Podger Miz shifted uneasily under the glare of the vampire before him.

“You used me and people died,” Podger gulped. He had, but he had done it out of love. Paulina was the most precious thing after little Edwin. He had wanted and needed her back.

“You will be trailed as a war criminal if you tell anyone,” warned Podger, but the young man just scoffed at him.

“And I will be executed alongside you, Paulina and Hafnon,” the easy way with which the healer spoke told Podger that this was a delicate matter.

“Surely, you have someone to live for?” Podger’s eyes went towards the white haired vampire next to the healer who had woken up Paulina. Their hands were locked together, and the vampire was gently running a thumb on his lover’s hand.

“I do, but you have the authority to have the book you found the knowledge in banned,” ah, so that was what the healer wanted. Podger smiled and then, after a glare by both vampires, lowered his gaze.

“I’ll see it done,” Podger handed the healer his papers, something he had made sure happened faster than normally. Only a week, and he had offered the healer passage into the town even without them. But he had refused.

Which was good, seeing as him coming and going without papers would have raised many questions. Questions which would have led to Paulina and her seclusion when she had died in truth.

“If this happens again, I will sick a shadow at you, mayor,” promised him the healer. Podger looked at the man’s shadow, which, for a split moment, split in two. He paled and began to shake.

“I have a family…” That seemed to anger the healer more.

“And the people who died like flies didn’t?” Snapped the healer.

“Eddy,” the last hope for Podger making it home alive was the white haired vampire, the mayor knew that. He sent him a pleading look, and the vampire pulled his spouse to the side and began whispering to him.

The healer slowly adopted a defeated look and, when they returned to Podger, his expression turned unreadable.

“A select few would know of our crime,” told him the healer as Podger nodded along. “But know this, when I need your help, I will call on you.”

Podger looked at the white-haired vampire, who raised an eyebrow at him, as if telling him to be grateful that he was being let off the hook. Podger was, indeed, grateful. So, he bowed and made an uncertain step back.

“By your leave, Boliarin?” It came more as a question than a farewell, but the healer was still looking at Podger as if he was an insect. And insects could easily be squashed.

“Go. I better never see you again,” and I, you, thought Podger as he all but ran back to the gates. When he stopped by the guard, he slipped him a gold coin.

“Go and rent them apartments at the inn. Now,” the guard saluted and mounted his horse and rushed through the gates. Podger went inside his carriage, where Paulina was waiting, and entered.

“You seem scared,” said the sun of his life.

“He will kill us if anyone finds out about this. What is more, I will owe him. And to think I already paid the wretch,” in the safety of his carriage, Podger felt brave again.

“Hush now,” hissed Paulina. “You kicked the hornet’s nest. This is what became of it. Let us go home.”

Podger hit the carriage roof twice, and they were off. Never to see Edwin again.

Edwin stared at his papers and, with a shrug, he placed them in the inside pocket of his coat. These things, coats, seemed to be the latest fashion in the Surian Theocracy and Hadrian had gotten everyone one. His was custom-made, beige, with steel clasps. Everyone else’s being iron.

When Edwin asked why, Hadrian had told him that they were silver in color, if not in make, and that real silver caused itches on the skins of vampires. Edwin was grateful that his watch was made from steel and not silver, then. It would have been a crime if he had to leave it behind.

“So, that is that,” said Edwin and Hadrian nodded.

“We can go settle in the inn and catch a show at the theater later tonight, just the two of us,” the suggestion was not lost on Edwin. He smiled, his brain cleared from all the negative energy it had built up because of Podger Miz and the whole sordid business.

“Do you have a play in mind, or do we wing it?” Hadrian brought Edwin’s hand to his lips and spoke.

“There is a play about Aleric Stormcrow. One who is pro-Stormcrow. The latest masterpiece from Mopia. I think we owe him an apology for, well, getting him killed,” Edwin winced.

Aleric Stormcrow had left mixed signals about his work on reviving the dead and, while he might have been responsible for one plague or another, he had nothing to do with the coughing sickness. Worse, Karl Lambert had died as well.

“It will certainly be educational to see how the dwarves still hold on to their hero,” and a homage had to be paid to the dead.

“Yes, so it’s a date! I’ll go gather the kids,” so, that left Marisa, Daniel, and Sebastian to Edwin. They were hunched over the fire with the only human among them, Marisa, eating meat on a stick.

“Oh, Eddy! Seb was telling us how he dispatched a dragon skeleton on a coven of witches once,” Marisa excitedly greeted him when she saw him.

“I am sure it is fascinating, but we can finally enter the town. So, come on, finish that and let us go,” Marisa nodded and then Edwin turned to Daniel.

“Are you up for a check-up while she packs? Your liver should be nearly healed now that you are on an entirely liquid diet, but, just to be certain,” Daniel chuckled and mumbled worry wart under his breath. Edwin’s left eye twitched. Some things never changed.