— I could imagine them breeding ghouls, but for them to scatter like this... — Eugene, who had seated himself nearby, simply shook his head.
It seemed he had already tasted Krapivin's blood and now needed to vent his frustrations.
The situation really was going badly. The fugitives were killing left and right, robbing, and taking everything from life. They had created what they called "vampires," but in reality, they were the ghouls Maria had named, as they turned people simply by letting them drink their blood. Only after the ghouls started committing a small-scale genocide on the streets every night did the renegades come to their senses and stop killing themselves.
But even that didn't seem to be enough. They scattered! Each went their own way, and only the inseparable pair, Alexey Gennadievich and his loyal Olga Viktorovna, stayed together. That's how Krapivin ended up in Kasiya, deciding to return to more familiar territory. He didn't know where the others had gone, although Vidov and his trio of ghouls planned to move to the Empire, while other renegades intended to stay in Kasiya for the time being, and then go wherever the circumstances took them.
— They live by the principle, if you can mess up — mess up, — Konstantin chimed in, — It's worth it for the king to return to the capital...
— Nothing will happen. The only fool who created ghouls was Vidov, and he took them with him. His personal servants, damn it. The rest are currently leading a life of pleasure and indulging in every possible enjoyment, not thinking about "breeding."
Konstantin laughed.
— I can only imagine what awaits him when they arrive at the port.
The other vampires also smiled, picturing in their minds how the quartet of bloodsuckers would arrive at the sea and sense its smell. And it would happen, as Vidov wanted to move to the Empire via Ur.
— And what decision will we make for this scum? A stake?
— A stake is for borderline cases when you want to kill, but it seems like you can't. I didn't drag him here across half the duchy for a stake, but for the unanimous decision of the Triumvirate regarding him and the blood every vampire must drink.
Alexander's speech was met with silence by the triumvirs. Each was clearly in agreement, but none dared to voice it aloud. Though it wasn't needed at the moment. The first to arrive, the leaders of the small community, held a separate meeting, and the subsequent trial was only a formality. It became that.
As the advisors and some others who had heard about Krapivin's capture gathered in the hall, the swiftest trial was conducted.
— Death!
— Death.
— Death, — Alexander confirmed the words of the two triumvirs, — And before the execution, every vampire will drink the blood of the traitor.
Before the guests had even taken their seats, they began to disperse. Some discussed the decision, not understanding it, some remained silent and smiled, or were deep in thought. The long-forgotten betrayal and the events associated with it resurfaced in their memories, and each relived them in their own way.
Stefania looked dejected; the story once told by her lover, about their appearance in this world, now blossomed with details. The girl experienced the events even more emotionally than the direct participants. The former servant reached out and wanted to pat Sofia's head, but was intercepted by the vigilant Alexander standing between them.
Realizing it wasn't an attack, the knight let go of her hand. Sofia herself took the capture and execution of her tormentor with perhaps the coldest composure. She even refused the offer of marriage to him, although the vampires had proposed performing the ritual to officially make her married and thus no longer disgraced. In the spring, such a generous offer would have been gladly accepted; now it was even repugnant to her.
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