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the shadows, brightened to nearly the glow of a coal ember as it hovered in
the road where the two late night walkers had just been standing. It floated
after them for a while, then turned down a side alley and disappeared.
Constable Ellinwood arrived at his rented rooms shortly past the midnight
hour, glad to finally be home.
Although he was known to sit drinking ale with his men at any one of Miiska's
various taverns late into the night, he found these "duties" more and more
difficult as time passed. He felt that it appeared normal, even proper, for
the town constable to patronize Miiska's drinking establishments with his
guards. He would listen to his men tell boring stories about their families,
the arrest of some cutpurse, or breaking up an argument between hawkers at the
market. He would smile and nod and attempt to show interest.
But ale did little to fill his mind with dreamy comfort, and lately, it had
grown more difficult not to leave early from the guardhouse, where he
completed much of his work, and flee home to his lavish rooms in Miiska's
finest inn, The Velvet Rose. Once alone in his rooms, he could sit and mix
yellow Suman opiate powder with his hidden stores of Stravinan spice whiskey.
The combination created a powerful tonic for his troubled thoughts and allowed
him to sit in bliss for hours and hours, floating in a perfect state of
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existence.
Although he'd learned of the elixir years ago when a traveling merchant gave
him his first taste, he hadn't indulged much in the past, as the cost of both
components was exorbitant. Particularly the powder, which came from across the
sea on the far continent, south into the Suman Empire and its kingdom of
il'Mauy Meyauh. And even there, it was grown in secret and had to be smuggled
out of the country. The price was often too much for him except of course on
special occasions when he was able to extort an unusually high fine for a
criminal's release. He found it quite unfair that a man in his position, who
earned one of the largest stipends in Miiska, should not be able to afford
simple comforts after a hard day's work. Of course, he didn't have to live in
the Velvet Rose, but his plush rooms also brought him great pleasure, and a
man of his stature needed to keep up appearances.
Then nearly a year ago, a miracle occurred and he could afford all the Suman
opiate and spice whiskey he desired. And "home" was a lovely place to be at
night.
Ellinwood laid his cloak on the silk comforter covering his bed and went to
his polished cherry wood wardrobe to unlock the bottom drawer. He took out a
large glass bottle full of amber liquid and a silver urn, smiling in
anticipation.
A knock sounded on the door.
His smile faded, and he decided not to answer. Anyone calling at this hour
had no decent business. If there were some town emergency, his first
lieutenant,Darien , could handle it. He himself deserved a rest.
The knock sounded again, and a cold voice said, "Open the door."
Ellinwood flinched. He knew the voice. He placed the bottle and urn back in
the drawer and hurried to open the door. In the hallway stood Rashed, the
owner of Miiska's largest warehouse. The constable was at a loss for words.
"Um, welcome," he managed to say. "Did we have an appointment?"
"No."
Any contact with Rashed unnerved the constable, but they had such a mutually
beneficial relationship that he was determined not to jeopardize it.
"Then, how can I help you?" Ellinwood asked politely.
Rashed entered the room and closed the door. He was so tall that his head
nearly touched the low ceiling. He'd never come to the constable's rooms
before, and Ellinwood's typical feeling of "nerves" grew to anxiety. An oval
mirror in a silver frame reflected the constable's fleshy visage completely
decked out in shades of green velvet. He could not help briefly comparing
himself to the perfectly constructed creature now sharing the room with him.
Rashed glanced around briefly. "There's a hunter in town, and if she bothers
me or mine, I'll kill her and anyone who tries to assist her, including your
guards. Do you understand?"
Ellinwood stared at him and sputtered, "Who do& the new owner of Dunction's?
Oh, you've been listening to town gossip. She did not strike me as impressive
on any level."
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"She is a hunter, and if she hunts here, there will be bloodshed hers. And
you will look the other way, as always."
The constable tried to draw himself up. Although he and Rashed had a clear
agreement that any disappearances or dead bodies found would be shabbily
investigated, this was the first time Rashed had spoken so openly about
shedding blood. And he'd certainly never felt the need to relay such
information before the fact.
"Why are you consulting me?" Ellinwood asked.
"This is different. I don't know when a confrontation will occur, but I
prefer not to have any of your guards in the way."
"I'll handle my guards. But you will be discreet? She is new in town and few
know her." He paused a moment, trying to find something that might be a
suitable explanation for future use. "Perhaps the business, or a sedentary
life, didn't suit her as well as she thought it would. There would be little
interest if she and her partner simply disappeared one night."
Rashed nodded. "Of course. No bodies."
"Well, then. Do whatever you think is best." Ellinwood's eyes strayed to the
bottom drawer of his wardrobe. "Now, if you will excuse me, it has been a long
day, and I would like to rest."
Rashed's crystalline eyes followed and rested on the drawer as well. Mild
disgust passed across his face, and he tossed a bag of coins on the silk
comforter.
"For your trouble." He turned and left the room.
The constable slumped in relief, his breath coming quick and short. Perhaps
he should have stipulated that if Rashed wished to speak again, he should
arrange a meeting at the warehouse, as was their usual custom. He had no wish
to be alone with a vampire in the close quarters of his room ever again. But
these creatures who owned Miiska's main warehouse certainly served his needs,
and even had other uses from time to time.
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