TVC II Supplemental Chapter 6: Home Sweet Home

[Simon von Carstein]

"Indeed." Simon agreed. Turning to Helena he said "We'll get the oath out of the way now I think. Lady Helena you have been chosen by the Triumvirate to join the Order of Assassins do you swear to help maintain and defend the Empire of Vashanesh, putting aside all personal ambition and desires for the greater good of the Family, Sylvania and the Obsidion Throne?

 

[TMS]

Helena did feel a slight tinge of nervosity over Simon's proposition. It sounded awfully binding in commitment and this was not at all what she had expected when she had left her solitary home to travel to Sylvania. Nevertheless, she had family here and taking this oath should be no different from the time when uncle Vlad had ruled. With no alternatives presented Helena braced herself to give Simon the final words.

"Yes, I swear it. On my honour as a member of the von Carstein family, I will do it."

 

[Simon von Carstein]

"Then by the power vested in me by Lord Vashanesh the Triumvirate accepts your services." Simon replied "You will be serving under Lord Satsu but his orders are to be treated as if they came from me or the other Triumvirs serve well and you'll be rewarded. After all our Empire is expanding and soon they'll be plenty of titles and territory to go around to those who remain faithful."

 

[TMS]

"Yes! I will not disappoint you!" Helena said exultantly.

If she had any trepidation over this it was all but gone after Simon's proclamation. Helena had been quite entitled before the end of uncle Vlad's benevolent reign, most of which she had lost when she cast herself into exile to escape Konrad the degenerate. Through this contract it sounded like she would find herself back in privilege again, although taking orders from the cryptic and unlikeable Satsu was going to be irksome. With her confidence regained Helena addressed the assassin, a cautionary finger pointing at him.

"So now I am going to serve under you, am I? I hope you are not going to squander my abilities by assigning me with meaningless tasks. And this mentor you are giving me, I hope that he will be of caliber enough to keep pace."

 

[Get of W'soran]

Satsu reached up to press his finger against the edge of his mask, disengaging the vocal enchantment once more.

Looking down at Helena as she made her demands the assassin shook his head "Fear not Lady Helena, your mentor is quite experienced in serving the Obsidian Throne and is an intelligent man...I'm sure he can find tasks that even you can't make a scene out of."

Not waiting for a reply he turned to Simon "If it's alright with you my Lord I will pass the information of Helena's induction to the upper tier within the Order and send a messenger to her new master. I'm sure he'll be pleased to have an apprentice again" Satsu added sounding amused.

 

[Get of W'soran]

"Oh yes!" The assassin exclaimed turning back to the vampiress "I almost forget."

Satsu opened the small silk bag to pull out a fine necklace that appeared to be made of silver although it obviously was not. At the end of the piece of jewellery hung a beautiful red gem.

"The sign of your appointment, should you have need of pressing your authority upon the servants of our Empire." he said handing the necklace over to the girl, he held onto it for a moment as Helena reached for it "A power to be used only when absolutely necessary." he added warningly before letting go.

 

[TMS]

Helena already had her hands on the necklace before Satsu had even stopped speaking. This sounded just like what she wanted. She took it from Satsu's hand, with his last words only reaching her like an after-thought.

"Yes. Of course." she said, first looking at Satsu and then over to Simon, smiling perhaps a bit too wide.

 

[Get of W'soran]

Satsu sighed softly hoping he and his master had not made a grave miscalculation in inducting the child-immortal into the order.

"Well, with that over." he said glancing over to Simon "I recommend we all return to the Great Hall, it would be unfair after all to leave the Lord Regent alone with that Council." he said, pronouncing the last word with distaste.