chsdbacks Chapter 656: A Trace of Hope
Chapter 656: A Trace of Hope
Chapter 656: A Trace of Hope
The air was cold enough that Holo could see her own breath as white whisps. The temperature had to be almost freezing down in the underground chamber to prevent the bodies from decaying. Her assistants couldn’t stand to be down here for too long before heading back up to the manor Holo had built as a headquarters for the Singing Willow Troupe.
As for Holo, she didn’t mind the cold. She had swum in the deepest waters of the Hoarfrost Bay, where the sun did not reach, and even sirens would avoid for fear of hypothermia. A little cold meant nothing to her. In fact, she preferred it.
Perhaps it was because her mother had been a northern drow and she had grown up in the Northern Lands, in a castle nestled deep in the mountains. The snow had been a constant companion. So it came as a surprise to her when she had first stepped into the warmer islands of the Azure Realm, where the people had never known snow. A tragedy and a beauty all at once.
It had been some time since she had visited the Azurian islands and she made a note to herself to visit soon. Though perhaps, she thought as she examined the corpse on the table, that would have to wait.
The body had once belonged to a vampire, before a spear to the gut had relieved her of her life. Holo didn’t know much about who she was, save that her name was Natalie and she had been a soldier serving on the southern side of the shade wall. Or so the ledger had stated. A single sentence on a piece of paper. That was all Natalie would be remembered by.
Death had never bothered Holo, a trait she shared with her siblings. But unlike most of her brothers and sisters, Holo wondered who the dead might have been. Were they scared when they died? Were they happy when they were alive? Was Natalie? Would Natalie be angry for what Holo was about to do?
Questions that had no answers and yet Holo found herself asking them just the same. She raised her index finger and shapeshifted her nail into a sharp talon. With careful and precise movement, she pierced the corpse’s flesh and began to write a series of complex runes all across the body.
This time around, she would take her time. Holo had thought of improvements on the design and she was eager to put them into practice. It had to be perfect. Starting with the vampire Natalie.
Holo was so focused on etching the runes and imbuing them with her power that she almost failed to notice the footsteps walking down the stairs.
“I’m busy. Unless it’s terribly important, come back later.”
“Still playing with corpses, I see. You must be oh so terribly busy,” replied Melantha.
Holo resisted the urge to roll her eyes and instead continued with her work. “The body isn’t rotten, it’s in pristine condition. And I’m not playing. These new undead sentinels will be placed around our little brother’s home.”
“As protection? You do realize that anything that could harm Stryg will tear apart through any undead you create?”
“Our little brother has more enemies than just dragonbanes and gods. Many mortals see the return of Ebon Lords as dangerous and some might get it into their little heads to try and do something about it. My sentinels will act as a deterrent from most such people.”
“Fair enough.”
“And they’re not only meant to protect Stryg. The sentinels will be guarding the Noir manor as well. I’ll sleep better once I know my granddaughter has an army guarding her home every hour of the day and night.”
“You’re leaving Unalla in the city?”
“She has spent her whole life traveling. It’s time she learns about her roots. It’ll be good for her to spend time with the other Noirs.”
“She’d much prefer to travel with you,” noted Melantha.
“Oh, I plan to still be here for quite some time. The city is in shambles. I have a lot of work cut out for me.”
Melantha walked around the cold underground chamber, noting the various lattices of sigils etched on the walls. “This place is protected from all forms of farsight, yes?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Even Lunae’s?”
“Yes. What is this about?”
“What about your son and his wife? Are they staying in Hollow Shade, too?”o shore up the city’s defenses. It will take a few weeks for the Sylvan army to march all the way to the Silent Marshes. Hopefully, we can mount a powerful enough defense that Lunae will be dissuaded from this bloody campaign.”
“And if she isn’t?”
“I imagine there will be war.”