When she woke, it was early morning. For one moment, Vero wondered if everything had been a horrible dream.

Then she opened her eyes, and saw the body of the griffon that murdered Mama.

It’s your fault.

The Slayer was already awake. He handed her a loaf of bread with nuts and berries inside. “Here, eat. Probably starving, stupid girl.”

Vero did not feel hungry, but she began to munch the loaf slowly and soon discovered she was starving.

“We go back to the village soon. My leg is stiffer than- well, it hurts. I’ll need your shoulder.”

They did not go directly to the village, but instead went to the Baron’s motte and baily which overlooked it. The Baron met them in the hall. The Slayer fished the griffons severed paw out of his bag as proof of the kill.

The Baron already had a purse prepared, filled with Republican Ducats and Velian Crowns. “The crowns are all clipped, of course, but the gold should cover the balance.”

The Slayer put the purse away without counting the money and bowed. “More than generous, my Lord. The wizard?”

“Undergoing chastisement. I’ve sent a messenger to the high basilica in Vermillion, requesting an inquisition into possibly heterodox magical practices.”

“Very good.” Vero helped the Slayer stumble his way onto a bench.

“Your leg, should I send for a doctor?”

“No, my Lord. I’ll just sit and rest a moment, then leave and trouble you no longer.”

“Are you looking after the little one?”

“For the moment. The whelp’s been following me since last afternoon. Who does she belong to now?”

“She has an elder sister in the village.”

She knows what you did.

“I don’t want to go there.” When Vero spoke, the Baron looked at her sympathetically, before the Slayer twisted her ear.

“Quiet girl.”

Once he had rested, the Slayer took her out of the castle and back to the village. The closer they came to home, the sicker she felt.

When they arrived, they found Yvette in the doorway weeping and holding little Antoine. When she saw Vero, she turned furious. “You survive? The gods take my parents, and my brother, but leave me a helpless babe, and a useless child who does nothing but eat!”

“Ma- Mama… she said… she said to tell-”

“You killed her!” Yvette set the baby aside and approached them. “She went out to find you! Why didn’t you die?!” Vero tried to cringe away behind the Slayer, but her sister grabbed her and tried to throttle her. “It’s your fault! You killed her!”

The Slayer pulled Yvette off. “That’s enough! She’s your family- gods’ sake. She lost her parents… same as you.”

Vero looked up at the Slayer. “I don’t want to stay here. Take me away, please.”

“Yes, take her. We don’t want her.” Yvette returned to the Antoine, who had been startled by the fighting and started to scream. “She’s had her woman’s blood; you could make her your wife. Or take her east and sell her as a slave to the elves, even the Imperials if you like. Only-” Yvette paused to think. “-only, if you take her… I think we deserve something.”

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“You certainly deserve something. But I don’t want her either. Luna’s tears, she’s your sister.”

“And what am I to feed her with? I don’t even know how I’m to look after myself and my brother.”

“You would abandon your own flesh and blood?”

“Who are you to judge me? I have no husband; only what my father has left me. Shall I take food out of the baby’s mouth to give it to her? I can’t afford to care for her.”

Vero pulled the Slayer’s arm. “Please, Ser. I want to go away.”

Yvette sneered at her. “And she evidently would rather be with you.”

The Slayer drew a few silver crowns from the coin purse. “Here, with my condolences.” He weighted them in his hand a moment, and then threw them at Yvette with malicious force.

Yvette bend forwards to shield Antoine, and cried out when they struck her back before ricocheting away.

He pushed Vero forwards. “Go inside and change your clothes, you have a spare dress?”

Vero nodded.

“Find a bag and take whatever you wish with you, but only what you can carry on your own.”

Yvette tried to stop Vero, but the Slayer grabbed her by the hair and held her back. She spat and cursed at him, while Vero discarded her ruined blood-soaked clothes. She put on her clean dress, and got out her father’s traveling pack. His old bedroll was still attached to it. She put her winter cloak and her brother’s spare clothes inside as well. She also put on Virgil’s tough leather boots.

She considered taking some food with her, but she thought about what Yvette had said- about feeding herself and the baby. She decided to take only a waterskin instead.

After some more thought, she also took Mama’s prayer book. She wanted to take the doll Mama had made for her, but that was a childish thing and no longer for her.

You don’t deserve it.

The prayer book smelled of Mama, that was enough to remember her by. Vero walked back outside, and the Slayer held her sister in check until she was finished.

When they left, Yvette had started weeping again behind them.

Vero and the Slayer traveled the whole day in silence until the sun set and they made camp. The Slayer gave her another loaf of bread for dinner.

As she ate, Vero gradually worked up her courage to speak. “Where are we going, Ser?”

“Do I look like a knight to you?”

“What?”

“Don’t call me ‘ser’. My title is master slayer.”

“I’m sorry.” Vero became quiet again because she did not want to make the Slayer even more angry with her.

“I know a convent of the Sisters of Charity near the capital. They care for orphans there.”

“I don’t want to be an orphan. I want to be a slayer.”

“Why?”

Vero thought about the question for a long time.

Aaja was a slayer, and Aaja was never afraid or cried. She was brave, and never let the people she loved die.

Vero wanted to be like that. She wanted to be like anything, so long as it was not herself.

“It was a monster that killed Mama. An evil thing. It should be punished.”

“The griffon is dead. That’s not enough to satisfy you?”

Vero shook her head.

“I’m taking you to the convent. You’ll be happy there, in time.”

“I don’t want to be happy. I want to kill them- to find more monsters, and kill them too- again and again, until there aren’t any left in the whole world! I want them all to hurt and to die! Die like-!”

“That’s enough.”

They stayed quiet while they finished dinner. The Slayer laid out his bedroll and settled into it, cradling his wineskin.

Eventually, Vero decided to press the issue again. “I could be your apprentice.”

“I told you; I made my decision.”

“I practice fencing and wrestling with my brother. And when I do farm work, Father says I’m strong for a girl, and I don’t ever get tired. Mama taught me about herbs and medicine, and- and prayers… and….” Vero thought she might start crying again, but she did not. “Please, master slayer. I can do it, if you teach me.”

“You’re incapable of following instructions.”

“I’m not, master slayer! I’ll do anything you say, I swear!”

“Anything I say?”

“I’m not afraid of hard work. If it’s possible, I’ll do it. I promise.”

“Come here.” The Slayer motioned her closer.

Vero stood up and did as she was told.

The Slayer put an arm around her and pressed his body against her. She had no idea what he was doing and froze in place. Then he began kissing her with wine-soaked breath and trying to pull down her dress.

“No! Stop it!” Vero tried to push him away.

The Slayer was much stronger than her, but he let her go at once as soon as she resisted him.

She worried he would be angry, but he immediately turned over onto his back and returned to his wineskin. “The nuns will look after you.”

Vero watched him, but the Slayer seemed interested in nothing else besides his wine. “I’m sorry master slayer, only you surprised me. I’ll do what you want.” He did not do anything, or even acknowledge her. Vero fumbled at removing her dress herself. “See master, I’ll do anything. Only- only you must promise to teach me. Teach me to be like you.”

The Slayer did not bother to even look at her. He laid on his back silently for a long time before eventually remembering that she was there. “Oh, get dressed and go to sleep.”

“Please, master.”

“Hmm.” The Slayer paused, and Vero waited for him breathless. “I’m going to the capital regardless, but it’s a long way to Vermillion. I’ll decide what to do with you when we arrive.”

“Thank-you, master slayer!”

“Don’t thank me, girl. Gods! Whatever you do, don’t thank me.”