The guild's black castle annex finally received their commander once again. Estella was far from alone, she was accompanied back to the castle.
The coven of vampires marveled at the high standing castle. They made a good choice to come back with Estella. Estella showed them all around the castle to welcome them with grateful arms. She introduced them to all of the guild and inducted them all that same night, the gorjonians and the vampires alike. Estella warned her men they were vampires cursed by her to be able to live in the sunlight.
One of their few weaknesses was now put to bed. The binding spell she created for some of them made them mortal once more. Most of them preferred to maintain their super strength and remain a vampire, though.
Estella was met by numerous people informing her of the genocide of the dwarves and elves ordered by the king. The news took her back; she was so surprised the king would make such a destructive move. Surely, he would know the queen would hear of this news.
Estella wondered how they heard of the news, but apparently a couple of the guild members made a trip to the city of Darkwood. News doesn't travel quickly unless it is all the people are talking about, even then everyone won't hear about it, because they still used carrier pigeons and a man with a horse. When you sent mail, it would never reach the guild's hideouts because they simply were hidden for a reason.
Tavoriel Redheart came barreling down the hallway to meet Estella.
"Estella, have you heard the news? I did a divination which showed the king slaughtering all of our people. I had to get a couple people together to go see if it was the truth. We knew the black order wizard would use apparition to go to the city of Darkwood. This is why we did the same thing. Many of us sought counsel with the queen to confirm these attacks. She reluctantly told us it was true. She is now faced with a decision she didn't want to make."
"What are we to do with this information? There is no way we can restore these people to their lives?" Estella asked.
"We are to go to war."
"We can't rush into a war just because of something the king did. We have to keep our wits about us. We need time."
"It is not a myth that the king's army is growing with each passing day. I'm afraid if we wait too long, it will be too late."
"I can't risk my men for an increase in the tensions between the king and the rest of his constituents. I do however have a plan which might just work. Which wouldn't end in the death of many of our men. I can pitch this to the captains later tonight."
"The king needs to be accountable for his actions."
"Trust me," Estella said, "he will. I actually wanted to get with you, Tavoriel, for a divination. I need to see with more accurate predictions what has become of my father. I wish to see the amulet has done its job and healed him."
"As you wish, when?"
"Are you busy right now?"
"No, we could go to my room and put a little divination together for you. Have you thought about what type of divination you would like to use?"
"I was thinking either tasseography or scrying," Estella informed.
"Both very good forms of divination, but I think scrying would work better in your case. We could use a bowl of water for the divination."
Estella was overly excited and anxious at the same time to see what has become of her father. She wished she had more time to give to her family, but there was simply no way she could organize any. She was the commander of an entire army of witches and wizards. She knew there was no way the king's sorcerers were as dedicated to the process of becoming great magicians; she felt they would never find them.
