Ranloo fell quiet. His friends looked at him, sometimes glancing at each other. Sern was pale and almost looked as if he'd been through the whole ordeal himself.

´No wonder you vanished,` he said. ´I'm sorry we didn't find you.`

Ranloo gave a sad smile. ´It was good you didn't,` he said. ´That man, he wouldn't have let you off alive.`

Sern swallowed and licked his lips nervously. ´You sure he won't come here? That he won't attack us?`

´No. I can't trust him,` Ranloo said after a thoughtful pause. ´But I don't think he'll bother us. He seemed to speak the truth, even if he was crazy.`

´The next night,` Pei said. ´Was that when we found you and saved Sern?`

´It was.` A wide smile spread over Ranloo's face as he regarded the boy.

Sern blushed lightly and laughed. ´You were so mad.`

Ranloo chuckled, stood from the chair with a fluent motion and started pacing around the room as he often did. ´Sern, I was beyond mad.` He ruffled the boy's short hair as he walked past. Sern looked up, his blue-grey eyes sparkling. He looked like a happy puppy, Ranloo thought fondly. There was no way his friendship was false.

´How'd you find me?` Sern asked. ´You all came running. How'd you know I was in trouble?`

´The vampire heard you,` Pei said. ´His hearing is uncanny.`

Ranloo grinned at the twin. ´I hear everything,` he said in a low tone and fixed the man with a stare. ´Even your heartbeats right now.`

Pei shifted uncomfortably and fingered his sword pommel.

Sern batted Ranloo on the arm with a hand and laughed. ´Stop it!`

Ranloo moved back, raising his hands. ´I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.`

´You're a terrible person,` Pei muttered to the amused smiles and laughs of his friends.

´Yes,` Ranloo agreed. ´That next night I simply ran to get back to the harbour district as fast as possible. I only stopped to...` he hesitated.

´To kill,` Pei added. ´When we found you, you had just finished some guard off.`

Ranloo's eyes hardened. ´I had to. I wouldn't have been much help if I was trying to eat you,` he excused himself, even as a pang of regret stabbed into his guts.

´You know he doesn't have a choice,` Felisei chimed in to his defence.

The twin snorted, unconvinced.

´We found the vampire,` Diquarl said to Sern. ´And then we started moving back towards the guild together. We took the path you would have gone because we knew you'd want to know as soon as possible.`

´We thought it best to tell Sern quickly and get him out of the rain. You clearly shouldn't have gone out that night!` Pei glared at Sern who fidgeted on the chair with a foolish grin on his lips. Ranloo nodded and gave him a stern look as well.

´Anyway, the vampire heard you scream for help,` Diquarl said.

Ranloo frowned. ´The vampire has a name,` he commented drily and crossed his arms.

´Uh, yes, Ranloo, yes...` the chemist mumbled, instantly nervous, his eyes darting back and forth, not quite meeting his gaze. ´He heard you and we ran. We trusted that he had been correct and it turned out he was. You know the rest,` Diquarl finished.

´What do we do now?` Aedil asked. ´We all know what's happened and we should probably stay together when we go out from now on. In case.`

Everyone agreed.

´Never go alone,` Listarl said. ´But there's no need for all of us. It'll draw attention. Maybe we should bring sun-medallions?` He looked around at the others. Some agreed but Ranloo shook his head.

´Why not?` Listarl asked.

´If you want symbols that are effective, you need to have them blessed by a priest. The one Sern has is barely effective against me. You would need better ones, and then I can't be around you,` he explained.

´Right, I didn't think about that,` Listarl rumbled with a frown. ´How do we stay safe from your master then? If he comes back.`

´You go in pairs or more, like you said,` Ranloo answered. ´Never leave your weapons out of reach.` But if he decides to come and kill you, you'll die, he thought darkly. With or without medallions and weapons. He hoped his master had been truthful and would stay away.

´Naturally,` Pei said and Aedil nodded.

´What about holy water?´ Sern exclaimed and pointed to the ceiling, as if indicating his idea. The others looked expectantly at Ranloo.

´I don't know. I have no experience with that,` he admitted with a shrug.

´I can get some. And then we could... test it?` Diquarl offered and studied him eagerly.

Too eagerly for Ranloo's comfort, but he nodded slowly as he thought about it. It was probably a good idea to try it out. It would also make him more prepared if he knew its effects on him.

´Alright. I have a meeting with Jackal apparently.` Listarl stood. ´Meet you later at the Reeling Ship!` His teeth flashed white against his dark beard. The others got up, talking excitedly.

´The Reeling Ship?` Ranloo asked, confounded.

´Yeah.` Felisei hooked an arm around his. ´It's a tavern. We're goin' out to celebrate that Sern is finally well enough and that you're still with us an' in one piece an' all that.` She smiled up at him and removed a stray lock of hair from his face.

Ranloo smiled and gave a small nod. ´Alright. I don't think that's a great idea, but I'll come. I guess I can leave if it gets too intense.` He took a deep breath and looked around. His gaze stopped on Sern, the boy's eyes narrowed and fixed on Felisei. ´Are you coming?`

Sern snapped out of the glare and nodded. They filed out of the room together. Gesald came up behind them and followed to the door. Instant irritation crawled across Ranloo's back. Felisei must have felt him stiffen because she patted his arm with her free hand and gave a sympathetic smile.

He looked down at her, still holding his arm. A slight crease formed between his brows as he pondered their relationship. He realized what she was after, it was quite apparent. But he couldn't. It wasn't possible, and much too soon. He let her cling to his arm anyway because he liked the closeness, the smell, and the warmth. But memories of his wife stabbed into his heart. He glanced towards Sern who walked on his other side. He talked to Aedil about sword techniques and didn't notice Ranloo's look.

They left the guild and went out. The weather was fine, but the evenings were getting colder and the dark hours longer. The time for harvest had started and soon autumn would be in full swing. Ranloo liked autumn with its colourful trees, and fresh, crisp air. He looked forward to it.

The Hasvien twins led the way and the rest followed, talking and laughing. It was strange, Ranloo thought solemnly. He had been through a lot in the last few months and his life had completely turned around. Still, he liked to be around his new friends, to talk and joke around. It wasn't like before, and it would never be that way again. But this band of thugs, they were fun and cared about him. At least most of them did in one way or another. He could never have imagined himself being in league with such people before, but now, they were the only ones he had. His world had been black and white, good and evil, but everything had changed and been turned on its head. He wasn't evil, but he definitely couldn't be considered good anymore. You weren't good if you ran around killing people, he thought bitterly. Not even if it was in self-defense and hunger. He forced the thoughts out of his head and focused on his friends.

Felisei held on to his arm and Sern talked about the king's birthday that was coming up. It was always celebrated with a big market and festivities in the streets that kept going all through the night. He told Ranloo he'd be able to take part in it too.

´The king's birthday?` he asked.

´Yeah. Every year they celebrate it. They even give away free food an' drinks,` he said enthusiastically. ´Since it's right after the harvest, it's perfect timing.`

´Won't there be a lot of people out then, even at night?` Ranloo asked in alarm.

´Yes! Lots of people all through the night,` Sern agreed happily. ´They decorate the streets with coloured lanterns in the nicer parts, an' the king will parade through with a great following. Ah, but that's daytime, though,` he added and blushed. ´You won't be able to see that. But you can see the rest.`

Ranloo shook his head at Sern's enthusiasm. ´I don't care about the king,` he said. ´I'm sure he'll be well guarded anyway. Lots of knights and guards around, right?`

Sern nodded and looked up. ´Yeah, sure. But nobody in their right mind would try an' attack him. And he won't be out at night so you needn't worry.` He poked Ranloo in the side. Ranloo swiped at him playfully and Sern jumped aside, laughing.

´I'm not worried about the king,` he replied. ´I'm worried there will be more guards and knights about. And lots of people will make it harder for me.`

´Didn't think about that,` Sern admitted but didn't seem concerned. ´I'm sure it'll be fine. Just don't attack people.`

Ranloo pushed Sern aside from him, smiling broadly. ´You're an idiot, boy.`

Sern nodded happily and laughed. ´Don't you celebrate the king's birthday in the elven kingdom?` he asked, coming up close beside him again.

Ranloo nodded, a faraway look in his eyes. ´In the summer. We celebrate the Prince.`

Sern frowned. ´You celebrate the prince, but not the king?`

Ranloo's eyebrows arched. ´We don't have a king. Didn't you know?`

Sern made a face to indicate that he hadn't heard that before.

´Our ruler is Prince Aserian. He's a sorcerer. And he has never been crowned king. I'm not entirely sure of the details. But that was long ago. I don't know. He's sometimes called The Grey Prince,` Ranloo explained.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

´I've heard that!` Sern exclaimed. ´Why's he called that?`

Ranloo smiled and looked away. He'd seen the prince once. It hadn't been close, but near enough to see why he had that nickname. ´He's got silver hair and always dresses in silver and grey.`

Sern nodded with interest. ´Is he old? Since he's got grey hair?`

´Not grey, silver. He was born that way. But yes, he's old,` Ranloo realized he didn't know how old the prince was. Only that it seemed like he had always been there. Still, he looked young. Some said he was blessed, others cursed.

´We're here,` Aedil announced and indicated the tavern. A homely place, it was a fully wooden building, two stories tall, with a steeply pitched roof of overlapping slate tiles. The big, round windows gave a clear view of the warmly lit interior.

Unconsciously, Ranloo hunched his shoulders, tensing. The place was full of people and he'd be forced to be close to many strangers. He feared he'd lose control. The last two weeks on an animal diet made his stomach cramp with hunger. It was dangerous. Taking a deep breath, he approached the door.

´What's wrong?` Felisei looked up, her hazel eyes filled with concern.

He shook his head, lips pressed together.

´Come, there's nothin' to fear. It'll be fine,` she said with a sweet smile.

Ranloo had his doubts.

Light and sounds washed over them as they entered the tavern. Candles glimmered in the windows and on the bar disk. A roaring fire gave light and warmth from the back of the room. People talked, drank, and laughed, and the room smelled of burning wood, food, sweat, and spilled ale. Some bards played instruments and sang in a corner. It reminded Ranloo of his last day alive with his elven friends and the rangers. A tremble coursed through him and his heart pounded in his chest. He found it hard to breathe and stopped, staring around with wide eyes.

´Come, Ranloo.` Sern grabbed his left arm and pulled him along, unaware of his panic. ´We're sittin' over there.` He pointed to a table near the fire that the twins had already occupied.

Swallowing hard, Ranloo slowly followed. Felisei gave him a helping prod in the back to keep him moving.

One of the Hasvien twins looked up and patted the bench beside him. ´Come sit. We chose this table because it's close to the fire.`

´We thought it'd fit our hot-headed friend,` the other one added with a cough and looked pointedly at him.

Ranloo smiled faintly, still reeling like from a heavy blow.

´You alright?` Felisei asked, letting go of his arm, but only to stand in front of him, scrutinizing his face.

He briefly closed his eyes, trying to block out the sights and sounds. Drawing in a deep breath, he held it for a few seconds before slowly letting it out. ´I'm okay.` He gently moved her out of the way so that he could sit down. ´It's just all the sounds and smells in here. It's hard to concentrate.`

She nodded, a worried wrinkle on her forehead as sat down on the other side of the table. Sern quickly sat down beside Ranloo, a smug look on his face.

A barmaid took their orders, and returned with a tray full of ale mugs and a glass of red wine. She kept glancing at Ranloo. They grabbed the drinks and Aedil pushed the wineglass in front of Ranloo. He eyed the glass, then arched his eyebrows questioningly at the twin.

Aedil laughed at his confounded look. ´You can't be the only one without a drink,` he explained. ´Even if you don't touch it. We thought you might like some red wine.`

Ranloo snickered, lifted the glass and spun it around in his hand, inspecting the red liquid. ´I used to like wine,` he said slowly.

´Of course you did,` Diquarl commented. ´Everyone knows elves like wine.`

They laughed.

´Of course,` Ranloo agreed, a smile tugging on his lips. He used to love red wine, especially elven wine. This looked nice, he thought. But the smell was wrong. It was probably decent, but not his favourite kind. He twirled it around, admiring the colour.

´Try it,` Sern said.

´No, I think I'll pass,` he laughed.

´Why? At least try it? Maybe you'll like it,` Felisei added and leaned forward over the table to see better.

Shaking his head, he put the glass down. ´Last time I tried eating anything other than... you know,` he said and hesitated. ´I threw up and felt really bad.` They stared.

Pei laughed. ´So, you can't hold your liquor, eh?` He took a swig of his ale.

Ranloo huffed. ´This is not the same thing!`

´Of course it isn't.` Pei gave him a piercing stare. ´I challenge you!` he announced, raising his mug. The others clapped and laughed.

Ranloo grinned. ´It's really not the same thing,` he protested again.

´Come on now, try it!` Sern lifted the glass towards Ranloo.

He snorted but took it again and studied the wine. It looked kind of right, he thought. Almost right. Though it smelled different. Maybe he could try it, maybe it would be alright? But he was afraid it'd taste bad. He seemed to have a craving and a taste for only one thing now. He brought the glass to his lips and tested a tiny amount. His friends laughed at the careful sip.

´You call that trying something?` Aedil laughed. ´You are such an elf!`

Ranloo puckered his lips at the comment but was busy testing the wine. It tasted terrible. All wrong. He swallowed it anyway, not wanting them to win. He made a face and glanced at Aedil who seemed very pleased with himself.

´I am an elf,` he said to everyone's laughter.

´Well? How was it?` Felisei asked.

´Horrible,` he answered truthfully and took another sip, just to be sure. Then he shook his head, squinted, and wrinkled his nose at the taste.

´Would it be better if I cut myself and mixed some into it?` Aedil asked.

Pei smacked him on the arm and gave him a severe glare. ´Why would you even say that?` he hissed. ´Don't be ridiculous.`

Ranloo gave Aedil a thoughtful expression.

´See, now he's thinking about it!` Pei added hotly to his brother.

´What's the harm?` Aedil wondered. ´It won't kill me. But you'll have to wait until I'm more drunk,` he added with a grin.

Ranloo stared. Was he serious? But he wouldn't mind trying that, he thought, acutely aware of his hunger again. He tried to push the idea away by drinking some more of the ill-tasting wine and focusing on the others' discussions.

´Do you want him to get used to the idea of... eating you?` Pei hissed quietly at Aedil.

Ranloo heard him but pretended not to.

Aedil shrugged. ´He's one of us,` he said softly. ´He should be allowed some fun too, yes?`

´Maybe, but not like that. Have you lost your mind?`

Ranloo ignored their bickering but fully intended to ask Aedil later, when he was drunker. He stared into the orange fire, the light a flickering reflection of his amber eyes. The panic had subsided and he could almost enjoy being in the tavern.

After some time, Listarl joined them and they had an evening of pure friendship and drinking. As time passed, they got increasingly drunk. Sern got clingy and laughed at everything, and Pei softened up and even talked with Ranloo in a friendly manner as he let his guard down. People around them got more lively too, dancing and singing along with the bards. It was very distracting for Ranloo to have so many people around, but he was becoming somewhat of a master at focusing on small things.

´Are you gonna drink that?` Listarl asked eventually and pointed to the still full wineglass.

Ranloo lifted it, took a small sip, and nodded.

The big man roared with laughter. ´That's not how you drink!` he howled, quaffed his ale, and shouted for more.

Ranloo gave Aedil an intense gaze, trying to make eye contact. But he was playing a game of dice with Pei, Diquarl, and Felisei.

He sauntered over to the twin and pointedly placed his glass beside him without saying anything.

Aedil looked up, his brown eyes meeting Ranloo's, shifted to regard the glass, then back up again. He blinked, then his face lit up and he smiled widely, waggling a finger at him. ´Ooh, I know what you want.`

Ranloo smirked and moved back to his place again.

´You should join us,” Felisei called.

He watched their game from where he stood. ´Maybe.`

´Come on!` She smiled brightly and beckoned with both hands.

´What're you doin'?` Sern asked beside him.

´Oh, just suggesting something to Aedil.` He grinned.

Sern laughed. ´I know what it is!` he shouted.

´Yes, yes. Quiet.` Ranloo covered his mouth for a moment. ´I don't want Pei to notice,` he whispered.

Sern started laughing uncontrollably as if he'd said the funniest joke in the world.

Aedil returned with the glass a moment later, slightly unstable on his feet. He regarded Ranloo with a curious expression.

´Thank you.` Ranloo lifted the glass and sniffed it to see if Aedil had actually done what he'd promised. From the corner of his eye, he saw that Diquarl studied him carefully. That probably meant Aedil had done it. The smell was slightly different. Better. He took another tiny sip to Listarl's amusement. The wine still tasted bad but there was a rich tang in it that he liked. He couldn't keep a slight smile from playing on his lips as he raised the glass to Aedil.

´Was it good?` Sern slurred and pulled the glass under his nose to sniff it.

´No. Well, better,` Ranloo said and moved the glass aside. ´But you're not having any of it.`

Sern pouted in disappointment. ´Why not?`

Ranloo laughed at the stupid question. ´You know why. And you're too drunk anyway.` He pushed aside the boy's hand as he grabbed for the glass again. To avoid further attempts, he joined the others in their dice game.

´What are you playing?` he asked as they made space for him.

´Three moons,` Felisei said and happily explained the rules.

After a few rounds, it became apparent that Felisei was either very good at the game, or very good at cheating.

´She's clearly cheating,` Diquarl muttered, eyeing the dice with a critical eye.

´I'm not!` she protested.

Ranloo laughed. ´I think you're right.` He gave her a suspicious gaze.

She giggled and handed the dice over to him with a wink. ´You're just bad at the game.`

Ranloo snorted and tossed the five dice on the table. They ended up showing all three's to everyone's delight. ´Ha!` He stuck his tongue out at Felisei.

´You're so mature,` she laughed and flicked his nose with a finger. ´Your turn again. Cheater.`

Laughing, he scooped the dice back up as a brief memory of a white-robed stranger emerged in the back of his mind, dousing his joy.

´What happened,` Felisei whispered, noting the change in his mood.

´Nothing,` he muttered and tossed the dice again.

´If you say so,` she said, clearly not believing him.

Time passed, the game ended with Felisei as the winner, and Ranloo had managed to drink about half of his wine. Slightly ill from it, the small content of blood still strengthened him and he was happy about the little experiment. At least this way, he could appear somewhat normal.

Listarl brought him out of his musings with a sudden challenge to an arm-wrestling match.

´Come on, elf,` he said boisterously and moved to sit opposite him.

´You're not gonna win this,` Ranloo warned, amused.

The big man huffed, his cheeks red and a broad smile on his face. ´We'll see about that. Nobody beats me,` he said loudly and presented his hand.

Their friends cheered them on and Ranloo took his hand. It looked like a sure win for Listarl, being as big and heavy as he was, his arm bulging with muscles compared to Ranloo's much more slender build. Ranloo's eyes glittered as he regarded Listarl over their clasped hands. Sern counted down and the match began.

Careful at first to avoid causing an uproar or a noticeable scene, Listarl almost smacked Ranloo's hand into the table before he reacted. Surprised, he tensed and pushed back, their struggle shaking the table. Then he smashed Listarl's hand down to the cheers and claps of his friends and from some people by the tables around them. A grin spread across his face.

´Either you let 'im win or the elf cheated!` a man nearby shouted.

Alarmed, Ranloo twisted his head around. A fat man with a big beard and a large mug of ale in his hand watched them with bleary eyes, his face flushed bright red. Just another drunk who probably wouldn't even remember them the following morning, Ranloo thought. Relaxing, he went back to a rematch against Listarl, who this time tried his very best to beat him. But to his frustration, he couldn't.

´You're ridiculous,` he laughed afterwards. ´It shouldn't be possible. You're a tiny weakling.`

Ranloo snorted and sipped the wine. ´I'm not weak, and I have never been,` he said calmer than he felt. ´But I am stronger now.`

The intensity of their match had triggered him quite a bit and he struggled to force his emotions and hunting instincts down. His teeth throbbed. Too much adrenaline, too many smells, and the nearness of his friends and their pulses almost overcame him. He faced the fire and let the flickering flames calm him down, keeping the wine glass under his nose to keep their smells away.