VI

The road leading to the fort was rundown after centuries of use. Based on the clues, he was able to recognize when that type of wheel was used. There was no one to guard the entrance to the fort. The yard was in disrepair. Only the stone bridge connecting the fort to the mainland was in painful condition, all possible repairs were made to it, but it still did not look stable.

The bridge withstands him in full gear. The gate, he estimated, was twelve by fourteen feet full of wrought iron with pegs whose head was the size of an inch.

With a sudden creak, the door opened. The hall was too bright and almost bothered him. Tables lined up on all sides were waiting to be set up, on the throne located in the middle of the tables, there sat the lord of the fort. Fresh blood dripped down his chin, continuing to flow down the locket and into his clothes, beside him stood a freshly awakened vampire.

"What do you want, mortal!" said the lord.

"Help me to get back what was taken from me."

"So you're the one."

"Yes."

"The law is against you, but this is an exception, since, he is a renegade."

The vampire got up, left the room, and after a few moments returned with a sword in his hand. The sword was expensive, with a large jewel on top.

"This sword belonged to my father, the only one who can defeat it. But beware, it deals with magic. The sword has its nature."

"Where is he?"

"The forests of Kiegora are your next stop."

The hall began to fill with vampires dressed in variety, most of them no older than him.

"Follow our guest," the lord said. "A long debt is to be paid."

The forests of Kiegore were located some twenty kilometers from the fort, once a passable path now largely overgrown with so many years of disuse.

The journey, which took about four hours, seemed like an eternity to him.

The castle gate was in worse condition than the fort door. After a few strokes of the axe, the door fell. A bright light shines upon him, and with all the determination of this world he steps inside.