Havermouth, Present Time“It wasn’t Aislen,” Rhett said under his breath as they trailed the Point Crest Triquetra through the streets.The human children were getting restless and Meguitte’s spell was wearing off, their mother’s cheerful acceptance gradually fading, and her expression growing tense as her eyes darted around their small group, obviously beginning to question precisely why she was walking with them.Harry was doing their best to keep the children entertained with magic tricks, making flowers appear in their hands, and coins in pockets, and other such foolery in a combination of actual sleight of hand and vampire-speed, but Rhett and Cameron had fallen into step behind them, expecting that the mother would make a run for it at some point.Behind them, Connery and Meguitte discussed spell components in quiet tones. Things were not all well there either, Rhett thought. With Meguitte’s initial shock fading into distress, Connery was alternating between distracting her and

Concordia, Seven Hundred Years BeforeThaelen shielded his eyes from the glare of the sun as it sparked off the machinery of the humans on the other side of the mountain range. Were they, as the lookouts had suspected, preparing for another war? Not another war. The same war, he thought grimly, fought over and over and over again.Every new generation of human seemed determined to crush Concordia and take everything that they possessed.His efforts to get the humans to forget about their history of raiding their coasts through his trade with Astreau had been unsuccessful - although the trade itself had been incredibly productive. Ships travelled constantly between Concordia’s port and Astreau, although the import of human beings only occurred once or twice a year. Concordia’s artisans were kept busy producing products to trade with Astreau, who could not get enough of skills and techniques developed through centuries of practice.Their relationship with Astreau remained the only posit

Concordia, Seven Hundred Years BeforeThe watch tower accommodations were far from luxurious in scale. In the mountains, the flat space was limited, and each tower had been selected for its outlook over the human lands more than for the comfort of those who spent their time within it, therefore the courtyard space was small, and the buildings around it were designed around the ungiving stone with rambling levels and cramped corners.Water was restricted to that collected from the run-off from the rooves, and therefore bathing was limited to a bowl of water and a washcloth – which suited the soldiers who worked in shifts from the tower, returning to civilization between, and the miners whose labor ingrained into their skin making daily bathing seem pointless.The Lord Jermyne and his squires were escorted to their accommodation for the night, and Thaelen left them doing their best to repair their appearance using the washbowl and cloth in the chamber. As he returned down the stairs Hae

Concordia, Seven Hundred Years Before Their meandering journey through the tunnels took three days, during which Thaelen felt that he was able to get a grasp both on the Lord Jermyne, and on what his people sought from Concordia. Thaelen wished to be cautious, however he found himself liking the man and his squires and enjoying their company. When they stepped out into Concordia’s side of the mountains, all three humans stopped to gape. “It is… stunning,” Lord Jermyne exclaimed. “Simply amazing. I have seen the coast from the ocean, and the mighty wall with which you control entry into your bay, but to see it from within… Amazing. The development and cultivation of the land… The castles and cities…” “We are primarily artisans,” Thaelen explained as they began to pick their way down the mountainside. “We hone our skills over generations and our craftmanship is highly sought after by Astreau. They send their young to us to teach. But,” he chuckled. “Rarely do they return. They like

Havermouth, Present TimeTalen’s eyes were only for his mates, and Meguitte pressed back against the wall, her heart in her throat as she watched him pull them to him. The expression on his face… She felt a painful ache of envy, sorrow, and happiness for him. And she wanted to sink into the floor, to evaporate, to simply disappear…Connery peeled her away from the wall, putting his arm around her shoulders, and capturing one of her hands in his. He spoke no words, did not look down at her, and drew no attention to his actions from those around them, but simply offered his touch in comfort.And it was comforting. In Connery, at least, she had an ally, someone who would stand with her whilst she made her confession to the man who had saved her life and given her a new one, to whom she had made a promise and then broken it.She swallowed hard. “Thaelen,” she said, barely a croak of his name, and yet he heard, turning his head slightly so that he caught sight of her out of the corner of h