Author's note: Thanks again to Liter Knight for her careful editing!
Carla woke to the feel of the sun slipping under the horizon. She turned on her side and with start realized she was alone. This was an unusual thing for her these days. She had become used to awakening to the comforting presence of another woman beside her, sharing a smile and a kiss before dressing and starting her night. But Gwen was out doing some sort of scouting mission. The real mystery was Siobhan. She had laid down next to Siobhan the night before, made love as the sun approached the horizon, and then fallen asleep with the dawn in each other's arms. They should have awoken at the exact same time, but Siobhan had apparently awoken early. It was possible for any vampire to awaken before the sun set, even when she slept Carla was always slightly aware of her surroundings on a barely conscious level. It just took a small effort to wake more fully. But waking up while the sun was up made the blooded feel tired and sick and it took a lot of blood to banish the ill effects. Siobhan had to have awoken early on purpose, and for a good reason.
Carla got up and quickly dressed, absently surprised Lily didn't come to check on her. It seemed everyone was off doing mysterious errands today. When she left the tent, she called on the Oracle. She had lain with Siobhan the night before so their connection was strong, it made the trail of her aura a bright, clear path that was easy for Carla to follow.
She found Siobhan on a hill on the outskirts of their camp. The army had marched out from Delgan about ten days ago, making steady progress southeast. The army was even larger than it had been before the first battle, swelled with the remnants of the Dragon's army and the locals that had been bound or turned by the vampires. Carla even had a few freshly turned retainers that were assisting her in running her necros engine, although she was proud they were all volunteers. Carla and Isabelle had successfully lobbied with Diana, the leader of the necros engine brigade, to only turn the prisoners who accepted the offer to become revenants, and a surprising number of the prisoners had agreed. It was a victory that helped soothe Carla's guilt for agreeing to participate in this battle.
The larger army meant a larger camp as well, which only added to the ever present chaos. To add to the bustle things were always busy when the blooded first awoke, servants rushing to fill early evening requests for food and news. Even the normal evening rush felt busier than usual, and Carla wondered if something had happened. Despite the chaos, Siobhan's trail remained bright and clear, not breaking or disrupting when a hurried servant or a serene blooded noble walked through it.
Eventually Carla left the camp behind, walking past the corpse carts that held the army's larvae, and the trail led her up a hill. There was a large tree on top, and Carla had a flashback to her first night with Siobhan under the stars, and the memory brought a warm glow to her chest.
She found Siobhan at the top of the hill standing under the tree and staring off into the distance. Carla slowed as she approached. Siobhan's expression was unreadable but Carla could read the tension in her body. Carla walked up and stood beside her.
"You found me," said Siobhan, her voice flat.
"Yes I did, what are you...?"
Carla trailed off as she followed Siobhan's gaze to another camp just visible on the horizon. It was a city of tents and wagons eerily similar to their own. It was far enough away that the bustle of the camp, for them preparing to settle down for the night even as their own camp was awakening, was invisible to her.
"They arrived around mid afternoon. There was some concern they would attack immediately, but they've decided to wait. Probably waiting for the rest of the army to catch up with them."
"That's not all of them?"
Siobhan shook her head, "according to the scouts their..." Siobhan paused.
Carla realized she was stuck on referring to the Tallisian army as 'their army' not 'our army.'
"...the army's gotten a lot bigger," continued Siobhan, "The victory at the first battle brought in volunteers, and the league has sent mercenaries."
Carla licked her lips nervously. She honestly wasn't sure if she wanted their army to win or not, but she did know that if the Tallisian army was bigger it just meant there were more people to get killed.
"I can just see them," said Siobhan.
"Who?"
"My clan. There. The black and gold banner."
She pointed and Carla squinted. She could tell that there were banners raised on tall poles, but it was too far to make out the colors.
Then Carla gasped as suddenly she could make out the banners, every detail leapt to her as if she was only a few feet from the camp. It was as if she was using the farsight spell she had known as a human, or one of the mage guild's telescopes, which mimicked her far sight spell. This might have been even better though. She could hear the camp as well. The bustle of the camp came to her ears as if she was walking among them.
"I see them," said Carla, keeping her voice steady.
"My father is there, though he won't fight in the battle. My uncle will lead my clan; lead my cousins and my father's bannermen. I played with their sons as a child. They ate at my father's table."
Carla stared at Siobhan. She felt the Oracle rising again but she pushed it away. She didn't want to know what Siobhan was feeling right now.
"Are you going to go to them?"
Siobhan froze for a moment.
"You say that as if it's possible, as if I wouldn't be betraying you."
"I wouldn't feel betrayed. I'd understand."
Siobhan remained frozen for another moment. Then shook her head.
"I've thought about it, I've thought about it a great deal. Cerwen suggested it right after we were all turned, but in the end... I couldn't do that to you, to Gwen. None of us could. The blood binds us together, stronger than any of us realize."
Carla nodded. She knew what Siobhan meant. She was never sure how much of her feelings for her new family were due to them being wonderful people and how much was the blood they shared. That kernel of doubt was always there, gnawing at her love for Gwen, Elaine, and Siobhan. What if it was all a trick? No better than a perverted enchanter's love spell.
Siobhan snorted, "Besides, what would we eat?"
Carla realized she had been taking easy access to blood for granted, but if Siobhan, or any vampire, were to leave, the choices they'd have to make about how to get blood would get very difficult, very fast.
"I'm sorry," said Carla.
"Thank you," said Siobhan. "I will do my best to live with it. To find a way."
"I don't know if this really helps but the necros engines won't be killing anyone."
"I know. And I thank you for that too. Truly."
They stood and stared out at the army for another minute. Carla tried to get back her farsight but it wouldn't come to her. Hopefully she could master it soon.
"I wanted to make a suggestion," said Siobhan.
"Oh?"
"It's... slightly awkward."
"Okaaay..."
"I think you should spend tonight with Gwen, alone. I think it will bring her comfort before the battle."
"What about you?"
"I won't be fighting in the battle itself. I will be guarding you, but Gwen will be on the front lines."
"She'll be fine though," said Carla, a little too quickly. She had almost convinced herself. Almost.
