Silence - By Kailin Gow Page 0,23
fast, in fact, that when they rounded a corner and found a tal , broad-shouldered figure coming the other way, there was simply no time to stop. Briony rebounded and sat down heavily, her only consolation in her embarrassment the fact that Aunt Sophie did the same.
Briony looked up, and even that consolation went out the window. It had to be Vigor, didn’t it? The Prince stood over them, resplendent in armor that was a mixture of steel plates and leather strips, designed to give the maximum amount of protection while stil al owing the wearer freedom of movement. A sword hung at his side. The col ision hadn’t moved him in the slightest, of course.
“Why, if it isn’t my favorite statue,” Aunt Sophie said, leaping nimbly to her feet. To Briony’s surprise, Vigor flushed, and moved forward to offer Briony his assistance in regaining her feet. He even mumbled something that sounded like an apology as he lifted her, setting her on her feet as easily as he might have lifted a child.
“What brings you out here?” Aunt Sophie asked.
“I am here to sweep for vampire assassins,”
Vigor said simply.
Briony looked around at the empty corridor.
“Where is everyone else?”
“They have taken up defensive positions deeper in the castle. As should you both.”
Aunt Sophie raised an eyebrow. “You’re planning on fighting whoever left that dagger on the banquet table al on your own.”
“It is my duty,” Vigor said. “My fa… the King is not wel enough to fight. Those around him, including the dragon, have moved to keep him safe. I am what remains.”
“So you real y a re planning to take them on alone?” Briony asked.
Vigor shrugged. “As I said, it is my duty. I am protector of this castle when the King cannot fight, and I wil not fail him.”
Briony could just see Prince Vigor throwing himself into the middle of a mob of vampires in the name of duty.
“We’l help,” she said. “Aunt Sophie and I know vampires. We know their strengths and their weaknesses.”
Vigor shook his head. “You should go and seek out the others. Remain with them, where it is safe.”
Briony bristled a little at that. “What? Because we’re girls? Just because you live in a castle, that’s no reason to have medieval attitudes, you know.”
“Because you are human,” Vigor said. “Sophie here may be one of us now, but you don’t even possess supernatural strength or magic. How can you possibly hope to survive a fight against a vampire?”
Briony wasn’t about to let that go either. “I may be human, but I’ve seen and fought more vampires than you ever have, Vigor.”
“You should be with the courtiers,” Vigor insisted. “The King would never forgive me if I al owed you to be kil ed. He has made his feelings about you plain. And you… whatever you say, you are too human for this.”
Aunt Sophie gave Vigor an annoyed look then.
“Briony is part human, yes, but she’s also Hugtandalfer like you. Her strength and powers wil be realized in time. Do not underestimate Briony, Vigor. Or me. If you want us to stay where it’s safe, you can try to make us, but I don’t like your chances.”
With that, Sophie took the lead and charged ahead down the corridor. Vigor gave an exasperated sigh and set off after her. Briony grinned at that and did her best to keep up. Aunt Sophie came to a halt in a gal ery, hung with portraits of people who were undoubtedly Briony’s ancestors and relations. Briony couldn’t resist a quick glance around at them. There was so much she did not know about her family here.
Aunt Sophie was speaking, though, so Briony did her best to listen.
“Do you know how to fight vampires, Vigor?
First thing’s first, if they’re as old as everyone says they are, they possess incredible strength and abilities. Even the ability to read minds, hear things from a long distance, and fly.” Aunt Sophie poked Vigor in his armored chest. “It takes more than strength and bravery to win against ancient vampires.
It takes smarts and the element of surprise if you want to get close enough to stake one.”
“Oh, surprises. I love surprises.”
The voice came from above them, and a dark shadow flashed down, knocking Aunt Sophie flat, the stake spinning from her hand to clatter against the wal . She leapt back to her feet as a laugh sounded around them, echoing in ways it shouldn’t have been able to.
Briony tightened her grip on her