Polinues Marines, the would be mage.

Chapter 45.
Title: Polinues Marines, the would be mage.

Chapter Title & No.: #45. Bright Beltane Fires III.

Author: Darkling Willow

Pairing: Non.

Rating: NC - 17
Abuse, Anal, Angst, BDSM, Bi, B-Mod, Bond, Death, D/s, H/C, HJ, Humil, Language, M/F, M/M, Minor, N/C, OC, Oral, Preg, Rim, Spank, Violence, Voy, VS, WD, WIP.

Archive: Originals - misc. > Slash – Male/Male.
Feedback: Yes thank you very much. An author can only improve with criticism. Please rate if you do not want to leave a review. Anonymous reviews have been enabled.

Disclaimer: This is an original work of fiction. Any resemblance of places and characters to actual persons, living or dead, and places is purely coincidental.
The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.

Authors Notes:
For review replies, comments and thank you's go to: http://www2.adult-fanfiction.org/forum/index.php/topic/14530-polinues-marines-the-would-be-mage/

Summary: Final installment of Bright Beltane Fires. The enemy strikes.

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Chapter 45. Bright Beltane Fires III.

Making their way along the dark streets a couple of hours before sunrise, Hylmir sang at the top of his voice a rowdy drinking song, a few stragglers joining in the song as they passed each other, Brigale’s baritone cutting in on the refrain, while the rest of the friends snickered behind their backs at the bad harmony.

Tiensin’s head hung limply on Owain’s shoulder, the executioner’s son shaking his head at Leyjen’s worries that the teen was too heavy.

“He’s lighter than my brother, and I carry him about all the time. Stop your fretting, Leyjen, I’m fine.” Owain said quietly, gently resting his cheek against Tiensin’s head, hoisting him up a little more, the teen drooling on to Owain’s shoulder.

With a sigh Leyjen tugged on Polinues’ sleeve, and together they fell behind a few meters, the loud and drunk group giving them excellent cover.

“Can I visit your room tonight?” Leyjen tugged Polinues’ hood down and whispered in his ear, his warm breath making the teen shiver.
Polinues crowded into Leyjen and draped an arm around Leyjen’s waist.

“I would like nothing more than that.” He answered with a grin, and Leyjen pulled him in for a slow kiss. Polinues wrapped his arms around Leyjen’s shoulders and parted his lips with a sigh, letting Leyjen claim him with an all consuming hunger.

Neither one cared one bit about their surroundings, the dark pool of shadows around them concealing them just enough for them to feel safe, and the voices of their friends distant enough for them to not care.

Pressing his crotch against Leyjen’s with a moan as he broke their kiss, Polinues looked up into the amber eyes, and whispered hoarsely,
“Fuck, I wouldn’t mind finding the nearest alley, and have you fuck me into the ground right there.”

“Shut up.” Leyjen hissed, his face suddenly stone sober and the amber eyes scanning the darkness around them.
Polinues felt his heart quicken and he looked around as well uncertainly.

“What is it?”

“Move. Now, catch up with them. Quickly. Can’t you smell that?”

“Hemlock.” Polinues whispered back, and without another word he turned towards his friends and started walking as fast as he could, Leyjen holding on to his elbow with a bruising grip.

Hylmir had stopped his singing and was standing underneath a lamppost on the street corner, Owain and Brigale slowing down to a saunter as they passed him, both asking what was the matter.
The three of them saw the look of fear on Polinues’ face, and the fire in Leyjen’s eyes as the two clerics came rushing down the street, and as they reached the pool of light, Hylmir asked, his voice a little less slurred than when he had been singing,
“What’s that smell? Is that hemlock?”

“Move now. Don’t run, but hurry. If I tell you to run, then run as fast as you can. Owain, can you carry Tiensin?” Leyjen hissed, tugging Hylmir along with himself as well, and the entire group turned towards their hotel again, all of them as good as sober.

Something in Owain’s movements awoke Tiensin and with a groan he asked,
“What’s the matter?”

“I’m not sure, but it’s got Leyjen spooked. Are you good to walk?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” Tiensin moaned, and Leyjen wanted to scream when Owain slowed down, dropping the boy to his feet.
Tiensin turned around unsteady, groaning as the world tilted, and Owain dropped down on one knee beside him.
“Get on my back, Tiensin. It’s easier to run carrying you that way.” He said, both of them starting to feel the need for haste.
Leyjen helped Owain to his feet, Tiensin holding on tightly, his ankles hooked around Owain’s waist.

The group matched Leyjen’s speed, and quickly they had the hotel in sight, only one avenue and half a block between them. Leyjen sighed with relief as he saw the hotel, but it only lasted a moment.

Tiensin whimpered loudly and squeezed Owain’s shoulders as if to will him on, and his voice hoarse Leyjen shouted,
“Run. Go, now, run. Stay together, but run.”

All of them could now feel the malevolent prescence that had disturbed Leyjen, and as fast as they could they ran.

Brigale reached the doors of the hotel first, crashing through them with more ruckus than could ever be considered polite, Hylmir following him close behind. Leyjen had to push Polinues towards the doors as he grabbed Owain’s elbow to pull him up the last few meters.
Tiensin cried out with terror, and all of them could see the fabric of his tunic tear as if someone had gotten a hold of him, but Owain threw himself forward and the three of them tumbled through the doors.

Leyjen slammed the doors shut behind them, and placing his hands on the white painted wood screamed,
“Arrester, Icarerrim, Astanue. This house is protected by the Codex.”
The four men jumped as a loud crash came through the doors, Leyjen pushing against the hit with all his strength. Another crash rocked the doors, and the nightman behind the front desk yelped.

Leyjen held strong and looked at the heavyset man with a smirk.
“I hope you do not have any Vampires staying here tonight, because I just blocked the doors against their kind.”

The nightwatch shook his head, uncertain how to respond to such a joke, when something utterly unholy was trying to break through the doors.
After a few minutes the tension in the air eased and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Leyjen stepped back from the doors and turned towards his friends.

Owain was sitting on the bottom steps of the stairs with Tiensin huddled in his arms, Hylmir standing beside them looking at the tears in Tiensin’s tunic.
Brigale was leaning against the bannister with wide eyes, struggling to catch his breath, while Polinues stood in the middle of the room, his face pale and his hands trembling.

“What was that?” Hylmir asked in a trembling voice, pointing to the clawmarks in Tiensin’s tunic, and Owain nearly barked back,

“What do you mean, what was that? We all saw it. We all felt it. That was a fucking Vampire, if I’ve ever met one.”

“I want to go to bed.” Tiensin whimpered, wiping his tears on his sleeve, and rising clumsily to his feet.
They all stood still for a few moments, then Owain rose to his feet and said, much more calmly,
“I’ll take him upstairs. Make sure he’s alright. Come now, little one.”

Leyjen nodded, and called after them,
“We’ll wait for you in the lounge. I’ll order you a pint.”

Twenty minutes later Owain came back down to the hotel lounge, and sat down with a sigh.

“How is he? Will he sleep alright?” Hylmir asked, and Owain nodded into his pint.

“He’s shaken, and he asked me to throw the tunic away. He didn’t want to see it. He got scratched a little. Didn’t draw blood as far as I could tell, but he didn’t let me look very closely. But I held his hand until he was asleep.”

Brigale cleared his throat loudly and perfectly imitating the tone Leyjen had used at the bar earlier, asked,
“So, do we want to talk about this?”

Owain let out a nervous laugh and Polinues frowned, while Hylmir rolled his eyes at the childishness and Leyjen glared at the knight.
“Mind your attitude, boy. I am not one to keep secrets when they endanger others. That was a Vampire. And quite honestly, a very powerful one. That scent, the hemlock, it has a sedative effect on people. It’s frightening.”

“Well, shit, if it scares you, then I should be shaking.”

“Monkey! Manners!” Leyjen growled, and the four youngsters all noticed the amber irises expand slightly, a surge of fear pushing out from Leyjen’s body.
Brigale bowed his head, a look of shame flashing over his features.

“So, what about this Vampire? What was it doing after us?”

“I guess it was after one of us. It went after Tiensin…”

“It felt more like it wanted Tiensin and me out of the way. If I had to guess which one it was after, it would be you. Or Polinues.”

“And judging by your reaction, that is who it was after.”

“Shit.”

“What? That Vampire is after me?”

“Yes.” Leyjen sank down in his seat, gulping down the remains of his wine and turning his eyes to the fire in the hearth.

The group sat quiet, staring at Leyjen, waiting for him to elaborate. None dared speak.

“Polinues is a mage. A very powerful mage. And so am I. It wasn’t coincidence that my mother came to Castle Marines that fall. My father sent her there, so I could become Polinues’ protector and mentor. And that’s what I am. We train our magic in secret, in hiding at the Temples. And there we must stay until the time is right.”

“Shit. How did your father know that Polinues would need protecting?”

“He had the gift of foresight.”

“What do the Vampires want with him?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that they are after him, and I must protect him. The Temples are sacred ground, so we’re pretty safe there, and Castle Marines has protective magic all around it. Magic old as time, really. Also we never go anywhere without protection amulets and other such magic.”

“All those bracelets and pendants you have, they’re all protection amulets?”

“Yes. I’ve even given you a couple. You just always lose them. Or give them to some trollop.”

“Hey, how was I supposed to know they were some protection thingy?”

“He told you, you dumb shit.”

“Stop it, you two. I’m in no mood right now.”

“I knew.” Owain’s low voice cut through the rising argument, and everyone went completely still.
Leyjen could have sworn that his heart pounded loud enough for everyone to hear it.
“You knew what?”

“About that Vampire.”
The other four all exclaimed loudly, and Owain’s already downcast face became even more sad.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think it had anything to do with you. And it’s not like talking about Vampires up here is an every day occurrence. I didn’t really know how to bring it up. But he’s been living in the forest for the past couple of moons. I’ve smelled that scent before, and I know he tried to lure my brother out of the house a few moons back.”

“Didn’t you just say that he’s been living in the woods for the last couple of moons?”

“Yes. Living there. He’s been around since we moved to the cottage. He lurks around the Temples and the cottage like a grey cat.”

“Aren’t you afraid?” Hylmir blushed as the question slipped out of him, the other three smirking a little.

“No. We’re protected. Just like you are. But my point is. I’ve known about him for a while. He’s after you two, that’s for certain.”

Leyjen began to object but was cut off as Brigale jumped to his feet and called over the lounge,
“Tiensin, we’re in here. Tiensin, where are you going?”

All four jumped to their feet and turned to see Tiensin drifting down the stairs and across the reception area, the pale skin of his back marred by a single bloodred slash from his left shoulder to his righ side.
As the boy reached the front doors and started fiddling with the lock, it was as if a spell had been broken and the five men by the table all rushed to the entry.

Polinues jumped on Tiensin, just as the front doors opened and Tiensin reached his hand out into the darkness of the front steps.
Owain grabbed Tiensin by the waist as well, and together they pulled the boy back from the door.
Tiensin screamed so loud the walls sang, thrashing against his captors, crying out that he had to leave.
Brigale drew his sword, but never managed to raise it as his eyes saw what was waiting outside.

Leyjen threw up his hands in a warding spell, Hylmir grabbed his shoulder to give strength to his magic, and the Vampire hissed as Tiensin’s fingertips brushed against its hand before the boy was yanked inside.
The Vampire turned away and ran across the avenue so quick that they hardly saw it.
Tiensin kept screaming and fighting against Owain and Polinues, desperate to get outside.

“By the Wraith. He’s a magician.” Leyjen muttered just loud enough for Hylmir to hear him, and Hylmir saw fear in the amber eyes.

“Hylmir. Keep them inside. Don’t let anyone leave. Don’t open the door to anyone. Wait until I return. If I don’t… If I don’t, wait until sunrise and then take the cart back to the Temples. Keep them safe.” Leyjen said calmly to his friend, ignoring Polinues’ loud objections, and then he slammed the doors shut behind himself, running out into the darkness.


Reaching the dark alley where he had seen the Vampire vanish, Leyjen allowed his amber irises to expand and gain their darkvision, then stepping into the darkness he loosened the scabbard lace of the sword that hung hidden by his hip every day, and using his thumb pushed the shoulder of the blade out of the scabbard.

“Show yourself.” He whispered into the darkness, the scent of hemlock and lavender so strong it was slowly strangling him.
A sinister chuckle floated out of the darkness as his eyes adjusted.

“Well, well, well… If I don’t get a master mage after me… It’s almost enough to make me feel all important.” The voice was sickening sweet, dripping with sarcasm.

“Who are you? Show yourself.” Leyjen ordered, but the Vampire didn’t move.

Leyjen opened his senses a little further, painfully aware of the probing mind in front of him.
When the Vampire didn’t move from the shadows, and Leyjen found the spell it was using to cloak itself, Leyjen raised his right arm straight infront of himself, his palm towards the Vampire, index and middle fingers straight but the ring finger and little finger tucked under his thumb, his left index finger pressed against his lips.
Slicing the air with his right hand, Leyjen whispered,
“Partiris Deorcen”

The blackness in the alley lifted, the flickering lights of the lampposts at the mouth of it reached in, and there it was, the Vampire that had just threatened the lives of his friends.
The Vampire started as his spell was shattered so easily, but the fear only flickered over his features before the stone cold expression returned.
Leyjen stared back with increasing horror.

“So you are a mage. I’ve been waiting for you.” The sickening voice spoke again, and Leyjen laid his right hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Who are you? Have we met before?” He asked, struggling to hide the tremor in his voice.

“Oh, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten that sweet, tender moment we shared at the blood bar. I knew you were special right then. That first whiff of your scent, it was delicious. Even as sick as you were… how long has it been?”

“Almost twelve years. Who are you?”

“The name is Hypnatos, master Leyjen.”

“Who do you work for?”

“The LordViscount, master Leyjen. She’s been searching for you, you know.”

“Shit. I’ve still got that crazy bitch after me? What does she want with me?”

“She doesn’t want you, except to tear you apart, and watch you die slowly. It is the boy she wants.”
Leyjen started at the words, unable to catch his surprise in time, and Hypnatos laughed derisively.

“You two are as slippery as a pair of eels. So many times did I almost have him, but every time you had to interfere. This time though, I intend to kill you first, and then deliver him to my mistress. She will forgive me once I deliver the boy. She’ll understand my desire for revenge.”

“Revenge? Revenge for what?”

“My lover.”

“Your lover? I don’t understand. Who is your lover?” Leyjen tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, a vile taste creeping into his mouth.

“My lover. He only had eyes for you, no matter how I lavished him with affection.”

“Tisék. You used him as a channel for your magic, and tried to lure Polinues to him that way. That’s why his mind broke. You abused him into insanity.”

“He only wanted you as his prize, that is what broke his mind. Your reluctance to give in to him, your devilish game of dragging him along, that is what broke him. I was not enough for him. Like everyone else, once he had a taste of you, he could not forget you.”

“Shut up.” Leyjen hissed, the memories of his time with Tisék still too painful to recall.
Hypnatos laughed, the sound chilling Leyjen’s blood.

“Oh, listen to that sweet little thing howl. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into his lovely little neck.” Hypnatos licked his lips suggestively, a finger tracing the outline of his cock through his skin tight trousers.
Leyjen listened and heard the sound that had the Vampire so worked up. Tiensin’s small voice floated through the night, the despair at being unable to come to the one calling him threatening to break his mind.

“You will release him, right now, or I swear I will kill you.”

“I will not release him. I am going to kill you, and then I am going to kill your funny little friends. And once I’m done, I’m going to play with that sweet little boy until he is all worn out, and then I’ll deliver your precious little Polinues to my mistress.”
Hypnatos laughed as he noticed Leyjen start at the mention of Polinues’ name, his eyes glowing with triumph.

“You will not be delivering anything, except your own death.” Leyjen hissed, drawing his sword from its sheath, the cold steel singing between the walls.

Hypnatos jumped back as Leyjen swung, delivering a quick spell to divert the blow.
Leyjen followed the slash with an attack spell, the golden missile tearing through the right sleeve of Hypnatos’ jacket.
The Vampire stood frozen for half a heartbeat, then attacked with all he had.
Leyjen blocked one spell with his sword, another clashing with his shield spell, as he screamed with pain when the third spell lashed across his right shoulder and arm, ripping the fabric of his robes and slicing into his skin.
The rage tore through his chest and as he stepped forwards, chanting an attack, his canines grew to their full length, the amber irises devouring his eyes, and the black wings sprouted from his back.

Hypnatos gasped at the sight, barely quick enough to block the spells that hurtled towards him.
Without thinking he pulled his rapier out of its sheath, only to have it bend and snap with its first contact with the massive hand-and-a-half.

“The sword of the Dragornin.” Leyjen heard him gasp, and slashing the air with his left hand threw another spell at the Vampire as the cold steel left a red gash across his chest.
Blow after blow, spell after spell clashed in the small alley, the noise drowned out by the crashing of the fireworks that bloomed over the city.

Screaming in rage Leyjen skidded down the damp cobbles on his back, his sword clattering against the wall on the further side of the alley and for a moment he feared he had lost.
Hypnatos tried to jump on top of him, but Leyjen rolled away, rising to his feet in the same movement.
Burning pain slashed through Leyjen’s side, and for a moment all he could feel was the blood gushing out of the wound.
Reaching for his sword he expected the final blow to come at any moment, but it did not.
Trembling fingers curled around the hilt and moaning with the pain and fatigue Leyjen righted himself, leaning heavily against the wall.
Then he heard Hypnatos chuckle.

The Vampire’s laughter was low, gurgling deep in his throat, and as Leyjen spun around to face the monster, Hypnatos smiled with blood stained lips, his pink tongue playing along the blade of the dagger he had used.

“I wonder if his blood will taste as sweet as yours.”

“You will not touch Polinues.”

“Polinues? Strange how your mind goes straight to him. I have no interest in him. I meant that delicious little Tiensin. How sweet his scent is. Imagine how it must feel. To touch that soft white skin, to kiss those delicate pink lips. To be buried deep inside him, to listen to him scream in agony. Imagine the taste of his sweet blood.”

Leyjen shivered with disgust as Hypnatos licked his lips, stroking his crotch through his silk trousers.
He had never seen Tiensin in that way, but Hypnatos’ words reminded Leyjen of the boy’s sweet scent, and suddenly his blood rushed in his ears.

“Besides my Mistress would kill me if I so much as touched a hair on your Polinues’ head. She wants him delivered in one piece.”

Hypnatos smiled derisively, but the grin turned to fear when Leyjen looked up, hissing at the Vampire,
“I told you. You will not be delivering him to anyone.”

Hypnatos’ threw the spell half finished and it fizzled in the air as Leyjen’s sword sliced through without effort and the Vampire’s right arm fell to the ground, severed just above the elbow.
Hypnatos crumbled to his knees, clutching at the stump, his blood pumping out with his elevated heartbeat.

“Stop whining. Kneel and take your judgement with some dignity.” Leyjen wheezed as he grabbed Hypnatos by the hair, pulled his head back and placed the tip of his sword at his throat.

“I, Leyjen Shaoir of Dragornin, Lord of Fire, judge you to death, for treason and for being a magician. May the Gods punish you for your wickedness.” Leyjen spoke low, his eyes blazing with hatred. He thrust his sword into Hypnatos’ neck, one quick push so the tip of the blade came out through the middle of his back.
Leyjen let go of the dying man’s hair, grabbed the hilt with both hands, twisted the blade around in the wound and sliced down and out.

Hypnatos did not scream or cry out, only a gurgling moan, as his chest split open, his heart sliced in two.
Leyjen fell back from the corpse, trying to catch his breath, his heart racing in his chest, he was losing too much blood. With slow movements he cleaned his sword on the Vampire’s cloak and sheathed it, then dragged himself to his feet and stumbled across the street.
When he reached the hotel he knocked, an old secret pattern of knocks he and Polinues had made up years ago. The door was pulled open only moments later and he crashed into Polinues’ arms.

Looking around the lobby Leyjen was met with many curious stares, not only from his friends but from other guests as well.
Tiensin was sitting on the stairs, calm although he was crying with fear, Owain doing his best to sooth the boy, while Brigale and Hylmir stood with Polinues by the doors.
“He’s dead. We’re safe.” Leyjen whispered, righting himself with difficulty, trying to smile.

“You’re hurt. Let me see that, you’re losing a lot of blood.” Hylmir reached out and tried to uncover the slash under Leyjen’s ribs.

“It’s fine. Just take me to my room.” Leyjen moaned, pushing him off, Brigale and Polinues draped his arms over their shoulders and supported him up the stairs.
By the time they reached the fourth floor they were more or less carrying him.
Easing him down on the bed, Hylmir pulled open his robes before Leyjen could object and the five friends gasped as they saw the deep gash.

“Shit. This is really serious. You’re going to need stitches.” Hylmir exclaimed and started out of the room, but Leyjen stopped him, the tone in his voice enough to frighten all of them.
“No. All I need is Polinues. The rest of you, go to your rooms. I’ll see you in the morning.”

The four friends started to object, but Polinues silenced them with a gesture.
“It’s fine. Go to bed. I’ll be fine. I know what I’m doing.”

Hylmir bowed his head and steered Tiensin out of the room without another word. Owain shook his head in dismay but did not object, Brigale stared at Polinues for a long while before he nodded and closed the door behind himself.

Leyjen sat on the bed, his breath labouring in his chest, his heart beating dangerously fast, and the scent of hemlock was still stuck in his nose.
He allowed himself to desire death for a moment, but the thought disappeared as Polinues sank down to his knees between Leyjen’s legs. His long fingers caressed the insides of Leyjen’s thighs seductively, the thin linen shirt unlaced, exposing the pale chest and the scarred neck.
Leyjen moaned with longing as his senses were assaulted by the heavy scent of the Roganwood, and he pulled Polinues close.

“Don’t be afraid of me.” He whispered as he ghosted his lips over the shell of Polinues’ ear, down his jaw to the scarred right side of his neck, and sank his long canines into the soft flesh.
Polinues’ hands fisted in the back of the voluminous robes and the teen moaned.
Mouthful after mouthful of the tangy blood flooded Leyjen’s system, Polinues’ body trembling between his legs, and Leyjen moaned with pleasure as he felt his body return to life.
Between swallows the taste turned bitter and metallic, but Leyjen swallowed three more times, ignoring Polinues’ weak cries and the feeble hands pushing at his shoulders.
He tore free only when he felt Polinues go limp in his arms.

“Oh, shit.” He moaned as Polinues slumped over, his eyes rolling back in his head, Leyjen quickly rose from the bed and lay Polinues down on the soft matress.
Polinues’ skin was death white and clammy, his hands trembling and his breath shallow.
His hands shook as Leyjen laced up the white shirt, fastening the cowl over his head, then he rose and stripped off his own robes, before he sank down on an easy chair by the window.
He stretched out on the easy chair, moaning from the pain as his body repaired itself with the fresh blood, his mind in turmoil over the new information he had learned, as well as how dangerously close he had come to killing Polinues.
Closing his eyes to calm down he nodded off without noticing.

A soft knock on his door startled Leyjen hard and jerking up on the seat he growled
“Enter.” just as Hylmir eased the door open and peeked inside.

Pale daylight filtered in from the hallway, and Leyjen realized that the twin suns were rising.

“Hey. How are you? How’s Polinues?” Hylmir crossed the room quickly, and touched Polinues’ face before Leyjen could respond.

“Don’t. He’ll be fine. He’s just weak. He’ll be alright.”

“He’s cold. His heartbeat is far too quick. What the Hell happened?”

Leyjen moaned as he sank back down on the chair, and Owain entered the room just in time to hear Hylmir’s words. Rushing to the bed Owain checked for a heartbeat as well, and running his hands over Polinues’ face he studied the signs as well.

Hylmir stared at Leyjen with disgusted anger, then turned towards the doors again, saying,
“He needs a healer. This is too much for my skills. I’m going to call for a healer.”
Owain stared at Leyjen for a few moments, then turned and chased Hylmir out of the room.

Leyjen sat still in the darkness, staring at the sleeping teen in the bed.
His heart lumbered in his chest, the fear of what he was capable of constricting his airway. Heavy tears rolled over his lashes, as he traced the healing cut in his side, and the desire for death that he had felt earlier in the night returned tenfold.

Some fifteen minutes later Owain returned to the room, a cup of tea in his hands, Hylmir reluctantly allowing him to enter alone.
Owain sat down on the bed, carefully raising Polinues’ head from the pillow and bringing the cup to his lips. Polinues didn’t respond at first, but suddenly his face contorted into a disgusted grimace and feebly he tried to push the cup away.

“Stop that. I know it tastes vile, but you have to drink it, Polinues. Swallow. It’ll do you good.” Owain urged the teen, and moaning Polinues swallowed, finishing the brew. Leyjen could smell the tea all the way from across the room, a bitter smell of wet rusting iron.
Rising from his chair he slowly crossed the cold floor, Owain pointedly ignoring him.

“What is that?” he asked quietly, as he watched Polinues’ breathing deepen and heard his heartbeat slow down.

“It’s called Blood Weed. You call it Burning Bramble up here.”

“But that’s a weed.”

“Yeah, it’s a weed, but it replenishes blood faster than anything else.”

“You know herb lore?” Leyjen couldn’t help the surprise in his voice.

Owain finally turned to glare at Leyjen, the hazel eyes hard with anger, and his voice was cold.
“Yes. When you grow up around Vampires you pick up a few things.”

Leyjen fell back a step, his eyes round with shock, and Owain turned back to Polinues, his voice low when he spoke.
“I know what you are. I realized what he needed the moment I saw your injuries. You are too obvious, Leyjen. You’ll end up killing him if you don’t watch yourself.”

“Could you teach me how to make that? I had no idea Burning Bramble replenished blood.”

“Like I said, living amongst Vampires you learn things.”

Owain rose from the bed as Polinues yawned loudly, blinking his eyes open.

“I’ll see you at breakfast. Hylmir and Brigale want to leave as soon as we can.” Owain said as he walked out of the room, closing the door behind himself. He met the rest of the group in the dining room of the hotel, Leyjen and Polinues joining them just before the end of breakfast service.

In near silence they retrieved their luggage, Hylmir offering to drive the cart at least half the way, and Tiensin spread cloaks in the bottom of the cart for Polinues and Leyjen to lie down on so they could rest.
Leyjen leaned his back against the front of the cart, while Polinues lay down next to him, nestling his head on Leyjen’s chest.

Tiensin sat at the end of the cart, his legs swinging over the edge, while Brigale and Owain walked behind the cart as they drove to the mansion of Jorad’s parents.
The older Marines cousin made them wait for just over an hour, acting all high and mighty when he finally showed himself, but when he climbed into the cart and noticed Polinues napping he calmed down and sat quiet in the corner.

The drive to the Temples was much more peaceful than the ride to Kalpartown, Hylmir driving so slow that sometimes Owain and Brigale climbed out of the cart and walked beside it, Tiensin playing a quiet game of dice for sticks with Jorad.