Chapter 56
Consequences
The single mote of flame fires through the air, fabian scrambles to her feet but she cannot stop it, it shoots through the open door to burst in the center of the cabin. Shattering glass, everything is burning. Eliza sees it coming and dives out of the way, others are less lucky. One of the vampires is incinerated instantly, the thatch roof goes up in a moment, everyone is singed. Diesel goes down, Elsie goes down. Ezmerleda rushes to elsies aid but the fire consumes the kitchen, Pieron casts an ice spell to supress the flames, and Ezmerelda charges in. The vampire in the kitchen attacks, Erros charms his mind, drives him feral. He backs away, looking for an exit. Fabian calls from the floor below for Ez to drop Elsie out the window. She catches her and lays on hands to bring her back, just as Ez leaps from the window as well. Eliza wrestles with the vamp holding the amulet and wrenches it free, that vamp flees out the door and she lets him. The thatch roof falls and crushes Diesel, Erros rushes over to Diesel's heavy body and leaps, crashing through the floor and pulling his body free from the building. Pieron runs to the iced kitchen exit and steps up to the window but the feral vamp, not seeing an escape, attacks pulling her back and she drops. Eliza fires twice with her gun as she stands, the vamp charges out the door (2 spawn both escape), and she rushes to Pieron's aid. Fabian hefts her spear from the ground into the floorboards of the kitchen, attempts to rip out a hole. She damages enough for eliza to shoot out the rest, and shove Pieron out, Fabian catches and revives. But the kitchen breaks off from the crumbling main house, Eliza plants her foot and sprints to the window, swan diving out and tumbling to the floor just as it smoulders to the ground.
The group sleeps barely that night, half shifts in the back of their wagon as they press on through the evening as fast as they can, fleeing the distant sound of the werewolves and another vampire attack. When they pass argynvostholt they consider a detour but resign to investigate later, and past the crossroads and river bridge they spy the blue raven. It sqwaks. They haven't seen it in a while. They pass it in their cart and a woman calls out to wait. Turning they see no raven, but a girl, calling out and running to their cart. She reaches them, Muriel Vinshaw, and explains that they cannot go back to Vallaki. She tells them she isn't supposed to talk to them, but she was charged with following them and was told not to once they left Vallaki. Still the order has heard tale of the the wolves and their fight at Lake Baratok, and of the winery though only because Adrian visited and now ties have been reestablished. But Vallaki has changed. She warns that Fiona Wachter has seized control, it's open knowledge that she collaborates with someone named Lovegrove in the shadows, and he's been building weapons, rifles and pistols for the guards. They will be arrested on sight for colluding with dark powers to destroy vallaki.
The party thank Muriel for the information, and for her masterful eye watching over them since they arrived in Barovia, and she flies off. Ezmerelda recounts her tale of working with Albus and Dimitri after departing from Van Richtens company, and the group decide to press on another mile before pulling off the road to set up camp. In the morning they decide they need to make contact with Danika of the order of the feather to learn what is going on. Eliza and Erros will sneak into the city the following night, after a day of rest, and sneak back out with the information they need to effectively strategize.
That night, Erros is awaken to Diesel atop his chest, stabbing him in the stomach. He cries out and struggles to his feet, as Eliza pulls her gun and fires it into the air. It startles Diesel enough for Erros to scramble away, as Elsie and Pieron move to protect him. As Diesel advances on Eliza with the knife, Fabian tackles Diesel to the ground and the group tie him up. They are shocked. Erros is level headed but adamant that they cannot continue with Diesel in the group, and Eliza is prepared and willing to execute him now. Diesel is silent and offers no explanation or expression, but still Fabian is able to convince everyone to sleep on their decision and have a full discussion about what to do in the morning.
In the morning, Diesel's trial commences (Muriel hears the shot and arrives, staying for the trail before flying away). Erros vs Fabian more or less. They begin by questioning, and Fabian is able to gain the most information with a zone of truth and a kind tongue. Diesel is in corespondence with Lovegrove, he was created by Lovegrove, Lovegrove now knows they are coming, his action in trying to kill Erros was dictated by Lovegrove. Erros has heard enough and insists that they cannot continue traveling with him, nor can they let him go. Fabian urges that he be spared, in the interrogation, she noticed his programming shift, an exepected override of his true design. But when asked, she cannot confidently say that the override is complete, nor can she gaurentee that such a conversion would in time be possible. Ezmerelda votes to end him or their next task may be impossible. Pieron agrees with Fabian, that they can render him hazardless without needing to destroy him. They turn to Eliza for the deciding vote. She merely shrugs, turns to Erros, and says "do what you must" Fabian pleads, Erros casts a dissonant whisper to Diesel and his eyes go out, his head droops. Fabian tries to heal him but it doesn't work on his form. She's panicking now, she turns to Eliza…who lowers her head and walks away. Fabian looks to Erros, and storms off into the woods. The page in Diesels lap says his final words, thanks for saving me from the burning hut Erros, drawn in precise lines and angles.
