"Master, two-thirds of the registered members of the Blood Eagle Clan have arrived. The rest are hurrying here as quickly as they can. In three hours, your vampire army will be ready.
Four hundred vampires will take part in this battle. It will be the Blood Eagle Clan's largest operation since the disaster in Cadman City."
At the entrance to Shadowvale, Adele appeared soundlessly on a rock, emerging from the shadows. Her wings folded behind her as she clasped her hands over her stomach. Like the finest butler, she reported to Murphy, who stood gazing down at the commotion in the camp below:
"If we include the auxiliary troops, our force will number over eight hundred. I just spoke with several elders of Shadowvale. They're unwilling to send their precious soldiers into battle, but they're willing to provide a squad of fifty rangers to support us with firepower.
Please forgive my clumsiness, but persuading them to serve you wholeheartedly will take a little more time."
"I don't consider that a failure, Adele. You only needed one night to convince them to join our side. That's already impressive. This isn't a strategy game, after all, where you can select a group with your mouse and instantly get one hundred percent loyalty.
We live in the real world, where loyalty is always a rare and precious treasure."
Murphy waved a hand, indicating that Adele didn't need to be so modest.
Then he drew his gaze back and turned to his "former vampire offspring."
"You don't have to call me 'Master' anymore. You're free now. You obtained the thing the Blood of the Sinborn most craves with your own hands, Adele. Your performance makes me proud. So I have to ask: how does it feel to be free again?"
"I'd like to tell