"Ah, is that so? I take it one of my relations was responsible?" Damon Cal asked, grinning wildly, "Hearing about the misery he'd sewn, it's almost intoxicating."

He licked his lips. "It almost makes me thirsty, and ah, I have so many options, don't I...?"

The sudden attack from one of the brothers was deftly deflected with a single blow, the vampire's blade and the blade of his attacker clashing, as he set the sword off-course almost immediately. However, as a result, he didn't really have a chance to deflect the crossbow from being jammed into his chest.

When the trigger was pulled, he suddenly staggered back, head lowered as he slammed his feet down to shatter the ice that continually formed. Had the attack worked? 

As he raised his head, just that had happened became visible. Damon Cal's lightning-fast stagger had actually been a dodge. In his hand he now clutched the crossbow bolt that had been fired directly at his chest.

"NICE SHOT!" He cried, grinning wildly, "LET ME RETURN IT FOR YOU!"

His arm blurred, gripping the bolt in one hand, the point now facing towards the knight who'd fired it. It was so incredibly fast, how could anyone hope to deflect it?!

Moments before it made contact, a spear of ice pierced his arm, just below the elbow. The razor sharp tip punched deep into his flesh, and the force of the shot tore his arm lower arm clear of the rest. Blood sprayed from his stump, spattering across the ground, as the ice spear finally hit a wall. Due to its magical properties, rather then shattering, it pinned the arm there. Before Damon Cal could attempt to pull it back, ice was already forming on the severed limb.

The vampire's eyes widened, as the stringy streams of blood connecting his misssing limb to his body failed, falling loosely to the ground. Immediately Damon Cal spun to face the target.

His gleeful demeanor was gone. Now his eyes were wild with mad rage as they immediately fixed on the perpetrator, Tiral.

"HOW DARE YOU?!" he snarled, breaking into a charge, his remaining arm raising its blade.

He was stopped before he had a chance to reach the mage. The barbarian knight's lift and toss had succeeded, and the vampire let out a choked sound as his back hit the sharp point, and it pierced his body deeply enough to come out the other side.

"... So... so that's it...?" he mused, eyes still wild, "That's how it is... heh..."

Slamming his feet on the ground, Damon Cal wrenched himself off the spear. Blood spurted from his chest wound as it began to mend, and he leaned forward, the stump of his left arm still spewing blood.

"I'LL TEAR YOU HEARTS OUT!" he shrieked, lunging immediately at the nearest target.

Meanwhile, Fanilly lept back once more, sparks flying up from her armored feet as she darted back to avoid another swing from that huge axe. But the Barukstaedan warrior's attacks weren't as coordinated now, were they?! But in the back of her mind, she'd noticed what that man had tried to do to the unconscious Mariah before getting distracted again. That man was no paladin. Fanilly had heard stories of paladins. One was even a member of the Iron Roses. A paladin didn't murder surrendering prisoners or attack allies.

But her momentary distraction had let Alvor mount another attack! His swinging axe just barely missed this time. Even less coordinated, he was still difficult to approach unless distracted! She had to get in and end this soon, before things could get any worse... And then she saw her chance.

As the 'paladin' attacked, fiery shards of burning metal scattered, forcing Alvor to raise his arm and shield his eyes, stepping back. As he did, his foot caught an icy patch on the floor, and he stumbled.

With a shout, Fanilly rushed forward, thrusting her sword before her as she did. His armor was strong, but steel could only be so strong even with those runes powering it! A weak point, some kind of chink in his armor like she'd found in his arm...!

There!

Fanilly's blade bit into Alvor's side, piercing his chest and sinking in up to the hilt. The hulking warrior let out a cry of shock and pain as it went from his right side, to deep into his chest. His axe hit the ground with a clatter.

"Blasted... Roses..." he uttered with a wheeze. As the small blonde drew her sword out from his body, he toppled back and landed with a tremendous thud.

From there, he lay still. The huge warrior was dead.