Holier Than Thou

[Soran Nightblade]

"An enchanter," Vlad said as he flowed through the crowd with her. Something about the way he walked tended to cause people to part around him, even when it was crowded. "A good one, if we can find one."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele frowned at her husband as they stepped through the crowd. "What do you need an enchanter for?" she asked curiously, almost coming to a stop at the site of an adorable toddlers dress. It was too early to think of such things, so she only half-missed a step. "Speaking of enchanter... When do you think we should brave telling Sinead the news?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad grinned. "It should prove an interesting conversation. Perhaps we should send a letter." He grinned as he glanced over and caught sight of the shop next to them. "By pigeon," he added.

"As for the enchanter, I'd like to place a sound barrier around your brother's room. It will allow him some focus."

[Emora Deen]

"Oh," she replied, following along. At the mention of Talon she felt her heart sink. He wasn't himself anymore, and her encounter with him the day before had left her uneasy and fearful of his presence. "Will that help him be more like Talon?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"Yes," Vlad assured. "He is still New, Tenele. Give him some time to focus and readjust. He is like a newborn, unable to control his needs or how he expresses them. He will learn. Unfortunately, unlike a newborn, he has an adult's sense of pride to punish him for needing what he needs. The anguish and humiliation will fade when he learns to control himself better. Then, he can explore which parts of himself he'd like to keep, and which parts died along with his body." He paused, because he knew she didn't want to hear that he would be permanently changed. But he was sure she knew better than expect him to be the same after these experiences, and he would only insult her if he pretended otherwise. "I believe he will pick the right parts to keep. But he cannot know the kind of monster he wants to be. He is still thinking only that he does not want to be a monster."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele nodded very slowly at his words, blinking her eyes to keep them from tearing up. She couldn't imagine what Talon was going through, or how he hated what he'd become because of them. He seemed on the cusp of some terrible realization when he'd last spoke to her. When he'd pinned her against the wall and threatened to bite her. Tenele pushed it from her mind. "I'm sure he'll keep the good parts. He's Talon. He's protective, overly so, and kind. He'll be a good... monster."

[Soran Nightblade]

"I agree," Vlad said. "I believe he will do well. I will need to spend more time with him for the next few months. That works out well enough, since I want to be close at hand to you." He sounded overprotective, possibly of both of them, but Vlad cared little about the way it might look.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele's smile returned. "You are adorable when you're being the protective husband," she whispered to him, tightening arm arms around his as they walked. It had taken getting used to, letting someone be so protective of her. Tenele had a strong will, and had spent most of her life taking care of herself. It had taken a great deal to come to understand and accept Vlad's protective possessiveness. Now, she couldn't explain why, she found his possessive streak sexy. It made her insides swirl with butterflies to know that he loved and cared for her that much, that he wanted her to be his (and Atul's occasionally) alone.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Adorable? I'll take it," Vlad appraised, weaving his hand into hers as they roamed the crowded marketplace. They came to a purple-striped tent with a small sign that said "mage for hire". After their experience with Fero, Vlad had little interest in dealing with the court's mages. Plus, this was best handled by one who had no idea why it was needed.

He pulled aside the flap and stepped into the hot, stuffy air inside. It appeared no one was there, but then a tall man with dark brown skin stepped out from an adjoining room. "Come in! How can I help?"

Vlad didn't bother with the pleasantries typical in such exchanges. "My business is extremely private. We must not be heard by those outside."

Like he was swatting a fly, the man reached out his hand and carved a shape into the air in front of him, the pressed it to the wall of the tent. A dim glow surrounded them, and then all sound from the marketplace outside cut off. Vlad turned an approving look upon the somewhat confused mage. "Two-way?"

"The spell? Yes...it's two way."

"Can you make it one way?"

"Pardon me, but what would be the point of..." the mage cut off as he caught the glint in the vampire's eyes. He shaped his hand into a different position and carved a new symbol above the first, linking them with a weaving line. "It is done." The sounds outside flooded back in.

Vlad caught Tenele's eye. "Watch him a moment," he said, turning to leave the tent. He stuck his head back in. "Oh, and sing," he added with a grin at his wife before disappearing behind the flap.

[Emora Deen]

"Sing?!" Tenele blinked at her husband as he disappeared and then turned an apologetic look on the mage. Tenele winced as she pondered for a song. She took a deep breath and began singing, in no real stylistic way. It was pretty, as must elvish voices were, but the tone was very dull, as it might be if someone was forced to sing when they didn't feel like it. She got a few lines in before pausing. "Is that good enough?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad poked his head back in. "I'm sorry, I couldn't hear it. Try again." He disappeared once more.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele gave her husband a deep scowl. "Really?" she asked as he disappeared well before the word was even out. She hesitated for a moment and then started singing again, ringing her hands. Finally her song faded into a lovely little tune about beating her husband to death, to which she was sure to get some raised eyebrows from their mage for hire.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad poked his head back in. "I still can't hear anything. Try again." He disappeared.

The mage looked like he wanted to say something, but held his tongue rather awkwardly instead.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled pleasantly at the mage and held up one finger. "Would you excuse me, thank you. Just one moment, I promise," she muttered. Tenele went to the flap of the tent, and reached out for the collar of Vlad's shirt, and gave a swift tug.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad complied obligingly as he was hauled back into the tent. His wife was growing harder to fool after all these years. "It's a good barrier," he complimented the mage. "How much to put up another one?"

The man cocked his head, trying to understand. "You'd like...oh....I see. Well, I suppose it depends on where."

"Can you do it blindfolded?" Vlad asked, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

"I...suppose I could. Yes."

"Then you needn't know where. How much?"

The man raised his chin skeptically. "20 gold."

"Unless it provides eternal youth as well, you can shove that offer," the vampire mused.

"15 gold."

"One. And I'll provide the blindfold.

The man frowned. "Very well."

"And for trying to swindle me, you'll do the singing this round."

The man cringed, but knew he'd been offered a fair sum. "Very well."