Gilbert continued to advance slowly and somewhat aimlessly. This forest was a damn skeleton but yet no sight of the pray yet. Could he have gone back to his territory? No, unlikely, the elves were so arrogant they'd never admit themselves beaten by a few undead dogs. As he heard one of his dogs growl, Gilbert came to a stop and unsheathed his sword, taking his shield from his back. Soon it was all the dogs barking in a single direction and he quickly saw a humanoid from walking toward him. His suspicions that this wasn't the elf were quickly confirmed when the form tripped on a root and painfully got up, holding his side. Gilbert sheathed his sword and got his shield on his back before advancing toward his undead servant, a vampire out of luck it seemed. It hailed Gilbert first.

-Ah, my lord. Good day.

Gilbert smiled and answered.

-Ah, sir Krain was it? You seem to have had a rough time, would you happen to have run in by any elf as luck would have it?

The vampire had a yellow laugh before nodding, leaning on a three for a moment. He answered.

-As a matter of fact, I did, yes. Further down south. I was beginning to think he went back to his accursed forest when I heard something in the trees next to me. Next thing I know I'm out of my saddle, with 4 broken ribs, without counting my spine along with that, and the devil stole my horse!

Gilbert looked critically at the vampire and spoke.

-Aren't you healed yet?

The vampire nodded negatively.

-It's been... some times since I last tasted blood my lord. I'd have feed on my horse as a last resolve, but like I said, it was stolen... I guess I'll just go back to the palace and beg sir Moebius or Stanley to lend me a goat... If you go after that elf, good luck. He's a tricky one.

They saluted each other and the Vampire went on his way. Vampires feeding on goat uh? Although at this point it wasn't really surprising. Just by looking around. This land was dead and while it was a Haven for the undead and the necromancers, it was still a burned out hollow shell of its former self. All that could be brought back to life had been, all that could be killed as well. If it wasn't for Gilbert actually, this land would probably have nothing left. He maintained the gardens of his castle, had a kennel with quite some dogs and a stable with horses, which meant he also kept some minimal ground for crops and live stocks. He remembered hearing some necromancers and undead talk about taking the world by assault, storming them with undead legions. They were fools with no self control, and while they could succeed, fact was the whole continent might just end up like this place: Dead. Without live, unlife is quite hard to sustain, Vampires are the first to find that out. It's probably why he keeps hearing of so many parties forming and going in Elven territories to try and capture prisoners, so they may be drained by vampires and then experimented on by necromancers. Probably why the elves didn't like him actually. That and being an abominations on all that is natural.

------

The ground rumbled as Gilbert moved with his horse. He had found earlier the site of sir Krain's encounter with the elf, at that point it had been to find the scent on the horse which hadn't been hard for his pack of dogs. Heading East, toward his castle. The vampire had been right, he was bold indeed. The scent was fresh and from the hoof steps he wasn't going full speed ahead. A few minutes later Gilbert came across a stream where the dogs stopped. To lose the scent across such a small thing? No, maybe he walked down the stream, but then that would mean either going north or south, not the direction of the castle at all. Just as he was looking around, he was surprised to see Krain's horse almost right next to him. The horse looked back at him, seeming equally surprised before going back at drinking. Did he left the horse? He had to be close, that was certain. The dogs however didn't seem to smell any immediate thread and thus went to the water to drink a bit. Gilbert was thinking of just continuing moving, but stopped his horse after a few steps. He took his sword and shield in hand.

-How pathetically sloppy! At least the last one managed to get close to the castle before being detected! I'm insulted the elves would send a failure like you to spy on me, Prince... King Gilbert de Beauregard! Or maybe it's imply I keep killing and killing the best you've got and this is what your people are lowered to send?! Hahahaha, HAHAHAHAAAA! Keep hiding weakling! We'll find you, and when we do...