Grigor Jankov and his men hotfooted out of St. Theodosia’s. There, to their astonishment, they met the Baron. He signed them to be quiet, then around the neck of each man he hung a small pouch. “These will be longer lasting than the dust.”
Confused and suspicious, Grigor began, “Baron, how …”
“Yes, I’m real, not one of Allura’s tricks.”
Grigor’s brow cleared and he assured the others, “It’s good.”
All the horses were still tied nearby. The party quickly mounted and galloped toward the main track. There the Baron called a halt.
Frowning, he told them, “Some quick explanations and a choice to be made, gentlemen.
“First, the Baron who accompanied you to the church and that the Lich captured was a simulacrum, whose senses I had been using. It seems that the goal of Mr. Porter’s machinations was to get me into that vile church, and in that we have thwarted him … temporarily. But he will give chase, powerful chase, as soon as he discovers that what he has is not me.”
“And Mr. Porter himself is more than any of us bargained for. He is neither human like us, nor a Vampire like many of the Kalnichovs. He is now a Lich.”
“A Lich? What is that?” said the Dandy. “But pardon my presumption, Your Excellency. I am Zoltan Bartok, taken indirectly into your service by Mr. Jankov. I am universally called ‘the Dandy’, for reasons I am totally unable to explain.” With flourishes of his extravagantly feathered hat, drawing appreciative snickers, he bowed from horseback to the Baron and to Grigor.
“I am Baron Iglacias Rostov, delighted to have you in my service, Mr. Bartok. Although I wish the circumstances were more agreeable.
“As I’m sure you know, part of the Kalnichovs’ hold in this region comes because the living family is led by Vampires. With some of them being born generations ago, it is understandable that they have long supported conservative causes, without looking too closely at the nature of their supporters.
“But Mr. Porter is not a Vampire, and no longer truly a Kalnichov. I suspect that while he went by his true name, Radimir Stokavski, he broke with his family. They assassinated him. And upon his death he made himself into a Lich.
“A Lich is a sort of corporeal ghost. Very powerful, very persuasive. When Dark Guides came to lead his soul to the other plane where it belongs, he not only refused to go, as a ghost does, but he coerced or persuaded the Guides into his service. Since those creatures are the Imps that have been bedeviling you all, we can guess what kind of soul he has.”
“Imps?” asked Grigor.
“Imps,” repeated the Baron. “And of a very unusual, very powerful kind. I suspect Mr. Porter has become their devil, and they have made a deal with him.” The Baron grinned briefly at that thought, then further explained, “They have sat on your shoulders, whispering foul nothings in your ears, and played with your souls. That is how you were manipulated beside the trail, Grigor, and how you and your men were taken so easily, Mr. Bartok.
“Which brings us to your choice. This Lich may have the power to break me outright. He certainly has the power to outlive me, and thus bring ruin on my family and all my good works.
“But he is a young Lich, and not set in his ways yet, which gives him some vulnerabilities. However, to exploit those vulnerabilities, I’m going to need help.”
Rostov looked toward the Kalnichov side of the valley.
“You gentlemen don’t have to come with me …”
“Oh, but we shall,” said the Dandy. His two men, Jaromir and Franjo, nodded.
“Agreed,” said Grigor.
“Gentlemen, I am grateful for your support. Let’s move.”
The party rode quickly down the path. As they approached the main valley, the Baron had the party stop along the last rocky stretch.
“Gentlemen, I’m going to produce a decoy party as a distraction. So I ask you all to face away from the road until I’m finished. It bothers some people to see themselves where they aren’t, even if they think it won’t. Others consider it … unlucky.”
The wizard dismounted, chanted in a mystic tongue for a minute or so, and then mounted again. “Our images are now heading south along the road. Should Mr. Porter inquire, the Nymphs and Dryads will reluctantly report our passing. We head north, and not by road.”
Over the years, the Rostov holdings had grown and prospered. Close to the river that divided them from Kalnichov lands there were farm fields, grazing meadows, and some fishing shacks. The Kalnichovs chose to have their people build elsewhere, and the lands the party now rode through were Kalnichov hunting preserves. The land was thickly grown with dark-trunked hardwoods, and among these grew dense thickets of thorny bushes that many animals found appealing as food and shelter. The Baron occasionally reminded his people not to poach there.
The party made very slow going at first, but finally found a game trail that led deep into Kalnichov land.