Gera's Cough

The Coast of Alden, Nine Hundred and Fifty Years Before

The new slaves improved, and they resumed with their raids, taking ten more small coastal villages and towns until their ships rode low in the water, the cargo holds overflowing with new treasures and slaves.

Gera had selected two young women from the holds to serve as Thaelen’s blood slaves, and Thaelen was amused, as Gera’s selection betrayed his jealous ownership of his vampire as clearly as if he had branded it on the women. Whilst both women were beautiful, they were both very much not of Thaelen’s preference, being long limbed, and lean - lacking the lush curves of the goddess.

It was difficult to communicate to the terrified women that his drinking from them would not hurt them, and they trembled and begged and shied away from him each time they were brought to him, but they seemed to trust Gera, and gradually, with begrudging dignity, would hold out their wrist to Thaelen, whilst looking away, unwilling to meet his eyes.