Page 50 of Theoden
“I would never seek to disappoint you, Father,” I swore.
Ara nodded slightly. “I know you will not.”
The two humans standing by the double doors opened them finally at Ara’s gesture and we walked inside the grand hall. I looked around, astounded by so many vampires, at least fifty, more than I had ever seen at one time.
“These are the children of my offspring and their offspring. Only a few have joined us for this ceremony as most cannot fit inside my home,” Ara joked.
“They are all linked through your blood?” I asked.
“Yes, now, join your brothers.”
“Yes, Father.” I walked over to where my three brothers stood and took my place beside Nolan. The other vampires didn’t stand where we were, leaving us in the distinct position as Ara’s only sons.
Ara stood in the middle of the room, the large fireplace roaring with flames behind him, giving him a majestic glow. “We are gathered here tonight to celebrate the ascension of your brother, my son, and your future Lord, Nolan.” He gestured for Nolan to step forward and he did, kneeling before Ara with his head bowed. “Are you excited about this night, my son?”
Nolan nodded. “Yes, Father. It has been four centuries in the making,” he said.
Ara smiled and nodded. “It has, and for good reason. For you see, you will leave my home and move into your own. It is time for you to sire a child and keep my line going. Your blood has been distilled for four centuries, growing more potent. Your first child will be extremely powerful and a near direct descendent to royalty. Your child will then make one of their own, and so on. You are free to keep your child or even grandchildren with you, but the others must go out and make children of their own from your line. Do you understand?”
Nolan nodded. “Yes, Father.”
I was listening to them and trying to understand the family tree. I wondered just how many vampires did Ara have in his kingdom? I already knew the ones with us today were not the sum total. He, himself, only had four sons and only two had children, and not that many children. But then, their children had children, and so on. In addition, both of my older brothers were centuries old, so that meant there could be dozens, if not hundreds of vampires in my Father’s kingdom. I had no idea. I wondered if the Church new just how sophisticated the “blood drinkers” really were?
“It would be my honor to extend your lineage, Father,” Nolan said, and that pulled me from my inner thoughts back to the ceremony before me. One, that if I lived that long, would have.
“Only the best of what humanity has to offer, my son,” Ara stated.
Nolan nodded. “I will not fail you, Father.”
Ara reached into the folds of his robe and removed a purple cloth. He unwrapped it, revealing a gold ring, and I noticed it was the same ring my other two older brothers wore. They never removed it. It had an emerald emblem on it that represented Ara’s kingdom. And the jewel was on an onyx backing inset in the ring. I wanted one and felt a bit of jealousy that Nolan was receiving it instead of me.
“This ring signifies your position to all who live in my Kingdom as my pendant does,” Ara said. “Do you accept it?”
“With all of my heart, Father, yes,” Nolan said.
“Repeat after me, my son,” Ara began. “I pledge with my life to serve you loyally.”
Nolan repeated the words to Ara’s satisfaction.
“I pledge to increase the power of your kingdom through blood and procreation,” Ara said.
Again, Nolan repeated the words with reverence.
“I pledge to defend your kingdom with my life.”
Nolan repeated.
“I will honor the kingdom of Ara for all eternity.”
Nolan said the words with his head held high and Ara smiled, then beckoned for him to raise his hand. Nolan did, lifting his right hand for our Father to slip the ring onto his finger.
“The ceremony is done and you are now Lord of district three, my son,” Ara announced.
The room erupted in applause and cheers. Nolan was grinning widely and I knew that this would only make him more arrogant. “Thank you for this opportunity, Father.”
Ara caressed his head lovingly, then looked up at us. “Well, let us began the celebration, bring on the libations. I have quite the treat as I have gathered these humans from all other lands.”
When he said that, I turned to see the door open, and several of our human servants walked in with a trail of humans behind them. Each human had been connected by metal collars around their necks and a metal chain linking them. There were two hundred of them. They were different from the color of their skin to the shape of their distinctive features. Some were beautiful and others were average, my eyes focused only on the pretty ones, and one in particular.
