The Keepers of Chaos: A Vault of Hell

Ammalia Cassalanter: LXXII

According to plan: LXXII

"Nearly discovered!" Chills ran down Ammalia's arms while she paced back and forth in the master bedroom, how could she let this happen?! How could Victoro? "We were nearly discovered by a band of idiots! Because that stupid sist- ugh, that incompetant Gralhund house was careless." She had only begun to dress after a long night with the kids when Ryvvik nervously brought her the news. His eyes were afire and his hand was already on his flail. She huffed out angry breaths. She would not lose her children this way, she would reclaim her house's power!

"ARGH!"

*Tsheshaeekratter*

Victoro wrenched a rapier in half breaking the blade in a fit of rage. "How did they know where to go? Did the Gralhunds not lie?" He whispered angrily.

"What the hell is a reaper of chaos?!" Ammalia roared.

"Keeper's of Chaos." Cersei corrected, but Seffia elbowed her quickly. Don't fucking care. It was all she could think, who cares about names?! What are they and how did they kill the nimblewright servant Yalah had bragged so much about?!

"The.. trouble makers did not venture into your crypt.. So it is unlikely.." Victoro raised a hand silencing Ryvvik. Ammalia bit her nails, a nasty habit but she was nervous. Her mind was moving thousands of miles an hour terrified and concerned. 'What if they connect us? I can't let anyone find out.' She thought paranoidly.

"Darling." Ammalia quavered to her husband whose hands were red now without his sword. "What- what do we do next?" Their plans felt like they were out the window, "Can Crowelle still.. Is it safe?" She pleaded for aid. Victoro closed his eyes like he was collecting his thoughts.

"Arn has the stone. That we know. If those meddling adventure's don't do too much more than we will be fine. We.. must take a calculated risk." He said it with a vicious anger yet calm tone. "Thus far, those.. Keepers of Chaos as they are called, have done nothing for anything other than selfish reasons. Money and pettiness. But we know one of them; Riu Astrial, she is weak. If they are like her, it is a matter of threatening those close.. Or perhaps, they will do nothing so long as their personal life cannot be triggered." Victoro sighed Ammalia tried to wrap her head around what was just said, what? Personal? Did he wish to take hostages? Or use others to throw the adventurers off an even mind.

"We do nothing?" Seffia exclaimed. Her hand was interlocked with Ryvvik's, a cute image if it were not punctuated with such a bad situation.

"They have no reason to act further, if they do they will be snuffed out at our crypt" His head turned to her, Ammalia nodded knowing that she may need to prepare herself for a fight in the future. Even if they didn't get the gold. 'There is always another option.' Ammalia tried to push the horrid idea away from her head. What they were doing was already bad enough.

"You really think the Gralhund's feeble followers can hold them?" Seffia's velvet eyes were moist with light tears.

"They won't need to." Ammlai corrected, she thought through the plan, after the crypt and the prayer it would be transported then again. Until Willifort had it in his grasp. "Seffia, you will be accompanying them, watch over the ritual.. Ensure nothing goes wrong." She continued gnawing on her nails.

"Yes my lady.." Seffia acknowledged.

Ryvvik nodded. "I'll prepare the others-"

"No." Victoro noted. "Seffia, you are to take Solvar with you. Perform whatever access rituals the Gralhunds wanted and bring the stone elsewhere. Dlardrageth I need you here with the others."

"But My lord, we can fight better together-"

"I know but I need this."

"Let us all go, and these.. Keeper's will be snuffed out! I fought with these brothers and sisters. They can best them!-"

"I said no Ryvvik!" Victoro roared, the scream shook the room. Ryvvik took a step back, his giant wings and strong body looked intimidating but it seemed even he knew he would lose to his lord armed with a broken sword. "What if these Keepers see my name, my house? If they decide to attack here.. It is unlikely, we've done little to offend them yet still." Cersei went to open her mouth but quickly shut it. Ammalia nodded, this could work, they could salvage all of this.

"Yes my lord.." Ryvvik said, finally looking down at the floor.

She collected herself "Cersei, prepare traps and defenses line the excess hallways to our temple, move caskets if you must." Ammalia swallowed the notion remembering how the family's personal Lordman crypt had been.. Repurposed.

"Of course M'lady!"

"Instruct Nelius to aid Gysheer and Issiah in drawing ritual lines.. It's about time we started." Victoro decided, aiming at Ryvvik. The Fey'ri nodded. "I'm sorry Dlardrageth, I did not mean to shout." He set a hand on Ryvvik's shoulder and Ammalia smiled, she knew he was caring at heart, but right now was tough. "Lillian would be proud of you. Please, we must prepare or we could lose everything we've worked for." His words sounded so soft, Ammalia couldn't help but believe them.

"Yes My Lord."

"Seffia. You leave tomorrow at sunrise, do as I told you. I'll write a letter, and ensure the Gralhunds cannot turn you away, less be torn out root and stem." Victoro assured the girl. Ammalia placed a hand over Cersei and Seffia squeezing their shoulders. It was time for them to finish this, their family would be back on top, they would rule the nobility and their family.. Their family would be whole again. She clenched her eyes to hold back tears. Victoro had promised her, she knew he would deliver.

"My Lord." Seffia's voice broke into slight anger. "Will I have to work with.. Arn?" She sounded like a knife teetering over a throat, her velvet eyes resembled more of a scarlet red. Her husband pursed his lip.

"Seffia.." Ammalia started. "I know it will be difficult but without him the stone could have continued circling for countless more days, yes... you will have to work with him. But I promise you after it is done, he will be brought to justice." Ammalia swore. She had recollected herself, and was ready to lead. "I need Gysheer to prepare essences, we need to brew. When she is done with Issiah and Nelius, send her there, Ryvvik." She turned quickly to Cersei, "I need to know what we can seize from the Gralhunds for this mistake. We shall go tomorrow, and take from them what they have forfeited at this time. I need your assistance." She knew deep down anyone in that room that could find the strangest of objects to make use of. It was Cersei. The girl practically lit up in a grin at that request.

"Does everyone? Understand what needs to be done?" The room nodded. "Good.. then good luck my friends, I shall join you in the temple shortly. Seffia wait outside. There is extra instruction I need to give you." The room emptied quickly with those leaving to prepare the house.

"The new plan is the old plan." Ammalia remarked pushing herself into her husband's arms, she held him tightly knowing his mind must be like hers riddled with stress.

"Yes.. it is, it'll all be fine my love." He whispered before pulling her in for a kiss. "Also.. I need a new sword." Victoro held up the broken twisted mess of his previous one, exciting a laugh from her. She choked up a smile knowing he intended to make her nerves easy.

"W-we'll purchase one under the other family's name.." She laughed. They had time for a new sword. She cupped his face staring solefully into his eyes. "We will succeed." She ordered feeling her arcane power flicker once more within her. "We have to be careful.. We don't have a power by blood like the Ever'reiyns.." She whispered. She wondered what happened to that dead house.

"But we have each other.." Her husband assured her. "Yes. they will not make a move, they are selfish but curious creatures. We, and no one else will do anything to offend these beasts. Even so, Seffia can defeat them, Ryvvik alone will kill them if they get too far. We will triumph so long as everything goes according to plan."