Varcola Arnfried's Journal: Cèitean the 3rd - Later - Late-Night Talks with a Vampire

And much more

Later

It happened that the manservant returned that very same day, the letters having been delivered he assured me. Though, by this time I had my doubts having examined the courtyard, whilst the Baroness left to go rest for the day, so that I was left alone to note down all that I had observed this day in this here journal. It happened just as I closed it, and hid it, as had become customary for me, wherefore I went down to eat the luncheon that Klove had prepared ere his departure.

Eating the cheese, onions and simple mutton that he had had the politeness to prepare to the utmost of his abilities (which were considerable), I glanced at the entrance-hall doors.

There had not been any barking or growling, when Klove had disappeared out the door, so that I decided to go open them a crack to examine the wolves.

The wolves that had haunted the castle courtyard were still there, though they were resting with a few of their eyes cracking open at the sound of the doors.

Retreating back inside, I was made to wait until Klove returned to ask of him, “How is it that you slipped past the wolves?”

At my query shortly after his return, from abroad he gave me a wearied glare having not yet shed his travelling cloak, “By staff as much as by blade so that I frightened them away.”

“Yet they were there still, when I decided to take a look out into the courtyard,” I protested furiously, unable to contain my disbelief.

“How should I know the doings of wild beasts?” He snarled at once, quieting only to add frantically, “If she has not seen fit to dismiss them it is no business of mine!” As though he had just realised what it was that he had uttered, he corrected himself. “What I mean to say is that if they returned after my departure, there really is naught that I can do about it.”

Suspicious that there was a lie beneath his words, it was thence that it struck me how naïve and foolish my previous hopes had proven to be.

It did not show upon my face though, for I had well learnt my lessons, to never show to these two madmen what it was that I felt or thought of them.

Much of the following hours though was spent lost in thought within the library, until the Baroness came hither to converse with me regarding the noble-houses of the realm. She wished still to know which princelings and which princes were the most influential, how young they were (this latter point was important to her) and who was the most vigorous in war. It was all quite thorough, her investigation into their doings with naught left to chance or in the ether of the unknown.