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 | | From: | Robin Banco | | Subject: | Mage in A Minor - 24/ Predator [added bits] | | Date: | Mon, 03 Jan 2005 02:22:13 GMT |
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 | "She seems as kind as she is pretty," said Robin cautiously. He had noticed
her last night before flirting with the kitchen maid but had not approached
her. Now that he knew she was a vampire's girl, he was just as happy he
hadn't. "I don't suppose her kind nature has allowed her to think that the
boy might not have any skills her father could use. Or that he might have
chosen his... um... occupation."
From his height, the vampire looked down on the bard as he replied,
"Certain types of people like to believe that there is good in
everyone." His smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Sometimes they are
wrong and others must clean up the mess."
Ajali turned his cold gaze on the little dragon who watched proceedings
with more than a passing interest. "Your creature appears to be
following the conversation." He started to extend one long-nailed
finger towards it, but then thought better of his action. "Where did you
get it?"
:I'm a mail-order bride,: said Figment sarcastically, bridling at the tone.
Robin caught a snort of laughter, managed to turn it into a cough. "My name
is Bard Robin, that's Figment. We're just heading over there for a cup of
tea if you'd like to join us." He looked around for Astarte, didn't see her,
but was sure she wasn't far.
Struggling to keep the surprise from his voice, Ajali stared at Figment,
"It speaks? That is unusual." He nodded to Robin, "I'd be pleased to
have some tea. Anything to keep warm. This place is very cold."
The silk of his trousers clung to his legs from the puddles and snow
melt he'd walked through. The only dry part of him was what was under
the coat. Even his blond hair was damp. He was not even half as pale
as Lycari was, but an aura of death and pain hung about him so thickly
that it could almost be seen. If evil could be beautiful, this man was
its poster child.
Robin led the way over to the stall selling hot tea and cider trying to keep
the skin on his back from shivering at the man's aura. Figment pattered
along behind them, grumbling half-audibly about :... not an _it_ anymore
than a bloody vampire's an _it_! No manners...: When they reached the stall,
Robin ordered and paid for his tea and a large mulled cider for the vampire.
Figment jumped up on the table and helped himself to some of Robin's tea.
"I saw your party at the Dragon's Inn last night," said Robin casually.
"Have you come to town specially for the winter Celebration?" And if they
had, why hadn't the man had sense enough to wear warm clothes? Robin himself
was in heavy wool trousers, velvet shirt and fur boots with a heavy wool
cloak to go over it all and _he_ was still chilly. "If you need winter
materials, I know of an excellent cloth merchant who can fit you out
properly."
"I saw your party at the Dragon's Inn last night," said Robin casually.
"Have you come to town specially for the winter Celebration?" And if they
had, why hadn't the man had sense enough to wear warm clothes? Robin himself
was in heavy wool trousers, velvet shirt and fur boots with a heavy wool
cloak to go over it all and _he_ was still chilly. "If you need winter
materials, I know of an excellent cloth merchant who can fit you out
properly."
Astarte appeared out of the crowd and bought herself a mug of tea also.
Without bothering to be subtle, she insinuated herself between Robin and the
vampire. Her expression indicated that she didn't entirely approve of
Robin's choice in drinking companion.
"If you haven't lodgings yet," she said, "the Oak Inn has nice rooms."
Ajali wrapped his hands around the mug of cider and gave Robin a
thankful smile, showing no fangs at all. He watched the bubbles float
at the top of the cider and spoke. "Thank you. This will help keep the
chill away, at least for a while."
Figment's little forked tongue flick in and out of Robin's tea and Ajali
arched one eyebrow while he viewed this prodigy; a small talking dragon
drinking tea. Suddenly realizing that a question had been asked, he
replied, "I have no party. Rather I didn't until Carelya found me."
Pale blue eyes turned to Robin and the bard could see tiny red flecks in
the vampire's irises. "I have only just arrived from the south." With
some embarrassment in his voice, his free hand slapped at the smooth
silk of his trousers. "I had no idea that the north was so --- um,
polar."
Ajali had to look down on the bard, since even seated he overtopped him
by quite a few inches, and his tone was flat and low. "You have no idea
what I'll have to do to keep warm in this climate. I'd run to the
nearest cloth merchant if I only had money to exchange that was of any
worth up here."
He parked the mug on the table close to Figment and leaned to one side
as he fished around in his pants' pocket. The motion brought him much
neared to Astarte as his long blond hair swayed and trailed onto the
tabletop, touching the elf's hand. He didn't smell of gore, not like
one would expect of a blood drinker.
Plunking a number of assorted coins down on the wooden table, Ajali then
poked them around to spread them out. "What are these worth here?"
Robin could spy a few very large golden coins, numerous silver ones and
a smattering of small gold discs with holes at their center. The
vampire waited expectantly, as though Robin was his expert on local
culture. If the bard hadn't known what the creature was, he might have
been flattered by such an aristocratic fellow's attention. However the
whole charade might have been just that; pretense clouded by a bit of
mind control. The bard was not subject to that sort of play though,
being a master of it himself.
"I'm not an expert, being fairly new here myself, but it looks like you have
enough to take a room and get some warm clothes," said Robin. "You'll need
them. From what I'm told it can get colder than it is." He thought about the
vampire's statements for a moment. "Maybe you should buy a cow or something
to drink from. Elves or humans will probably get you jailed."
:Or burned,: added Figment.
Ajali gave a half-hearted shrug, "I'm not one to attack people on the
street, not unless I'm forced to. Animal blood isn't as good for me as
human," his eyes slid to Astarte, "Or elf."
He picked up his mug and took another sip of cider, "Regular food is
nice, but it won't keep me alive --- or undead --- whatever you prefer.
I generally make it worth someone's while to feed me."
Carelya joined the trio at their table and gave Astarte the once over as she
sat down, "He is staying with us at the Dragon's Inn. Father has booked far
more rooms than we need. And," she said excitedly, "He has agreed to take
on the little thief. At least out on our ranch, there's not much to steal
and run away from. We're far from town and all of his needs will be taken
care of. I hope he learns a good trade while we have him."
In sitting where she did, Astarte placed herself well within Ajali's reach
and the nearness of her neck was so very tempting. He visibly fought off
the urge to work his ways on her. Stoically he kept his eyes on the money
arranged on the table in front of him.
Carelya touched the large gold coins, "Where on earth did these come from?
They're huge and I think they're all gold! I've never seen their like
before."
"Sounds like your lady knows more about the local currency than I do." said
Robin. He turned to the girl. "Do you have any mind-readers on this ranch of
yours that might be able to communicate with the boy?" What he had gathered
from the thief's mind had seemed to indicate that the boy had been born and
brought up in the 'trade'. While he was still young enough to learn another,
would he be willing?
"We have a healer who is also a telepath," Carelya informed him, "We
needed someone who could do double duty since we are so far from
civilization. If the boy refuses to try, I'm sure Sheriff Sterling
would take him back, maybe he could help him here in town. I just
thought that getting him away from all this might help him start anew."
Robin caught a glimpse of the merchant who'd hired him looking his way and
nodding to the stage. "Excuse me, it's time for me to go back to work. I'll
be off again in a while." He gave them a grin. Their party had come in the
previous night after he'd finished for the evening. "Stick around, listen to
the music for a while." He downed the last of his tea and mounted the stage
again, picking up the luther.
Ajali settled back in his chair, one hand in his lap, the other clutching
his warm cider. When Robin began to play, the music curled around in the
air like a living thing. Before he could say a word, Carelya clinked some
of the coins together.
"If I didn't know better, I'd swear that these big ones were ancient zars
from the south," she touched the vampire's arm, "Do they still use these
where you hail from?"
"Not really," he answered, "That is why I still have them."
"Oh," she picked up a holed coin, "My tutor would love to see these."
"Take them," Ajali offered, "Take anything you wish."
Carelya gave him a surprised grunt, "But you need clothing."
He smiled condescendingly, "I can get more money."
"But these could be worth a fortune!"
The smile remained. Carelya pocketed only one coin.
"Thank you," she was stunned.
"No. Thank you for your help," Ajali replied.
"The best clothier in town is Batista Dyer," Carelya said, "We could go
there, perhaps tomorrow."
Nanny startled everyone else at the table but Ajali when she added her two
coins worth, "You're not thinking of taking that --," she flicked a finger
in Ajali's direction, "To see Miss Dyer, are you? You should be shed of .
him. as soon as you can and good riddance too."
Carelya rolled her eyes, "Nanny, stop it right now. My mind is made up."
Nanny muttered and amongst the growling could be discerned the phrases 'what
mind' and 'stop when I want to.' Carelya smiled despite herself.
Quickly Ajali stood up and pulled back his chair, "My dear lady, would you
care for a seat? Join us, since you are here anyway."
With a glare worthy of a basilisk, Nanny took the offered chair, avoiding
the vampire's hands as best she could. As he tucked her in at the table,
Ajali moved to stand behind Astarte, close enough to touch in the cramped
little makeshift room. Standing farther away would have put him much nearer
to another table and he really didn't want that. His jacket brushed the
back of Astarte's head as he lifted the mug to his lips.
:Mage!: Sim's mind voice broke into Lycari's pleasure.
He ignored her and continued what he was doing with the young lady on top of
him. When Sim's voice once again tapped him on the mental shoulder, he
frowned.
"What is it!" He spat.
The maid was startled, "My lord! What is what?"
Lycari gave the girl a contrite smile, "My horse wants me."
It was the girl's turn to frown and quickly he added, "Not in that way!"
She giggled at his discomposure and leaned down to kiss him.
"Ummm," was all he could say vocally, but in his mind he sent :What do you
want, Sim?:
:Marketplace. Brother-to-be.:
His attention only half on what she sent, Lycari returned, :They're all up
north. Go 'way.:
Sim's next sending held a distinct 'humphh,' but she said no more.
Lycari pulled his partner onto her side and, with low laughter, they
continued their lovemaking.
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