Liam the liberator

Liam's efforts had been fruitful. From the village's three most robust men, he crafted a Lesser Vampire and a duo of Obscure Devourers. Subsequently, he transformed three other captives into Bloodsucking Minions.

His forces now numbered ten, including Primus and Solarius: five Bloodsucking Minions, four Obscure Devourers, and a solitary Lesser Vampire.

He felt he could still create more creatures, but he chose to abstain. His current followers sufficed to dominate the village, and an excess of creatures would only escalate the demand for sustenance.

The Lesser Vampire rose languidly, then bowed deeply. Liam observed with a discerning gaze.

Lacking inherent might or immunity against the sun's rays, the creature needed copious blood to bolster its powers.

Yet, it was the only creature he knew how to evolve. With a village at his disposal, Liam could nurture this fledgling being into a formidable ally.

Contemplating the creature, Liam's gaze was incisive. Should he give it a name? He pondered briefly, then dismissed the thought. Addressing it, he inquired, "What is your name?"

"Ervin, my lord," it rasped.

"You will keep it, Ervin," Liam decreed, shifting his attention from Ervin to the village leader, his tone cutting. "Do you have weapons?"

The village chief replied, "I have a bow and two daggers in the house, and there are pitchforks in the barns around the village."

"Bring me your weapons and six pitchforks," Liam ordered.

"I'll go right away," exclaimed the village chief, hurrying to leave the room.

Liam called him back before he disappeared. "Before you go, tell me about the important people in the village."

The village chief thought for a moment. "There is an educated young woman who teaches the children to read, write, and do arithmetic. The tavern owner and his wife have knowledge of plants and give advice to villagers who don't want to go to the herbalists in the larger villages nearby."

Liam nodded. "These people may be useful to me. Make sure they stay alive."

"Of course," replied the village chief.

"Who might try to revolt against me?" Liam asked, his piercing gaze probing the village chief.

"A farmer named Stephen is known for his irritable nature," the village chief hesitated before responding.

"Good," said Liam, a cruel smile forming on his lips. "He can serve as an example. Anyone who resists or tries to escape will be knocked out and imprisoned. Try not to kill them."

A heavy silence settled in the room. Then, in a firm voice, Liam ordered, "Go now."

The village chief withdrew respectfully. Liam turned to Solarius. "How many hours before sunrise?"

"Two or three hours," Solarius replied.

"I see, that gives us some time," said Liam, stroking his jaw thoughtfully. "From now on, the Bloodsucking Minions will monitor the village by day and train at night. You will systematically train them in weapon handling, hand-to-hand combat, tactical intervention, and martial discipline for at least four hours. I want them to be as professional as possible."

Then he turned to Primus. "The other Obscure Devourers and Ervin will train every day for at least four hours under your supervision."

The Lesser Vampire Ervin, unable to remain silent, intervened, "I am a former lieutenant in Queen Merima's armies; I already have solid skills."

Primus glared at him. "What is an officer of the Great Queen doing in this village?"

Then he bowed and declared humbly, "Forgive my interruption, master. Queen Merima rules a neighboring kingdom much larger and more powerful than the one we are in. Her army is very well trained and far more elite and efficient than that of the baron or even the king of this kingdom."

Liam nodded, satisfied with Primus's response. "Primus and Solarius, you will always be my sergeants at the head of the Obscure Devourers and the Bloodsucking Minions. The Obscure Devourers will handle village surveillance at night. Ervin is not to monitor the village; he is responsible for supervising training both day and night."

The village chief reappeared a few moments later, a large cloth bag over his left shoulder and six long pitchforks under his right arm. He placed the pitchforks on the ground and opened the bag, revealing a long wooden bow, a quiver full of arrows, and two long, sharp daggers. Liam smiled, satisfied.

"Perfect," he said. "Do you have a blacksmith in the village?"

Ervin stepped forward. "Yes, master, I am the blacksmith. But I only have my crossbow and saber. I only make weapons on order and have no stock."

"Go get your weapons and come back."

Then Liam turned to the village chief. "Do you know how to use a bow?"

"Yes, master."

"Then keep your bow and one dagger. Give the other to an Obscure Devourer."

Liam turned to his creatures. "Let each Obscure Devourer take a pitchfork. Then go to their homes to get meat knives which they will hang on their belts. Solarius, do the same with your troops. Return quickly!"

While his creatures prepared, Liam headed to the house's vast basement. The village chief had shown it to him enthusiastically after being transformed.

Inside, the chief's family and about ten other people were tied up. All were villagers who had been awakened by the movement of the creatures and brought here. Liam hoped to expand this place in the future and build tunnels and chambers to make it a second village for his troops that feared the sun.

When his creatures returned, he ordered in a loud voice, "Wake all the villagers and gather them in the center. No one is to leave the village."

He turned to Primus. "Come get me if the situation gets out of hand."

"I will not disappoint you, master."

The creatures began moving and left the house. Liam sat comfortably in the basement, ignoring the prisoners.

After a few minutes, he heard a clamor of cries, sobs, broken objects, and heavy footsteps. He waited about ten minutes before Primus entered the basement, covered in blood.

"We have gathered the villagers in front of the house," reported Primus. "Unfortunately, many tried to flee. I managed to have twenty tied up, but nine were killed."

"That is unfortunate," said Liam. "Did any escape?"

"None, master."

"Good work, Primus."

Liam stood up and left the house. A silent crowd was gathered, surrounded by his creatures.

The villagers, their faces etched with fear and exhaustion, stood huddled together, shivering in the pre-dawn chill. Their clothes were tattered and smeared with dirt, the remnants of a hastily interrupted sleep evident in their disheveled hair and bleary eyes. Mothers clutched their children tightly, trying to shield them from the horror unfolding around them, while the elderly leaned on each other for support, their frail bodies trembling.

The men, though outwardly attempting to appear brave, could not hide the anxiety in their eyes as they glanced nervously at Liam's creatures. Their hands, rough from labor, twitched involuntarily, betraying their helplessness.

In the middle of the crowd, the twenty tied-up prisoners knelt on the ground, their faces pale and drawn. Some had fresh wounds while others stared blankly ahead, too paralyzed by fear to move. The heavy silence was punctuated by the labored breathing of the villagers and the occasional sob or cry of a frightened child.

Liam smiled at them, his voice carrying a surprising note of warmth. "I do not come as a conqueror," he announced, his tone resonating with a calm authority. "I come as your liberator."