Ryoka had no experience with kidnapping. Which was a fair statement to make. It was weird to think of anyone as being experienced with being kidnapped. She vaguely felt like there was a class she could have taken, though, or a few tips she could have memorized from some online self-help article.<\/p>\n
After all, it felt<\/em> like Ryoka had been kidnapped at least once. But not really. Let\u2019s see. Magnolia? Not really a kidnapping so much as a forced meeting. But it was close. Teriarch? Again, no, but being enchanted had a few parallels. Az\u2019kerash? Again, it had a lot of similar qualities. Being interrogated and having fingers broken by Venitra was close\u2026but not the same.<\/p>\n So this was new. How about that? And by vampires, no less. Or was there an entire species<\/em> of Vampires? Ryoka had spotted four, plus Fierre. Five vampires. That was really bad if they were about to suck Ryoka\u2019s blood. On the other hand, they hadn\u2019t while she was passed out.<\/p>\n That was a good sign. In fact, Ryoka had high hopes she wouldn\u2019t die. Because while she was no expert on abductions, she was<\/em> slightly experienced with dealing with creatures of myth and legend. Dragons, the fey\u2014vampires weren\u2019t much worse, right?<\/p>\n The other reason Ryoka was hopeful was that she was lying with her back to the coffin, she could hear the vampires talking, and they hadn\u2019t noticed she\u2019d woken up yet. That meant they probably couldn\u2019t hear her heart beating\u2014if they could, they\u2019d be able to tell it was racing a mile a minute. They were talking to each other, their voices\u2026well, fairly normal.<\/p>\n There was little inflection to their accents. Not that Fierre had ever spoken with the stereotypical vampire inflections. The other voices Ryoka heard could have been from anywhere\u2014with one exception.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026and what if she does talk? Should we threaten her or just\u2026get rid of her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t bring her here to kill<\/em> her.\u201d<\/p>\n A male and female voice were arguing back and forth. Fierre and someone else. A third vampire, older, his voice a lot more gravelly, spoke next.<\/p>\n \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have brought her here at all, Fierre. If you dealt with her properly\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t sure I\u2019d be able to safely. I stay at an inn run by an adventurer. I thought Mother could help me. She\u2019s the best at this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt might not be necessary. Fierre, has she threatened you? What did she want?\u201d<\/p>\n A third voice, steadiest and most confident of the lot. Also, older and male, his voice a lot more gravelly. If Ryoka had to analyze by the timbre, she\u2019d guess there were three male vampires here, all of different ages. One was old, another young, and the third middle-aged. That was just a guess, though. Fierre\u2019s voice was uncertain as she replied to the middle-aged one.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026don\u2019t know. She just identified me and promised she wouldn\u2019t tell anyone. But\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t we wake her up and hear what she says?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. But no one scare her. Rivel. <\/em>And if we need to, Mother, would you\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf thou callst on me, my offspring, of course I will comply. But thy sire is correct. Let us first know this mortal\u2019s intentions.\u201d<\/p>\n And there\u2019s the odd one out. One of the voices, the only female voice beside Fierre\u2019s, was distinctly <\/em>vampirish. As in, eastern European, Slavic, I-just-walked-out-of-Transylvania, Dracula-style accent and way of speaking. If Ryoka hadn\u2019t known better, she\u2019d have thought that was coming from some kind of hardcore vampire wannabe. From the real thing, it was\u2026still cheesy.<\/p>\n But they were vampires. And Ryoka had seen them move.<\/em> There was something fluid about the way they moved. Graceful, in a way that Humans weren\u2019t naturally. And Ryoka still wasn\u2019t over her first discovery. Fierre was a vampire. Vampires existed in this world.<\/p>\n How about that.<\/p>\n The discussion had reached its conclusion somewhere above her and to the right. Ryoka heard light movements. And then she sensed eyes on her. She held still, praying she wouldn\u2019t be found out.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone want me to grab a bucket of water?\u201d<\/p>\n A voice. Immediately shushed. Ryoka heard a pause. And then a voice, low, sultry, and echoing in the dark space.<\/p>\n \u201cAwaken, mortal.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka opened her eyes and sat up. She couldn\u2019t help it. There was something in the tone that went beyond mere force of personality. Some kind of command that reached into Ryoka and moved her body against her will. It was familiar, almost like Magnolia\u2019s Skill\u2014but different. Where one was a Skill, this was instinctual obedience.<\/p>\n At first, it was dark. Ryoka\u2019s eyes caught a glimmer of moonlight, shining down from a slit overhead. A window. And then she took in the room.<\/p>\n She was sitting in an open, wide room. Tall, grand. Filled with open coffins. Smooth, worn stone. Open caskets to place bodies in. And she was lying on one. On top of one, rather. Ryoka felt her back aching slightly. She blinked, looked around\u2014there was no one standing around her. Then she looked up and saw them.<\/p>\n Vampires. Five of them. Two stood in the rafters on wooden support beams. An old male vampire and a younger looking one. The older one was coughing quietly, the younger one just watched Ryoka. And below them, standing on the ground, were three other vampires.<\/p>\n Fierre, no longer wearing the dark clothing that normally concealed her face. Her hair was raven black, her skin unnaturally pale. She looked young, as did the two who stood behind her. A man and a woman, both who looked no older than their early thirties. But they felt older. And it was the woman who\u2019d spoken.<\/p>\n Graceful, tall, her dress some dark red and black fabric that nearly blended with the shadows. By her side stood a man in rough clothing. He too was a vampire, but his neck was\u2026odd. Puffy, the skin bulging outwards. But like his wife, he had red eyes and that unnatural stillness about him. All of the five vampires held still for a moment. Ryoka stared at them, heart beating. And then the woman moved.<\/p>\n One hand rose. Pale fingers splayed outwards in a grand gesture towards Ryoka. The female vampire kept her chin raised as she approached, gliding across the dark room.<\/p>\n \u201cMortal. You trespass in the halls of my family. You speak to one not of mortal ways. We are the children of the night. Vampires.\u201d<\/p>\n Her lips rose in a slight smile. Her voice echoed through the room. The woman stopped in front of Ryoka and looked down.<\/p>\n \u201cI am Lady Colfa, Mistress of House Lischelle-Drakle. And thou art?\u201d<\/p>\n Everything about her screamed vampire to Ryoka. And the entire air wouldn\u2019t have worked except that she was one. In her totality. She looked flawless in the moonlight\u2014and yet\u2014Ryoka\u2019s eyes travelled to her right arm. She\u2019d spotted a rash there, hadn\u2019t she? The female vampire noticed the look and turned so her left side was facing Ryoka. She gave Ryoka a dark look, and the young woman\u2019s heart began to beat faster.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Ryoka Griffin. I, uh, didn\u2019t mean to intrude. I mean neither you or your family harm, Lady Colfa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka spoke quickly. Her mouth was dry. Her mind racing. What was the best angle here? What did they want? They sounded like people, remember that. Even if this Lady Colfa was noticeably different. Was she the sire of the others, perhaps?<\/p>\n You\u2019re dealing with ancient and powerful beings here. Even if they seem surprisingly normal. But vampires don\u2019t necessarily think like we do. Be careful. Don\u2019t offend them. What would Erin do?<\/em><\/p>\n Probably offend them. Don\u2019t do that.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cRyoka Griffin. A City Runner. A traveller who delivers messages. One who is everywhere and nowhere. Who may not be missed.\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa bent her head, inspecting Ryoka. Her eyes were slightly red, and they shone as she bared her fangs slightly in a sinister smile. Ryoka kept very still.<\/p>\n \u201cMortal. Know that thy presence here is borne only lightly. Mine kindred suffer you only for one reason: you uncovered the true nature of our offspring. How?\u201d<\/p>\n She\u2019s got sharp teeth, she has no shadow, and she keeps out of the sunlight. <\/em>But Ryoka didn\u2019t say any of that.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014I\u2019m just familiar with vampires. That\u2019s all. I didn\u2019t mean any harm by it. Look, I won\u2019t tell a soul\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She tried to move, swing one leg off the coffin. Colfa\u2019s eyes flashed, and Ryoka stopped. The lady vampire tapped one lip with an unpainted nail.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you will not. And whether you leave this place is entirely up to our disposition.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook, if I could convince you I don\u2019t mean any harm\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHarm? You think you could<\/em> harm us?\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa turned, quick as a snake. Ryoka froze again. The female vampire bent, inspecting Ryoka like an insect. Ryoka tried not to lean back. Why didn\u2019t she carry any garlic in her bag of holding? She could have at least put a few wooden stakes in there! She swallowed. Colfa had another smile on her face.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could harm us as likely as you could fly, girl. But we could harm you. Easily. And unless you beg, unless you prove<\/em> your sincerity and give us reason to trust you, you may find another purpose for the coffin on which you sit. Now, tell me or perish, foolish mortal. Once and for all, for what reason didst thou\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBaaaaah.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Ryoka\u2019s heart nearly stopped. She jumped, looked down, and recoiled. Something was down there!<\/em> It was staring up at her with big, black eyes. Its round\u2026woolly\u2026body was\u2026<\/p>\n A sheep poked its head up over the side of the coffin and stared at both Ryoka and Colfa. Vampire lady and Runner girl stared at it. The sheep stared at them and then baaahed<\/em> again. Loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the f\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n A surprise sheep was not one of the things Ryoka had expected. She leaned back as the animal looked from her and then to Colfa. For the vampire\u2019s part, she looked shocked. And then annoyed. She hesitated, then flicked one hand at the sheep.<\/p>\n \u201cShoo. Begone, grazing beast.\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa turned her head, pretending not to notice it. The sheep wandered over and butted her in the shin. It began to rub its head against Colfa\u2019s dress.<\/p>\n \u201cI said, begone.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa pushed the sheep away. Quite gently. The sheep baahed<\/em> quietly and refused to go. The vampire shot a quick glance at Ryoka. The young woman had no idea what expression was on her face, but it was frozen there.<\/p>\n One of the other vampires coughed. It looked like he was hiding a smile. The old one sighed, and the other vampire on the floor, the one with the awkward neck, moved forwards. The sheep turned and approached him, still baaahing<\/em>. Ryoka caught a glimpse of Fierre\u2019s face, a mix of chagrin and embarrassment. The vampire in the rough clothing bent, patted the sheep along the head, and then spoke quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cThis way.\u201d<\/p>\n He gently urged the sheep out of view. Ryoka watched him disappear out of the room. Through a hole in the wall. Moonlight shone through, revealing a grassy pasture outside. The vampires and the Asian girl watched the sheep disappear, and then all eyes turned back to Colfa. The Lady of House Lischelle-Drakle hesitated and then decided to pretend that last moment hadn\u2019t happened.<\/p>\n \u201cMortal Runner\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She eyed Ryoka and seemed to give up slightly. Lady Colfa frowned, and then her tone grew more direct.<\/p>\n \u201cTell us your intentions, Human child. What purpose did thou have in seeking my daughter out? Was it to extort her for some riches or personal gain? Did you seek to become vampire yourself? Know this gift is a rare and powerful one, not to be bestowed upon any who merely ask it. Tell me why you accosted her.\u201d<\/p>\n That was a sheep.<\/em> Ryoka\u2019s mind couldn\u2019t get over that.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014I just wanted to know if she was a vampire. That\u2019s all. I don\u2019t want to become a vampire. And, uh, I don\u2019t want anything from Fierre. I just wanted to know\u2026if vampires were real. That\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka looked up. Fierre was staring at her curiously. Almost hopefully. The other two vampires on the rafters exchanged glances. One of them, the younger, spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good to me. Why don\u2019t we let her go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSilence.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa cast a withering glance up above. The young male vampire folded his arms discontentedly. Lady Colfa shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cThe safety of my daug\u2014my offspring, Serafierre, <\/em>is not one to be taken lightly. I require more proof of your goodwill, mortal.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked directly at Ryoka. The young woman shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how I can prove my goodwill.\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa\u2019s lips quirked into a smile again.<\/p>\n \u201cNo? I have one idea. Serve me, Runner. Swear to obey me and mine kin. As a thrall to our house, eternal-bound. Obey and you will go safely. Say it.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Her eyes flashed. Uh oh.<\/em> Ryoka felt an immediate compulsion to say yes. To obey and agree to be their thrall, whatever that entailed. She opened her mouth, hesitated, and then closed it.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I\u2019m sorry, but no. I\u2019ll swear not to reveal your secrets. But not to obey you.\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa blinked. Her red eyes wavered. For a second, she looked behind her, up towards the rafters. The old vampire sitting there shrugged. Colfa turned back to Ryoka with a frown.<\/p>\n \u201cI am a creature of the night. Vampire. Immortal of blood. You will obey me. Swear it.\u201d<\/p>\n This time, whatever she did was stronger. Ryoka felt an urge to agree, to say yes. She fought it. And maybe it was the experience of meeting both Teriarch and Magnolia, but she managed to resist whatever Colfa was doing fairly easily.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou will obey!\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa snapped and upped the pressure in her voice and eyes. Ryoka gritted her teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cColfa\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMother\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The old vampire spoke up at the same time as Fierre. Colfa ignored them. She was angry now. She put all of her energy into her next words. They echoed around the empty room, and Ryoka felt something pulling at her mind.<\/p>\n \u201cI am a vampire. Immortal. Obey!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Immortal. Ryoka thought of Ivolethe. And Teriarch. She looked up. And her fear turned into anger. Immortal?<\/p>\n There had been no wind in the room or outside. Barely a breeze in the still air. But at Colfa\u2019s last words, dead air came to life. Wind blew through the room and outside. First a gust, and then a howling, whistling current through the opening in the wall. Colfa half-turned, eyes widening, and the other vampires including Fierre cried out.<\/p>\n Ryoka swung herself off the coffin and stood. Colfa turned to face her as the wind blew at her dress, pulling at her hair. Ryoka reached for her belt, gripped a bottle in one hand. She looked Colfa straight in the eye and shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cObey you? No. I have met true immortals. And they are nothing like you.\u201d<\/p>\n The wind blew at Ryoka\u2019s hair. It circled the room, whipping up dust, blowing at the vampires. And then it was still. The vampires looked around. The young one spoke uneasily.<\/p>\n \u201cMagic?\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa didn\u2019t respond. She was staring at Ryoka. And the pressure was still there. But Ryoka was resisting it. It wouldn\u2019t work, and she could see the vampire was growing angrier. She was ready for Colfa\u2019s next move. Prepared to fight and run, however unlikely it might be. But to her surprise, a voice interrupted the stalemate between her and Colfa.<\/p>\n \u201cColfa. It\u2019s not going to work. Let the Runner go.\u201d<\/p>\n The female vampire looked back. The vampire with the odd neck was standing in the opening that led outside. He looked at Ryoka and then at Colfa and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cYour domination won\u2019t work. And she has magic. The Runner has said she won\u2019t reveal our secrets. She came to learn about us. So let her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHimilt!\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa\u2019s voice snapped. Himilt, whom Ryoka thought might be Colfa\u2019s husband, shook his head again.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat other choice is there? Fierre, we\u2019ll let you explain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Dad\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre protested for a second. Her father gave her a long look, and she subsided.<\/p>\n \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have abducted her to begin with. Tell her and we\u2019ll see what happens. Unless anyone disagrees? Rivel? Bamer?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked up at the two vampires sitting above him. Both shook their heads. The younger one, Rivel, looked slightly bored. Bamer, the elderly vampire, stared down at Ryoka with a frown but said nothing. Himilt nodded. He turned to Ryoka. And to her surprise, he walked over and held out a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cMy apologies, Miss Griffin. We\u2019re wary of guests who know who we truly are. Welcome to our home. I am Himilt Drakle\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLord Himilt val Lischelle-Drakle.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa hissed at him. Himilt sighed. Ryoka saw he had farmer\u2019s clothing on. She hadn\u2019t noticed at first, what with him being a vampire, which took higher priority, but he was a vampire dressed like a working farmer. His clothes were a bit muddy, and he smelled of the outdoors. His hand was callused. She took his hand, and he gave her a gentle squeeze. Himilt sighed again.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Lord Himilt val Lischelle-Drakle. This is our family home\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He received an elbow to the side, quick as lightning, from his wife. The vampire barely reacted, but Ryoka felt the shock of the impact through their handshake before he let go. That had to hurt.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201c\u2014ancestral <\/em>estates. Please excuse Fierre abducting you. She will explain who we are and answer your questions. You will not be harmed here.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked over at his wife, as if seeking confirmation. She was scowling, and Ryoka noticed that she didn\u2019t have lipstick on either. Her nails weren\u2019t painted, and the grand dress Ryoka had thought she\u2019d been wearing was actually cotton, not silk. In fact, it looked slightly rumpled. She turned towards Ryoka and tilted her head back. Her voice was imperious and still very traditionally vampiric.<\/p>\n \u201cMortal girl, you abide here by the grace of our goodwill. Should it run out, fear for thy life. Our daughter of fangs will escort you. Heed her every word with care. We shall meet again.\u201d<\/p>\n She turned and swept away from them. Towards a door at the far end of the room. Himilt nodded and retreated. Ryoka watched them go, feeling very, very confused. The other two vampires looked at each other and stood up. The younger one waved at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cHi. I\u2019m Rivel.\u201d<\/p>\n He leapt to the ground, a good ten feet, and landed lightly without so much as flinching. Then he leapt nimbly out through the hole in the wall. He\u2019d been wearing farmer\u2019s clothes too.<\/p>\n The older one was slower to move, but when he landed on the floor, it was without so much as a wince. He looked at Ryoka, shook his head, and then complained to Fierre and everyone in earshot.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy are we up so late? I need to be awake in the morning, you know. I\u2019m going back to sleep. Tell me if we\u2019re killing the Runner or what when I wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n He followed Colfa through the door. Ryoka stayed where she was. She looked around and saw the last vampire standing awkwardly by herself. Fierre looked around desperately, as if hoping one of the older vampires would come back. But they didn\u2019t. She looked at Ryoka and gave her a desperate smile.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, hi.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka stared at her. There were a lot of things she could say, many of them stupid, some of them inflammatory. But that wasn\u2019t the way. So she put aside what she\u2019d just seen and witnessed, gave Fierre an awkward smile, and raised one hand.<\/p>\n \u201cHi.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re a vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd your entire family are vampires.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. I\u2019m, um, sorry about choking you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh no, I get it. Can\u2019t let other people find out about vampires, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. I panicked. Most people don\u2019t remember vampires, but the ones who do don\u2019t remember us fondly. I thought you might be trying to threaten me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said I wouldn\u2019t tell anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but\u2014sorry. Anyways\u2026yeah. We\u2019re vampires.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh huh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026So what\u2019s it like?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Oh, being a vampire?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n As conversations went, this one was awkward. Ryoka thought she knew uncomfortable, but talking to Fierre was establishing a new benchmark. She and the vampire girl sat awkwardly on a stone coffin, half staring at each other and half looking at their hands and around the room in embarrassment.<\/p>\n Ryoka coughed. There was dust in the air, stirred up by the wind. Fierre waved some away from her face.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry about that. We don\u2019t clean this place often.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh no, it was my fault. It\u2019s, uh, nice in here. Is this your family crypt or something?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre looked mildly surprised and amused.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? No. We don\u2019t use this place except to store stuff. In the coffins.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot to sleep in?\u201d<\/p>\n That came out before Ryoka could help it. Fierre blinked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. We don\u2019t sleep in coffins. I have a bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Right. I mean\u2026obviously. Vampires don\u2019t sleep in coffins. It\u2019s just that in legends\u2026I mean, I only know legends, which is why I asked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t sleep in coffins. Not these ones, at any rate. They\u2019re made of stone. Very hard and uncomfortable. I guess we could<\/em>, but this place hasn\u2019t been used to store dead bodies in centuries. It used to be, but my family bought the land here ages ago and cleared everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka paused.<\/p>\n \u201cYour family bought<\/em> this land? I thought they were your ancestral estates.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre shrugged and scratched her neck uncomfortably. She\u2019d taken off her scarf and her heavy, thick clothing. She looked like a normal girl now. With pale skin. Red eyes. And fangs.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just what mother likes saying. This place has been in the family for\u2026sixty years? But that\u2019s about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Right.\u201d<\/p>\n More silence. The two looked at each other. Ryoka took a few breaths. They\u2019d never get anywhere tiptoeing around.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re a vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre took a shuddering breath. She was breathing hard, as if this was the most exhausting thing Ryoka had ever seen her do. She looked up and met Ryoka\u2019s eyes for the first time.<\/p>\n Vampire<\/em>. Creature of death. Blood feeders. Masters of the night. Only, that was what people said. And reality looked different. Fierre was slightly scrawny. She looked like she was in her teens. Her clothing wasn\u2019t the color of midnight\u2014it was worn, nondescript. She didn\u2019t sleep in a coffin.<\/p>\n But she was a vampire. Fierre took another gulp of air.<\/p>\n \u201cWow. You\u2019re the first person\u2014the first non-vampire I\u2019ve ever met who\u2019s known I\u2019m\u2014ever. You know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Not really.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka saw Fierre look up. Suddenly, she laughed. So did Ryoka. They laughed, and some of the tension in the air drained away. Just like that.<\/p>\n Wasn\u2019t that easy? Suddenly, Ryoka felt silly. Of course they were like people. If they weren\u2019t, she would have been dead already. How else could Fierre have blended in so well? Ryoka laughed and then coughed harder as more dust entered her lungs. Fierre grimaced.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, you want to get out of here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine by me. Um\u2014where are we?\u201d<\/p>\n The vampire girl leapt off the coffin. She pointed towards the door that her mother had gone through.<\/p>\n \u201cMy home. Come on. It\u2019s not much, but I can show you around. This way.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka followed her out of the room full of coffins and through a door of plain wood. It looked\u2026recently installed. The masonry was crumbling in this keep or whatever Fierre\u2019s family had bought. The hallways were dark and cold underfoot. Ryoka shivered, hopping from one bare foot to the other. Fierre noticed.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. We don\u2019t keep many lights on. Vampires can, uh, see really well in the dark. And we don\u2019t get cold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI noticed. You said your family bought this place? What was this, a castle or something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt used to be. A big one, too. But it was already mostly gone by the time it was bought. Now it\u2019s just the keep and some ruins left over. We\u2019ve been working on it now and then, but there\u2019s never enough time\u2014oh.\u201d<\/p>\n She turned left. Ryoka stopped as she saw Himilt, the level-headed vampire, holding a trowel and standing in front of a hole. In the wall of the keep. It led straight outdoors, and Ryoka saw tall grass outside. The vampire was industriously applying a coat of dark grey mortar to the stones and repairing a hole in the wall. Fierre looked embarrassed.<\/p>\n Colfa was appalled. The vampire appeared in a blur of swishing red and black, hurrying towards her husband.<\/p>\n \u201cHimilt!<\/em> What are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n The vampire looked up and replied mildly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been telling me to repair the gap in the wall for years. I\u2019m finally doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but here? Now?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa shot a meaningful glance at Ryoka. Unperturbed, her husband spread a bit of mortar on the stonework and plopped a stone into place.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the best time, isn\u2019t it? First the sheep wander in, now this. If you want to give me a hand, I can do it faster.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a guest.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm\u2014this way.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre led Ryoka back, blushing, though it was barely noticeable on her face. Ryoka tried not to laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cThose are<\/em> your parents? Or your sires?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you start. My mother\u2019s the only one who talks like that, you know. She even put on a dress to impress you. They\u2019re my parents.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVampires can have children?\u201d<\/p>\n The girl looked back at Ryoka. The Runner girl paused.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. There\u2019s just so much I want to know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can see that. Yes, we can have children. But we\u2019re not\u2014I don\u2019t know what you\u2019ve heard, but we\u2019re not like mother acts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you are vampires. Immortal. Quick. And strong. You managed to choke me\u2014I wasn\u2019t expecting that. I hit you, and you didn\u2019t so much as flinch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I didn\u2019t expect you to do that. It hurt a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA bit?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre looked back at Ryoka as she pushed open a door. She grinned toothily.<\/p>\n \u201cJust a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n A change was coming over her. Gone, gone was Fierre the quiet girl who was afraid to show her teeth. She began walking faster, talking more animatedly. She was in her home. And she\u2019d told Ryoka the worst. What could happen next? In a way, Ryoka realized, she\u2019d been the one who was more scared between the two. After all, Ryoka had met a Dragon. Fierre had never so much as told another Human being who she really was.<\/p>\n \u201cLook. This is home.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre led Ryoka towards a door and threw it open. Rather than continue into the rest of the keep, the walls and, indeed, the entire structure just\u2026stopped. Ryoka saw a few broken walls, some flooring partially consumed by grass, and then just nature. She looked out and saw it.<\/p>\n A pasture. Sheep, greyish-white and thick in their winter coats, lay together, slumbering in the grass. Little lambs, both male and female, were protectively shielded by their mothers, while a few oddly nocturnal sheep were up and about, grazing on the first bloom of spring. A fence boxed them in, and beyond them lay a barn, another pasture where cows slept. The open sky\u2014and below, a large, rocky field full of grass and boulders, along which a dirt road wound.<\/p>\n They were standing on a plateau. And this ruined castle, Fierre\u2019s home, stood on top. Ryoka looked around and backed up from the keep. She looked up at it. It was a decaying mess of a building, but someone had taken the time to repair many of the gaps with fresh stone and mortar, roofing the top, and the keep was grand for all that.<\/p>\n Once, it had been a castle. Now, pedestals of stone were scattered around, the broken walls used as part of the fencing keeping the animals in, overgrown by grass. It was a peaceful, peculiar sight. Ryoka turned her head and saw her standing there.<\/p>\n Fierre. The girl looked at her. And there was something urgent in her posture. In the way she moved. She took a few steps forward and then turned to face Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is my home. And you were right, Ryoka. I\u2019m a vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n She flinched, as if saying that word aloud was frightening. But after the world failed to strike her down, Fierre\u2019s back straightened. She looked around. And then she grinned at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a vampire.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She leapt up, and it was as if gravity had vanished for her for a moment. Ryoka looked up, and Fierre landed on the faded stone pedestal. Another leap and she touched the wall of her home. She clung to the wall and then kicked off again. Higher, landing on the roof of the keep. She looked down at Ryoka, and her eyes sparkled the tiniest bit red. White teeth flashed, and Ryoka felt a jolt in her heart.<\/p>\n \u201cWow.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre jumped, and she flew through the air, farther than the world\u2019s greatest Olympian long-jump. She landed on a pillar of stone, waved her arms at Ryoka. Spun. Jumped again. She soared through the night, laughing in the moonlight. Showing off. Delighted to just be. A creature of legend.<\/p>\n A vampire.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Somehow, unaccountably, or perhaps accountably, they liked each other. Perhaps it was because they were both similar\u2014despite not appearing so at first glance. But when she could be herself at home, Fierre delighted in, well, being a vampire. She was proud of it and all too willing to show off the inhuman agility and strength that was a hallmark of her kind. She could lift a sheep\u2014carefully\u2014over her head, leap phenomenal distances, and see perfectly in the dark.<\/p>\n And Ryoka was Ryoka. Pride was in her nature, but she\u2019d learned to work at being personable. With Fierre, she didn\u2019t have to. The two walked around the pasture as Fierre pointed out the livestock her family raised and tended. She\u2019d grown up here before moving to the city to earn a living.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m actually twenty-five years old.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre gave Ryoka a toothy grin.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes. Vampires don\u2019t really age. We can if we want to, or even get younger. But we don\u2019t have<\/em> to grow old.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why do you look like you\u2019re sixteen?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause it\u2019s easier to pretend to get older each year. I was even younger when I first came to Reizmelt. Which is hard, because I\u2019m old inside. For instance, I\u2019m older than you.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked up at Ryoka with an upturned nose. Ryoka reflexively elbowed her. Fierre just laughed. Ryoka shot her a sideways look.<\/p>\n \u201cI bet it also makes it hard to hang around people like Madain, doesn\u2019t it? Given that you could probably twist his arms off.\u201d<\/p>\n The vampire girl tried to look innocent.<\/p>\n \u201cWho, me? I\u2019d never try. I\u2019ve thought of it, but\u2014I\u2019m not sure I could, honestly. He was a good adventurer, and I\u2019m not that<\/em> strong. I can lift a sheep, but tearing heads off or punching holes in the wall isn\u2019t easy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but he can\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen him punch straight through the wall of his inn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Crap. Remind me not to make him angry. So you, what, hide among Humans to earn a living?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPretty much. I\u2019m good at it too, aren\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEr\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre glanced up at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cI keep my teeth hidden, I stay out of the sunlight, and I don\u2019t ever show anyone that my shadow\u2019s missing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but it\u2019s still sort of obvious if you know what to look for.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre looked put out. She glanced sideways at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one\u2019s ever found out I\u2019m a vampire, though. And I\u2019ve had to survive a few sticky situations. Corrupt Runners trying to do me in, monster attacks\u2014I was even mugged by a gang of [Thieves] once.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did they taste?\u201d<\/p>\n The two started giggling. Fierre put one hand on Ryoka\u2019s shoulder to steady herself.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t drink Human blood! Really, I don\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not? Are you afraid of making more vampires?\u201d<\/p>\n She shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can control that. It\u2019s not like sucking blood makes new vampires. If it did, we\u2019d have vampire sheep instead of live ones. No, it\u2019s way too risky. Bite marks look distinctive, and if you get spotted\u2014my family\u2019s sworn never to drink blood from people. Ever.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka frowned. She kept one eye on the grass, watching out for sheep poo as she walked around with Fierre.<\/p>\n \u201cThen how do you survive?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnimals. Obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre pointed to the next pasture. Cows were resting at night. But again, some were up and awake. Apparently having nocturnal owners meant the animals became semi-nocturnal themselves. Ryoka eyed them.<\/p>\n \u201cYou suck their blood?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. Or we harvest it so we can move around. I get blood in bottles each week from the farm. It\u2019s cow\u2019s blood mainly. Sheep too. Pigs, goats\u2026we get a lot of blood from pigs during the slaughter, but cows are bigger so we can bleed a bit more from them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBleed?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka had an image of bleeding animals in a slaughterhouse and shuddered. But again, Fierre shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, it doesn\u2019t hurt them. And they\u2019re used to it. We only take a little bit each week, and we have lots of animals to keep up the blood supply.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. So wait. You said vampire sheep. Does that mean\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n A loud baaah<\/em> interrupted Ryoka. She jumped and saw a familiar white shape heading straight for her. The sheep that had so rudely interrupted Colfa appeared, baahing<\/em> and staring up at Ryoka and Fierre. It approached the vampire girl. Fierre bent and rubbed its head.<\/p>\n \u201cHello there, Fluffles. You\u2019ve been a bad sheep, haven\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka stared.<\/p>\n \u201cFluffles?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre looked up and grinned wickedly.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. Fluffles the Sixth. He\u2019s mother\u2019s favorite. You can pet him if you want. I was about ready to die laughing when he came in and ruined mother\u2019s performance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was something alright. I was about to wet myself before he started baahing. So your mother and your father are [Herders]?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. Except without the class.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Then what\u2019s their class?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka looked up, curious. Fierre made a face.<\/p>\n \u201cNone. Vampires don\u2019t earn classes. We can\u2019t level up. Mother lost her classes when she became a vampire. Old Bamer thinks it\u2019s a way of keeping balance. Imagine if a high-level [Warrior] were a vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat makes sense. Hey\u2014guess what? I don\u2019t have a class either.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre\u2019s eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t? Are you crazy? How are you doing that wind thing, then?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka felt a bit insulted. She straightened, and Fluffles the Sixth went off to find more hands to scratch his head.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, you said you don\u2019t have a class.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but I\u2019m<\/em> a vampire. You\u2019re Human. I\u2019ve met people who don\u2019t want classes. They\u2019re odd, odd sorts. I should have known you were one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n The vampire looked challengingly at Ryoka. The Asian girl opened her mouth and sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, you\u2019ve got me there.\u201d<\/p>\n The two laughed again.<\/p>\n \u201cSo why don\u2019t<\/em> you have a class?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026just don\u2019t trust classes that much. I don\u2019t like the idea of being defined by my Skills or what leveling does to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fair. It does change you. I\u2019ve seen it happen. Myself, though, I wish I could level up. Skills are wonderful, aren\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are nice. I could use a [Runner]\u2019s Skills, but\u2026is that why you\u2019re an opener? Because you don\u2019t have Skills?\u201d<\/p>\n A low sigh escaped Fierre\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n \u201cPartly. It is hard to earn a lot of money if you don\u2019t have levels. Opening\u2019s a good job because I can fake having Skills that protect me against poison or a lot of traps. Not that I try to get hit by spells, by the way. But it\u2019s saved me twice when there\u2019s been contact poison on the envelope. Vampires are really hard to poison. But I work other jobs as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI noticed. How many jobs do you have?\u201d<\/p>\n The girl began ticking them off on her fingers. Ryoka looked around and spotted Himilt walking towards the barn, hole in the keep apparently fixed. He was quite quick\u2014so was Fierre. Even walking, they moved faster than normal, as if permanently sped up.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see. I work as an opener for Runners. I buy and sell information\u2014but I\u2019m not that well-connected. I help Miss Kelysta out in her shop, mainly by grinding poisonous herbs and so on. I\u2019m a part-time laborer, I do grave digging if the [Gravedigger]\u2019s back is shot. Sometimes I help with building, I\u2019ve earned money as a butcher, and I\u2019ve got experience as a barmaid\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure you don\u2019t want to add being a Runner to that? You could probably make a good living. At least as a City Runner.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d do that, but then I\u2019d have to run at night. Sunlight\u2019s bad for me. Plus\u2026it\u2019s not good to attract that much attention, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight. Can\u2019t let anyone find out. Uh\u2014why\u2019s that so bad? Because people will hunt you down?\u201d<\/p>\n The girl scowled darkly.<\/p>\n \u201cNot most people. Most people don\u2019t even remember us. But a few groups do. Ever heard of the Byres family? They\u2019re famous vampire slayers. So are the Veltras and Terland families. If word got out there were vampires, we\u2019d be hunted down and adventurers would be collecting bounties on our heads.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot exactly ideal.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka agreed mildly. She opened her mouth to ask another question and heard a rumble. So did Fierre. Both girls looked at Ryoka\u2019s stomach.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. I haven\u2019t eaten much. Since someone<\/em> decided to knock me out.\u201d<\/p>\n At least Fierre had the decency to blush.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. Why don\u2019t you come inside? We\u2019ve got food.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t eat blood.\u201d<\/p>\n This time, Fierre elbowed Ryoka, and the taller girl doubled over and clutched at her side.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got real food too.<\/em> Come on.\u201d<\/p>\n This time, they circled the keep and went in through the kitchen. There were a lot of doors and not a lot of locks. Or any, rather. Not even a deadbolt. Fierre looked around the slightly dusty and unused kitchen and began rummaging around on the shelves.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve probably got cheese, bread\u2026no fresh meat, sorry. Mother doesn\u2019t keep much in the larder except to entertain guests.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t imagine why.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka heard a laugh. Fierre frowned into a cupboard and then turned and shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cMother? <\/em>Where\u2019s the food?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook in the upper pantry, daughter of mine!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n A loud voice echoed back down the hallway. Fierre looked and pulled out a hairy piece of cheese. Ryoka took one look at it and shook her head. Fierre scowled.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s got mold on it! I can\u2019t give her that! Remember what happened last time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo into the storeroom!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. Wait one second.\u201d<\/p>\n Grumbling, Fierre went into the keep. She came back moments later holding a slice of cheese and a bottle. She handed both to Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cHere. Some wine. And cheese. Don\u2019t worry\u2014it\u2019s fresh.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka blinked at the fare, but she accepted both. One sniff confirmed that the food was indeed good, and she set to with vigor. Two bites in and Ryoka\u2019s tongue caught up. Her eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is some good cheese!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIsn\u2019t it? We make it here.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre grinned proudly.<\/p>\n \u201cWe raise cows, like I said. Not just for blood. My family sells milk, makes cheese\u2014we earn a lot of money off of our pigs too. Eggs, wool\u2014it\u2019s good money.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d pay for this cheese. You want some?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka offered it to Fierre, but the vampire girl waved away the cheese before pouring herself a cup of wine. Ryoka had forgotten the vampire part and asked about it. Fierre just shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI can eat food. I just don\u2019t need to if I have blood. And with food, it has to come back out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for sharing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re the one who does it all the time. Not me.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI am<\/em> a vampire. I don\u2019t need to sleep as much\u2014although I get tired during the day, I don\u2019t need to eat anything if I have blood, and I heal up really fast.\u201d<\/p>\n She coughed into her hand. Ryoka eyed her.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you do get sick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut aren\u2019t you\u2026dead? Or, er, undead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n The girl sat up instantly, looking cross. She shook her head vigorously.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not undead. That\u2019s a myth. If we were undead, why would we need to drink blood?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n That was a good point. But all the stories Ryoka had ever heard had pointed out vampires as being distinctly dead. She stopped chewing for a second and eyed Fierre.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you mind if I check your pulse?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre let Ryoka touch her neck. To Ryoka\u2019s surprise, she had a pulse, albeit very slow. Her skin was cold to the touch, but, Ryoka had to admit, it was just cold. Not exactly the chilling touch of death.<\/p>\n \u201cSee? We\u2019re not undead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope. You\u2019re more like a lizard. Ow!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre prodded Ryoka under the table with one finger. The Runner girl yelped. Fierre smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re alive. I wouldn\u2019t have this stupid cold if I wasn\u2019t. But like I said, we heal quickly. Although we do get sick quite often\u2026Bamer thinks that\u2019s a curse.\u201d<\/p>\n She rolled her eyes. Ryoka didn\u2019t. She was thinking of the rash she\u2019d seen on Colfa\u2019s arm. But she didn\u2019t bring that up.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re an immortal vampire\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just what mother says. We die.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine, a powerful vampire\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre grinned.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014who works multiple jobs to do\u2026what? Save up for high-quality cow\u2019s blood?\u201d<\/p>\n The grin on Fierre\u2019s face faded.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I\u2019m just supporting the family. I send most of the money I earn back here. It\u2019s not that we don\u2019t earn a lot from our business, but every bit counts, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Towards what?<\/em> But Ryoka had sensed Fierre didn\u2019t want to say just yet, so she nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you stay at Mad Madain\u2019s because\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s cheap. And he serves his meat bloody. It\u2019s convenient for me, and he doesn\u2019t ask questions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFair enough. So you\u2019re just an everyday, hardworking vampire girl helping make ends meet. What about your mother?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s\u2026different.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre fiddled with her empty cup. She noticed Ryoka\u2019s stare and flushed.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, she\u2019s very different. She likes being a vampire, alright? She was Human\u2014before father turned her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe married into the family. She\u2019s a Lischelle. Hence the name. We\u2019re just the Drakles, but mother insists on calling ourselves Lischelle-Drakles because she thinks it sounds better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd no one gets suspicious at the last name \u2018Drakle\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey just think it means Drake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Fair. Okay, so your mother just met your father and they\u2026fell in love?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. He only revealed he was a vampire when they were in love. And she begged to be one. For years, apparently.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh.\u201d<\/p>\n For some reason, that was the least surprising bit to Ryoka. If vampires ever came to Earth, her Earth, they\u2019d have no shortage of followers. And it also explained why Colfa acted like she did.<\/p>\n \u201cSo the Lischelles know your family are vampires? That\u2019s a lot of trust.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, Fierre shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, no. None of them are vampires except for mother, and they don\u2019t know she\u2019s one. She keeps it secret. And we\u2019re lucky in that sense. Mother\u2019s name really helps our business.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, definitely. The Lischelles are famous [Shepherds], [Beast Tamers], [Herders]\u2026they\u2019re practically royalty among the farming communities. Dad always said he got lucky marrying Mom. She agrees.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre rolled her eyes. Ryoka sat back.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you don\u2019t enslave people with hypnosis, prey on the innocent, or create more vampire thralls to control the living. But you do have the power to do something, don\u2019t you? Your mother tried it on me.\u201d<\/p>\n This time, Fierre paused and looked away.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was\u2014domination. Yeah, we can do that. It works best on animals, but mother\u2019s gifted, apparently. She can control people. Even make them forget things. It didn\u2019t work on you, though. Why is that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe because I had a charm?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka showed Fierre one of her Runner charms. The vampire gave them a dismissive look.<\/p>\n \u201cCharms don\u2019t work on the vampire gaze. It\u2019s not an enchantment, so the charms can\u2019t block them. Try again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just stubborn, then. I\u2019ve had people try and charm me before. It never works.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre gave Ryoka an appraising look. The Runner sat back.<\/p>\n \u201cGive me your best shot.\u201d<\/p>\n The vampire studied Ryoka and then shook her head lightly.<\/p>\n \u201cNo thanks. I don\u2019t practice my gaze. It\u2019s risky if you get found out, or if you meet someone who can resist. I want to live a healthy, long life, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUntil you\u2019re, what, eight hundred?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cForty would be nice.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka laughed. But Fierre didn\u2019t. She smiled and reached for the wine bottle.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a bit about vampires you don\u2019t know, Ryoka. A lot of it\u2019s sort of true. Bamer says we used to prey on people and control a lot of Izril\u2014until we were nearly wiped out, that is. We don\u2019t do any of that anymore. And we\u2019re not immortal. Some of us can live into our sixties, or even eighties\u2026but never longer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n It sounded like a joke. But the convivial expression, helped by the wine, had left Fierre\u2019s face. She looked into her cup, and then drank it down.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing. It\u2019s nothing. We just have shorter lifespans, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n She grinned at Ryoka, showing her fangs. The Human girl hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. So you\u2019re all good people. Then why not come out? Why hide?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cByres. Silver swords. It\u2019s not worth the risk. We keep to ourselves, stay safe\u2014it\u2019s better this way. That\u2019s what Dad says, and everyone agrees. But sometimes people find out and we have to scare them quiet. Or make sure they don\u2019t talk. Like you.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre leaned over, scooting her chair towards Ryoka. She leaned on the girl\u2019s shoulder. As if the wine was suddenly having an effect.<\/p>\n \u201cNormally, mother makes them forget. That\u2019s why I brought you here. But rarely\u2014it\u2019s never happened with my family\u2014we meet someone who can know about us. Then we teach them a sign so they can find more vampires. We call them Flesh Friends.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I made that up.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre laughed, and Ryoka did too. The vampire girl leaned against Ryoka. She was cold, but soft. She smiled up at Ryoka, and for some reason, Ryoka\u2019s heart skipped a beat.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d be good friends, don\u2019t you think? I\u2019ve always wanted to talk to someone who wasn\u2019t a vampire and knew who I was. I wanted to talk to you, but you were always busy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? About what?\u201d<\/p>\n Was it getting warmer? Fierre grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to know about the bare feet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. I just like running barefoot. Uh\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n It was warmer. Ryoka was flushing a bit. She shifted, to get a bit of room. Fierre just scooted over, hogging Ryoka\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n \u201cIf mother and father agree, you\u2019ll get to leave here knowing our secret. Then I could talk to you about all my secrets. You\u2019d be the only person who knows who I am. Wouldn\u2019t that be nice? We could be\u2026friends.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The look Fierre gave Ryoka implied a much more physical type of friendship. Ryoka blinked rapidly. What was going on? She was certain\u2014fairly certain\u2014that she wasn\u2019t attracted to Fierre. Or she hadn\u2019t been. Until right now. Now, she was definitely and severely interested in Fierre\u2019s pale lips, her body. Fierre rested a hand on Ryoka\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n Her touch was cool and electric. It sent a shock running straight down Ryoka\u2019s spine as Fierre gently touched her arm. Ryoka felt her heart beating way too fast. She tried to pull away, and her mind finally put two and two together.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re\u2014charming me. Stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t you say to give it my best shot? Well, I am. Are you\u2026interested?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka was, very. Fierre tilted her head and gave Ryoka a pointed smile. For some reason, that was the most appealing thing in the world. Ryoka swayed. Her head dipped. What was she doing? She wasn\u2019t attracted to Fierre! Or girls! Okay, it was a spectrum of liking someone, but\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWould you like to be friends? I\u2019m terribly interested. And don\u2019t worry. I won\u2019t bite.\u201d<\/p>\n That last line nearly pulled Ryoka out of it. But the look Fierre gave her dragged Ryoka right back in. And closer to Fierre\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t do it.<\/em> Her mind was telling her not to take that kiss, and for more reasons than just that Fierre was trying to make her do it. Ryoka tried to resist, but Fierre\u2019s seduction was a lot harder to fight than her mother\u2019s command. She tried to will herself to stop, but Fierre\u2019s face was on a collision course with hers.<\/p>\n Pull away<\/em>. What would Erin do? What would Erin do? What would\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cYou and I could find a space together. Or close the door\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The vampire girl was smiling wickedly and running a hand up Ryoka\u2019s arms. She leaned forwards, and her face froze up. She inhaled\u2014<\/p>\n And then she sneezed on Ryoka. That broke the spell quite effectively. Fierre wiped her nose, coughing as Ryoka jerked backwards in her seat. Ryoka felt all her attraction towards Fierre vanish\u2014she wiped her arm, and Fierre scowled.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn it. Stupid cold.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka was panting. She stared at Fierre as the vampire girl fished around for something. She came up with a potion and drank a mouthful. Her coughing subsided. She looked up and met Ryoka\u2019s eyes. The two stared at each other. Fierre grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cWell? I don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019d say that worked.\u201d<\/p>\n The Runner opened and closed her mouth a few times. She blinked at Fierre, who was giving her a challenging, half-mocking grin. Daring her to say anything. Ryoka looked at Fierre, gulped, and then slowly spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we are going to be best friends. Or I\u2019m going to have to kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n And the vampire girl laughed.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ryoka had been awoken in the Drakle household closer to midnight than not. And it was into early morning when they exited the kitchen, laughing, a bit drunk on wine, but mostly good spirits. Fierre stopped Ryoka in the hallways and grew a bit more sober for a second.<\/p>\n \u201cI was supposed to tell you about vampires. But you knew almost everything. Even more stories than Bamer. Are there really tales about\u2026Dracula and vampires where you come from?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore than you could know.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre looked at Ryoka. Without telling her where she was from, Ryoka had told her about Earth\u2019s legends. Most of which, it turned out, were fairly accurate\u2014you could get a seducing vampire who preyed on virgins and offed anyone trying to get rid of him\u2014he was called an asshole and a criminal.<\/p>\n Fierre had enjoyed the stories, and Ryoka had confirmed it. She liked Fierre. Vampire Fierre was forthright, honest\u2014and if she didn\u2019t like what Ryoka said, she\u2019d poke Ryoka in the stomach. She was quite, quite strong. And Fierre seemed to like her too, as odd as that was. Now, the vampire girl looked\u2026thoughtful.<\/p>\n \u201cYou really just wanted to know if I was a vampire? To talk to me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I mean, it wasn\u2019t the greatest plan, but I was sleep-deprived and a bit stupid. And we were in the sunlight. If you really freaked out, I probably would have bought a wagonload of garlic and some silver, but\u2026I just wanted to know. To be friends.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka shrugged. Fierre looked at her, mouth slightly open, showing her fangs. It was how she smiled when she was happy.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like that. Okay. I\u2019ll see what I can do. I need to talk to my mother. She won\u2019t want you to leave, but if I can convince her you\u2019re trustworthy\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe can be Flesh Friends?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre snorted and then tried to cover it. She turned.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be back. You can go wherever you want. Just don\u2019t go into the bull\u2019s pasture. Or leave the plateau. Or wake up Bamer. He\u2019s sleeping.\u201d<\/p>\n She turned and vanished down the dark hallway. Ryoka, who\u2019d grown used to the dim lighting by now, yawned and looked around. She was feeling tired, despite having had an arguably long nap thanks to Fierre. Melatonin and all that. She thought about waiting in the kitchen, but Ryoka didn\u2019t handle sitting and waiting well. So she wandered the keep instead\u2014for about a minute.<\/p>\n \u201cCold feet, cold feet.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The inside was too chilly for Ryoka, so she hurried outside into the grass. The sheep were all asleep by this point, even Fluffles. Ryoka walked quietly around them, staring at the wooly forms, and then noticed a few animals were up. The cows. A dark figure was tending to one of them. Ryoka wouldn\u2019t have noticed, but the metal on the bucket Himilt was milking the cow into shone in the moonlight. She wandered over.<\/p>\n \u201cUm. Hello.\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt looked up, and the cow turned one big head and gave Ryoka a watery look. Both cow and vampire seemed quite calm in the moonlight. Himilt nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cHello. Fierre\u2019s told you all about us?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka leaned on the fence, watching as milk squirted into the bucket.<\/p>\n \u201cMostly she just told me what you weren\u2019t. I knew a lot of legends about vampires\u2014uh, from my home. But there are quite a few differences, apparently.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMm. Such as?\u201d<\/p>\n The vampire\u2019s voice was calm. He looked like a farmer right out of Ryoka\u2019s imagination\u2014except for the pale skin, red eyes, and neck. It was<\/em> bulbous, and Ryoka eyed it with a growing certainty about why that might be. But she made no comment.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, I thought vampires were technically undead. And that you couldn\u2019t get sick. Or eat food, really.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you\u2019re partially right. Food doesn\u2019t do much for us. A vampire can eat all day, and the food mostly goes in and out. Blood\u2019s what we need to live. As for sickness and being undead\u2014we\u2019re not the vampires our ancestors were.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt\u2019s hands were rhythmic. The cow seemed to be enjoying the milking. Ryoka noticed more getting up. She understood, in a way. If Himilt wanted to do his work out of the sun, the cows had to change when they woke up and went to sleep. He replied calmly, turning his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNot at all. We don\u2019t drink the blood of people. Some of us were famous necromancers. Stronger vampires who burned up in sunlight like kindling. They were probably closer to your stories. But the Drakle line has been born vampires. We give birth. Rarely do people marry into the family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike your wife.\u201d<\/p>\n The hands paused for a second.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Colfa was an exception. But mostly, we marry between ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm\u2026how many of you are there?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka wondered if inbreeding was an issue. Himilt just shrugged in reply.<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t say. Hundreds? Not thousands. There are clans of us scattered about. We know each other. Not that the Byres or any adventurers of today would find us\u2014most of the time. I trust you understand why we keep to ourselves?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do. And you have my word I won\u2019t tell anyone, Mister Himilt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good to know. Colfa was worried after her gaze and voice failed on you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes she work on the farm with you?\u201d<\/p>\n It seemed at odds with Colfa\u2019s grand act, but Himilt nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cNormally, she doesn\u2019t wear that dress. She\u2019d be out here, but she\u2019s talking to Fierre. I believe they\u2019re deliberating what your fate\u2014I\u2019m sorry, thine fate, should be. She\u2019ll agree to let you go, I'm sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would you have done if you decided you couldn\u2019t trust me? Hypothetically speaking.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka had to know. Himilt looked up, still milking the cows.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d probably have to find a way to keep you silent. Since Colfa couldn\u2019t use her gaze, we\u2019d turn to magic\u2014or spread the word and try and find someone with a stronger gaze.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t kill me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not monsters.\u201d<\/p>\n The word was a quiet rebuke. Ryoka flushed. Himilt shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cMy wife has never killed an innocent soul. [Bandits]? Yes. Monsters? Of course. And wolves, bears\u2026but she has a soft spot. I\u2019m lucky to have met her, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh huh.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka felt embarrassed as she always did when someone older than her talked about love. Himilt looked up at her, and his voice was calm.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Griffin, I\u2019m not sure where you\u2019re from to hear so many legends about vampires. But I won\u2019t ask. Secrets should be respected, and I trust you to keep ours. But I have one warning. It\u2019s not made in malice, understand, but I have to say it. Reveal my daughter\u2019s secret or put her in harm\u2019s way and I will find and kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n The words travelled a little ways in the grassy pasture and faded. The wind carried them away, so only the Runner girl heard. She stared at Himilt. The vampire didn\u2019t reappear behind Ryoka in the blink of an eye, or intimidate her with some superhuman feat of strength like lifting the entire cow over his head. In fact, all the while he never stopped milking the cow in front of him.<\/p>\n But he met her eyes. And that was enough. For a brief moment, Himilt looked up and something else looked at Ryoka. Not a farmer. Not a Human. It was ancient and terrified the mortal part of Ryoka. It stared at Ryoka as it knelt, milking the cow. And then it was gone, and Himilt was back. He looked back to his task as if nothing had happened. Ryoka shivered. Himilt had more of the true Vampire in one glance than all of his wife\u2019s pretenses and airs.<\/p>\n \u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I don\u2019t doubt your word. Good folk shouldn\u2019t, so I apologize again for saying it.\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt stood up. The bucket was full, and the cow seemed happy. It wandered off. The vampire nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThey should be done talking by now. If not, let\u2019s surprise them. Miss Griffin?\u201d<\/p>\n She expected him to lead the way to the gates. But instead, Himilt jumped. It was a graceful movement. He leapt up and landed on the other side of the fence, bucket in hand. And somehow, though the milk sloshed slightly, not a drop of it fell to the ground. Himilt gave Ryoka a slow, pleased smile. And she grinned at him with awestruck delight.<\/p>\n The two walked back towards the keep. They didn\u2019t say much. But Himilt did pause a little bit in front of the faded stone. He pointed up at it.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is our home. Not our first home. The Drakle family moved about for thousands of years. We\u2019ve changed names. Lived in the open or the past. Now there are only a few of us left. Ryoka Griffin, look upon it.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned, setting the bucket down. And again, the farmer changed. A tall figure stood with his back to the keep. Ancient, worn stone grew taller. A pair of red eyes looked down at Ryoka. The wind stilled, and Ryoka looked up at Himilt. A vampire with old eyes stood proudly, chest raised, poised.<\/p>\n He held his hand out and swept it slowly across the ruined, overgrown estate. And she heard his voice, saw his feelings in every line of his body.<\/p>\n Look. Here, amid the ruins. Here I am. Here we are. See what we are. What we were.<\/em><\/p>\n The shadows seemed darker around him. Grander. But Himilt cast no shadow. He looked down at Ryoka. He was a farmer. And happy with it, or so it seemed. But he was also a vampire. And though he had changed to live, he had not forgotten. In his way, he was more of his ancestors than Colfa could ever be.<\/p>\n Grand, humbled. A past glory reduced to this. No\u2014wait. That wasn\u2019t the point. Ryoka looked past Himilt. He didn\u2019t seem merely sad. His outstretched arm took in his fields. The placid animals. The past had changed, become something new. And it was his.<\/p>\n There was nothing to say. But Ryoka knew something of immortals. So she bowed. Slightly, a courtly bow. And the vampire smiled. He turned away and picked up his bucket. By the time Ryoka straightened, he was Himilt the farmer again.<\/p>\n That was how the two found Colfa and her daughter. Himilt and Ryoka were smiling and talking about cows. Apparently vampirism affected animals very differently. Made them dangerous. But magical cows were nice.<\/p>\n \u201cAhem. Mine husband. Hast thou entertained our mortal guest?\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa looked severely at Himilt. He looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cI have, my dear.\u201d<\/p>\n Suspiciously, as if she suspected Himilt of rolling in the mud just to make her look bad, Colfa eyed Ryoka and her husband. But Ryoka only nodded politely.<\/p>\n \u201cYour husband showed me the grandeur of your estates, Lady Colfa val Lischelle-Drakle. I am honored to be your guest and humbly beg your forgiveness for my temerity earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n She gave Colfa a very proper bow. Himilt and Fierre both rolled their eyes a bit, but Colfa looked delighted. She straightened and smoothed the dress.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then. Since thou hast shown thine sincerity, I judge my daughter\u2019s trust in you to be founded. Mortal Runner, you may go with the forbidden knowledge of our existence\u2014so long as you swear to keep our secret on pain of death.\u201d<\/p>\n She fixed Ryoka with a menacing look. Ryoka nodded, keeping her face straight.<\/p>\n \u201cI do swear, milady. It is a compact most sacred, which I shall honor with every bit of my mortal heart.\u201d<\/p>\n That last bit was probably too flowery even for Colfa, because she shot Ryoka a look. But she nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIn that case, go. Return to where you came hence with the knowledge of what you\u2019ve seen\u2026unless you\u2019d like to sleep first? We have extra beds.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Drakle estates lay at the top of a plateau, uphill. It was a good spot, although as Fierre pointed out, it sometimes meant they had to lead the herds down the slopes to graze.<\/p>\n \u201cNot to mention how hard it is to get a wagon uphill in the mud. But it\u2019s nice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is. And I like running downhill. Which way\u2019s Reizmelt?\u201d<\/p>\n She and Ryoka stood at the top of the hill. The wind was blowing strong, and though the sun had yet to rise, the sky was lighter. Fierre pointed.<\/p>\n \u201cThat way. We\u2019re hours away. As the vampire runs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the Runner?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if you can keep up, we\u2019ll be back by midmorning.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre shot Ryoka a challenging grin. The Runner blinked in surprise and then smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cHow the hell did you get me out of Reizmelt and all the way out here without me waking up? In secret, no less?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEasy. I put you in a wheelbarrow and put a cloth over you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait, that worked?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYup. The [Guards] know me. They probably thought I was hauling something. And then I jumped over the walls with you when they weren\u2019t looking. That was harder since you\u2019re heavy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you ran with me all the way here?\u201d<\/p>\n That would have been a challenge if Ryoka had done that to Fierre, and she was shorter than Ryoka by a good bit. Fierre shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cIt did take the rest of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I was asleep the entire time?\u201d<\/p>\n The vampire girl smiled sheepishly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did wake up. Twice.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka felt at her throat.<\/p>\n \u201cOw.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry. I was careful. Now, do you want to go? I can\u2019t run as fast in the sun. And I\u2019ll be in trouble if I\u2019m out of the shade.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka began running down the hill. She took off, having been stretching while Fierre was chatting. She heard a startled exclamation from the girl. But Ryoka was already gone.<\/p>\n And the wind changed. It followed Ryoka, and it whistled as it raced down the hill. Ryoka\u2019s legs blurred as she sped up, trying to keep up with gravity. She heard a laugh and looked up.<\/p>\n A pale shape leapt down the hill. Fierre didn\u2019t bother to run. She just bounded down the hill, pushing off rocks and flipping through the air. Ryoka looked up and saw Fierre wave at her. The vampire disappeared down the hill. Ryoka gritted her teeth and ran faster.<\/p>\n Down from the hill and into the grass. Ryoka hit the road, and there she was. Lounging, pretending to sleep. Ryoka ran right past Fierre and kicked some dirt at her. The vampire leapt up and raced after her. She caught up in twelve seconds, and the two locked eyes while running.<\/p>\n Ryoka went into her top-speed sprint. The wind howled behind her for a moment, and she lost Fierre. The vampire girl\u2019s eyes widened. She caught up\u2014with a tad bit of difficulty. Ryoka kept the pace for ten seconds. Twenty. The wind was urging her on. Her legs were screaming to stop.<\/p>\n One minute. The fastest minute she\u2019d ever run, thanks to the wind. Then Ryoka slowed, panting. Fierre nearly overshot her. She slowed, and Ryoka saw a glimmer of sweat.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not bad!\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre turned and ran backwards, mockingly grinning at Ryoka. She jumped backwards, stumbled a bit, and then turned forwards. Ryoka inhaled some stinging cool air into her lungs.<\/p>\n \u201cI hate you.\u201d<\/p>\n She laughed and heard Fierre laugh too. The pair of them ran together, Fierre leaping, not bound by gravity. And when she ran, though she had poor form, it was as if she was skating across the ground rather than running. Graceful, wonderful. And Ryoka ran with her, every step calculated, the product of practice and form.<\/p>\n That was how they ran through the night while the world was slumbering. The sun kept rising. And then the first ray struck the ground. Ryoka didn\u2019t stop running, but Fierre paused.<\/p>\n She slowed, sighed, and covered herself up. Ryoka saw Fierre glancing over at the sun as she tugged a scarf into place around her neck. Ryoka slowed as well, and the two progressed to a quick walk.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you need to cover up?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not walking into the sun. But I\u2019m tired, and it\u2019s harder to run. Besides, I shouldn\u2019t run in the day.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre looked disappointed. Ryoka just shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll jog then. Or walk if you want to. I can keep going. How about you? Need a stamina potion?\u201d<\/p>\n She offered it to Fierre. The girl slapped it out of her hand. Ryoka grabbed for it and missed, swearing. Fierre leapt and snagged it out of the air. She handed it to Ryoka, who blinked at her. Fierre winked.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still fast. I get slowest at midday.\u201d<\/p>\n So they jogged. Fierre was only too happy to grouse about sunlight to Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cIt burns us if we\u2019re out in the open. I can get a sunburn just walking outside for a few minutes. Apparently, it was even worse for old vampires.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes it help if you have an umbrella? What about, uh\u2026something on your skin?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike mud? Dad says he did that one time when he was desperate. And umbrellas work, but I can\u2019t really explain needing it, can I? Besides, even with an umbrella, some sun gets through. And I can\u2019t explain getting a tan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, that\u2019s true\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka tried to remember how sunscreen was actually made. That would be something interesting, wouldn\u2019t it? Her mind was racing with all kinds of questions about vampires. And as it happened, they had the time to talk. All the time to talk about silly things. And it wasn\u2019t just Ryoka asking the questions.<\/p>\n \u201cSo if you stepped on a nail\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s my worst nightmare. Rusty nail into bare feet. Or glass. But\u2014look, it doesn\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt has to have happened once.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTwice. Ever. Glass is something you can spot. The same goes for metal and other stuff. Dog crap\u2026yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s disgusting!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThree times. And it was all the fault of the owners. Look, the worst thing I ever stepped on was a snail. Once. But nails? Never. And even if you had a normal shoe on, a nail would go right through that, wouldn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. I stepped on a nail once.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d that feel, then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, vampires don\u2019t feel pain as much as regular people. And it healed up soon after I pulled it out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026I hate you even more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWant to become a vampire?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo thanks. I like sitting in the sun. You do know that moonlight\u2019s actually sunlight, just reflected off the moon\u2014er, moons, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? That sounds silly. Besides, I can handle some light. Like the shade. It\u2019s just direct light that\u2019s a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Garlic?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHate it. I\u2019m allergic. Dad gets hives if someone so much as brings it into the same room.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGotcha. Uh, silver?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt burns. It\u2019s one of the reasons I can\u2019t do alchemy full-time. And it makes me itch if there\u2019s too much of it around.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWood stakes? Through the heart?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre paused and gave Ryoka a look.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you<\/em> survive a stake through the heart?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPoint.\u201d<\/p>\n The girl shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t heal if something\u2019s stuck in our bodies. I suppose that\u2019s why. Yes, wood hurts. Silver\u2019s still worse.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow about crosses? Holy water?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoly what? And why would a cross bother me? Is that some kind of weapon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmm. Never mind.\u201d<\/p>\n That was interesting. Maybe there was a faith component involved. Ryoka didn\u2019t doubt it. She continued down her list.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you\u2026turn into a bat? Mist? And how about entering places uninvited? Crossing streams of water?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre shifted uncomfortably and shaded her face with one gloved hand. She already looked slightly tan as the sun rose higher.<\/p>\n \u201cMist\u2026maybe Bamer would know if that\u2019s possible. He\u2019s the oldest vampire I know. I\u2019ll ask him next time I go back home. As for the rest\u2026I don\u2019t like doing it, but I can. How do you know so much about vampires?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStories.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes your country have an obsession with us or something? Because mother\u2019s bad enough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, believe me. If you met some people\u2026you wouldn\u2019t even have to charm them. They\u2019d be begging you to bite them and pull them into your boudoir. You have one of those, right? And they\u2019d expect you to talk like this. With ve accent, you undershzand? Zuh clazzic mark of zhe vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHahaha! Stop that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVhat? Vhy are you svo angry? I\u2019m just\u2014hey!\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre suddenly grabbed Ryoka in a headlock. Ryoka wasn\u2019t expecting that and was too slow to pull away. She couldn\u2019t. Fierre was shorter and slimmer\u2014but she was strong.<\/p>\n \u201cGah! Get off!\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka punched Fierre in the side. The vampire didn\u2019t so much as budge. Ryoka didn\u2019t want to hit her that hard\u2014and then she remembered. Vampire. So she drew back, belted Fierre in the side\u2014and nothing happened. Ryoka blinked and then tried to sweep Fierre\u2019s legs. The girl staggered, and it was Ryoka who fell down.<\/p>\n \u201cOops. Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre bent and helped Ryoka up. The Runner girl stared at Fierre.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was embarrassing.\u201d<\/p>\n Another shared grin. Ryoka rubbed at her neck.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a lot more physical than I thought you\u2019d be. You\u2019re so reserved.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I have to be. But I\u2019m not, so cut out with that stupid accent. I grew up with a lot of brothers, so I\u2019m used to fights. Vampire fights.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka imagined what rough housing would be like with a vampire\u2019s strength. No wonder the Drakles lived in a stone keep.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many brothers do you have? Rivel\u2019s one of them, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. He\u2019s the only one who stays at home. The others\u2026well, I have one who moved away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s two. Not exactly a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka grinned. Fierre\u2019s face fell.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014had a lot of brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fine. It was a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n But it wasn\u2019t fine. The two began walking now. Ryoka could see Reizmelt in the distance. But she was looking at Fierre. This was the heart of it. After a while, Fierre spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cYou noticed my mother\u2019s rash, right? On her right arm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did. Like I said, I didn\u2019t know vampires could get sick. That\u2019s why I had my doubts you were one at first. I thought you were acting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. We get sick. Miss Kelysta\u2019s always giving me free potions because of it. They help, they really do. But it costs a lot, so even though we make a lot, it goes to potions. Expensive ones, sometimes. Mother\u2019s not the only one. Bamer\u2019s sick most of the time, but it\u2019s not often bad. But my father\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI noticed his neck. I thought he was born like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre breathed in and out slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. The neck and other things happen to vampires as they grow older. It gets worse with time. It\u2019s\u2026a thing that happens. Bamer calls it a curse. The neck, the swelling\u2014that happens. Not just to vampires, but that started about six years back for Dad. We just get sick more easily, that\u2019s all. Mom\u2019s had that rash for ages, Rivel\u2019s healthy, but he used to get terrible fevers. Bamer\u2019s coughed all his life. I got sick last month.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it hasn\u2019t cleared up?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not as bad as some illnesses. I just\u2026shiver sometimes. And cough. I\u2019m healthy, mostly. But vampires don\u2019t live long.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause of the sickness?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always something. Something gets you. A bad illness. Or\u2014or something goes wrong and they start going mad. Sometimes it\u2019s like Bamer and you just get\u2026weaker. But that\u2019s the price of being a vampire, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre looked back at Ryoka. The young woman bit her lip.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the children get sick?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot at first. It gets worse over time. But we do get sick more often. More and more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see. Tell me one thing. Was it always like this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot in the past. That\u2019s what Bamer says. But centuries ago it started. He thinks the Byres family cursed us after we went into hiding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter you stopped preying on people and started drinking animal blood.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka bit her lip. But she said nothing because it was just a suspicion. But a big one. Fierre walked on in silence. After a while, they began to chat again and pretended that the last conversation hadn\u2019t happened.<\/p>\n And they reached Reizmelt at midday.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYour face is tanned.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShh. Don\u2019t draw attention to it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr your shad\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka yelped as an elbow struck her in the side. She pushed her way into the Huntress\u2019 Haven, Fierre at her side. The inn was still open, but it was, as usual, completely des\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cThere she is!\u201d<\/p>\n Both girls froze. A group of five adventurers were sitting inside the inn, talking with Mad Madain. And a large dog was sitting at their feet, licking a plate clean. It got to its feet as the adventurers turned. Ryoka recognized them at once.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Wind Runner!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re back. Had a nice night out?\u201d<\/p>\n Madain gave Ryoka a leering grin. Then he looked at Fierre with a frown, clearly not sure if that applied to her. She waved.<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Madain. I\u2019m going up to my room. I\u2019ve got to get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n She edged quickly towards the stairs, clearly nervous of the dog. It was sniffing at her and looking wary. None of the Humans noticed. One of them with fiery tattoos running down his arms strode over.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Ryoka Griffin?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. You\u2019re, uh\u2014the adventurers, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka was blanking on their names. She\u2019d just met them. It felt like yesterday. And it was. No, was it two days ago? They others all got to their feet. The [Mage] held out his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t know if we\u2019d meet you here. You were gone yesterday by the time we got back to the city. We wanted to thank you in person. We\u2019re so grateful for what you did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, there\u2019s no need\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Flustered, Ryoka shook her head. But the young man gripped her hand tightly. He met her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. Thank you. <\/em>I\u2019m Levil, Captain of the Pithfire Hounds. This is Keima, Tally, Bram, Ullica\u2014the dog\u2019s Makki. And you met Lamont. He\u2019d be here, but it\u2019ll be at least a week before he can walk, even with potions. But thanks to you, he\u2019s alive. Without you, none of us would be here.\u201d<\/p>\n He indicated his team, who came forwards. Ryoka saw another [Mage], Ullica; Keima, a woman with an axe; Tally, who had a bow; and Bram, who kept the dog from jumping on Ryoka. They all insisted on thanking her to her face and shaking her hand. Red with embarrassment, Ryoka tried to downplay what had happened. Which only made things worse.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you hadn\u2019t come along\u2014we already lost Dassa. We\u2019d given up hope anyone would come.\u201d<\/p>\n Tally was red-eyed as she hugged Ryoka. Levil gently pried her off. He met Ryoka\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe owe you large for doing what you did. Not just for the potions\u2014if you hadn\u2019t blasted the frogs with sand, we might have lost either way. We\u2019d like to pay you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, really, you don\u2019t have to. I mean, you already paid me. And it was a lot. The Runner\u2019s Guild gave me the reward for helping with your friend. I can\u2019t ask for more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure? We\u2019ve got the bounty on the Wailer Frogs. Look, we could give you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka stopped Levil.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, no. I did my job. I was happy to do it. I\u2019m\u2014I\u2019ve got friends who\u2019re adventurers. I know what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n The Pithfire Hounds looked intrigued.<\/p>\n \u201cReally? Anyone we know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh, they\u2019re a Silver-ranked team. The Horns of Hammerad. They work down in Celum mainly.\u201d<\/p>\n Levil turned and looked at his companions. The others shrugged. Bram frowned, and so did Madain, who was clearly eavesdropping as he cleaned a table, but no one spoke up. Levil shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cHorns of Hammerad? Never heard of them I\u2019m afraid. They\u2019re Silver-rank, right? Ah, right. Well, we\u2019re as common as rats I\u2019m afraid. But we\u2019ll spread your name to the other teams. It\u2019s\u2026reassuring to know there\u2019s at least one Runner who\u2019ll answer emergency calls.\u201d<\/p>\n The look he gave her was questioning. Ryoka nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAnytime. Anywhere. I can\u2019t promise I\u2019ll be in the area, but if I get the request, I\u2019ll answer it.\u201d<\/p>\n Levil smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks. Now, can we buy you a drink? We\u2019d love to talk if you\u2019re not busy\u2026? And I\u2019m dying to know how you cast that wind spell. I\u2019m a [Pyromancer], by the way. That\u2019s our party. Fire and dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka hesitated. But she knew there was the right thing to do and the anti-social thing. So she nodded and took a seat. And to her surprise, she enjoyed herself. The Pithfire Hounds were down-to-earth, good adventurers who didn\u2019t truck about with dungeons, complex missions, or traps. They hunted down their prey, smoked it out, and killed it. It was a good job\u2014unless you ran into a monster group you weren\u2019t prepared for, like Wailer Frogs.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had no idea they were in the area. They were way further south of the marshes than they should have been. Damn things. If I\u2019d known they were there, I would have flooded the caves with smoke. But we went back this morning and destroyed their nest. Still, this was not<\/em> worth the job with Lamont out.\u201d<\/p>\n Levil sighed. He seemed cheerful, for all his friend had multiple broken bones. Lamont was alive when all was said and done. The Pithfire Hounds were most torn up about their dog, Dassa, who\u2019d been killed by one of the frogs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so dangerous. Adventurers die too, but dogs\u2014we try to keep them out of the fighting if it looks bad, but Dassa charged right in. Saved us from getting swarmed in the first few moments.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka listened to the others talk. She shared a drink, two, and then the Pithfire Hounds decided they\u2019d taken up enough of her time. They excused themselves, stopping again to shake her hand.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you need anything\u2014call on us. We\u2019ll be about Reizmelt, and not just to check on Lamont. We\u2019re based around here. We\u2019ll see you again, Miss Wind Runner?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDefinitely.\u201d<\/p>\n It was easy to smile as she met Levil\u2019s hot handshake. The [Mage] had unusually warm hands, even when he wasn\u2019t casting spells. He nodded at her, and the party followed him out. Ryoka sighed, looked over, and saw Madain staring at her. He raised a key in one big hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m locking up for the day.\u201d<\/p>\n To his credit, he hadn\u2019t pushed the Pithfire Hounds to leave, and he\u2019d refrained from adding more than a few comments about himself through their talk with Ryoka. But he was clearly ready to go hunting. Ryoka hesitated. Fierre had already left, being too nervous to stay and chat with the adventurers. But Ryoka was too tired to find her.<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Can I sleep inside? I\u2019ll hop out a window if I need to.\u201d<\/p>\n Madain hesitated. He eyed Ryoka and seemed on the verge of refusing. Then he grunted.<\/p>\n \u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n He stomped over to the door. He paused with his hand on the doorframe as he yanked it open and looked back.<\/p>\n \u201cGood work, by the way. Wailer Frogs suck.\u201d<\/p>\n Then he shut the door. Ryoka heard him lock it. She grinned wearily, walked upstairs, and passed out.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In the afternoon, a Street Runner woke Ryoka up. He threw rocks at the Ryoka\u2019s closed shutters and shouted at her until she opened them.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Madain catches you scratching his inn, he\u2019ll cut you. And I\u2019ll let him. What do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n She growled down at the Street Runner. It was the same boy who\u2019d gotten her for the Pithfire Hounds. He grinned up at her, completely unabashed. Ryoka realized she was wearing only her bra. She eyed the boy, but didn\u2019t close the shutters.<\/p>\n \u201cSpit it out or I\u2019ll jump down there and poke you in the eyes. What\u2019s your message?\u201d<\/p>\n The Runner nodded. He cleared his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Griffin? Mister Prall wants you to know your order\u2019s ready. He wants you to pick it up today. And you\u2019ve got a package waiting for you at the Runner\u2019s Guild. They won\u2019t let us<\/em> handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n He scowled, put out. Ryoka rubbed her face. Prall\u2019s order? Oh, right! And something at the Runner\u2019s Guild? A delivery for her. And by \u2018us\u2019, the boy meant Street Runners. Which meant the package had to be worth something. Ryoka\u2019s heart began to beat faster. Was this\u2026?<\/p>\n \u201cWait one second. I\u2019ll be down in\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka reached for a shirt. And pants. She came out the window a minute later, her clothing rumpled. The Street Runner looked up as the wind slammed the shutters closed. He whistled. Ryoka rubbed at her eyes. She could have used more sleep, but on the other hand, she\u2019d sleep well tonight.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks. Uh\u2014here.\u201d<\/p>\n She fished in her belt pouch and handed the Street Runner a tip. A few copper coins. The Street Runner grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Miss Wind Runner! Say, do you think I could get a Skill like yours?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh\u2014well, it\u2019s a rare Skill. And you need\u2026a magical class to get it. I\u2019ve got a rare variation of my class.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, magic, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked disappointed. Then shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cSee you later, Miss!\u201d<\/p>\n With that, he took off. Street Runners were always delivering messages for coppers. Ryoka was glad she hadn\u2019t had to start at that level. She sighed, tried to untangle a bit of knotted hair, and got to work.<\/p>\n Her first stop was Mister Prall. He was a [Blacksmith] of Reizmelt. One of them. Blacksmithing was a good job, especially in cities. Adventurers ran through edged weapons fast, and there was always work making pots, utensils, repairing stuff, and so on. So even a low-level [Blacksmith] could find steady work.<\/p>\n That made hiring one expensive. But when Ryoka had first come to Reizmelt, she\u2019d had Teriarch\u2019s money. And while she\u2019d spent some of it on protective charms, alchemist gear, potions, and so on, the majority of it had gone to two projects. The less expensive one by far had been Prall, and even that had cost a fair bit.<\/p>\n The [Blacksmith] was waiting when Ryoka jogged up. He had three barrels full of her goods, and he looked tired. Ryoka didn\u2019t blame him. One look in the barrel told her he and his four apprentices had been hard at work. It was filled to the brim with her order. Prall took care not to touch his goods as he accepted the other half of his payment from Ryoka, counting the gold pieces. He nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThirty-six\u2026thirty-seven. That\u2019s it, alright. Thanks, Miss Griffin. I\u2019d not charge so much for this much work, but I have to say it\u2019s earned. I\u2019m sick of working iron, and if I have to forge one more of these things\u2014bah. It\u2019s done, and as fast as you wanted. Do you want to count to make sure it\u2019s all there?\u201d<\/p>\n One look told Ryoka that he\u2019d toss one of the sharp objects at her if she said yes. Ryoka shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine. Thanks so much for doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n Prall just shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, your coin\u2019s good so don\u2019t worry. I\u2019m just tired. And figuring out the design was interesting. As for the forging\u2026it\u2019s the kind of work I\u2019d leave to my apprentices, honestly. If you want more, I\u2019ll have one of them do the rest. But this will do. How do you want to carry it off? You can have the barrels for what I\u2019m charging you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo need. I\u2019ve got a bag of holding. Uh, but I might need to borrow a glove?\u201d<\/p>\n Silently, Prall found one for her. He even helped shovel the sharp iron objects into the bag of holding as Ryoka held it open. He was more impressed by that than Ryoka\u2019s gold.<\/p>\n \u201cIt must be a good bag of holding. Cheap ones don\u2019t let you grab things at will. And really cheap ones you have to reach into. You sure it can hold all this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDefinitely. And\u2014yup, I can grab what I need just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka pulled out some crumbly dirt. Prall eyed it.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have odd things in that bag of holding. Then again\u2026I heard about the Pithfire Hounds. Nice work, Miss Runner. You planning on using these the same way?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka blushed. Had everyone heard the story?<\/p>\n \u201cNot in the same way. But they\u2019ll definitely stop anyone from catching me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo doubt about that.\u201d<\/p>\n Prall nodded. He looked at the barrel and how much they had left to shovel into the bag of holding and turned and roared for his apprentices. He let the three of them fill the bag as he and Ryoka relaxed.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019ll be adventurers who might want to use that. Mind me selling them, or is this a secret? Because if it is\u2014it\u2019ll cost you.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Blacksmith] was a practical man. He offered to keep the design secret for a fee. Ryoka mulled it over and shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s easily copyable. And it\u2019s not like I can pick up every one. In fact\u2026damn, I\u2019d better make sure I don\u2019t leave these around, shouldn\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnless you want every traveller and Runner on the road to kill you, I would.\u201d<\/p>\n Prall nodded. So did one of his apprentices, who\u2019d stepped on one of the objects by mistake. Ryoka shook her head. Another invention to add to the list of things she\u2019d brought to this world. But as far as deadly weapons of war went\u2026this was dangerous, but not as bad as trebuchets. And she needed these. Any edge to keep her alive.<\/p>\n Secret weapons in place, Ryoka bade farewell to Prall. She then headed straight for the Runner\u2019s Guild with a great deal more anticipation.<\/p>\n Heads turned when Ryoka entered the guild. A murmur sprang up. Ryoka slowed as she looked around. City Runners and Street Runners eyed her. It was a familiar scene. She\u2019d experienced it in Celum and the Runner\u2019s Guilds around there. But this time it didn\u2019t feel\u2026as bad.<\/p>\n \u201cWind Runner! Good job with the adventurers!\u201d<\/p>\n A Runner called out. Ryoka had no idea what her name was, but she waved back.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks! I just got lucky, though!\u201d<\/p>\n Some of the other Runners came up to say hi. For the first time, Ryoka introduced herself and caught a few names. Mintal, Caawl, Oberfex\u2014she smiled and said hi. It was something she\u2019d never done before. And that was enough.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Ryoka? We\u2019ve got a package for you. Given that you work here, I thought you\u2019d be back soon enough to let it wait.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Receptionist] at the desk smiled at Ryoka. The Runner smiled back. She hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cUm\u2026it\u2019s\u2026Alime, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n Alime smiled at Ryoka. She handed the Asian girl a small box. It was neatly sealed and smelled of sandalwood. There was no need for a covering; it had been sealed without a lock until Ryoka touched it. Then it sprang open. A Runner sighed enviously, and Ryoka stared into the box. She blinked. Her mind went white for a second, and then she slowly reached down and lifted something out.<\/p>\n The Runners and [Receptionist] who were sneaking peeks at Ryoka didn\u2019t see what she picked up. Whatever it was, it was small enough to hide in her hand and be transferred to the bag of holding. But they had no doubt that it was a magical good. The box alone said that plain and clear. A Runner\u2019s trinket of some kind. Ryoka said nothing. She blinked a few times and then saw something else in the box. A hand-written note. The writing was neat and plain.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n To Miss Ryoka Griffin. Your product, as ordered. The challenge was mostly in keeping to the design, but I enjoyed the commission nonetheless. Please refrain from sending a return message unless you have more business for me.<\/em><\/p>\n -Hedault, [Enchanter]. Invrisil.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ryoka read the message twice, then put the note in the box. Both were useless now, but she tossed them in the bag of holding to find a place to dispose of them later. She\u2019d probably burn the note. Just to be safe. The [Receptionist] smiled at her.<\/p>\n \u201cAnything else?\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman looked up. She felt her hand tingling. Felt a jolt of adrenaline, almost like pain, run through her stomach. Her exhaustion was gone. Outside, the wind had gone still. She reached into her bag of holding with one hand and found the object. She gripped it and nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I\u2019d like to request something. I\u2019m a City Runner. But I\u2019d like to be included in Courier listings.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Receptionist] blinked. The other Runners who\u2019d heard turned around.<\/p>\n Courier listings. That meant that Ryoka would be included on a list of anyone willing to take Courier-level requests. She could be asked to deliver something by name, even if she wasn\u2019t allowed to take Courier-only deliveries. The [Receptionist] wavered.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026I\u2019ll amend the list and inform the other Runner\u2019s Guilds. A change will be put out at the end of the day. Is that what you would like, Miss Ryoka?\u201d<\/p>\n Are you sure?<\/em> But she didn\u2019t ask that. Ryoka nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI would. Thank you. And I\u2019ll take whatever delivery you have right now. Farthest\u2014or hardest.\u201d<\/p>\n She was vibrating. Her right hand was clenched so tightly that Hedault\u2019s creation was digging into her palm, threatening to draw blood. The Runners were watching her. The [Receptionist] looked through her notes. She paused.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do have something. All the way to Baepr. But it\u2019s quite, quite\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure? This one has a counter-bounty on it. The Silversmithers do not want this delivery to reach the Mage\u2019s Guild, and they\u2019ve put a bounty on it. There may be [Bandits] as well as other groups\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do it. Please, give me the package.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Receptionist] was about to protest, but she met Ryoka\u2019s eyes. Slowly, she led Ryoka to the warded back room to collect the delivery that had arrived in Reizmelt by guarded caravan and nearly failed to get this far. Ryoka inhaled as she saw a bar of gold, not as perfect as the gold that lay in the gold reserves of other countries, but gold<\/em> nevertheless.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has to get to the Mage\u2019s Guild. Don\u2019t even bother stopping at the Runner\u2019s Guild. [Thieves] may try and take it. And there\u2019s a bounty\u2014a hundred gold to anyone who stops the delivery. And the gold bar. Are you certain?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPositive.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka lifted the gold bar. Or rather, she managed to lever it up enough to slide it into the bag of holding. The [Receptionist] nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cGo. Take the back door out. I\u2019ll stop all the Runners from leaving for ten minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n Just in case one of them leaked information that Ryoka had the delivery.<\/em> The girl nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n She walked out of the guild. The City Runners watched her go. One of them raised a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cGood luck.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n She was very still in the street for a moment. Then she slowly breathed in and out. The [Receptionist] and the other Runners watched her.<\/p>\n At this moment, Ryoka could outrun anything or anyone in the world. She looked down again at the thing Hedault had wrought, and the air was still around her. Ryoka began running, a jog at first. And then faster. Faster.<\/p>\n She ran. Out of the city, through the gates, down the road. And her mind was calm. Blank. Ryoka ran. It didn\u2019t matter how far. Baepr was hours away. The sun was beginning to set in the sky. But Ryoka ran. Faster and faster. And her hand was closed on the cold thing in her hand.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The [Bandits] found her on the road, two hours to Baepr. They must have scrambled to get into position because they burst out of hiding from a distant hill. Men and women with bows and three horsemen. A [Mage] too.<\/p>\n There weren\u2019t many people on the road where they set their ambush. At the sight of the [Bandits], the people immediately took cover. A caravan guard spread out to block the wagon. But the [Bandits] were aimed only at Ryoka. She looked at them and slowed.<\/p>\n Strange. The lead rider wavered as he saw Ryoka Griffin stop. She was the Wind Runner, wasn\u2019t she? But the wind was unnaturally still right now. And she\u2019d stopped. He was aiming for her with a lance. But she didn\u2019t even look at him or the horse he was riding. She was staring down at something in her hand.<\/p>\n Ryoka looked down at the thing she\u2019d commissioned from Hedault. It shone as she held it up to the light. Cold. Beautiful. Blue. She looked at it, and her heart beat painfully in her chest.<\/p>\n Shimmering ice. Ever frozen, magical ice carved into a shape. A flying little faerie, a statue. Carved and enchanted. Caught forever mid-smile, mid-laugh. It froze Ryoka\u2019s skin. It burned and chilled to the touch.<\/em><\/p>\n The wind rose. Ryoka looked at Ivolethe, at the figurine, and then she looked at the [Bandit Leader]. He saw her smile.<\/p>\n The wind blew. Dust rose from the bag of holding at Ryoka\u2019s side. The [Bandit] cursed and rode at her. A gale whipped up, throwing dust in his eyes. His horse reared and turned. He cursed again. And Ryoka Griffin ran.<\/p>\n \u201cShoot her!\u201d<\/p>\n The [Archers] were racing forwards. They took aim and loosed with their short bows. But the wind caught the arrows and sent them flying astray. The [Mage] raised a hand and pointed.<\/p>\n \u201c[Sleep].\u201d<\/p>\n Nothing happened. A charm at Ryoka\u2019s side flashed brightly. The [Mage] cursed and pointed.<\/p>\n \u201c[Stone Dar\u2014]\u201d<\/p>\n He hacked and coughed as the dust storm blasted him. The [Bandits] shielded their faces, swearing. The [Bandit Leader] pointed at Ryoka desperately.<\/p>\n \u201cRide her down!\u201d<\/p>\n He and two others rode after Ryoka. She was running fast. So fast that even on horseback they gained slowly. But they did gain on her. Pace by pace. She looked back once, twice. The [Bandit Leader] leveled his lance. He saw Ryoka reach into her bag of holding and braced. But she didn\u2019t hurl an alchemist\u2019s weapon at him. Instead, she began spilling something onto the ground behind her. Metal flashed.<\/p>\n The [Bandit Leader]\u2019s eyes widened as she hurled one of the things at him. He dodged it and saw a metal mess of points fly past his face. And more were landing on the ground, sticking upright.<\/p>\n Caltrops.<\/em><\/p>\n The [Riders] saw the flash of metal and swerved out of the way instantly. Ryoka was relieved; she didn\u2019t want to harm the horses. But it was for horses, carriages, and anything else chasing her that the caltrops were made. The [Bandits] swore as they dodged out of the way. The dust storm circled back around Ryoka. It picked up<\/em> the iron caltrops, and then the [Bandits] began screaming.<\/p>\n They stopped following her after a minute. Ryoka kept running. She ran faster and faster as the wind dropped the dust and caltrops. She\u2019d have to tell the Runner\u2019s Guild about the hazard. Or maybe\u2014<\/p>\n The wind blew harder. The caltrops funneled back towards Ryoka. Then dropped. Not yet. She didn\u2019t dare go back for them, so she left them and shouted a warning at the first traveller she found. And she ran on. When she tired, when her lungs burned or the wind slackened, she just had to look down at the image of Ivolethe and feel the biting cold. That was enough.<\/p>\n It wouldn\u2019t be, later. But in this moment, now, it was enough. The wind howled around Ryoka. Hedault had captured Ivolethe perfectly. It had cost a small fortune, all Ryoka had, to commission the piece out of Everfrozen Ice. In truth, Hedault had probably done it to her as a favor. It didn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n It was enough.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n That night, Fierre was sitting alone in the Huntress\u2019 Haven. She was eating the wing of the bird Madain had caught, pretending to enjoy it while really just focusing on the yet uncooked part of the meat. She wiped her running nose on her sleeve, coughed, and looked up.<\/p>\n The door had opened. A Runner limped into the room. She was sweaty, dirty, half-dead. But triumphant. She walked over to the kitchen and served herself. Another Madain efficiency. Then she came over and sat down at Fierre\u2019s table.<\/p>\n \u201cHi.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t think you\u2019d be back today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to keep running.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka coughed. Fierre silently poured her a cup from the pitcher of water. Ryoka drank, let Fierre fill her cup, and drank again. She coughed and then spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cIt took me a while to get back. I did the delivery, but I had to hide out for a bit. Usually, no one holds a grudge for a delivery, but [Bandits] are a different matter. The adventurers who went after them didn\u2019t find the group. And I had to pick up some, uh, pointy things.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI heard all that. And you got the delivery to the Mage\u2019s Guild in Baepr. Really quickly. It\u2019s all the buzz in, uh, the circles I talk to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka just smiled wearily. Fierre nodded. She looked at Ryoka. Fidgeted. And then she burst out.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s weird, having someone know your secret.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is. But you\u2019ll get over it. And it\u2019s not a bad thing, right?\u201d<\/p>\n The girl looked at Fierre. She smiled. She was tall. Her hair was black, but her skin was far from Fierre\u2019s perfect paleness. She was different. A Runner. Fierre hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cThis won\u2019t change things, you know. Business is business. I can\u2019t help you for free.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want you to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if people think I am helping you instead of other people\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Fierre. We\u2019re just\u2026friends.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFriends?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre savored the word, like an exotic treat. Ryoka nodded. The word was unfamiliar on her tongue as well.<\/p>\n \u201cFriends. I\u2019m just someone to talk to. And someone who can order you bloody steaks without it being suspicious.\u201d<\/p>\n The vampire snorted, and then she smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. And I\u2019ll be the one who tells you you\u2019re drooling a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka wiped her mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m hungry. And tired. And my feet hurt. And my legs.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre sniffed the air.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2019ve burst some blisters on your feet. You should heal those.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow who\u2019s drooling?\u201d<\/p>\n Laughter. And food. Ryoka ate ravenously. Fierre leaned back.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Friends. And I won\u2019t tip the scales for you. Much. But, uh, you should know that there\u2019s some attention on you.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are <\/em>the Wind Runner. And people are hearing your name. Thanks to the little kids.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle, mud-throwing monsters.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka leaned back and groaned, wondering if she could use the wind to conjure more food rather than have to get up and grab it herself. Fierre nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe, but you owe them. Because of that, people are looking into your past. And you\u2019re\u2026slightly noticeable. You know what I found out?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell me.\u201d<\/p>\n The vampire girl closed her eyes and recited from memory.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka Griffin. Possible connection with Magnolia Reinhart, inquired after by a Wall Lord of Salazsar, destroyed a Runner\u2019s Guild in Celum\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat wasn\u2019t my fault. And I didn\u2019t destroy the guild. It just got, uh, snowed in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026short career. Surprisingly short, but you earned a City Runner\u2019s level from merit alone. And you completed a delivery to the High Passes. However\u2026around here, you are an unknown City Runner, and your speed and defensive rating is way below most Couriers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka sighed. Fierre raised one finger.<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2026<\/em>you\u2019re reliable, you have a reputation as being honest, and you do have a title. And between you and me? After this job, you might be getting more offers directly. People who\u2019re willing to take a risk will go to you. It\u2019s dangerous, but that\u2019s how City Runners become Couriers.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka opened one eye.<\/p>\n \u201cSounds like I\u2019m a Runner you should get to know, then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre gave her a toothy grin. No one was watching. Ryoka smiled as well. Then she suddenly frowned as if she\u2019d had a thought.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, you\u2019re\u2026connected, right? You don\u2019t just deal in Runner\u2019s information. Could I hire you to find something for me?\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre raised one eyebrow.<\/p>\n \u201cMoney can get you anything. A lot of trouble if you ask the wrong questions. But go on.\u201d<\/p>\n The Runner hunted around. She found her money pouch and pulled out some of her day\u2019s earnings. Fierre blinked as Ryoka offered her ten gold coins.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s this for finding someone? Or a group of people?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou must want them pretty badly. This will do. I might have to get more, but I\u2019ll take this on faith. I\u2019ll need names and descriptions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re all heart. I don\u2019t have descriptions. I do have names. Three of them, although there are more. It\u2019s a group of kids. My age or younger. Possibly working as adventurers. Rose. Imani. Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre hunted for a bit of parchment, then decided to give up and memorize everything. She tapped a finger on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not enough to go on.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll find them somewhere in Magnolia Reinhart\u2019s estates, or at least under the protection of her people. That should narrow it down.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre paused.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026Magnolia Reinhart\u2019s strictly off-limits for a lot of things. You know that, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight. Don\u2019t worry though. You won\u2019t get in trouble for asking.\u201d<\/p>\n That was probably true. Fierre mulled it over. She looked at Ryoka. Friend. She didn\u2019t know if she could trust Ryoka entirely, to be honest. She\u2019d met her, abducted her, and they\u2019d talked. But Fierre liked the girl. So she took a risk.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. I\u2019ll ask about. Now tell me, what was that run like? And what did you get from Invrisil?\u201d<\/p>\n She saw the young woman grin. And though Fierre didn\u2019t know where Ryoka was from no matter how much she\u2019d offered for the information, though she\u2019d been unable to find more about this girl who was a ghost who\u2019d appeared last year, she thought she could trust her. So Fierre hoped. Hoped\u2026she\u2019d made a friend.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n My feet hurt. I\u2019m Ryoka Griffin. I sit in Mad Madain\u2019s inn, listening to him drink and talk with his few customers. At another table, Alber is eating silently. Maybe he\u2019s wondering how Fierre and I suddenly became friends. I\u2019m a bit hazy on that myself.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know if I can trust her. I don\u2019t know if what I\u2019m doing is wise. I don\u2019t know\u2014but I do know one thing.<\/p>\n It\u2019s in my belt pouch. I reach for it as I tell Fierre about the run, drinking from my water glass. I should get more of that chicken or whatever it was that Madain shot. My feet hurt. And my legs. But I can feel it. Smooth as glass. Cold. But so familiar.<\/p>\n Oh, Ivolethe. I\u2019m so sorry. And thank you.<\/p>\n I clutch the little icy figurine, cold as pain. But there\u2019s less sadness in me. Truly. There\u2019s so much to do. So much. A world of possibilities.<\/p>\n Rose. Imani. Joseph. If Fierre can find them, all the better. They may still be at Magnolia\u2019s mansion, but I\u2019ll bet they\u2019re gone. I have something I need from them, and they might need something from me. Will Magnolia object?<\/p>\n The wind. I\u2019m thinking of hang gliders, wing suits, even parasails now. The icy figurine hurts. And it\u2019s so familiar I want to cry.<\/p>\n My new friend might have AIDS. Vampires exist, and they\u2019re dying. Disease and rot and sunscreen.<\/p>\n I want to see Teriarch again. And this time talk to him like a person.<\/p>\n Someday, I will run like the wind. But not today. Today, a girl who might be my friend is grousing about alchemists and silver powder. She pauses to cough now and then. And she\u2019s looking at me. Uncertainly. And I think\u2014her face is a reflection of my own.<\/p>\n So I smile. And I sit back in my seat. The spring air is cool. And a breeze blows into the inn, carrying the smells of a new year with it. I relax. Today was a good day. But tomorrow awaits, and the day after that. I have time.<\/p>\n We\u2019re only just getting started.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ryoka had no experience with kidnapping. Which was a fair statement to make. It was weird to think of anyone as being experienced with being kidnapped. She vaguely felt like there was a class she could have taken, though, or a few tips she could have memorized from some online self-help article. After all, it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693086,349],"tags":[],"twi_volume":[11693135],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-5830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-6","category-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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