by Jon F. Merz
They turned to leave, walking out of the church and into the failing light of the evening. Wolfric instantly felt the biting chill sweep up and under his cloak, chilling him as they walked.
Felix waited until they were several hundred meters from the church before talking again. “What did you think?”
“The strigoi. That means vampire, right? You mentioned that when we first rode into these lands.”
Felix nodded. “Yes. The legends have been pervasive in this area for many years. No doubt some of our kind probably hunted without thought for the consequences and as a result, the locals formed their legends around them. Now with the laws that we obey as a people, the old ways of hunting have changed dramatically. It would appear, however, that some will stubbornly cling to the old methods without thought for what it might do to the rest of us.”
“It becomes even more important to find the culprit, then,” said Wolfric. “Lest he cause us all to be hunted down and exterminated.”
“Absolutely correct,” said Felix. “We must find this offender and soon.” He turned toward the manor house. “I find it interesting that such a grand house as that doesn’t seem to have a resident but for certain times of the year.”
“Is that abnormal?”
Felix shrugged. “Perhaps not entirely, but it does offer a bit of possibility if you think about it.”
“How so?”
“You tell me,” said Felix.
Wolfric considered the question and after a minute frowned. “If there’s no one living in it year round then it lies dormant at all other times.”
“Obviously.”
“That dormancy provides a convenient location from which to venture out, especially at night. If the offender we seek is living there then they can hunt at will and return without anyone being the wiser.”
“Exactly,” said Felix.
“But there’s a problem,” said Wolfric.
“Is there?”
“It’s too obvious,” said Wolfric. “It’s the first place anyone would check. Why haven’t the townspeople searched the house already?”
“It may be locked,” said Felix. “Or they may feel that they cannot because the house does not belong to them. It’s a royal property, after all. If they were found to break in, then they might be jailed for the offense. Or worse.”
“Such things do not apply to us, though, do they?”
Felix chuckled. “No, they most certainly do not. We are charged with tracking down this offender and I feel quite at ease using whatever skills necessary to bring our search to fruition and this assignment to a suitable conclusion.”
“Then we search the manor house,” said Wolfric.
“Yes,” said Felix. “But perhaps not just yet.”
“No?”
Felix shook his head. “We’ve only just arrived in town. Our presence is still a novelty. We cannot begin our search without expecting our every movement to be carefully studied as the townsfolk try to figure out who we are and why we are here.”
“You say that like we’re being watched.”
Felix laughed. “Oh, we most certainly are being watched. Trust me. Father Mirescu himself stands at the window of the church we just left watching what we do next.”
“You’re certain of it?”
“Experience teaches us well,” said Felix. He turned slightly and tugged Wolfric’s arm just so. “And look there - slowly - by the trees to your left. Two men wait under the thickest branch.”
Wolfric allowed his gaze to pivot to that direction. At first he saw nothing.
“Watch how the tree moves when the wind blows. Look for motion that is out of rhythm with how the trees shifts. That is how you detect things - man or creature - when you are out in the wild by yourself. They will always move against the flow of nature.”
And then Wolfric saw them change their position ever so slightly. “I see them.”
“Good,” said Felix. “Then we will do what any normal person would do: rather than heading for the manor, we will instead return to the inn and have supper. Perhaps there we will learn more about these attacks.”
Chapter 23
“Are you sure this is the best course of action?”
Felix smiled slightly. “You would have rather headed directly for the manor house?”
Wolfric nodded. “Yes. There may be clues there that could help us uncover the identity of the man we’re tracking.”
“Are you certain it’s a man?”
“Well,” said Wolfric then slowly. “Perhaps not. But is it possible a woman could be the culprit?”
Felix stopped walking. “The one thing you must never do, if at all possible, is make assumptions. When you are out in the field by yourself, you will have no one to bounce ideas off of. You will only be able to rely upon yourself. Because of that, you must always strive to see things as objectively as possible. Our inherent nature makes us subjective, but the work you and I do dictates we must remain objective. If we only see what we expect or what we assume, then we will miss a great deal. And perhaps even sentence the wrong individual when the real culprit gets away. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” said Wolfric. “No assumptions.”
Felix smiled. “It’s only natural to want to inject your own ideas into this investigation. I’m not begrudging you that. I just need you to remember to keep a clear head at all times. If it is possible for a man to do something, then it is equally possible for a woman. And sometimes, it is even more likely. I don’t know if that is the case here or not, but I’m sure we will find out soon enough.”
“But no manor tonight,” said Wolfric.
“No. As much as I wish to pursue that line of investigation, we would simply raise suspicions if we did so. Indeed, if an attack happens tonight and we are not seen by the townsfolk, then we will automatically become the suspects in the crime. We must first establish ourselves as ‘normal,’ and only then can we proceed without worrying so much about the villagers looking after us. It is then that the real culprit or culprits will begin to watch and see what we do. If not because they suspect us of being with the Council, but because they may view us as potential victims.”
“Victims?”
“Indeed,” said Felix. “And that is something we may well take advantage of. Remember how I used you as bait immediately after rescuing you from the clutches of the Burgermeister?”
Wolfric frowned. “Unfortunately.”
Felix chuckled. “I’ll admit, it wasn’t a particularly pleasant feeling for you, but the practice works when it needs to. And we may have occasion to use it again here in Malancrav. Depending on what we discover later this evening, there may come a time when we will employ it to catch our prey.”
They continued walking back into the heart of the village. As they did so, Wolfric kept his peripheral vision attuned to the movements at the edge of his sight. He lowered his voice. “It’s amazing how badly they blend in.”
“Well, yes, but we also have the advantage of being able to see at night quite well. If we were humans, then they might be much harder to see. But as it is, it’s child’s play keeping them in sight without even appearing to notice them. Which is good.”
“Why is it good?”
“Because we appear as unaware as anyone might expect a pair of travelers to be in this part of the world. We’re back within the village now, seemingly at ease. The villagers will no doubt feel proud that they tracked us to the church and spied on us without our apparent knowledge. Put yourself in their position: if they were suspicious of us before, we have given them no reason to conclude we mean them any harm.”
“True,” said Wolfric. “Our apparent lackadaisical attitude works in our favor, does it not?”
“Indeed,” said Felix. “There are times when you will have to pretend to be stupid or ignorant or unaware. Allow people to think they have won and their guard will come down far easier than if we press them to lower it. Everyone wants to feel superior to another, so give them that. If
they think they’ve won, then they will stop fighting. That’s when you will be able to exploit them for whatever you need. Or even kill them if necessary.”
“Kill them?”
“If the job requires it,” said Felix. “Letting your prey think they have beaten you is one of the easiest ways to bring about their demise.”
They drew abreast of the inn and Felix walked inside. Wolfric followed and a wall of heat greeted them both as they ducked under the door jamb and saw the innkeeper smiling at them.
“Did you have a nice walk?”
Felix nodded. “It was a fine one. We ventured up to the church and saw the frescoes. Amazing artistry for such a quaint village as this. You are truly blessed to have such a fine place to worship.”
The innkeeper smiled. “Father Mirescu is a god send to us. He came here fifteen years ago and has become a vital part of our community. His knowledge of our local history is extraordinary. Many consider him our unofficial mayor.”
“I can see why,” said Felix. “We’re looking forward to exploring more tomorrow, but my son and I grew hungry after our chat with the good Father and thought we’d come back here for a hearty meal and perhaps a few more tankards of that delicious ale.”
“As you say,” said the innkeeper. He nodded toward a table in the back. “That one is close to the fire and you may warm yourselves while my daughter prepares your meal. I’ll have the ale brought over immediately.”
Felix bowed. “Many thanks.” He turned and led Wolfric to the table where they drew off their cloaks and sat in the stout chairs.
Wolfric sighed as the warmth of the fire settled over him. He hadn’t been aware of his fatigue since they’d arrived here, but now he felt weary and yet contented. He felt Felix’s eyes on him and immediately straightened up, forcing himself to look as aware as his teacher did.
Felix held up a hand. “We’ve been pushing hard to reach this place. I understand that you are tired.”
“I didn’t mean to allow myself to grow lazy,” said Wolfric.
“I know it,” said Felix. “But it happens regardless. Our minds will lull us into a relaxed state if we allow them to. You must always be the master of your mind. Your body will do far more than you think it capable of. But your mind is the more insidious foe and it will always whisper to you to slow down, to take it easy, to become lazy. You must thwart it at every instance. Once you discipline yourself and your mind, you will be able to accomplish much more than you ever thought possible.”
The innkeeper brought over the tankards and set them down. “Mila will have your meals ready in a short time. For now, enjoy the drinks.”
“Thank you,” said Felix.
The innkeeper moved away and Felix toasted Wolfric. “Here’s to our first day in Malancrav. Are you enjoying yourself?”
Wolfric raised his tankard and knocked it against Felix’s. “I thought things would be moving much faster than this, frankly. But yes, I’m learning a great deal.” He drank from the tankard and swallowed the delicious ale.
“There is always the temptation to rush things,” said Felix. “But we are under no great deadline for this assignment. It’s far better that we take our time, learn the environment, and then execute the mission when we know exactly what we’re dealing with.”
As they talked, more people wandered into the inn and came into the tavern. The villagers greeted each other like old friends and Wolfric felt a pang of loneliness at how warmly they seemed to act. He remembered his own village back in Bavaria and the times when he’d felt that much a part of the community.
That had been before he’d been tossed aside by those same people because he wanted to do more with his life than work the fields and settle for what everyone else settled for. That same community that claimed to love him, quickly grew to hate him and cast him aside without any thought. The sheer hypocrisy of it had rattled Wolfric, leaving him devastated at the loss of people who had claimed to be his friends. He’d gone through an intense period of sadness followed by anger at the people who promptly seemed to forget all the good he’d done for them and the community. It was easier to hate him for going against the grain, for standing up for himself, than it was to risk the wrath of the community by siding with him. And the few people who did stand by him had paid a stiff price as well as the community relegated them to a lesser social standing.
Perhaps one day they would realize their error, he thought. Or perhaps not. It didn’t matter, he realized. Their lives were dictated by script and routine with no variation and no excitement and no passion. They would pass their time and then crumble to dust, forgotten when the winds blew. No one would ever tell tales of what they had done, what they had dared, or what they had created.
Better to be true to oneself, concluded Wolfric. Leave the hypocrites to their miserable existence.
He was going to become a Fixer.
Chapter 24
As more people showed up at the tavern, Mila emerged from the kitchen and brought their meals to them. She handed Wolfric his bowl first with a smile and a quick glance at him.
“I hope you like it.”
He grinned. His mouth was already watering from the scent of the beef and potatoes mixed with some type of red wine reduction. “It smells incredibly delicious. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it tremendously.”
Mila blushed and then slid Felix’s bowl in front of him. “Sir,” she said curtly.
After she left, Wolfric’s smile stayed in place. Felix grinned. “Well, I guess it’s apparent who she fancies, then isn’t it?”
Wolfric shrugged. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m sure of it,” said Felix. He tucked into his meal and for several minutes neither man said anything.
But Wolfric was pleased. Mila was lovely and it was nice to remember what it felt like to have an attractive woman interested in him, he thought. Sure, he’d enjoyed many liaisons in the past with beautiful women, but he never got tired of the feeling when he spotted someone new. It wasn’t that he was keen on jumping from lady to lady, either. He simply hadn’t found one who made his heart thunder hard enough for him to consider settling down.
Of course, that was before Felix had come around. Now, with the new life looming before him, Wolfric had no idea what he was going to do about women. Surely, there must be time allowed for relationships. Then again, Felix seemed to be alone and without a companion. How did he manage it? Wolfric wanted to ask but he wasn’t sure if it was too premature to do so.
“I told you before that our life is not one that makes it easy to settle down,” said Felix as if he’d been inside Wolfric’s mind.
Wolfric set his spoon down and took a drink from his tankard. “Are we sentenced to go through life then without knowing the joys of love?”
Felix shrugged. “Of course not. We know all about it. Whether we can ever truly enjoy it or not is the problem. It’s not exactly an easy thing to discuss with your spouse that you need to leave them alone and go off on some assignment for the Council that may well involve killing someone.”
“I’d imagine not.”
“Still,” said Felix. “You shouldn’t worry too much. Who knows who you might come across in your travels? Perhaps you will find a woman who is as independent as our lifestyle demands of us. Maybe she will be able to tolerate the long gaps and the isolation and the unknowing of whether you are still alive or not.”
Wolfric frowned. “When you put it like that, you make it seem even less likely.”
Felix leaned across the table. “Listen to me, my young apprentice, I don’t want to lie to you. I don’t want you having romantic visions of what this job entails. It’s long and it’s hard and it’s devastating on relationships. Take it from someone who has experienced the pain of lost love. It’s not something I would wish on anyone.”
Wolfric nodded. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Finish your food,” said Felix. “We need to start interacting with the rest of the tavern.”
“Oh certainly,” said Felix. “It’s just a matter of letting them know we’re amiable sorts, is all.”
“And how will we do that?”
“Watch.” Felix pushed his bowl away and patted his stomach. With a giant belch, he successfully silenced the entire tavern. Faces turned to them and Wolfric felt his face go hot with embarrassment.
Felix however, seemed nonplussed. “That was a most amazing and delicious meal. Innkeeper, you have a treasure in your daughter. She is a marvelous cook!”
His voice had risen and Wolfric knew his teacher commanded the room. Wolfric marveled at how natural he’d made it appear when it was anything but.
Felix rose and raised his tankard. “My son and I thank you for the incredible hospitality this village has shown us since we arrived earlier. A round of drinks for everyone, if you would kind sir!”
The effect was immediate. A couple of cheers went up as Felix made his way to the bar to get a refill. Wolfric watched him interact with several villagers closest to him as the innkeeper refilled tankards. Felix, who normally seemed not very much into touching other people, kept clapping people on the back, or resting his hand on their arms. Wolfric realized he was making them feel comfortable without appearing to intrude too much. He nodded back at the table several times where Wolfric still ate, as if making sure the villagers knew that Wolfric was his son.
“Is it okay?”
Wolfric started as he realized Mila stood in front of him with her hands clasped before her. He forgot about Felix and nodded. “It’s amazing. My father and I have enjoyed it very much.”
“I don’t care about him,” said Mila. “But as long as you like it…”
Wolfric nodded. “I do. Very much.”
She had piercing eyes that seemed to bore into his soul. For several seconds, they simply stared at each other. Finally, Mila broke his gaze. “I should get back to the kitchen.”