The kingdom of Ilkhori was one of the poorest. Even the near monopoly possession of such a rare and valuable resource as salt did not allow the state to drown in money, salt was simply not enough. A rocky coast, swampy land, infertile soil. The inhabitants preferred to sell their services to neighboring countries and mercenaries were the second article of income of the kingdom, after salt.
Such poverty of the country, made it not particularly interesting to the church, because half of the priests' activity was firmly connected with financial issues, and the influence of the other half, was not enough to fully cover the whole kingdom. And as a consequence, there were numerous sects and cults in Ilkhori that differed from the tenets of the Light Church of Demur.
So the offer of eternal life might have been met almost as an insult if it had happened in the vastness of the Empire, but in poor and godforsaken Ilkhori, a man who had received much in his lifetime wished to prolong it longer, and did not seek to be near Demur, in the warmth of his light.
- Have you heard of what is happening in the west now?
- You mean the vampire invasion? - The duke immediately recognized what he was asking.
- That's right. Vampires. Creatures that are extremely strong and resilient. They are afraid of Demur's light and silver, - with these words the Count took a silver goblet from the table and immediately dropped it, showing the burn he had received, - Beings who have personal magic....
The dropped goblet soared into the air following the movements of the Count's hand.
- Beings who have fantastic regeneration.
The formerly burned hand was shown to his interlocutor, which no longer had a trace of damage.
- And finally, creatures that live forever.
- So you're a vampire?
- That's right! And I can make you a vampire. Believe me, the minor inconvenience of light or silver will seem like nothing compared to what you'll get in return. Strength, senses, magic, health, and I'm not even talking about the pleasure Moore gives you! - For the first time since the beginning of the conversation, the Count had the initiative and used it to his advantage.
Now the main thing is to finish the duke and then no threats or blackmail will not be needed. The man himself will go into his hands and bring the head of the Chancellor, albeit in a figurative sense. Further conversation revolved around what it was like to be a vampire.
The Watchman of the Guard Tower and one of the dukes of the kingdom was clearly interested in the possibility of significant personal enhancement and new abilities, but having the opportunity to choose, was a little afraid. When the guest left the mansion an hour later, both men were quite pleased with each other and the conversation. Count Yankee was sure that soon there would be one more vampire in Ilkhori.
As soon as the carriage disappeared behind the gates, his master shook the smile off his face and quickly returned to his study, where he went to the wall and with a slight movement of his hand opened a disguised niche in it and let the man out.
Duke Chergor, the chancellor of the kingdom, stretched.
- I'm getting old hiding here.
Duke Ilium only grinned. He knew his old friend like the back of his hand, and the latter never missed an opportunity to be personally present in the hiding place for such conversations. No matter how old he was. That was his whole nature.
- Turns out Yankee suddenly wanted your job for a reason.
- Yeah. I expected to hear a lot of things, but a vampire--
- We can use this.
- I think we should use it, my friend," the Chancellor smiled contentedly.
The two loyal friends laughed. They had made a great pair for a long time now. One of them was rushing to power, scattering everyone in his way, and the other one was actively helping him, even to the point of spreading rumors of sodomy about himself.
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