Fatigue settled across the weary wonderers mind like a heavy blanket. Days of gruelling work and trying labours had managed to rattle what was left of Umbra’s nerves, the sheer testament to the warrior’s willpower was on display when Umbra had managed to stay their hand from tightening around the throat of the merchant that had the audacity to say that they would be paid in a fortnight.

The good news for Umbra was that the day was over with, and that there was enough gold weighing down their purse to see them in a nice bed for the night. And possibly a well-earned bath to go along with it.

The bad news was that the merchant was not very likely to be hiring Umbra’s services every again, which was fine, after the pay from the job was added to the rest, Umbra would have already had the next job lined up ready and waiting.

Heavy eyes glanced further up the streets of Radasanth, the bustling crowds found during the day were rightly absent in at such a late hour, the oil lanterns flickered softly while a full moon loomed brightly overhead. There were only stragglers out at this time, as well as a rare patrol of the nightguard to ensure that all was well.

Only those who would be up to no good were still up this late.

Umbra would have declined to answer honestly where they stood under such scrutiny, but in their quest to earn a good reputation it did not help to do less than legal activities.

“Oh, please Vanessa, you know I could never tell a lie to your eyes” A voice resonated from around the corner.

Two more steps were all it took for Umbra to cast their gaze down the street to see the noble man that had spoken and the two lovely ladies that accompanied him on a leisurely stroll. Normally Umbra would have dismissed the group all together, there was no business to be had with them, only curt comments and veiled insults.

‘Claude?’ The name sang through the warrior’s mind like a sirens call.

The noble with the long wavy pale blonde hair that had been tied back into a ponytail and the silver rapier by his side all danced out in waves of familiarity. Umbra knew him, it had been a very long time but there was no mistaking the flair in the way he walked or the charming smile he currently graced the ladies that walked on each of his sides.

Seeing him, alive and well reminded Umbra of younger years of an age long gone by. Claude a young boy stood with his long blonde hair blowing gently in the wind, the wooden sword he carried was too big for his hands as he held the wooden blade to his chest in a mock salute of honour.

Their fathers stood watching them both raptly as they supervised their friendly bout in the estate grounds. Children of similar ages were also watching with rapt attention, They boys with their own wooden weapons and the girls with wreaths of flowers in their laps. Claude had always been the largest due to being the eldest of the group and charged forwards when the signal to start was given, a swipe to the left, a strike to the right followed by a lunge that left him out of place with unsure footing.

As the lessens that their fathers had drilled into them and Claude’s repetitive strikes all took root in Umbra’s young mind. Claude was knocked onto the ground an instant later, having been unable to land a single blow and react in time for Umbra’s counter attack.

Feeling awash with nostalgia for those halcyon days left Umbra yearning for simpler times with no care for the bedlam that lay in wait on the morrow.

But sadly, and reservedly Umbra followed their old acquaintance at a sedate pace and watched the familiar noble led his two escorts down a dark alleyway, cementing Umbra’s suspicions in the process. Umbra glibly approached the lip of the alleyway before gripping the hilt of the weathered bastard sword and drew the full length of the blade with a sorrowful metallic hymn.

The alleyway was only just sparsely lit by the light of the full moon, crates lined one side of the wall while a wet slurping sound vaguely reached their ears. Umbra stepped into the darkness with no hesitation, their heavy metallic footfalls announcing their approaching presence.
The iron clad warrior stepped over a woman’s corpse without missing a beat, her glazed eyes forever locked against the far wall with a frozen vacant expression.

Up ahead Claude stood hunched over the body of the second women with his jaws firmly lodged onto her neck. A river of blood ran down her pale neck and into the folds of her dress as the noble gripped her wrist in a bone crushing grip while supporting her with his other arm.

The vampire let loose a guttural snarl as red ruby eyes locked onto Umbra with the savagery of a wild animal ready to kill. Umbra just thought the sight with pitiful as they raised the bastard swords hilt towards their chest in a salute of honour.

Claude threw his victim to the side with a snarl and charged forwards drawing his silver rapier in the process. A swipe to the left, a strike to the right followed by a lunge…

Tonight, it was just business as usual as ash blew around Umbra like a maelstrom moments later. Leaving the heart and soul arrayed in iron feeling tired.