can hear us as well; I won’t say more.”

  Vero saw a nod of the head from Robard. He sat behind the others, and she did not believe that anyone but them had seen the acknowledgement. It was the only movement any of them had made since the Black Palatine started his sulk. Aside from Gunther, who furtively took drinks from his cup, looking ashamed.

  A thought struck her. “Can the Black Palatine hear us?”

  “Of course he can, sweet one.”

  This, finally stimulated a response. “What do you think of your new ward, Elizaveta?”

  Elizaveta turned to her master. “From what I have seen, I like her very much.”

  “Then you will exert your rights over her blood, as mistress of this house?”

  “I have told you as much already.”

  “Then do so now.” Interest sparked among the observers. By way of explanation, he added, “I wish to watch.”

  Vero turned to Elizaveta. “What is he talking about?”

  Elizaveta’s face was implacable. “He wishes me to kill you, dear one.”

  If the matter was already decided, then all was lost. Vero would not believe that. If this was another probe for weakness, then any hesitation would be fatal.

  “Yes, very well.” Vero raised the sleeve on her dress.

  The Black Palatine was intrigued by this newest development. “You have no objection, my Lady?”

  “Why should I? I still think this is another of your aimless games, but you already know I don’t fear death. If I am wrong, then what shall it matter to me after?”

  The Black Palatine’s eyes flared again. He knew it was bait, but his compulsions still compelled him to rise to it. “Even if you do not fear to die- do you fear to rise again in my service?”

  “I shall rise again in Elizaveta’s service,” Vero countered.

  “I am her liege lord. Her service is my service.”

  “I shall have no ties of blood to you. You take such pride exalting in your power. Very well, now I shall have access to it. All I will need is a moment’s lapse in your attention, and you shall be destroyed.” Vero looked at the others, focusing particularly on those she had already identified as weak. “And when you are dead, do you believe that any of these companions could even rouse themselves to avenge you?”

  Gunther sunk very deep into his cups, but said nothing. Kunigunde took no notice.

  The Landgravine once again proved herself the weakest link. “I would see him avenged, you witch!”

  The Black Palatine motioned for her to be silent, but her words had already prompted Jesper to respond in kind. “And you would find my sword at your throat as well.”

  “Enough!” The Black Palatine forced them all back into silence. “I’ve had enough of the Lady Veronique’s attempts at wit. End them.”

  “You say you have had enough of my wit, and yet you seek to preserve it for all eternity. It sounds to me that you have need for my vicarious wit; left alone, you appear witless.”

  He frowned. “To be unageing is not the same as eternal life. You would do well to remember that, my Lady.”

  “As would you, my Lord. I can see you have returned to the same old threats, however. Are you going to order this charade to climax soon? Or are you still too much of a coward to kill me yourself?”

  “I grow impatient, Elizaveta.”

  Elizaveta placed a hand under Vero’s chin and turned her head. “I’ll be very careful. It won’t hurt much. It shall be just like falling asleep, and then you will wake again in just an evening.”

  Vero had no weapon to hand. There were too many of them to escape. Her avenues for survival were dwindling away to none. Elizaveta took a dining knife from the table and drew it across Vero’s wrist. The cut was not deep enough to kill by itself, but blood welled up from the wound. Elizaveta watched the process with a kind of rapture.

  She dipped her head towards the blood savoring the scent. Elizaveta extended her tongue, and had only the first taste when the Black Palatine called out, “Wait!”

  Elizaveta halted herself and pulled away with effort.

  “I have changed my mind. The Lady Veronique shall live, for the time being. I forbid you to take her blood without my permission.”

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