Vampire's Thrall

By K S Fielding

A lonely sorceress enters a hunt with a prestigious group of monster hunters, but they get more than they bargained for. Our sorceress is skilled with magick but is she skilled enough to escape the grasp of an ancient vampire?

• Language: English
• Publisher: K S Fielding
• Release date: Aug 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005607944

Book preview

Vampire’s Thrall

K S Fielding

Published by K S Fielding at Smashwords

Copyright 2021 K S Fielding

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Chapter 1: The Hunt

The fire crackled.  A pot sat bubbling.  The aroma of rabbit filled the air along with the sound of voices.

A group of hunters sat around the fire sharpening swords, fletching arrows, and stringing bows.  Among them was a fair Nordic woman with a brown travelling cloak pulled tightly around her.  She rolled a ball of fire around in her hands.  

This will be our third night on the hunt.  An axe wielding man addressed the group as he poured rabbit stew into bowls.  I want us to eat quickly, for the sun is already setting.  We'll wait an hour or so then head out again.  We'll find what we’re looking for tonight, guaranteed.  The third time is always the luckiest.

There were murmurs, some in agreement, some not.  Still, no one outright contested the claim, so they ate in relative silence as the last light in the sky slowly dipped down below the horizon.  The air grew cooler.  The snow around them hardened into ice.  

What will you do with your share?  A man who fletched arrows asked the Nordic woman as the group prepared themselves.

Maybe buy a nice house on the outskirts of Hendelskein.  A farm perhaps.  Bridget replied, tucking her long blonde hair behind an ear as she laced up her boots.

A sorceress with a farm?  The ranger cocked an eyebrow incredulously.

She rolled her eyes.  You're right.  Perhaps a hut in the middle of the forest where I can cook lonely wanderers and travelers in peace.  With her boots secure, she gave the ranger a disappointed gaze and turned to join the rest of the group.

Quick time it, boys.  And lady.  The axe-man, known as Sven, kicked dirt and snow over the embers, drowning them in darkness.  We're doing northeast tonight.  Remember: stay within sight of each other.  If you run into trouble, we're not far.

And so the group set off with full bellies and sharp weapons.  Or in Bridget's case, a sharp mind.

While the half dozen men in the hunting party wore light mail armor and carried heavy swords, axes, or bows, Bridget's weapon was her mind.  She had an affinity for magick and could use spells both offensively and defensively.  And she was damn useful to have around, as the group well knew.  In the past year alone, twice had she healed mortal wounds on her companions and countless times had she saved them from infection, frostbite, or gangrene.  And an equal number of times had her more aggressive spells saved them from beasts such as giant spiders, bears, and even undead skeletons.  

These were some of the reasons Sven had hired her.  See, Sven led a group of hardened mercenaries called, quite simply, The Hunters.  A crude, unimaginative name, but nonetheless quick, effective, and accurate.  And it described the group to a tee.  It was a fortnight ago the Earl of Hendelskein sought them out, for he had a problem in his lands: disappearances and rumours of a great beast.  The Hunters were the ones you called for such a vague problem, albeit at a great expense.  Their expertise was not cheap.  They could demand the highest prices for few others would dare attempt such hunts.

And so Bridget travelled with them often, for the allure of vast amounts of coin was strong.  And the group permitted her presence, for the reasons previously mentioned.  When the group paused to relieve themselves behind trees and bushes, she felt Sven's gaze on her, as she often did at such times, and understood there were a couple other reasons they always wanted her around too.  She sighed and heard a rustle in the bushes as she stood and joined the rest of the group.

They continued their hike, moving now in one great horizontal line as they had now entered the northeast region of their search zone.  She brought up the left flank, and to her right, just within sight, Sven walked through the brush with his axe at the ready.

The moon gave them little light to work with, but the aurora made up for that lapse.  The phenomenon coated the dark