Chapter 10

The Manique Manor

The manor house came into sight and Vallen beamed with pride. His estate sprawled for hundreds of acres in every direction and the grand house sat at its center. He admired his home, and it was not unjust pride. The three-story mansion with its white walls and red roof stood out starkly against the endless green of the surrounding trees and fields. A pair of life-sized golden horse statues stood at the entrance leading to the manor. One stood tall with its forelegs raised into the air and its head tossed to the side with mane flowing. The other statue posed as if running with its mane and tail fluttering behind it. Trimmed by a white picket fence and trails of multi-colored flowers, butterflies drifted lazily about the stunning building. The property was a beautiful visage to behold with scattered trees offering patches of shade across the rolling fields. Many of those were fruit trees. Workers could be seen toiling in the distance, maintaining the beauty of the estate. A cluster of small houses stood on a distant rise, temporary homes for the gardeners and other workers during their extended stays. Those buildings held the same look as the mansion with white walls and red roofs. He never tired of returning to this view. The sight of his manor house reminded him of his late mother. She envisioned the estate as it stood today. This was all her design. Its beauty came alive under her careful eye and attention to detail. The large red barn and stable for the horses rose behind the manor in the field with another white fence leading up to and surrounding it. More colorful flowers lined the entryway to this area and a dappling of trees graced the field offering ample shade for the animals. Vallen took great pride in the barn, more so than the manor house. His mother had it built to her very specific specifications many years ago. They could see a tall and beautiful white mare, a quartet of brown horses, one with a prominent blaze, a pair of gray horses, and a trio of painted brown and white ones out in the fenced area by the stables. A smaller lone palomino danced in the distance. A pair of donkeys meandered through the field munching on grass.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” Vallen gestured to the mansion in the distance. His prideful smile was clear to all.

“It’s absolutely breath-taking!” Farrah gasped. She reactively gripped the nobleman’s hand and squeezed. Vallen squeezed back and maintained the clasp. Tamaran did not miss the interaction.

The others agreed wholeheartedly. Reena had never seen a house so gorgeous. This looked like something royalty would live inside or the scene in a fancy painting. She grew up in gutters and alleys. This was something from straight out of a fantasy tale. How did they get so many flowers to grow in one place and in so many vivid colors? Did butterflies, hummingbirds, and dragonflies just flock to pretty places like this? How could a building or a fence stay so white? Who even made horses out of gold? The young orphan’s mind raced with questions.

“We can head inside for some rest and a meal. Nimon will show you to your rooms. Gretta and Delma are excellent cooks. You will not be disappointed, I promise. I’ll have Deeban help ready the horses for our journey tomorrow morning. It should take us roughly two days to reach Sabline on horseback, but perhaps Schell will have an enchantment that can speed the process. She is a capable mage and has served the Manique family for generations. If my father is home, we might even be able to use the carriage instead.” He winked at Reena excitedly. The man was eager to help and excited to introduce them to his staff.

The nobleman found new energy and jogged along his way still holding hands with the healer. Vallen was beyond excited to share his home and resources with his new friends. Only Farrah held the endurance to match his renewed pace. The others were tired, easily falling behind. Tamaran tried to keep up as best he could, but once again he could see that the pair were made for each other as he dropped hopelessly behind.

“Nimon, Gretta, Delma, Deeban, Schell. Who are all these people?” Reena mumbled to her pack as she brushed the sweat from her face. She suddenly felt apprehensive.

Bronwick overheard her and assumed she was speaking to him since he was the closest. “I don’t know them either. This is my first time here, too.” The big man shrugged and grinned apologetically putting his tusks on display.

“I am sure they are servants of the manor. The nobles of this land often hire servants to maintain their lands and homes, as well as handle the more menial chores and duties.” Tamaran offered helpfully in his thick accent. “Vallen appears to be a man of quite some means. It is surprising that such a man risked his life to come to our aid and then again to lend us his resources to reach Sabline. He is proof that good people do still exist in this day and age.” The young man paused to whisper a prayer of thanks to the winds. It was a common desert land tradition. The spirits of the wind carried your voice to your guides and to the heavens.

* * * * * * * * * *

The robed figures crawled through the forest at a glacial pace. These were obviously not wilderness types. They continued with few words. The group paused for rest breaks, for water and food where the lead figure whispered more words of magic to activate his pendulum anew. As much as Daffonil wanted to return to The Grape Grove for an update on the beast and to thank her fellow druids of the order for their aid with the travelers, she had a strange feeling about these men, a nagging feeling. As a druid and priestess of the natural world, she had come to trust her gut instincts. She stuck with them for the remainder of the day. Come nightfall a surprise surfaced. The robed men met up with another duplicate group of robed men, complete with their own pendulum. The large group made camp together. This was not normal. Humans rarely ventured so deep into the forest and never in such large groups. Why were they here? What were they searching for? Daffonil committed the symbol on their amulets to memory in hopes of researching its meaning later. For now, she intended to stay hidden and eavesdrop on their conversation to learn their intent inside the forest. A tickle in her stomach warned that those intentions were not good. She prayed she was wrong about this. She wanted to be wrong. She was just gaining a new image of humans and did not want these men to spoil that.

“Greetings, Brother Skrey, I did not expect to see your team out here like this.” The leader of the original group lowered his hood and addressed the leader of the new group while their men made camp. He was human as she suspected, only he looked foreign to these lands. His appearance and coloring matched one of her newest friends from the caravan, Tamaran. She could only speculate that he also hailed from the desert lands in the east. This man’s eyes were dark brown not the vivid violet color, though. He even had silken scarves beneath his robe that looked similar to Tamaran’s. His accent was thick.

The other leader lowered his hood to reveal a pale man with a shaved head covered in strange tattoos, a prominent one being the symbol on their amulets rising from between his eyes to his forehead like an arrowhead pointing to his nose. “And I did not expect to meet you here, either Brother Muhal. May the savior shape your path favorably.” They exchanged a gesture she did not recognize and dipped their heads to one another respectfully.

“My mission has guided me here in search of special blood,” Brother Muhal replied, raising his pendulum with a grin. “It swings strong. By the holy virtue of perseverance, I will locate the source. I suspect it is the one we hunt but its reaction suggests we may have uncovered more. I will pray on the topic over the mists for clarity. Maybe this land will be rich with more resources as the diviners have predicted.” He seemed excited about that prospect.

“My mission is less productive. The trail of an escapee.” Brother Skrey frowned. “Master Vrauth lost control of a new creation, a very promising experiment. The sect is not pleased and thus here we are in an effort to track it down for further study. I hope to bring it back safely or at worst a vial of its blood to help recreate the results. The path we’ve found of the beast is one of destruction. Impressive destruction.” The man’s eyes grew wide as he spoke. “This beast could be the key to the forces we seek. If I can but claim a vial of blood, then Master Vrauth has what he needs to continue his production.” His expression shifted to one of extreme excitement. “Praise be Thruum.” He paused to crush a mosquito on his head with an annoyed grimace. The insects in this forest were something else.

“Praise be to the work, praise be to the creator, praise be Thruum.” Muhal replied instantly.

The others gathered around spoke the phrase as well in unison. “Praise be Thruum.”

“Our branch of the sect is thriving, though such valuable resources as the one we seek now are few and far between. The slave trade has taken on a life of its own in recent months. The black market from Villinsk to the desert lands swells. Master Vrauth has all but given us free reign here. From our perspective, the sect must be close to reaching its intended goals soon. He appears to care little for our anonymity moving forward. We have many to sacrifice to the cause. The holding pens swell to full. This area alone has contributed droves to the cause. We practically own this section of the country. Transformation is at hand. The temple location was a perfect choice, the prophesies have been interpreted well by the sages. Would you not agree, brother?” Brother Muhal seemed excited.

Daffonil noted that Muhal spoke with the same accent as her friend did. He definitely hailed from the desert lands. The other man held unknown origins. She was having trouble following the details of the discussion, but hearing mention of slave trade and the beast was enough for her to know they were not good men. They referred to each other as ‘brother’ which was common among the religious organizations that swarmed this land. Could they be the ones responsible for this awful monster tearing through the forest and leaving its swath of death behind? He mentioned an escaped experiment.

Brother Skrey debated the question and then nodded. “It has been a long time coming. The sect has grown in leaps and bounds in the last few years alone. I must admit I was hesitant to return to this country. It is my homeland after all. It has been a reminder that men are flawed and in need of transformation. Coming to this land was indeed a wise choice for the sect though, a fitting interpretation of the prophesies. Jadahal is immanent!” Both men gripped their talismans and whispered prayers in a strange tongue. “If we can reclaim the key to this experiment the army will be unstoppable. By the holy virtues of confidence and faith, I trust in this course. The signs of its strength are astounding. Master Vrauth has finally made a significant breakthrough. He has been inspired anew with interesting creations. Whispers tell of him creating perpetual life. I believe I have witnessed it. Some believed he might have lost his focus, his faculties, or both.” The men shared a chuckle. “But his genius and power cannot be dismissed. None have been able to match his talents as a creator. I glimpsed his journals. There were numerous notes and creations in the works. The master is in his element here. He thrives!”

“Yes, and through the blood of the specials, we can enhance our forces and claim Jadahal all the sooner! The rumors speak of this one I seek as a potent specimen. They have us chasing him across the lands because of the rumors of his eyes and his breeding. They are the eyes that shift through the rainbow. He is identifiable by the violet hue they rest with. It is the eyes that help me identify these specific special-blooded ones. Have you had any experience with such a desert lander in your recent travels? He would be a young man, pleasant to the eyes. I have been pursuing him for quite some time and only now have I grown close. He is clever, but The Shining One is determined I find him. And I am eager to be finished with him. I long for a new assignment. Serving two masters, Vrauth and Raahim, is exhausting.”

Skrey shook his head in the negative. “I’ve barely ventured into the cities since arriving back in this country nearly two years past. Mostly we’ve seen small villages full of potential for your branch and this damnable wilderness. I reside in the fortress. As a dedicated priest I have other duties. My time is currently expended trying to pursue our quarry through this mossy thistle.” He flicked a hand at their surroundings dismissively. The man paused to swat another mosquito. Brother Skrey was obviously no fan of the wilderness. “The beast seems to hold skill in the wilds… which is also promising if incredibly difficult to track.”

“Yes, I have multiple teams gathering specimens in the area. Our hunters are busy. These forested wildlands thrive with possibilities. And the many small villages of Villinsk are ripe for the harvest. When The Shinning One sent men here years ago searching for a lost experiment his eyes were opened to the potential. The interpretations of the sacred scrolls were realized. The loose rule of these lands and their penchant for self-reliability makes them prime specimens for our needs. As I said, we all but own this area now. It makes no sense that slavery is forbidden here. The raw potential is staggering. Their boy king could learn much about trade.” Muhal stated matter-of-factly. “A bounty has been placed on us in some of these backwater locales, so take care when venturing though such settlements. It is a most recent development. We encountered an issue with a small village to the east. Someone slipped. They have listed cultists as the danger though they have little more than that to work with. Be wary. In my own experiences I have learned to travel under the guise of monks or pilgrims. These people are stupid and accept the lie without question. Such groups wander their lands incessantly.” The men shared a laugh. “I have advised the master to acquire a monastery of some sort we could use as a veil to better maintain that guise. I believe he has taken a liking to that suggestion.”

“Duly noted. I will keep an eye out for this desert lander and you the escapee, a large and deadly beast crafted of bear and camel plus numerous other ingredients. We should stay in touch, brother,” Brother Skrey spoke with a smirk. “Call to me when you are in need. A prayer bond should suffice.” The men clasped arms and touched their foreheads together. Both whispered a prayer. Something unseen passed between them, connecting them. “I will strengthen the bond through my mage studies. There is value in my tortured time here before I was rescued from strife and born anew.” Skrey called upon arcane words and with a gesture of his hand an energetic tether of sorts linked the men.

The men settled into their large camp and shifted their discussion to simple topics like food and travel. Daffonil sat silently in the tree evaluating all she heard and saw. The one group was following Tamaran. That much she was certain of, but why? What did special blood mean and why did they want it and him? They were self-proclaimed slavers so this could not bode well for her new friend. She had to warn him of the coming danger. If he was their target, then that probably put all the others in danger as well. She also realized that these men and their sect had created the beast. They called it an experiment by someone named Master Vrauth. They repeatedly mentioned something called Jadahal and spoke of armies, sacrifices and forces on the move. Daffonil hated to admit it, but this sounded like a topic often attributed to humans by her fellow wood elves. This sounded like the hints of war brewing. The last thing she wanted was a war coming to her forest. Nature always suffered the most in such times.

* * * * * * * * * *

The interior of the Manique Manor did not disappoint. Lord Vallen’s home was even more extravagant on the inside if that were possible. Gold accented everything and faceted crystal reflected the light of the huge windows across every chamber. Even the air smelled fresher inside, probably due to the numerous crystal vases containing tastefully arranged flowers collected from the estate grounds. None among them had ever smelled flowers so fragrant. All the doors were heavy oak with a polished honey sheen and carved with scripted details including the family crest. The beautiful design of the blue rose with the sword through it marked several locations. A delicate scripture arched above the main entry: May your horse carry you to your heart’s desires. That same inscription was etched along the mantle. The oaken floor displayed a similar honey color and detailed design. The grand entry hall led to a massive spiral staircase that branched out to either side on the second floor and then continued its course skyward. They felt as if they were walking into a castle not a home. The huge central stairway with sculpted wooden banisters arced upward continuing to the third floor. The handrails appeared as swirling winds with floral accents and ended in two rearing horses that seemed to manifest from the winds to form the end caps of the bannisters. Those carved horses stole the focus at the base of the stairway leaping towards the front double doors.

Just glancing up, one could see that the elaborate finery continued throughout the entire home. The third floor of the mansion held stained-glass windows cut from the finest lead crystal. If there was any doubt before, that doubt was silenced completely. Vallen was a very wealthy man. There were glowstones of various sizes and hues scattered throughout the residence lending to the opulent ambiance. If a family owned a single glowstone that was normally a point of pride. Such crystals infused with the ambient energies of Mother EL were quite valuable and considered by most to be spiritual items with different meanings depending on their coloring or shape. Glowstones held significance across all EL and in almost every culture. A massive fireplace dominated the entry chamber surrounded by expensive furniture. The driftwood mantle held more horse sculptures at each end, carved to near life-like realness. The equine theme dominated this place. A large rainbow glowstone, the rarest of all glowstones, held the center point on that mantle. White river stones of various sizes formed the grand fireplace with silvery-gold mortar holding them in place. Chandeliers hung from every one of the central rooms, each decorated heavily in crystals and each with a large clear glowstone at its center. One chandelier alone was worth more than everything Farrah had owned in her entire life including Ghren’s house. One of the tiny crystals hanging from a chandelier could account for everything Reena ever owned.

An older man, bordering on elderly but with a spry step, dressed in fancy garb with impeccable posture greeted them upon entry. Vallen introduced the man as Nimon the butler. He was both proper and pleasant, offering to carry their belongings up to the guest rooms where they would be staying for the night. A much younger yet still mature man named Deeban met with Vallen early on and headed to the stables to make certain the horses would be ready for the morning journey. The ruggedly handsome, bearded man held a very capable and reserved air about him. He was brawny and only slightly shorter than Bronwick which made him an impressive specimen indeed. Deeban informed the young lord of the manor that his father was currently away on business with the family carriage. The pair seemed to share a close bond as if Vallen were the little brother in the relationship. In fact, all the household residents seemed very close with the young lord. They held a pleasant familial bond.

After settling into their rooms with the assistance of Nimon and another young lady named Delma, everyone opted for a nap before dinner. The beds were so fluffy with their down pillows and mattresses that they practically grabbed them and pulled them under the covers. Sleep claimed the others quickly.

Vallen remained far too excited about his next adventure to sleep and so he headed down to help Deeban prepare the horses for the coming journey. Plus, he wanted to greet Shield, his prized mare. He expected to find Zane out there, too. He was sure the man would keep his distance from their visitors and offer up his opinions and complaints about each of them in turn. Vallen did not look forward to that discussion. But he missed spending time with his best friend over the last few days. He truly wished Zane could be more sociable.

When Vallen finally reached the stables, he discovered Shield diligently waiting by the fence to greet him. She was a smart horse and she loved him very much. They grew into adulthood together. He raced to pat her neck and slip her an apple. “I’ve missed you, girl.” He leaned forward and puckered his lips. Shield pressed her face to his. He loved it when she gave him kisses and Shield loved the feel of his beard.

Deeban was the estate handyman plus stablemaster and very dedicated to the family and his position. He spent the last decade and more here serving the Maniques. He was a tall, bearded man with a muscular build, broad shoulders and a hairy chest. He was very much a man’s man. Deeban was also a man of few words. He liked to work with his hands and keep busy. Over the years he had become a sort of big brother figure to the young lord, especially after the death of his mother. Deeban took the boy under his wing and helped teach him the way of things as best he could while the boy’s father, the senior Lord Manique, dealt with his grief. Vallen found him already inside the stable prepping saddles and bridles for the morning. Each of the horses had their favored gear depending on whether it would be a long or short day of riding. He also needed to roll their blankets for the road and make sure they each carried the insignia of house Manique clearly visible for all to see. The symbol of the blue rose with a sword through it had been with the family for generations. The senior lord of the manor was very specific about that. If his horses were in public, they would pay homage to his late wife’s love of fine equine breeding and the family name. Deeban took his duties very seriously. He paused to greet the young man properly with a good hug and pat on the back.

“Good travels?” Deeban grumbled.

“Good travels,” Vallen grinned back. Deeban gave a stiff nod of approval and returned to his duties.

The young lord then respectfully cleared the area. He could see Deeban had a system going and did not want to interrupt. Vallen knew the man liked to handle things in his own fashion and was a loner, so he left him to his work. The handsome nobleman hopped the fence like a professional and raced to hug Shield. She loved the attention and whinnied loudly, stamping her foot once while shaking her glorious mane from side to side. She was a beautiful horse, and she knew it. He often thought that if she were a lady she would prance about in her finest gowns and stare at herself in a mirror all day. Vallen chuckled at the familiar display.

“How I’ve missed you, girl.” Vallen kissed her nose again and rubbed his chin on her face.

“Out here blowing kisses at your true love,” a gruff voice sounded behind him. Vallen grinned. He wondered how long it would take for his friend to surface. The manor house always made Zane uncomfortable. He much preferred the line of guest houses over the ridge used by the day workers that tended the lands, the stables, or especially the barn.

“Where have you been hiding?” Vallen asked without bothering to turn. He continued to brush Shield along her neck as she nuzzled him.

“Here… there… everywhere…” Zane replied nonchalantly. That was his standard reply to that question.

“It wouldn’t kill you to meet them, you know? They are good people. We are planning a two-day ride to Sabline together. You’ll be staring at them soon enough. It might help to introduce yourself to avoid awkwardness.”

“Who said I was joining you, you twat?” Zane chuckled. “I think you have more than enough company for the road. I won’t need to hold your dainty little hand this time, princess. Those losers aren’t all rainbows and sunshine and obliviousness so you should be safe without your ruggedly sexy and dour conscious tagging along.”

Vallen felt his heart sink. Zane was always like this with new people, especially new friends. It was as if their friendship was all he ever wanted. Vallen often felt like the man made a concerted effort to drive away anyone else who dared to show interest in him. That was probably why he had so few friends at his age. It was also probably why he was still single despite his father’s best efforts to marry him off. None of the young ladies liked Zane and in turn shunned Vallen for the association. He was certain the man drove them all away on purpose so they could be bachelors together forever. That thought gave him anxiety. Spending his life with only Zane at his side sounded vexing.

“We could share a drink later, like old times, after you’re done playing house with your new best buddies. Bring the whiskey to the barn. Grab the good shit this time. Your dear old daddy is away. He won’t notice.” Zane released a deep sigh. His face grew serious. “You did good out there, Vallen. The stuff of heroes and legends and shit. You were just like you always wanted to be. Made me proud and would have made your dear daddy proud, too. Glad I was there to witness it all. Too bad you lost that tight-bodied little elf before you really got to know her, though.” He thrust his hips forward with a grunt and grinned. “She’d likely be the best ride of your life. Far better than cuddling a horse, that’s for damn sure.” Shield whinnied and stomped the ground once.

Vallen felt his cheeks flush. Zane never gave him compliments. In fact, it was usually the opposite. He suddenly realized there was a topic to discuss. He spun to face his friend and found the man seated atop the fence picking his teeth with a twig.

“What was the meaning of this?” Vallen’s deep blue eyes locked onto Zane’s stormy ones and that crease marred his brow. He held up his hand displaying the red jasper ring stolen from the dead mercenary’s body.

Zane’s usual frown reversed. He split into a huge grin, slapping his thigh as he chuckled. “I thought you’d like it. It’s too fancy to sit on these battered hands. But it looks perfect on your dainty ones… princess.” Zane’s shoulders shook with laughter.

Vallen glared at him. “You know that Farrah recognized this ring. Thank the Gods she wasn’t close to the man, and she wasn’t offended by you taking it, but you caused me a lot of embarrassment, Zane.”

“That’s what I’m here for, buddy. I keep you grounded and embarrass the shit out of you from time to time, so you don’t become one of those pretentious lordly asses like your father and those other council members. Mission accomplished. You’re welcome.” He dipped into a slight bow while balancing on the fence.

“You’re an ass, you know that don’t you?”

“That I do, prince. That I do.”

A whistling sound caught both their attention. Vallen looked up to see the golden-haired beauty bouncing towards them with that perfect smile. Of course, Farrah was the first to wake from her nap. The woman had the stamina of a plow horse. Vallen turned to introduce Zane but his friend had vanished again. That was probably for the best. After the way Zane described the woman Vallen cringed just thinking about a conversation between the two.

“She is a beautiful creature!” Farrah marveled over Shield from the fence.

“Yes, she is…” Vallen felt the words slip past his lips unbidden. He was staring at the healer. He caught himself and shifted his gaze to Shield.

Farrah felt her cheeks flush a bit. She was flattered but could tell the nobleman was embarrassed so she ignored the compliment. “May I pet her?”

Vallen smiled proudly and nodded. “Her name is Shield. She is my most loyal friend in the whole world. But don’t let Zane hear that. I’ve had her at my side for many years. She’s no longer young but you could never tell by her behavior. My mother bought her for me when she was but a foal…” Sadness suddenly gripped the handsome man. He realized for the thousandth time that she never got to see Shield fully grown or witness the marvelous beauty she became.

Farrah smiled and reached out to pet Shield’s nose. The horse moved closer and nuzzled her. “There, there, aren’t you a beauty? Yes, you are.” Shield whinnied and stomped her hoof once.

Vallen laughed, his sadness gone as quickly as it surfaced. “She likes you! She never does that for anyone but me. She won’t even do that for Zane.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Farrah smiled that perfect smile and brushed the wave of golden hair from her eye. “I’ve always had a way with animals. I like to believe it’s because I respect them.” One look at the woman and Vallen doubted that anything would not like her. “I almost forgot; Gretta sent me to find you. She has questions about tonight’s dinner menu. Dinner will be ready in about an hour. She seemed quite serious.”

Vallen gave Shield another big hug and then hopped the fence to join Farrah on their walk back to the mansion. He decided to give her the tour and take them around the manor to enter from the front. That way he could show her Gretta’s herb garden. He figured the healer would appreciate that. Once again, he realized he had to pick up his pace to keep up with her. He called out to Deeban to let him know dinner would be ready in about an hour. The brawny man poked his bearded head out of the barn and waved his acknowledgement. Zane was nowhere to be found. Vallen suspected he would not be joining them at the table this evening though he hoped he was wrong. Why could Zane not make an effort?

When they entered the double doors to the mansion, Tamaran and Bronwick were standing at the second-floor landing of the staircase looking down. Both had just crawled from their comfy beds to rejoin the land of the living. The desert lander’s messy hair and the half-orc’s sleepy eyes were proof. Vallen waved as did Farrah. They presented a beautiful image of a couple as he held the door for the woman then escorted her inside. The young lord of the manor turned to head for the kitchen where he could speak with the cook, Gretta. Farrah waited for the others to descend and join her in the extravagant parlor. The healer claimed a seat in a large, overstuffed, white chair. She posed in the part of a noble while a warm fire crackled in the fireplace. The beautiful woman looked perfectly at home in the lavish environment. Tamaran could not help but notice he found Farrah with Vallen once again. The two seemed to be bonding quickly. As much as that brought him disappointment, he was happy to see that his two new friends were getting along so well. They looked great together. The strapping, handsome nobleman and the gorgeous, golden beauty. Bronwick tromped down the stairs like a bull and dropped into the nearest chair. The seat creaked. Everything looked like child’s furniture next the giant man. It was clear he was not accustomed to finery. Nimon hovered over him with constant reminders to treat things with care. The butler appeared anxious just having the barbarian in the house. They could already smell the delicious scents wafting from the kitchen. Bronwick sniffed the air and his stomach growled loudly. Nimon then rushed off to find a snack to tide the big man over. Tamaran found it entertaining to watch the butler fawn over the barbarian doing his best to keep the big ox from destroying things. This was far better than any of Derris’ comedy skits.

* * * * * * * * * *

Reena lay sprawled on the bed with her pack tossed to the side. She was on her back with her arms and legs spread wide as she stared up at the chandelier attached to the ceiling. The crystals hanging there cast the light from the window into a smattering of prisms across the room. They were the last rays of daylight. It looked as if it was designed to do just that at just this time of day. The thought someone put into the chandelier alone amazed her. She never knew people had such thoughts or time to fulfill them. The tiny rainbows everywhere made her smile. This bed was the most comfortable thing she had ever laid upon. And it even smelled nice, like vanilla and flowers. It smelled so good she wanted to take a bite. She imagined what it would be like to live in a place such as this, to grow up here. Vallen was a very lucky man. He also really liked his crystal chandeliers. They seemed a bit much to the young orphan. It was like a huge flag waving in the air screaming “Rob Me!” She could hear Daddy Po’s voice in the back of her mind shouting, “Fill your pockets, stupid!” A squeaking sound drew her attention away from her musings. She lashed out to slap Stench’s leg.

“You are so nasty!”

“Yep, yep!” the tiny blue gremlin replied, and they both giggled. Reena fanned the air to dissipate the smell. Stench was sprawled in the same fashion as she was except across one of the pillows. “Soooo soft,” he sighed contentedly. He then perked up, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air. “Me smell food!”

Reena took a second to sniff the air, too, but she only smelled the floral scent of the sheets mixed with the remnants of Stench’s gas. “Vallen said dinner would be later. I don’t know how long we slept but it’s probably time. The sun is about to set. I could probably lay here for a week.”

Hearing that, Stench hopped up and crawled back inside the pack. “We go eat?” He rubbed his little hands together eagerly. His big orange eyes were filled with excitement and his large floppy ears stood tall at attention.

Reena frowned at him. “I think I’ll have to sneak food to you later, Stench. This place is too fancy for me to bring my backpack to the table with me. They will notice and then I’ll be weird. I’d like to try to fit in for one day at least. I’m sorry.”

The gremlin seemed sad. His ears drooped. His big ears perked back up and a smile spread across his face, displaying his snaggle teeth. “Me collect while you eat? Lots of pretty stuff. Yep, yep!” His big eyes scanned the room excitedly as he rubbed his hands together.

Reena grew excited, too, for a second, but then she frowned and chewed her lip. There was a lot of stuff worth a pretty coin or two in this fancy house. There were numerous glowstones. Even this room held a treasure trove of decorative knick-knacks. She could steal a fortune in crystals from the chandeliers alone. “Nah… just leave the stuff here this time,” she sighed. It was odd, but this felt wrong. Vallen had been so helpful and so kind, he was even getting her to Sabline for free. She couldn’t bring herself to steal from him. Daddy Po would be very disappointed in her.

Stench sat confused. “No eat… no steal…” The gremlin tugged at his big ears as he thought. A huge grin spread back across his face. He crawled from the bag and dove onto the feather-filled pillow. “Ahhhh… Sleep then.” In a matter of seconds Stench was snoring softly, his clawed toes twitching in the throes of a dream.

Reena hauled herself from the bed and watched her tiny friend at peace. It made her happy to see him so relaxed. He looked adorable. He shifted positions and she smelled his trademark once again. The little turd even farted in his sleep. She thought of stuffing him back inside the backpack, but he looked so comfortable she couldn’t bring herself to do it. It wasn’t as if either of them got these types of opportunities often, or ever. Instead, she pulled the fluffy covers up to hide him and sat her pack in front to block sight of him should someone open the door and peer inside. Surveying her work to conceal him one last time and marveling over the fading prisms, she slipped out and closed the door securely behind her.

When Reena reached the top of the stairs, the others were already gathered below in the midst of conversation before the fireplace. She paused to pat her bob of hair into place while staring in one of the many mirrors. Wealthy people sure liked to look at themselves. She frowned. That was about as good as it would get, unfortunately. The smell of dinner filled her nostrils with happiness. She felt like a princess as she descended the stairs to join them. In her mind she was a princess, at least for a minute. This was too good a moment to pass up. She tilted her head back and let one hand slide along the carved railing while the other swayed at her side. Reena even let one pinky stick out like she had seen a rich lady do once. She descended slowly, surveying her magnificent castle. A smile played across her lips.

“Would you like any refreshments before dinner, my lady?” Nimon was there at her side when she reached the landing to complete the fantasy.

Reena jumped at first but then tentatively asked for a glass of water. She was afraid to overstep her limits. She didn’t want them to kick her out before dinner. It smelled too good. The man returned with a tray. On it was a glass of water and a glass of tea with a side of sugar and cream just in case. There was a small saucer with candied fruits, too. The silver tray and the crystal cups held the girl’s focus. Did Vallen bathe in gold?

“Very fancy, huh?” Bronwick grinned from across the way. “I’ve never seen so much fancy in one place before. Watch this!” He lifted his legs, reclining in the stuffed chair. He placed his legs atop a footstool. “They even have a little chair for your feet. And you’re supposed to put your feet up on this one.” The half-orc met Nimon’s gaze, and the man nodded approvingly. He then looked to Reena and nodded with a big dopy grin, tusks on display.

“Do you come from this kind of wealth, Tamaran?” The young girl claimed a seat on the couch next to the man and looked to him curiously. She tried to sit as properly as Farrah did. The healer appeared as if she belonged here.

Tamaran only laughed. “My family has a fair amount of coin, it is true, but this is a new level of wealth.” He gestured at the room in awe.

“What about you, Farrah?” Reena was taking an inventory of her new friends. She felt like she wandered in through the back door and was just waiting for someone to take notice and chase her out.

“Not even close. I shared a home with my parents that also happened to be a small shop. Later I lived in a small house with my grandmother. The only crystal we had was the orb of plain glass she called her crystal ball.”

“I can confidently say that few live like we do at the Manique Estate, my lady. The Maniques are a breed apart. Their line heralds back to the royal lineage on his lordship’s side. The former lady of the house held significant connections as well from other lands. I am most blessed to find employ here.” Nimon nodded at her then winked.

Delma entered the chamber from the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron. “Dinner is served. Gretta has the table set. Feel free to come and choose your seats.” The woman waved them all forward eagerly. It had been some time since they had such a house full of guests, especially young ones.

Bronwick and Reena were first in line as they sprang from their chairs. They were practically drooling. They rounded the corner into a grand dining hall with a massive table complete with nine place settings. From the number of chairs available it could hold many more. Sitting directly below the customary chandelier a goose cooked to a golden brown dominated the table with various vegetables cut into slices and arranged around it like a food flower. A basket of bread, plate of fruit and cheeses, boat of gravy, bowl of mashed potatoes, bowl of whole red potatoes and another of greens sat at the table center. Another small serving dish held corn cut from the cob. Butter, salt and pepper waited in smaller containers scattered about the table for easy access. A large silver pot sat on a side table with a stack of bowls. Gretta had also prepared a tomato basil soup. And next to the soup pot were two freshly baked pies. The room looked and smelled incredible. Vallen stood next to the chair just to the right of the head of the table. He motioned for everyone to be seated. Bronwick walked up to take the seat at the head of the table, but Nimon cleared his throat and then shook his head, so the man chose a different seat. He realized this place had more of those tricky society rules. An elderly woman in decorative robes waited at another seat and a young woman about Farrah’s age stood at her side. She wore similar yet simpler robes of brown and red. They had not met this pair yet. Tamaran chose a seat next to Bronwick and Reena next to him much to his disappointment. He had hoped Farrah would take that seat. Seeing three options and guessing the head of the table was reserved for the lord of the house, the golden beauty chose the empty seat beside Vallen.

“Do you mind if I sit here, my lord?”

Vallen stuttered a response. “N-no… of course not.” He pulled the chair out for the lady. The cook, the maid, the butler and both robed women all watched with a look of shock. Vallen noticed their faces and then the curious stares from his new friends in response. “It is fine. Zane will not be joining us tonight.” Farrah, realizing she must have taken the man’s usual seat, began to apologize for the misstep. Vallen stopped her immediately. “It’s simply tradition. He does not own the chair.” He chuckled. “He’s not even here so it’s his loss and my gain. You are much more pleasant company I assure you, my lady.” He gestured for her to be seated and slid her chair in for her.

Soon they were each served a small salad, bowl of soup and a side of buttered bread to begin the meal. Gretta and Delma served everyone before making their own plates and plates for Nimon and Deeban. Their drinks were filled and pitchers with more were left on the table within easy reach. Some pitchers held water and the others held wine. The servants were excused, except for Gretta who remained present in case of questions and then dinner began. Though less formal than the household was accustomed to when they had visitors, it was far more structured than most of them expected. There were napkins and an array of silverware set before each of them. Everyone took their cues from the robed pair of women and the robed pair waited patiently for Vallen to begin. Neither Bronwick nor Reena knew what they should be touching or not touching. Their heads kept swinging back and forth to see what everyone else touched or did next. It was a comical game of copycat.

Seeing the awkward pause, Vallen grabbed his piece of bread and dipped it into his soup. “Help yourself, everyone. Don’t let all this pomp and pageantry fool you, I prefer a causal meal with friends.” He offered up a warm smile.

The old woman offered a toothless smile and tasted her soup followed by the younger woman in robes. Soon everyone was slurping, smacking and grabbing healthy portions of food to pile on the plates before them. They quickly learned that the old woman was Schell Magdoline, house wizard. Schell Magdoline, or ‘Schell the Spell’ in her younger days, looked like she might be a hundred years old if not older. She squinted to see and used her gums to chew. Half of the time she seemed as if she were in her own little world, mumbling to herself about only the Gods knew what. The young woman at her side was Penelope Desell, Penny for short. She was an apprentice mage in training to the elderly woman. Even Vallen had not yet met Penny. She arrived at the manor a day or so past while he was away. The rather plain-looking younger woman seemed to stare at Farrah and the chair she occupied curiously, but otherwise proved friendly if reserved. Schell was a fount of wisdom. The woman was so old that whatever she said seemed like it should have been scribbled on a stone tablet and hung in a temple for others to follow. It also took her twice as long to say anything. Evidently, Schell had served the Maniques since before Vallen’s father was born. She promised them all that the manor was safe and guarded well by magical wards and protective spells of the highest caliber. That was why the estate did not bother to employ regular guards. Something about that statement made Penny giggle and nearly spit up her soup. The large group engaged in conversation over their hearty meal.

Though Schell seemed half distracted most of the time, Penny had a sharp wit and an extensive vocabulary. She was a student in every sense of the word. The girl took a liking to the group, especially the giant of a man, Bronwick. She loved his direct honesty and the avoidance of any wasted overthinking. She had never met anyone with orc blood before and asked him questions about his heritage and background all through the meal, to which he replied honestly and enthusiastically. It felt nice talking about his homeland. Most whole humans had no interest. And this girl didn’t curl her nose at things he said like others did. Conversation flowed generously across the table and through the room. Everyone enjoyed the extravagant meal and the eclectic company. Farrah missed having dinner with her friends and family. In Hinny Hill and Kleph before that they held regular group meals every couple of weeks. Groups of friends and family came together to break bread and enjoy each other’s presence. She hadn’t realized how much she missed those gatherings until this moment. Tamaran felt the same. Back at his school all the students and teachers ate together daily. It seemed he had been on the run for ages and just letting his guard down was amazing. Reena was engrossed in this new environment. She never had much in the way of friends or family. This was like a dream come true to the orphan girl. She was living her princess fantasy, friends and all. This was the most genuine smiling she could remember ever doing. The meal proved enchanting.

It was over the topic of the Manique golden horse statues that the interruption came. A loud scream sounded from the other room. It was Delma. Her scream followed by shouts that were then followed by the crashing of glass. Vallen jumped from his seat and was trailed by the others as he ran to the entry hall. It sounded as if they were under attack. There they found Delma the maid with broom in hand chasing a tiny foot-tall blue gremlin around the furniture taking swings and shouting threats as they ran. The young woman appeared as frightened as she was disgusted. The sight shocked most everyone. A mansion such as this did not seem the place to find gremlins running about causing mischief.

Penny stepped forward and began the gestures and words to a spell, but Reena grabbed her arms and disrupted her. “No! Don’t hurt him! Stench, come to me!” The girl raced into the room to place herself between Delma and her tiny friend. Stench dove behind her leg cringing and panting. His big orange eyes were bulging so hard they looked ready to pop from his face. He trembled visibly with his big ears plastered to the sides of his head.

Delma paused in confusion. The maid clutched her broom tightly. The same look washed over everyone present. The other staff of the household were beginning to gather in the entry hall. Every one of them stared at Reena and the tiny blue gremlin gripping her leg in shock. The girl felt her cheeks burning and her palms sweating. She thought she might die on the spot. This was the fanciest dinner party she had ever seen, and she was allowed to be here. It was a place she knew she didn’t belong. It was just too good to be true and it all came crashing down around her ears in the snap of a finger. Tears of embarrassment and anger stung her eyes as she lifted Stench into her arms and cradled him like a baby. The little gremlin buried his face in the crook of her neck in a futile attempt to hide. He whimpered and shook.

“Stop it! All of you! He’s my friend. He’s Stench. He’s not a bad gremlin, I promise. He’s my only friend. He’s family… and I… I…”

Recognizing those looks they always got when someone noticed him, those looks of surprised disgust, Reena ran from the house through the front doors sobbing. She could not bear to see those looks again, not from these people. The glare was like she crawled in here from the sewers. It was nice while it lasted. She should have snatched a few things for the road to sell. How could she be so stupid as to get lost in the fantasy? Daddy Po would be so disappointed in her.

Everyone exchanged glances with varying degrees of confusion. “I found it in the bed upstairs, sleeping on one of the pillows, Lord Vallen.” Delma stood holding her broom. Her hands twisted nervously. “I was trying to chase it outside. It’s… it’s a gremlin…” She was at a loss. Nobody liked gremlins, did they?

Farrah was the first to make a move to follow the girl, but Vallen caught her arm and stopped her. “Please, allow me, my lady. She is my guest. You should all return to dinner before it grows cold. Gretta and Delma put much effort into the meal. It should not go to waste. That would be a shame.” The nobleman bade everyone return to their dinner and excused himself as he threw his cloak on then quickly slipped out the double doors closing them behind him.

Vallen did not take long to find Reena. The girl moved slowly since her tears and the dark of night blurred her vision. She was sobbing and walking away from the manor towards the main road. She had her little blue gremlin crushed to her chest. Stench was all she had left now. She even lost her pack this time, dammit. The nobleman hurried to reach her, calling to her twice before she paused to acknowledge him.

“Reena, stop, please.” Vallen called after her. “Reena!”

“What do you want?” she snapped as she tried futilely to wipe away her flowing tears. She wanted to seem strong as impossible as that would be with her whole-body trembling and the few scraps of pride she possessed lying shredded on the manor floor. “I’m leaving already! We didn’t take anything! And he didn’t break anything! Your maid broke stuff trying to hit him! He’s not that kind of gremlin. I just want my pack back. Please, it’s all I own. Please. You can search it to see we didn’t steal anything. I let him sleep in the damn bed. It was my fault. I never should have come here. That was stupid, so stupid!” She spun away and started marching again towards the road as more tears flowed.

Vallen raced into a jog to get in front of her. He stood in her path to block her from walking further. The girl looked up with a hint of fear. Was he about to punish her for bringing a dirty gremlin into his fancy home. She scanned the area for an escape route. He was much bigger and much stronger than her. She left her knife in the pack back in the room. Stench peeled away from her chest and growled at the man, baring his snaggle teeth.

“He bites when he’s scared,” she warned nervously.

Vallen looked at her in confusion. “What? I’m trying to stop you so you can come back and finish dinner. Why didn’t you let me know you had a friend with you?”

Reena looked utterly lost now. Was he testing her or teasing her? “He’s a gremlin,” was her only response.

“Yep, yep,” Stench added with a nod. “Me a gremlin.” He smiled his snaggle-toothed smile. The little man looked a bit confused by this exchange. Were they being friendly or sad or mad?

Vallen burst out laughing. That made Reena angrier. So, he was teasing her. “Why are you laughing at me you privileged ass?” She finally paused in her stride and shifted quickly from miserable to upset.

He raised his hands defensively. “I’m not laughing at you so much as…” He struggled for words. “Alright, I am laughing at you, because you are the only one that has made an issue of your little friend’s heritage.”

“Bullshit! Delma was screaming and chasing him with a broom! I saw the way everyone was looking at him, the way they were looking at me. It’s the same way they always look at us. I know how it goes. I’m not an idiot. One look at the gremlin and I’m out in the streets again. Well, Stench is just like me, he doesn’t have anyone else, but we have each other. And I’d choose him over any one of you in a heartbeat!” Reena glared at the man in defiance. She tried to stand tall even though she wanted to crawl under something and hide. Her legs were still trembling. Stench looked at his tearful friend and hugged her neck in gratitude.

He whispered, “Thank you. Me love you too. Yep, yep.”

Vallen sighed. “You are right, I apologize for my insensitivity. Believe it or not, I don’t have many friends, either. I understand how you feel about Stench. I feel the same way about Zane. And Zane might as well be a gremlin. People don’t exactly accept him either.” His joke missed its audience. “Let me try this again.” He paused and released a sigh then shook his hands at his sides to discard the anxiety. “Reena, there is an extra seat at the table, an empty seat just for him. Why don’t you return with me, and we’ll let Stench have that seat? He can sit right beside you. How does that sound?”

Reena seemed utterly confused now. Her voice caught in her throat with a sob. Tears began to pour from her eyes again. “Why? You feel bad about kicking us out on the street without feeding us first? Does that make you a good person or something? You give us some soup then toss us out? I still want my pack.”

Vallen shook his head slowly from side to side with a sigh. “Reena, has anyone asked you to leave? I’ll admit, a gremlin has not stayed in the Manique Manor before to my knowledge, but there is a first time for everything, right? If he’s a friend of yours then I trust him.” The handsome nobleman smiled warmly.

“And your people would be ok with that? What about your father? This isn’t a trick, is it? We didn’t take anything, I promise. You offered the food. I can’t give that back.”

“No, please stop. Listen to me. You are my guest, just like all the others. I’m sorry if you thought otherwise. I invited you here. If Stench is your friend, then he is my guest as well. I look forward to getting to know him. I wish we had met earlier.” Vallen smiled at her apologetically. He suddenly felt as if he were an idiot. He should be trying a different approach to the situation. The nobleman smiled at Stench. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Vallen, Vallen Manique, pleased to make your acquaintance. How about it, Stench, would you like to be my guest tonight?”

Stench looked from Reena to Vallen. The gremlin beamed with an ear-to-ear smile. His big ears perked up and his large orange eyes grew excited. “Stench is guest? You want stench in house?” He had never been anyone’s guest before.

Vallen nodded and extended his arm in a proper greeting to the tiny man. Not knowing exactly what to do with the man’s hand but seeing that he wasn’t trying to hit him, Stench leaned over and licked his fingers tentatively. Vallen recoiled to wipe his hand on his vest but tried not to make a big deal about it.

“Stench be guest! Stench eat good food! Yep, yep!” The gremlin leapt from Reena’s arms to land on his feet. He danced a little jig and then grabbed the girl’s leg, pulling her back towards the mansion. “We go. We eat! Smells so good!” The gremlin rubbed his belly. He seemed very excited. No one had ever knowingly invited him to dinner before. “Me be guest! Yep, yep!”

Reena looked at her tiny friend and began to laugh. She hadn’t seen Stench this happy in a very long time. Tears streaked down her face as she laughed, and her body became wracked with sobs. She tried to wipe them away and to make it stop. It wouldn’t stop. Vallen was soon at her side with an arm around her shoulders, walking her back to his home. He said nothing until just before entering the manor house. He used his fancy green cloak to wipe away her tears.

“Be sure to get your fill, both of you. It’ll help you sleep. We’ll all need a good night’s sleep before we head out on the two-day ride to Sabline. We’ll have to start early to make the journey in that span.” He smiled and gave the girl a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

The trio entered and took their seats around the table. There was a tense silence when Reena and Stench entered the dining room. Everyone fell quiet as Reena reclaimed her seat and Stench took the empty chair next to her. The gremlin stood in the chair and waved at everyone with a huge grin on his blue face. His bulging orange eyes barely peeked above the table line.

“Hi, me is Stench,” he grinned excitedly. “Me a guest, too. Nice… to… meet… you.” The gremlin grinned at Reena as if to get her approval for the introduction. He thought he did that right. He didn’t have much practice. Reena stayed quiet. She was afraid to meet the accosting stares of her former friends. She did not want to see that look of disgust behind their glares again. It hurt too much. She nodded subtly to him. He did good.

Stench sniffed the air several times excitedly. He rubbed his little clawed hands together and reached out to slide the plate closer. He came dangerously close to tipping it from the tabletop in the process. The gremlin then began to crawl onto the table since he could not reach the food, but someone was behind him, placing a chunk of bread, some goose and some cheese on his plate.

“You tell me what you’d like and I’ll get it for you, Stench. It’s nice to meet you, too. My name is Farrah.” The woman served the gremlin as if he were a child. Penny brought a huge book and placed it in the chair for him to sit on so he could better reach the table. The girl smiled at him and at Reena.

“Would you like some soup?” Tamaran followed suit. “We have a delicious smelling set of pies for when we finish so save some room for that.” He nodded at Gretta. The man winked at Stench with those pretty violet eyes.

“I might have eaten too much already,” Bronwick grunted. The big man suddenly realized he might have spoken too soon. He did not want them to take those delicious-looking pies away. “That doesn’t mean I’m not still having pie.” The big man flashed his tusks and chuckled. Everyone laughed including Stench.

“Tell us where you hail from, Stench,” Penny asked as she tasted her red potatoes. She added a touch of salt. Schell only stared at the gremlin as if she were in shock as did Gretta. The cook quickly buried her expression, not wanting to offend anyone.

“Hail from?” Stench questioned between mouthfuls. He did not understand the question.

“Where were you born?” Penny corrected with a grin. The gremlin and the young mage engaged in conversation. She did so love learning about new things and people. Stench was so happy to get to talk to people and to eat in plain sight. He rattled on without a concern for how full his mouth was or what fell out in the process.

Reena brought her gaze up hesitantly to scan the faces seated around the table. She could hardly believe her eyes. Everyone was eating and laughing and holding a normal conversation. They were even making the effort to include Stench. The hundred-year-old lady was staring at the gremlin, but she expected much worse. Her new friends were acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Farrah and Tamaran were even serving him. Penny the apprentice seemed genuinely interested in his words. She had never seen Stench so happy. That made her heart swell with joy. She glanced across the table and caught Vallen smiling at her. The man looked thankful and happy. He shot a wink her way. She fought back another round of tears and smiled back through glassy eyes. She had to stuff food into her mouth to keep from saying something sappy and embarrassing herself further. She still had a little pride.

Dinner concluded with a round of pie and tea. Stench ate seconds and Bronwick managed thirds. They eventually made their way to bed. Full bellies and comfortable beds helped them sleep well. Vallen was glad to see everyone sated. That was a good meal and an enjoyable evening. It had been some time since he had personal guests at the manor. There was only one thing missing to make this night perfect. He slipped out of the mansion with a bottle of whiskey in hand. It was one of his father’s finest bottles imported all the way from the distant continent of Al-Hasune. He felt a little guilty about running his best friend away from dinner in favor of a bunch of people he just met. He had to come to terms with the reality of the situation. In the end, that was Zane’s choice not his. Vallen walked under the light of the moon to the barn. He slipped inside and found Zane there seated on a bale of hay, waiting for him.

“You came after all. I feel so loved,” he teased sarcastically. The scruffy man extended his hand towards the bottle. “Don’t keep me waiting, pretty boy. I’ve been dreaming of this all day. This is what I call a good welcome home meal!”

Vallen moved to take a seat next to him. He opened the bottle and handed it to Zane to take the first swig. Zane did not pause. He gulped down the fiery liquid as if it were water. Vallen then took a much more controlled swig of his own.

“You like them, don’t you?” Zane asked the question without judgement. That was a big deal coming from him. No quips no sarcastic additions, he just asked a direct question.

“I do,” Vallen replied evenly, “Very much.” Zane took the bottle and swallowed another big gulp. He burped loudly. Vallen chuckled at his friend’s crudeness. “They are good people, Zane.”

“Maybe,” the man replied before downing another gulp. His words were slightly slurred. “Maybe not. People can be tricky. You can’t trust every damn one you meet you big sap. You must eyeball them and study them some first. Dig deep and find their inner demons and all that shit. That’s why I’m here. To keep your damn feet on the ground. I’m a great judge of character.”

“Zane, you don’t like anyone,” Vallen chuckled.

“Exactly! And don’t think for a second that I won’t cut one of them bitches open and ditch them in the forest to water the plants with their blood if they prove they aren’t trustworthy.” He chuckled as the liquor began to take hold, spreading all the way down to warm his toes. He kicked off his boots to get more comfortable.

“Zane! That’s not funny.” Vallen snapped. Zane only raised his hands as if to say he couldn’t help it and then took another healthy drink. “Maybe you’ve had enough, Zane. You know how you get when you drink too much. They need their sleep for the journey. I don’t want you waking the whole house again.” Vallen pulled the bottle from his hands and set it to the side.

Zane chuckled. “I’ve killed before and I can do it again if need be. You know I’d kill for you, right? Those bitches better mind where they step! Nobody better dare to hurt my buddy, EVER!” Zane’s words began to slur heavily.

A sound caught their ear and both men shifted to look back at the barn door. It appeared as if it were slightly ajar, moving. Vallen hurried to see if someone was there. Perhaps Deeban had come to double check his work. He looked outside but saw no one. His head was beginning to spin a little from the alcohol. He turned and stumbled back to sit and talk some more with his best friend. The door slammed shut in the wind and both men shared a laugh as they jumped.

“Jumping like a little bitch,” Zane teased with a punch to the shoulder. “Prince Vallen always was more of a princess.” The man began to laugh at his own joke. He laughed so hard he snorted. The pair broke into a squabble of slurs and laughs trading punches and jabs.

* * * * * * * * * *

Farrah stood with her back pressed firmly against the barn wall and her eyes squeezed shut tightly. She barely dodged out of sight before Vallen reached the doorway and spotted her. That was dumb. She shouldn’t be out here in the dark anyway, not without a lantern. Farrah made sure he was gone before opening her glowing eyes again. She stood there processing what she had just seen and heard. That was a little frightening. What should she do with this information? He seemed drunk, so she crept away back to the manor house. It was hard to shake those words though. The actions and talk of killing disturbed her. She wondered if she should tell someone else about Zane.