A grim reveille.

[Varian]

The body of the slain guard would go unaccounted. Until the evening after the battle between Viktor Collingsworth and Varian DuMonde, the only sign of the triumph of the vampire prince over the guardsman was the blood stained wood of the Broken Dagger's porch.

Varian had yet to hear of Kanashia's return to Myrken Wood, thus he was begining to grow impatient with the captain's continuous warnings and declarations. It was clear that the Baron did not intend to depart from the realm, nor order any Kindred beneath his fiefdom to do the same.

The body of Viktor Collingsworth would never be seen again. However, a sheet of dried hide resembling the outline of a human torso from waistline to brow was nailed to the door of the tavern. Across that gruesome, makeshift parchment there were words, written in quickly drying blood:

"C ptain Kan shia"

"Your f olishness outwei hs your numbers. Th s at ack is unforgivable. From th s point forward we are in a state of war. Muster your men and prepare yourself for hell."

"Baron DuMonde."

The blood was already flaking from the sheet of flesh, but the message was clear enough, for sure. The Kindred of Myrken Wood would not stand for this treacherous proclamaition. Varian DuMonde was going to make quite sure that Alexander Kanashia knew of his disapproval.