Cover Art by Alison Hunt

Not much to say about this part from War of Nytefall: Loyalty.  Enjoy.

Walking through the busy streets of Gods’ Voice, Clyde and Mab try their best not to stand out with their dark clothing. Having arrived during a seasonal harvest festival, most of the mortals are dressed in bright colors and wearing a variety of decorative hats. To avoid suspicion, the pair claim to be visitors from the Cerascent Islands whenever they are approached by the celebrating locals or suspicious guards. Occasionally, Clyde’s corn-shaped necklace causes some confusion since similar jewelry has become popular among the mortal women. He fights the urge to snarl at the drunks who pretend to mistake him for Mab’s wife or sister, the friendly ribbing never lasting more than a few seconds. It is only when they duck into an alley that the vampires feel like they can relax and breathe, but one glance at the distant castle causes them to worry again. Illusions of every deities’ holy symbol hover above the domed building and towering geysers burst from the saltwater moat to fill the city with a cleansing mist. While not painful, the display makes Clyde and Mab uncomfortable to the point where they absent-mindedly scratch at their skin. Not wanting to get too close to the warded castle, they circle back to the busiest part of the city and are again questioned about their appearance. Once they get fed up with the constant delays, the pair weave through the crowd and snatch hats off the heads of two drunks who are struggling to stay awake.

“I thought you knew where you were going,” Clyde mutters while he tries to create an illusion. He stops as soon as their clothes begin to change and a nearby guard turns towards them. “These guys have to be the most cautious and paranoid security force I’ve ever had to deal with. We better get to the Gar Library and leave before they figure anything else out. Like I said when we left, this is all stealth and no killing. One body and we’ll have the entire city after us, which is bad when the buildings are mostly temples and shrines. Seriously, who puts so many holy places in one spot?”

“Mortals who are scared of undead and want the blessing of every god,” Mab coldly answers as she slips between two dwarves. One of the mortals steps on her jacket and she yelps before falling onto her back. “Look, I know where we’re going, but it’s hard to figure stuff out with all the partying. Most of the buildings are covered in banners and I haven’t been here in a really long time. Our people tend to avoid Gods’ Voice because of all the holy sites, priests, and paladins. I’m guessing things got moved around and I don’t recognize the landmarks. Just shut up and trust me for once.”

“I’ve always trusted you,” he whispers, his eyes darting from side to side. Confident that nobody is watching them, he helps the scowling woman up and uses a fraction of his strength to shove a path to an alley. “Are you still angry about Chastity? She asked to join us and I said yes because neither of us are as good at gathering information as her. You two put the past behind you for the most part, so I don’t get why you’re so upset. I mean, you got to spar with her and I’m sure you-”

“I never got to lay a finger on her,” the burglar angrily hisses. Hearing children behind her, she waits until the family walks by before briefly baring her fangs. “Maybe if I really wanted to kill her and used the shadows, but I can’t touch her in a friendly sparring session. She either flung me with her mind or hit me with that charm spray, which comes out of every part of her. It isn’t even like a regular charm. All I wanted to do was jump her and not in the way I normally do. Made me feel so dirty and ashamed. I’ve been able to beat Decker, Titus, Luther, and Bob in sparring matches, but I keep losing to that overused bedspread.”

“Needed to get all that out, huh?”

“Yes, but I also wanted to call you a bastard.”

“Please tell me why.”

“You bought me a curved dagger.”

“I thought you liked-”

“That’s what Luther likes to use.”

“At least I didn’t mix you and Chastity up again, so I’m making progress.”