“We are almost there,” Losan said.

Vanaka didn’t turn her head to see if he noticed her nod. Her eyes were focused out the car window, and her mind fluttered between the green, hilly landscape and… everything.

The butchered bodies, strewn about like debris after an explosion, kept bobbing back up to the surface of her memory. Absurdly, her mind shifted to another comparison; the byra-trees she’d liked to walk among as a child. Their fruit, once ripe, detached and fell to the ground, splattering open so wildlife could eat the seeds. And now her brain was comparing those gory bodies to burst-open fruit.

Of course, the fruit hadn’t smelled of blood and loosed bowels.

Erine stroked her hand soothingly. Vanaka responded by putting her free hand on top of Erine’s and stroking back.

“It’s beautiful out here,” the ansoti said.

“It is,” Vanaka said. They weren’t even that far outside of the capital, and yet this was practically wilderness with a road. Bushes and small trees grew in abundance and natural rivers flowed freely. If one had to live apart from the rest of society, this was a good choice.

Losan steered the car into something of a valley, and an initial crest gave her a good view of the community. It was unremarkable-looking. They always were. Remarkableness drew attention. Just a bunch of houses, built according to Yvenna’s general aesthetic, and just barely numerous enough to be called a village.

It all vanished from view as the crest dipped, and Vanaka made an effort to collect herself.

“How do I look?” she asked.

“Physically…”

Erine tucked a strand of Vanaka’s hair in place.

“... you look fine. A little tired, but it’s fine. The rest is up to you.”

“I know. I know.”

They drove through a bit of a wooded area that obscured the view, before emerging into the community itself. Losan slowed the car down, which allowed her to take the place in. It consisted mostly of small clusters, or a single large building, surrounded by walls just high enough that one couldn’t see what went on inside. Between that and Yvenna’s ever-visible love of tended trees she only caught glimpses of the residents.

There was a communal parking area before the largest of the buildings, and that’s where Losan brought them to a stop.

“Right…” Vanaka said, partly to herself, but largely to trigger another sympathetic touch from Erine.

Losan shut off the engine, then checked the weapons on his hips.

“I know you don’t like it,” Vanaka said. “But I’m being firm on this: We leave weapons in the car.”

He let out a barely-audible grumble and put his stunner and batons in a lockbox. Vanaka looked at the capelet-wrapped sword. She’d flirted with the idea of wearing it on her own hip, using the planet’s love of swords as a cover. But however much she disliked letting it out of her reach at all, it wasn’t going to be stolen. Not here.

They stepped out of the car, Erine took her travelling bag, and they walked to the large house. She’d called ahead, so they were greeted at the gate by a middle-aged man with tan skin and bright eyes.

“Greetings,” he said in fluent Vylas, though Vanaka could tell he wasn’t a Vylak.

“Greetings,” she said back. “It is good to see you in the flesh.”

“Likewise. I am to bring you inside. Follow, please.”

Vanaka did follow him inside the wall, and felt the comfort of its cover wash over her. It was only at home that a Vylak could truly feel at ease. Behind walls a Vylak could be themselves, fangs and all, without fear of wider humanity.

The main house was separated from the surrounding wall by a rather stately garden, filled with trees, neatly cut bushes, and climbing plants on fittings set up for the purpose. Vanaka caught a glimpse of a man and a woman walking hand-in-hand in the distance. She instantly knew he was a Vylak and she was his ansoti, and that they were going somewhere private for a bite.

From another direction came the screeching laughter of young children at play. Vanaka reflected on how much she missed being around children. It all felt so much like home, and the pang of homesickness hit like rarely before. She missed the feel of family and community. She missed being able to feel safe. But their guide brought them to the main door, so that was it for introspection for now.

They entered a rather grand foyer that split into the three wings that made up the house. The guide took her up a flight of stairs into the central one. Vanaka heard distant conversation and saw two people walk by; a female baseline leading a young Vylak child by the hand. Vanaka shared a nostalgic look with Erine.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Past that they arrived at a lovely set of double doors. Their guide didn’t knock or make any sort of announcement; this was all prepared ahead of time, even if pointing that out was bad form.

Beyond was a lounge, and squarely in the middle of it, in a high-backed sofa, sat a stately woman in a blue dress. Her long hair had turned white and her facial features had taken on the full sharpness that characterised their people. Moreover, she simply possessed that impeccable poise that Vanaka had only ever seen in one group of people. Spread out on other, smaller sofas were four others: Two ansoti and two Vylak.

“Enter welcome, young one,” the woman said formally.

“I accept your invitation, Elder Misho,” Vanaka said in the same fashion.

With that out of the way, with the assurances of tradition in place, Vanaka stepped into the room, followed closely by her companions. The guide remained outside and closed the door after a polite dismissal by the mistress of the house. Vanaka moved to stand before Elder Misho and got a quick round of introductions to the other people in the room.

“And this is Vanaka Fan Umo of Eylo,” Misho said, as she examined Vanaka with her dark eyes.

Vanaka felt they’d surely been told about her already; aside from the earlier call she’d announced herself upon arriving planetside, and suspected this was typical elder showmanship. Especially given the hint of it in the woman’s voice.

“The youngling who wanders…” Misho went on, and tilted her head ever so slightly in a deliberate display of thought. “The righteous one. The reluctant warrior.”

Vanaka almost felt like taking it for mockery, but somehow the elder’s manner didn’t quite allow her to. It was probably safer to take it, as with so much with elders, as a test of some sort.

“I do not have much faith in people who self-describe as righteous,” she replied. “I am quite reluctant to be any kind of warrior, though.”

“Of course,” Misho said. “But if you continuously invite trouble for yourself you cannot always rely on others to do your fighting. No matter how capable.”

Misho looked at Losan.

“Three hundred years make one good at reading people. I can recognise a stolid warrior when I see one.”

She gave the man a polite little nod. Out of the corner of her eye Vanaka thought she saw her bodyguard nod back.

“But I waste precious time, do I not?” the elder went on. “Your call spoke of an emergency, and I can see it bubble just under your surface, begging to be aired.”

“A friend of mine is in mortal danger,” Vanaka said. “I wish to ask a favour of the clan of Stren.”

“I see,” Misho said. “That is certainly good cause to skip pleasantries. But I take it this friend is not kin. I trust you would have skipped tradition if that were the case. Or if they were your own ansoti.”

“She is neither,” Vanaka said. “Simply a friend. A very valued friend.”

“And you want my clan to get involved on her behalf?”

Vanaka shook her head.

“I know better than that. I simply want knowledge. I need to know where my friend is going. I know certain things about this place, but not its name or location. Your clan has lived here long. You know Yvenna’s culture and history. All I need from you is suggestions on locations that meet the description.”

“Well, that is a small thing,” the elder said.

Vanaka sensed something coming, beyond the short silence that followed.

“And then you will get involved. On our soil,” the woman said meaningfully.

The gulf between them was vast: Age, importance, and the fact that Vanaka was a guest asking a boon. She carefully stood her ground without seeming defiant.

“I will, Elder. I must. I cannot abandon a friend in danger.”

“That is, of course, righteous. Hmm.”

The woman gestured for her to approach.

“Give of yourself, young one.”

“Of course, Elder.”

Vanaka crossed the distance between them. She opened up her shirt collar as she went, then sat down in the elder’s lap. The woman gently rearranged Vanaka a bit, moved her hair out of the way, then wrapped her into a firm embrace. Vanaka allowed access to her neck, and the elder sank her fangs in.

The venom normally didn’t have much of an effect on kin, but Vanaka was young and Misho was old, and her venom was very potent. Vanaka felt the strength slowly fade from her body as the woman drank in small sips. She just closed her eyes and relaxed into it like a sleepy kitten. It was another strong reminder of the difference between them.

Misho finished soon enough. After a few seconds Vanaka felt recovered enough to stand up, but the elder held her in place. It drew her gaze to the woman’s eyes.

“Remember your caution, kin,” Misho said. “I am responsible for three communities here on Yvenna. So remember your caution.”

“I will, Elder Misho,” was the only correct response.

The woman released her, and held Vanaka’s hand for a moment until her balance made a full return.

“One other thing, Elder.”

“Yes?”

“I do not know what the coming days have in store for me. I ask that you allow Erine to stay with you in the meantime, where she will be safe.”

Misho looked at the ansoti. Erine bowed her head respectfully.

“Of course. You are raised in the fold?” Misho asked.

“I am, Elder,” Erine replied.

“Then I will not need to explain anything. You are welcome to stay with my clan until your mistress returns for you.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

“It is nothing at all.”

Misho looked back at Vanaka.

“I will expect the pleasure of a full and proper visit once all of this is over with.”

“It will be a pleasure, Elder.”

Vanaka rubbed the bite spot, smoothing away the last of the numbness. Misho hadn’t taken much, but she had still better grab a moment with Erine before leaving.

“Now, then,” the elder said. “Let us hear this description of yours.”