"If Aethron has detection constructs set up everywhere, then shouldn't there be a better way to find him than by brute forcing through his hideouts?"

"Nah.”

The next four spots they visited over the following week were equally unoccupied. At the last, however, Jair found what he was looking for.

"Aha, here we are." Jair triumphantly held up a small block of wood. It had a few scratches on it which, if interpreted generously, could be construed as a picture.

Ran squinted at it. "What's that?"

"Calling card. When Aethron is basing himself out of a certain hideout, but not currently at home, he leaves behind a sign for anyone who is allowed to contact him from that hideout. In this case, the acorn means that he is hunting for blood jackals in the north."

Ran squinted at the block in Jair's hand. "I don't know in what world that is supposed to be a picture of an acorn. And why would an acorn symbolize blood jackal hunting?"

Jair shrugged. "Who am I to question the ways of the old and the mad?"

"Isn’t that my line?" Ran grinned over at him, and Jair grinned back.

The past four days had done wonders for Ran’s stress levels. Having fought repeatedly and having come through every encounter safely, he was more inclined to trust Jair's estimation of their chances.

Not to say there hadn’t been close calls, but between Jair's knowledge and the healing constructs they brought, they managed.

"The fact that you knew we might need a bone repairing construct," Ran complained, shaking his head.

Jair only shrugged. "It's standard procedure."

"It cost as much as a house."

"Standard procedure for paranoid rich eccentrics like Aethron," Jair corrected. "And, therefore, for paranoid time travelers like me."

"Those investments better pay off, or I'm not going to have any spending money for the next three years," Ran griped.

But on the whole, the trip was as uneventful as a journey through a hostile and wild jungle could possibly be.

Eventually, they came to Aethron's blood jackals hunting grounds. That particular section was also the home to the Hibak clan, making Jair's presence… complicated. He wasn't exactly under Aethron’s protection at the moment, so relations with said command could be anything from guarded to outright hostile. He'd rather not have to deal with a clan of hostile vampires, but if that was what it took, he was prepared to take the risk.

"Blood jackals aren't actually carnivorous, despite what you might think from the name," Jair said as they walked along. "They're called that, because their blood is highly magical in nature, which makes them a favorite treat for vampires of all ilks."

Ran’s steps slowed. "Vampires?"

"Yes. Don't worry, these aren’t the ones we’re going to be captured by. We might end up captured, but they’re not the ones. The Tsael Clan is much further to the east. This is Hibak land."

"Well, I'm so glad. It is reassuring to know which clan of vampires is likely to eat us."

"No, they won't eat you, they’ll turn you into a vampire. Have I mentioned that every vampire's soulspell is identical? It’s fascinating."

"You’ve mentioned. It's not reassuring."

"On the one hand," Jair continued as though completely unconcerned, "I am very curious to know what would happen if you try to copy a vampire's soulspell with your power, but I'm also concerned about what that would do to your soul."

"Yes. I would like to avoid putting vampire-anything inside my soul. Thank you."

Jair grinned mischievously. "Well, when the time comes for our proper infiltration, we're going to need to give them at least a little bit of access."

"You're the one who told me that anything on a soul level can't be reversed by time travel. And now you’re telling me that we’re going to intentionally subject ourselves to soul-level damage?"

"Yes. I think I mentioned this before.”

"I assumed you were trying to shock me."

"I probably was. Doesn't make it any less true though,” Jair teased. “In fact, speaking of vampires…"

Ran eyed him dubiously.

"I think I know just who to talk to."

Ran sighed. "I need to stop rising to your bait. If you’re only going to tease me endlessly, it's my responsibility to put a stop to it by not responding."

"Yes." Jair put on a heavily exaggerated aristocratic accent. “That is of course the correct course of action. ‘Ignore the buffoon, and he will leave you.’"

"I'd rather not be left alone in the middle of vampire territory, thanks."

"No? You aren't the fiercely independent sort?"

Ran grabbed a handful of leaves from the nearest tree to drag it down into reach, snapped off the branch, and swatted Jair across the face with it. "If I didn't like you, I would hate you."

Jair caught the branch and twisted it out of Ran's hand, before tossing it over his shoulder. "Sure it can't be both?"

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Maybe it is."

They reached the old witch's cottage around midday on the fifth day of their expedition through the Oriad. Unlike Aethron, Qahrvirna was quite easy to find. Her home was in a large clearing, specifically tailored to prevent unwanted access by any sneaky creatures which would require tree cover.

The hut itself looked vaguely similar to Aethron’s forest camp in construction, with hand smooth boards interlocked securely. The rest of the structure bore no resemblance. It was very square and very tall, easily three stories, but not much wider than a standard house, giving an almost tower-like appearance.

The area directly around the house had been fenced in and cultivated into seemly rows of various plants, arranged by type and color such that greens alternated with every other color to form a perfect rainbow all the way around the house.

"Looks like she's home," Jair commented, gesturing to the open front door.

"We're just going to walk in?"

"Of course. You don't expect her to come out in this sunlight."

"Why would that…" Ran put the pieces together and paled. "So she really is a vampire."

"Naturally."

"I don't know why I still held out hope that it might be something less insane."

"I know, very disconcerting. Once you stop expecting anything, it becomes much easier to accept what is."

"Don't go trying to sound like some kind of wise guru. You're not good at it."

"I could be, if I tried. Nothing is hard when you give it enough practice."

Ran grunted in response, but by that point it was too late for more discussion. They had reached the witch's front door.

Jair strode inside confidently, breathing deep the aroma of all her exotic herbs, flexing his manabody against the weight of power in the air. There wasn't usually a noticeable difference between areas when it came to how fast mana recharged, but this was one of those places that, like Nuprima, carried a noticeably denser atmosphere.

"Welcome, welcome!" The woman of the house rose from her desk, crimson lips parting in an eager smile.

Qahrvirna had the faintly red tint to her dark skin that hinted she’d been around for more than a few centuries, though few would be able to recognize it who hadn’t interacted with more than their fair share of vampires. She was the furthest thing from ‘trustworthy’; being a vampire, her sense of honor was paper thin and subject to the slightest whim. Thankfully, pride in her reputation prevented her from doing anything like killing them outright.

“Lady Qahrvirna, your home is as lovely as always.” The open cozy layout more resembled a lounge than a shop, with sofas and plush chairs in the near right corner just after entering, bookshelves and cases of creature parts covering the back wall, and her personal study centered to the left. Despite the countless bunches of drying plants hanging from the bare wooden ceiling joists, he could see the trapdoor in the ceiling for climbing up to her bedroom loft, currently closed and its stairs folded up.

“Who might you be?” she asked, eying them both up and down. “What brings you to my lands?”

"I am Jair Welburne, future archmage, and this is Ran Serin, heir to house Serin of Veor. We're here in search of Aethron the Forest-Mad. I understand that you are able to get in touch with him, and that he is currently hunting in these lands?"

"Indeed, you are well informed. The Forest-Mad does not lightly share his presence. What gift have you brought me for this great favor?" She eyed Ran with a bit of a hungry glint in her eye.

"If that is the tribute you require, it will be paid by me. Ran is not available."

"Is that what you offer?"

“Only if you demand it. I’ve brought something else I think you’d be interested in." Jair held out the bag of monster parts he had been collecting.

"A mystery bag? For me? How sweet."

"I was going to use them for catalysts myself, but I see that your need is greater."

"I’m flattered." She opened the bag and glanced inside, then smiled widely and poured out the assorted trophies onto the table. Ran made a slightly sickened sound at the collection of squelches, thumps, and gooey splatter from the messily harvested monster parts, some of which had been sitting in there for days.

It was accompanied by an equally unpleasant stench, but one which Jair was polite enough to ignore.

Ran had no such compunction, however. He choked and turned away, looking ill.

Qahrvirna oohed and aahed over the collection, each piece receiving dedicated attention as she turned it over, examined it, and tested it for various purposes. Some she licked, some she sniffed, others she prodded with a long fingernail, one she tested against her fangs.

The entire process took quite a while, by the end of which, Jair had seated himself comfortably in one of her overstuffed lounge chairs and begun reading through one of her books on plant cultivation, while Ran had gone outside to the garden to get some fresh air.

"I trust the offering is to your satisfaction, my lady?"

"Oh yes, it is."

"I'm glad to hear it. So, my request? Will you convey my desire to Aethron?"

"Yes, that will not be a problem," she waved it away airily. "What I'm more concerned about is you. I have met many of Aethron’s associates over the years, but never once has he allowed one so young to traverse these hunting grounds. What is your emergency I wonder?"

"I am older than I appear, Madame." Jair smiled at her wearily, allowing a tiny fraction of the weight of his years to show in his expression.

Qahrvirna shivered, a smile creasing her face. "An immortal? I am pleased to meet you. I wonder how we have never met before."

"I am, as you have discerned, quite young."

"Too young for me to have heard of you? I doubt that. Who have you been, before you were this?"

"Only this. Though I may take on others temporarily, this is my first and true form."

Qahrvirna leaned back in her chair and looked Jair over, the hunger in her eyes shifting to something like lust.

Jair smirked at her. "If that is the favor you seek from me, I'm afraid my price is rather higher than yours."

She shrugged one shoulder, unashamed. "I will play by whatever rules you deem appropriate."

"Then you won't mind if I finish my game with Aethron before accepting yours."

She laughed, a sharp and amused laugh. "Indeed, young immortal. I understand that not everyone can juggle their obligations adeptly."

"I have quite enough to juggle already, thank you. I appreciate your understanding. Fear not, there will be plenty of time in the centuries to come."

"Is that a promise, little immortal?"

"Is it?" Jair smiled enigmatically.

The witch nodded approvingly and waved her hand.

One of Qahrvirna’s many familiars flew down from a concealed nook and alighted upon her hand. She whispered instructions to it in a sharp and screeching dialect which Jair could interpret but would require a bit more effort than he currently cared to expend. It wouldn’t be anything bad, he knew.

She was a vampire of her word, and an honest witch if a bit strange. If she agreed to his deal, she’d follow through to the letter. She may well work against him in other ways, without the slightest hesitation, and once done with their agreement all bets were off.

Jair didn't tend to keep the company of those who made a habit of breaking their word. Some things were important. There were times to be dishonorable, but alliances with fellow immortals was not one of them. It was probably one of the worst times to be deceitful, in fact.

The fact that Jair was not a true immortal but merely imitated one through what would be considered trickery didn’t change the extent to which he represented a force worth respecting.

If he were any less, Qahrvirna would likely have gone significantly further than hinting. As it stood, his tribute and promise of intrigue for the future should hold her patience.

Probably.

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