Pearl walked alongside Elwin, listening as he described in technical terminology the finer points of his swordsmanship. These long descriptions were embellished with eager demonstrations of footwork and body form. The topic itself wasn’t something Pearl was entirely interested in. Though, the animated spark that lit Elwin from within did.
Pearl was so accustomed to the aristocracy portraying themselves as aloof and perfect, that she found Elwin’s passionate ministrations to be refreshing and enjoyable. Elwin’s blue eyes became brighter as he paced ahead to show her how to position himself for a thrust of his sword, the name of the move already forgotten in Pearl’s mind. He used a stick as his demonstrative weapon, leaving his actual sword sheathed at his waist, for safety he had said.
Elwin was a handsome boy. He was also closer to her in age, with Pearl being three years older at eighteen. She admired his tenacity and dedication to becoming a hero, a most admirable occupation. It must be nice being confident in what one wanted out of life. She was sure that by the time Elwin had graduated, he would quickly become popular.
There were adventurers who were known almost exclusively for being beautiful. Most hadn’t really faced off with anything worse than some hobgoblins, and relied on the competent team they employed to join them on their escapades when they did come across something much fiercer. Not that hobgoblins were anything to sniff at. Pearl wouldn’t do well against them, though she wasn’t bad with a knife in the kitchen.
She turned her attention back to Elwin who was brandishing his arms about in some high cut sweeping move that Pearl had entirely missed the description for. He didn’t seem to notice that she wasn’t paying proper attention, which was a relief. She didn’t want him to stop. Perhaps she could get Elwin to show her a thing of two to handle knives.
She would never be as brave as Coral. Pearl wouldn’t have the courage to collect rusty knives and go barging into an enclosed basement with a ghoul. Pearl suppressed a shiver of fear as the memory of Coral’s stubborn face stared back at her before disappearing down into the basement. Even if Caspian had been down there, Pearl would have been worse than useless. She would have been a liability and could have made things worse simply by being there with no defensive or offensive skills whatsoever. She shied away from being hurt and was prone to freeze up or run when faced with dangerous situations. She was a coward. There was no point in denying that fact. But if she knew just a little of how to use something as small as a knife, would she freeze, or would she act?
Pearl hadn’t known there was so much to talk about with the art of swordplay. Elwin had kept up a steady stream of talk and demonstrations since the moment they left and right up to the moment they arrived at town. The streets were lively this late in the afternoon, the people enjoying the good weather while they could.
They passed the first few grey stone houses, their chimneys smoking, and wooden shutters thrown wide to tempt in some sunlight. Pearl noted the flowerboxes under some windows and hoped that they would be full of colourful flowers come spring. Direwood severely lacked colour, with its misty streets and grey stone. Even the shop signs were rather drab. The only exception was the Adventurer’s Guild, where the Direwood Guild’s blue banner was kept on proud display. Still, Pearl found that she enjoyed this little town rather significantly more than the city. If she wanted colour, she would simply have to ensure her own garden was filled with an abundant variety of flowers and plants. She watched as a man worked on hammering the shutters closed with a large plank of wood on one house, at odds with the other houses that had them open.
“They’re starting a bit early,” Elwin said, taking note of what had drawn Pearl’s attention. Elwin didn’t look curious or surprised that the man boarded up his windows.
“The shutters don’t look damaged. Is that for the Night of the Undead?” Pearl asked, turning back to the street as they passed him. Elwin gave her a quick nod.
“Supplies become scarce in winter, and more expensive. Some folks get what they can early when the price is better. Repairs from unwanted dead visitors can be hard on shallow pockets. I help to board up in the early winter, and even then some. I don’t need to worry about that when I stay in the Guild.”
“I’ve been busy with the extra training in the lead up to the Night of the Undead. Master Winters says I wield my sword like it’s an extension of my own body, but my magical defence is pitiful,” Elwin said, not sounding forlorn at this comment at all.
“I’ll just need to work on it some more. I’ve been spoiled with getting in practice over the years against the Undead. They can’t throw any magical fireballs or curses. I’ve never had to worry about that kind of attack. If I ever want to face a creature who’s entirely deadly with magic, I’ll need to shape up. Competition is fierce.”
“If fighting monsters were easy, anyone could do it,” Pearl said.
Elwin looked confused for a moment, then his expression cleared. “Oh, I meant the competition between Adventurer’s,” he explained. “Once you earn your title, you have to maintain a certain amount of popularity to get the highest and most dangerous roles.”
“Take Silas for example. He began to earn himself a reputation from a young age. He killed a ghoul when he was a kid. Then he was top of his class at the capital, where they train the elite. He earned his title less than a year after his schooling finished. But he wasn’t in it for fame and glory. He barely ever participates in the trials held every year. He was always off elsewhere. When he did turn up, it was always with someone following right behind him, with a new wild story more daring than the last. Rare monsters, plunging into dungeons, finding lost relics. If it weren’t for the things he brought back, no one would have believed a word that was said.”
“What kind of things?” Pearl asked. She knew he was a named Adventurer; she just hadn’t realized how competent he actually was.
“All sorts,” Elwin said breathlessly. “Chests of old coins and gems, the heads of monsters no one had ever seen before. Shadowsteel weapons. Old armour. He has enough to arm all of his team three times over. They prefer to choose their own weapons of course. Crowcaller joined him on a trip once, about ten years ago I think, and she came back with Blacktalon. You know about Blacktalon, don’t you?”
Pearl bobbed her head yes. She knew of Blacktalon. The glaive used to slaughter thousands in battle, some had even described it as sentient. It was when Crowcaller had earned her Adventurer’s name, dubbed by the many that had seen the aftermath of her fight. Crows had flocked in their hundreds to pick at the corpses left behind. Pearl would not have liked to be remembered in such a way. Crowcaller wore it as a badge of honour and had refused to answer to anything else. Pearls eyes drew across the river, back towards the Adventurer’s guild, where she knew the weapon was likely being kept at this moment. She had never expected an Adventurer like Crowcaller to be hiding away from society in such a small town. But then, Direwood was the last settlement before the unexplored wilds. Maybe the town held enough of a challenge for someone so good at killing. Perhaps that was why Silas remained at Direwood.
“Silas doesn’t show any of these things when he returns as proof?” Pearl asked.
Elwin shook his head and let out a frustrated sigh. “No, not unless he wants to have attention on him. Which is rare. He presents his evidence to the Guild. You need to if you want to get paid. The Guild can put a stop to false rumours spreading, which has helped Silas’ name from being trudged through the mud. You’ll always have the jealous kind that won’t like you for one reason or another, and they can spread word that an Adventurer isn’t doing the things they have.”
“It sounds like Silas prefers his privacy,” Pearl said. It sounded all too familiar to her. The aristocracy was rife with gossip and nay-sayers. She felt a little guilty that she was a willing participant in this gossip. Ahead, a fine black carriage stood waiting along the shopfronts in the street. There was only one family that she had seen that could possibly possess something this fine, apart from Crowcaller of course. Pearl searched the street for a sign of a black parasol. The sun was still out, so surely the Acherons would not be out at this time of the day. Though, when she thought about it, all the shops closed with the sun going down. They wouldn’t be able acquire any goods without venturing into the daylight.
Elwin hadn’t noticed her preoccupation and kept talking as they passed the carriage and straight for the door of Craving’s and Delirium.
“I think that’s a part of why I idolise him so much. He isn’t one for boasting. Silas likes the thrill of a hunt and enjoys a challenge. He does what he likes doing best. And he’s good at it.”
“I suspect you’re wanting a little glory for yourself though, what was it? You want to be the worlds greatest Adventurer?” Pearl said with a small smile. She wasn’t fooling herself with that smile. It didn’t reach her eyes, and an odd, complicated sort of emotion was rising within her since the moment she had seen that carriage. She wasn’t familiar with this feeling, nor did she like it. It stuck to her insides like glue, souring her otherwise good mood.
Elwin pulled his shoulders back and raised his chin, looking determined. “I will be the worlds greatest Adventurer. It’s the only way I could ever exceed The Unbroken Seolfor.”
“The Unbroken Seolfor is Silas’s Adventurer name, isn’t it?” Pearl said, trying to recall the first time Silas had told her his title. It took some effort, having only heard it once or twice before. So much had happened since then.
Elwin nodded in affirmation, held the door open for her. Pearl hurried inside. It was lovely and warm inside. She liked this particular shop out of all in Direwood. It always held an assortment of oddities and goods that were in season. Clothing, food, furniture. It was many shops all pulled into one, and much larger inside than it looked from out. It was cluttered from floor to ceiling and had a welcoming feel whenever Pearl stepped through the door. For a moment she deplored the shallowness of her wicker basket, having seen a few things she would have liked to pick up. Right now, she had to focus on gathering what was important, which was information on how to care for the snapdragons Coral had accidentally ordered, and to feed them as well. The meat, she presumed was the little creature’s preference. She would need to get that from the butcher as her last stop. She didn’t want to carry around slabs of raw meat for longer than absolutely required.
Pearl walked quietly past a few shelves, looking over bolts of cloth and linen, plucking up needle and thread. Coral hated needle work, but she had mentioned repairing the dress that had met an unfortunate fate. They couldn’t afford to waste such precious silk, though she wasn’t sure if that coral-coloured dress was salvageable now.
Try as she might, Pearl’s thoughts lingered outside. To that black, fine carriage. To Caspian’s face, smiling. How she had felt when he had looked at her with his wine-red eyes. How he had listened to her, small as her comments might be. No one, besides Coral, had ever taken the time to truly hear her. To discover what delighted her, or what she disliked. In truth, Pearl hadn’t really been aware of these things herself until the words tumbled from her like a party trick, hiding away all this time. She hadn’t ever really voiced what she liked aloud before. Coral always seemed to know.
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Now, Caspian Acheron had opened something new and raw inside of her. Any reminders of him were painful. She had especially liked Caspian. She might even go so far as to saw more than liked. There were certainly feelings.
How could he have strung her along like that? How could she have let him? Pearl knew what the men were like in the city, flirting with empty promises and compliments. Caspian had seemed so different to them.
It was too much. Pearl closed her eyes, frowning slightly as she recalled where she was. Mr. Acheron had found himself another woman to play with. For all she knew, the woman could have been one of those that allowed vampires to feed from them. It was lucrative, and Pearl couldn’t fault anyone choosing such a path. Even if she wouldn’t ever find herself to be in such a position. Pearl was fortunate by having Coral for a sister, who would never let her suffer hardships on her own.
Though, she did wish Coral would let her experience some things. How would she learn otherwise? It was why she was feeling these new emotions now. Was this jealously? Who was that woman?
If she had participated in this much gossip, she may as well sate her curiosity.
“Elwin,” Pearl began, trying to sound nonchalant. From the first note that came from her mouth, she knew it wasn’t working. Pearl wasn’t a natural when it came to prying. She looked up at Elwin who was poking at a teapot set beside an array of jars. The jars were labelled with a brief description for each. Powdered Frost Flower for aid in weight gain. Sorrow, a calmative during grief. Wart Thistle for arthritis and gesticulation.
Pearl took a steadying breath, like Coral would have done, and said, “The night I met Caspian Acheron. He, well. He happened to be chased onto my land.”
“Mmm,” Elwin hummed in answer to her. He picked up a jar labelled Spitfire Clover, lifted the lid and sniffed. He reeled back and let out a barrage of violent sneezes.
“That’s awful, smells like Osren’s feet,” he choked out, placing the jar firmly back on the shelf. Beneath the name, it had ‘For strength’ written across the label.
“Are you alright?” Pearl asked. Elwin continued to splutter for a moment, wiping at his watering eyes and sneezed a few more times.
“Yes,” he sniffed. “What did you want?”
“Oh,” Pearl said now feeling foolish. “Never mind. Let’s head this way, I think I saw some books when I was last here. I’m hoping there’s something about pseudo-dragons.” Pearl turned and made her way deeper into the store.
“Just come out with it. I won’t bite. Ugh, that stuff was terrible,” Elwin said while wiping the back of his hand across his nose.
Pearl turned a corner around a large cabinet and came to a stop where a shelf was lined with well used books. Most had the covers dirtied or frayed.
“Pearl, come now. I know the sound of curiosity when I hear it,” Elwin teased. “What do you want to know about Caspian?”
Pearl could feel her cheeks reddening the more Elwin spoke. She shook her head and focused on the books before her. Who was she to pry into Mr. Acheron’s business? Instead of seeing the titles on the spines of old books, she could see Caspian’s face.
‘I don’t want to be a monster,’ he had said.
If the wolves had been after Caspian that night, there must have been a reason. Was she a fool to overlook this? What had he meant by that? That he had already been involved in some sort of trouble? Was it because he was a vampire? Who was Caspian Acheron? A monster? Pearl couldn’t bring herself to believe it. Mr. Acheron had said himself he didn’t want to be what he was. He had demonstrated so, by protecting both her and Coral when they had found that ghoul.
“Why had the wolves attacked him. Why did they chase him into our property? And why stop?” Pearl said in a rush. She clamped her mouth shut, shocked at her own audacity to ask such questions.
“Oh. That,” Elwin said. “Bit of a misunderstanding. It was me who bit him first. Might have been an overreaction on my half.”
“You did?” Pearl said, staring at Elwin with reproach. “But, why?”
“He kept interfering with our hunt. We were on the trail of a hobgoblin that we suspect had contracted vampirism. Attack happened in the street with all the typical signs.”
Elwin glanced about, then lowered his voice. “At first we thought the Acheron’s had broken the truce and had attacked someone in the village. First vampiric attack in years. None that I can recall anyway. When we picked up the scent that it was a hobgoblin, we were all relieved. We tracked it down. And out of nowhere, Caspian shows up. He’d been gone for a year and the timing was suspicious.”
“He didn’t infect the hobgoblin, did he?” Pearl said, her hands finding their way over her mouth. Pearl was horrified at the thought of coming across a child-sized, cranky hobgoblin. She imagined a long bearded, hooked nose old hobgoblin grinning wickedly at her with pointed teeth. It was bad enough that hobgoblins had a branch of magic all their own, they didn’t need any further weapons in their arsenal to became more dangerous. It upset her more than she cared to admit, that Caspian could have turned such a creature.
Such acts were highly illegal. Vampires could not feed on any unwilling person. Or spread vampirism without strict protocol and legalities becoming involved.
Thankfully, Elwin shook his head. “He’d been gone for a year, off getting some plants and things according to Doctor Thornheart. They kept in regular correspondence, sending letters and whatnot. Some speculation was made about their relationship, but I disagree. He hadn’t ever shown an ounce of interest in anyone, beside yourself that is,” Elwin said with a wink.
“Anyway, he kept saying how he’d take care of the creature, it was his responsibility as a vampire. I didn’t pay too much attention. As far as we were concerned, he was taking our hard-earned gold from us. He wouldn’t stop getting in the way.”
“So, you bit him?” Pearl prompted, her voice a little too loud in indignation.
“By accident,” Elwin said, sounding exasperated. “Tybalt and I leapt for the hobgoblin. Except Caspian rode in front last second. I got a mouthful of his shoulder. Tybalt caught his horse about the throat. Poor thing freaked out, practically slit its own neck in his jaws.”
Elwin blinked at her, then looked ashamed. “My apologies. I did not mean to use such language.”
“I’ve heard worse from Coral,” Pearl said, waving her hand as though his apology were a moth fluttering by her ear. If she were to feint at every mention of what transpired in fights between Adventurer’s, she’d be spending an extraordinary amount of time passed out.
Besides, she wasn’t that sensitive. Elwin hadn’t used vulgar words, and she was becoming more accustomed to hearing them now that she was spending her time with more down to earth people.
Elwin looked relieved. “Good, it’s hard trying to remember my manners around proper ladies. I’m not used to it.”
“Perhaps I should pretend such language offends me. You’ll need more practice when you’re off on your adventures.”
“Please don’t,” Elwin said looking pained at the thought.
“You still haven’t explained how Caspian Acheron happened to be chased on to our property. I may have been a little intoxicated that night, but I clearly recall giant wolves harassing him at our gate.”
Elwin huffed. “Things got a little heated. We had a bit of a fight. He continued to block us from the hobgoblin, and the creature decided that it had enough and blasted the ground where we all stood. A great big chunk of earth and tree’s, just,” Elwin spread his hands out miming an explosion, emphasised by a puffing sound.
“Anyway, after that Tybalt had enough. We split up, some went after the hobgoblin, and the rest of us shepherded Caspian away so he stopped interfering. We were near your manor, and made use of what was available at the time. We shoved him through your gate and kept him there while we gave the others the chance to do their job.”
This was a significantly better scenario than what Pearl had even hoped for. There had been one too many dark thoughts that Caspian had been the sole cause of something dreadful. Though, why would he put so much effort into dealing with a hobgoblin, rather than letting the Adventurer’s do what they do best.
“And, the creature. Did you take care of it?” Pearl asked.
“Naturally,” Elwin said, his chin tilting up a little as he looked proud of himself.
“So,” said a woman from behind them, her voice delicate with a hint of an accent Pearl couldn’t place. “This is what Caspian has been keeping from me.”
Pearl turned and stared at the woman that Caspian had escorted to the funeral. Her olive complexion glowed in the lamplight of the shop, and her eyes, the same wine red as Caspian’s were framed with thick dark lashes, were fixed upon Pearl. The woman was lovely. She had a subtle roundness to her that Pearl was able to pick up on now that she stood a foot away. It made her softer, somehow, despite the straight back and elegant way she held herself as she curtsied in greeting.
Despite wanting to turn on her heal and leave, Pearl dipped down in her own curtsy to greet the woman.
“Well met,” Pearl said, though even she could hear the reservation in her voice.
“Indeed,” the woman said with a soft smile.
“Madame Acheron,” Elwin said, dipping into a low bow. “May I introduce my friend. This is Lady Pearl Seaver. She’s recently moved to Direwood, and she and her sister have acquired the abandoned manor.”
Madame Acheron. Pearl’s eyes widened as she looked closer at the woman’s face. She appeared to be close to her in age, only a few years older. Though that was hardly telling of a vampire’s age. In one swift moment, Pearl understood.
This wasn’t just any love interest that Caspian had escorted on an important event. She was a relation. She could see it in the shape of her eyes and her high cheekbones. Though, Pearl was unsure if the woman was his sister, cousin or, possibly, even his mother.
Vampires could not reproduce. That didn’t stop them from obtaining families. If a vampire wanted to sire an heir, it was brought about by unfortunate circumstance. There was only one way for a vampire to reproduce offspring, and that was through someone who was already pregnant. They would be bitten before or even during birth, the venom spreading throughout the body changed both host and child.
All at once, Pearl felt enormous relief, and utterly stupid. She and Coral had been quick to judge Caspian, assuming the worst of him before she even heard the truth of the matter. She was hardly better than the nobles they had left behind at court.
Pearl could have saved herself from all this hurt by simply asking who the woman was, rather than try to avoid Caspian all together. Though, he hadn’t exactly been around to discuss such things with. Pearl had brushed him off when he had returned with Coral torn up from the ghoul hunt. Pearl crushed the material of her skirt in her hands. He had tried to comfort her then, when he had seen how terrified and worried for Coral she had been that night. Pearl had pushed him away.
“Lady Seaver. It’s a pleasure to put a face to a name. Caspian has spoken of little else since he has returned. I had hoped to be introduced to you earlier,” Madame Acheron said, her voice cutting through Pearl’s whirling thoughts and bringing her back to the present moment.
“Mister Acheron,” Pearl said haltingly. “He spoke of me?”
“Constantly,” Madame Acheron said, her eyes squinting slightly as the smile she wore reached her eyes. “It is all that I’ve heard about. Nothing of his time out in the world, which is alarming, I can assure you.”
Pearl was careful to keep her face blank, masking her uncertainty at the last statement.
“Master Hunt, you’re looking well. Tell me, are you boasting?”
“Only a little,” Elwin said with a smile. “I always make sure to speak the truth.”
“In that case, my son has a lot of explaining to do,” Madame Acheron said with a frown. “I expected to hear of his travels, and instead, I am kept in the dark from both him and by the guild.” She eyed Elwin for a moment, as though she expected him to continue to speak further on what had transpired that night.
Elwin didn’t falter under her gaze. In actuality, he looked quite relaxed. “You’re welcome to book an appointment with the Guild Master. I’m afraid I cannot disclose any further information to you.”
“You’ll deign to speak to Lady Seaver. Why not myself?” She enquired, her tone light and casual.
“Confidentiality clause, Madame Acheron,” Elwin said apologetically. “Lady Pearl was an uninformed participant of that night. She has a right to be such information.”
“I’m Caspian’s mother. I should be informed of such events,” Madame Acheron said, looking worried.
“Of course, I’m sure Guild Master Crowcaller would be happy to meet with you. I can put in a request on your behalf,” Elwin offered.
“Please see that you do. I’m certain he is involved in something,” Madame Acheron said, looking pained. Her eyes focused back to Pearl, and they softened a touch. “I’ll come to call on you and your sister another evening, Lady Seaver. I should very much like to be acquainted.”
“It will be our pleasure, Madame Acheron,” Pearl said, dipping back into a curtsy. She watched as the woman left. She walked with such grace that she appeared to float across the floor, her feet hidden beneath her lilac dress.
“Won’t she burn when she goes outside?” Pearl asked, noticing the lack of a parasol by the woman’s side.
“She uses a cream to block the sun, so she can go out in the early evening’s,” Elwin explained, still looking in the direction that she left. Pearl returned to collection of books at her back. She did in fact find a text on psuedo dragons. She also picked up a small spell book for Coral after a quick flick through. They were all rudimentary spells, but it would be good for Coral to pick up on a few things.
Pearl was determined to finish her shopping, though not too quickly. Perhaps she might find Caspian out this evening in town. If she did, this time, she wouldn’t shy away from him.