VI


Seeing the exact nature of Geoffrey’s treatment had shaken Matthew. Arriving at the major party on that night, he was still unable to take his mind off of his friend’s condition, and found it difficult to enjoy himself.


He was distracted by the sight of Duke Wulf making his way through the crowd. It was strange to see him here. Since the falling out he had had with Earl Paige, the two nobles had not attended the same gatherings, but tonight the two of them were present, albeit keeping a distance from each other. Perhaps Lucinda might be here as well, he thought. She’s not with him. I wonder where else she could be?


Matthew searched the room, but could not see her. Eventually he realised that the quickest way to find her would probably be to ask her husband, as distasteful as he might find that to be. He gathered up his nerves and spoke to the imposing figure.


“Good evening, Your Grace,” said Matthew. “How have you been?”


“I am well, thankyou,” said the duke, “although my lady is not so well. Unfortunately she couldn’t come tonight because of it.”


“Oh.” Matthew was dejected. Why must everyone be ill? “I hope she recovers soon.”


“And how are you, Lord Matthew?” the duke asked.


“I am well, thankyou, Your Grace,” Matthew said. “I hope you enjoy your evening.” He bowed and turned to head off, but the duke interrupted him.


“Tell me, how is your friend?”


“Geoffrey?” Matthew paused. “He’s as well as can be expected, I think. The treatment’s tough on him.”


“Treatment?”


“For the vampire bite.” Matthew wondered at the wisdom of telling Wulf about Geoffrey, but the vampire attack was common knowledge.


“Did he drink the vampire’s blood?” Wulf asked, leaning uncomfortably close to Matthew.


“Drink the blood? I don’t know,” Matthew said, confused by the question. “The priest just said it was treatment for the bite.”


“So he didn’t drink the blood?” the duke was insistent.


“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”


“What is the treatment?”


Matthew stepped back. “It’s not my place to talk about it.”


“Tell me.” The duke’s pale gaze caught Matthew’s. Despite their washed-out appearance, the duke’s eyes held enormous power. Matthew suddenly found himself enveloped with fear. Suddenly the only thing that mattered was getting that gaze away from him. “Tell me,” the duke repeated.


“They were giving him medicine and leeching his blood.”


“What medicine? How much blood?”


“It was quicksilver and garlic for the medicine. They took out a pint of blood. I think they do it every day.”


“Why?”


“To draw out the demon.” Matthew said.


With that, the duke broke his gaze. Matthew’s head cleared and he looked around. The conversation had drawn the attention of the entire party. Every head was turned towards the duke and him.


The duke immediately started striding towards Earl Paige. Matthew followed, the crowd leaving him plenty of space to do so. The duke stopped in front of the earl, and Matthew stood behind him, unsure of what was happening.


“You’re killing your son,” the duke said to the earl, anger brimming in his voice.


“How am I killing him, Eastlands?” Earl Paige sneered.


“With the ‘treatment’ he’s receiving. It’s not the way to treat a vampire bite. It will only kill him.”


“And I suppose you happen to know better than the priests,” said the earl. “One could wonder how you got this information.”


“Vampires are more common in the Eastlands than here,” the duke said. “Our folk tales are more accurate than your beliefs. If he did not drink the vampire’s blood then he harbours no demon.”


The earl looked from the duke to Matthew. “You seem to know a lot about my son’s condition for someone who is not welcome in my house. You also seem eager to dispute the knowledge of one of the senior members of the clergy. I won’t give your folk tales credence over Father Pontsfrey’s expertise.”


“I will not be held responsible for his death.”


“Are you willing to hand over the monster that attacked him, then?” the earl asked. “Other than the treatment, it’s the only way he can be saved.”


“I cannot do that,” said Duke Wulf. The anger in his voice faded, although he still did not sound like his usual emotionless self.


“Then don’t try to tell me what to do with my son.” Earl Paige began to walk past the duke. “I hope that this hasn’t altered our business arrangement.”


The duke shook his head. “No. I shall keep my end of the deal, so long as you keep yours.”


“That is good to hear,” said the earl. To Matthew he said, “I am disappointed to see that you have sided with him, when he is responsible for bringing the monster here.” With that, Earl Paige left. He briefly bid his host farewell and then departed.


The crowd began to move away. They kept away from Matthew and the duke – no one wanted to be associated to closely with them until the true consequences of the argument were known


“I brought no monster here,” Wulf said to no one in particular, although Matthew was the only one who heard.