Chapter 151: The Price of Freedom

Chapter 151: Chapter 151: The Price of Freedom

Ronan returned to his cell with a new question occupying his mind.

What was Varkos planning to do with him?

The Vampire Lord had made it clear that he wanted to understand Ronan’s unusual bloodline, but that alone didn’t explain why he was willing to keep a potentially dangerous intruder alive.

Unfortunately, thinking about it wouldn’t provide an answer.

Ronan needed leverage.

And if he couldn’t obtain it through his own strength, he would have to find another way.

He sat against the wall and closed his eyes, reviewing everything his three controlled vampires had learned.

The underground passages offered a possible escape route, but reaching them would be difficult. The western territories were experiencing problems, though he still lacked enough information to determine whether they were connected to Selvara.

Neither matter could be resolved immediately.

For now, his attention returned to the vampire he had sent outside the city.

The scout had been gone long enough to encounter something useful.

Hopefully, he hadn’t been caught.

A little over an hour later, the dungeon door opened.

The younger guard entered with another container of blood. He placed it on the table and approached Ronan, his expression unusually tense.

"My lord, there’s been an incident."

Ronan opened his eyes.

"What happened?"

"Three scouts returned from the western territories. Two were injured, and the third was carrying a message from the western outposts."

"Get to the point."

"The message was delivered directly to Lord Varkos. Shortly afterward, he ordered the city’s gates sealed and summoned several of his commanders."

Ronan straightened.

That was more interesting than another rumor about missing caravans.

"What was in the message?"

"I don’t know the entire contents. However, I heard one of the commanders mention that a settlement had fallen."

"Fallen to whom?"

"The message didn’t identify the attackers."

Ronan studied the guard.

"Then how do you know the settlement fell?"

"Because the surviving scouts said they found the settlement’s outer walls destroyed. The inhabitants were missing, and the supply warehouses had been emptied."

Ronan’s expression turned thoughtful.

An entire settlement disappearing wasn’t something ordinary bandits could accomplish without leaving evidence.

More importantly, Varkos had reacted immediately.

"Did the scouts find any survivors?"

"One. He was brought into the castle."

Ronan smiled faintly.

Finally, something worth investigating.

"Find out where they’re keeping him. I want to know everything he saw."

The guard nodded, but before he could leave, Ronan spoke again.

"One more thing. Has anyone mentioned the old underground passages recently?"

The vampire hesitated.

"Not that I’ve heard."

"Then keep listening."

After the guard departed, Ronan picked up the container of blood.

He drank a little before setting it aside.

The western territories had been a secondary concern when he arrived in Bloodfall City. Now, something was happening there that had forced Varkos to mobilize his commanders.

If the disturbance threatened the city, it might create the distraction Ronan needed.

And if the attackers were connected to Selvara, he could potentially turn the entire situation to his advantage.

Either way, he intended to find out.

---

By evening, Ronan had his answer.

The surviving scout had been taken to a secured room near the castle’s eastern wing. His injuries were severe, and the city’s healers were struggling to keep him alive.

Fortunately, Ronan didn’t need the man to survive forever.

He only needed to know what had happened.

The younger guard returned carrying a small piece of parchment.

"This was copied from the scout’s report before it was delivered to Lord Varkos."

Ronan took it.

The report was brief, containing only the most important details.

A settlement called Dusk Hollow had been attacked two nights earlier. Its defensive barriers had been destroyed, and its inhabitants had vanished. The attackers had left behind no recognizable insignia, and the few bodies discovered near the walls showed signs of having been drained of blood.

Ronan read the report twice.

Drained of blood.

That could indicate vampires, but it wasn’t conclusive. Other creatures possessed similar feeding methods.

What caught his attention was the final sentence.

Before losing consciousness, the surviving scout witnessed an unidentified figure entering the settlement’s central tower. The figure was accompanied by several creatures whose appearances could not be determined.

Ronan lowered the parchment.

An unidentified figure.

Creatures of unknown origin.

A settlement emptied in a single night.

He couldn’t draw any firm conclusions, but he had no intention of ignoring the incident.

"Where is Dusk Hollow?"

"Approximately half a day’s journey from Bloodfall City by carriage."

Ronan looked at him.

"Half a day?"

"Yes."

That was close enough to investigate once he escaped.

But first, he needed a way out.

"Return to your duties."

The guard bowed and left.

Ronan leaned back against the wall, his thoughts moving in a different direction.

He had originally planned to use Bloodfall City to gather information about Selvara. Now, the city was facing an external threat, and its ruler had become preoccupied with events beyond his walls.

That changed things.

Varkos might be powerful, but even a Peak King Realm vampire couldn’t afford to ignore the disappearance of an entire settlement under his authority.

If the situation worsened, he would have to commit more forces to the western territories.

And if enough guards left the castle, Ronan’s chances of escaping would improve.

He didn’t need to defeat Varkos.

He only needed to leave Bloodfall City alive.

Once he was free, he could decide whether investigating Dusk Hollow was worth the risk.

---

The opportunity arrived the following morning.

Ronan’s older controlled vampire entered the dungeon carrying a set of keys and a folded piece of parchment.

"I found the entrance."

Ronan immediately stood.

"To the maintenance tunnel?"

"Yes. The storage chamber is beneath the western wing, as the records indicated. I managed to enter it during the night."

"And?"

"The passage still exists, but it doesn’t lead directly outside the city. It connects to an older network beneath the western district."

Ronan’s expression remained calm.

"Can we use it to escape?"

"Possibly. One section has collapsed, but there appears to be another route around the obstruction. I couldn’t explore further without risking discovery."

"Why not?"

"The entrance to the storage chamber is being watched. I can reach it during the shift change, but I won’t be able to open the sealed passage without several tools."

Ronan considered this.

"How long would you need?"

"One night to prepare everything. Another to open the passage and determine whether the route is usable."

Two nights.

That was longer than he preferred, but it was manageable.

"Do it. Don’t let anyone discover what you’re planning."

The vampire nodded.

"There is something else."

Ronan waited.

"Lord Varkos has ordered the western wing cleared. Several guards are being transferred to the outer settlements, and the restricted rooms beneath the castle are being sealed."

Ronan’s eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

"I couldn’t determine the reason. However, the orders were issued shortly after the surviving scout delivered his report."

So Varkos was taking the threat seriously.

That was good news for Ronan.

It also meant something else.

The Vampire Lord was willing to leave parts of his own castle less protected because of what was happening outside the city.

Ronan smiled.

"Then we should be grateful for his generosity."

The older vampire didn’t respond to the remark.

"Is there anything else you require?"

"Yes. Find out whether the western district has another exit beyond the city walls. If the tunnels are blocked, I want an alternative."

"I’ll investigate."

After the vampire left, Ronan returned to his seat.

For the first time since his capture, he had a concrete plan.

Within two nights, he might be able to leave the dungeon and reach the underground passages. From there, he could attempt to slip beyond Bloodfall City’s defenses.

It wasn’t guaranteed to work.

But it was better than sitting in chains and waiting for Varkos to decide his fate.

Ronan had no intention of allowing someone else to determine how his story ended.

---

That afternoon, Varkos summoned him again.

This time, the Vampire Lord didn’t receive him in the throne room.

Instead, Ronan was taken to a smaller chamber overlooking the city’s eastern district. Several commanders stood around a large table covered with maps.

The atmosphere was tense.

Varkos stood at the table’s head, examining a marked section of the western territories.

When Ronan entered, he looked up.

"Leave us."

The commanders exchanged glances.

"My lord, the situation—"

"Leave."

Nobody argued a second time.

Within moments, the chamber was empty except for Varkos, Ronan, and the guards stationed outside the door.

Varkos gestured toward the map.

"Do you recognize this location?"

Ronan glanced at it.

"Dusk Hollow."

The Vampire Lord’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"So you’ve heard."

"News travels quickly when people are being dragged through a castle in chains."

Varkos ignored the remark.

"The settlement was under my protection. Its inhabitants paid their tribute, supplied my soldiers, and maintained the road connecting several western outposts."

He placed a finger on the map.

"Now it has been destroyed, its supplies have disappeared, and its inhabitants are missing."

Ronan looked at him.

"Sounds like a problem for the ruler of the city."

"It is."

Varkos studied him.

"And I believe you may be useful in resolving it."

Ronan almost laughed.

"You’re joking."

"Do I appear amused?"

"No. That’s why I’m asking."

Varkos’s expression remained unchanged.

"The creatures responsible for the attack left behind traces of energy that my subordinates cannot identify. The surviving scout also reported that one of them possessed an unusual aura."

"And you think I can identify it?"

"I think you may recognize something that my vampires cannot."

Ronan stared at the Vampire Lord.

There it was again.

That peculiar interest in his bloodline.

Varkos wasn’t merely curious about what Ronan was. He had begun considering how that unusual existence might benefit him.

The question was whether this was an opportunity or a trap.

"What happens if I refuse?"

"You remain in my custody."

"And if I agree?"

"You will be permitted to leave the castle under supervision. If your assistance proves useful, we may discuss the conditions of your release."

Ronan smiled faintly.

"You’re offering me freedom in exchange for helping you investigate a destroyed settlement?"

"I’m offering you the possibility of freedom. Do not confuse the two."

At least Varkos was honest about that.

Ronan examined the map again.

Dusk Hollow lay close enough to Bloodfall City that he could potentially investigate it after escaping. If the attackers had left behind traces of an unfamiliar creature, there was also a chance that he could acquire something useful.

A new trait would be far more valuable than another day spent chained to a wall.

Still, he wasn’t going to agree without understanding the risks.

"Why not send your own soldiers?"

"I will."

Varkos pointed toward several marked roads.

"But my soldiers are trained to fight the enemies they understand. If these creatures possess abilities unfamiliar to us, sending more vampires to die without learning anything would be wasteful."

Ronan nodded slowly.

That made sense.

It didn’t mean he trusted Varkos, but at least the offer had a practical basis.

"Give me access to the settlement, and I’ll consider it."

Varkos studied him for several seconds.

"Very well."

Ronan raised an eyebrow.

He hadn’t expected the Vampire Lord to agree so easily.

However, Varkos wasn’t finished.

"You will travel with a squad of my soldiers. You will not leave their sight, and you will not attempt to flee. If you cooperate, I will reconsider your status as a prisoner."

Ronan sighed.

"So I’m still a prisoner."

"For now."

Varkos turned back toward the map.

"Prepare yourself. We depart tomorrow morning."

The guards escorted Ronan out of the chamber.