Freyan tried to get himself together, clean his clothes of the signs of his deeds. But mostly it didn’t matter. What was left of it was dirty and black almost everywhere. Still he could come and go in the streets of this town without questions asked. He was more suspicious of everyone else than the others were about him. Especially when a wraith like creature flew past him. It looked like a tall man’s ghost in black robes hovering above ground. His pale skinned bald head had hollow holes for eyes. And he looked as if he was covered in ever evaporating mist. It really gave Freyan the chills just looking at him.

After getting over this bit of fright Freyan knew exactly where he wanted to go. The scaly monster stood behind his goods. It was clear he recognized the broke vampire before him. Now that Freyan was ever more dirty grimaced enigmatically. His features made it difficult to understand the emotions on his face but now it was the most clear thing. There was no other way to understand it. He got even angrier when Freyan’s hand got close one of his merchandise.

“Easy, I’m hear to buy now” Freyan gesticulated defensively. He started to search under his mangled coat and show the monster a small green hued crystal coin.

The attitude of the merchant changed quickly. He still didn’t wanted Freyan dirtying the cloths on display but was willing to negotiate. The only problem was he didn’t spoke Qvilick and Freyan still didn’t know the local tongue. Gesticulating and speaking in their own language they tried to make a deal. Much to the merchant frustration Freyan made an attempt to figure out the worth of the money.

After long minutes of clumsy attempt to haggle on the prices Freyan was close to give up.

“Don’t give him that much” Freyan heard a somewhat familiar voice from behind him. He turned around just to see the woman of his dreams, the wild mistress of the forest. “Come on vampire, how come you are so easy to fool? I wanted to pass by but it was so awkward just to look at you trying.”

“And a good evening to you to my lady. It’s good to see you again” Freyan smiled kindly.

“Yeah. ‘Evening!” she grimaced slightly trying to decide what to think about the vampire before her.

The merchant said something frustrated by the fact Freyan turned his back towards him. And the lady from the forest answered to him in a few loud words.

“The fact is my lady, that I’m not familiar with the worth of money in this world, not to mention the language. I have little choice in this matter” Freyan continued when the woman paid attention to him again.

The lady of the forest gave out a big sigh.

“Alright. I help you out. Again…”

“Really? I would really appreciate it!”

“So which ones do you want?”

When they left the stand Freyan ended up buying more things than he originally wanted. With the help of the lady he got almost everything for half price he was offered the first place. He even bought a firm leather bag and a second garment.

He followed the woman for a while as he had no other things to do and was not told to do otherwise. The lady herself came to the city to buy thing she needed. So they went from one merchant to the other while Freyan helped carry things when the lady let him.

“Thank you for your help again. I’m Freyan Maerven by the way.”

“Lana, Shaman of the Great Spirits.”

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance” there was an almost childish smile on Freyan’s face, he couldn’t help it.

“I wish I could say the same without doubt.” Seeing Freyan’s surprise she continued. “Don’t get me wrong. I have no problem with you personally. Vampires are creatures to be feared or at least to be cautious when they around. They are first class assassins and always have a hidden agenda. At least if one wishes to survive meeting them he or she has to consider it to be true. Which brings me to the question: Have you been contacted by your clan already?”

“No.”

If it was true it gave Lana hope that she could help a lost soul.

“I see. How did you get that much money than?”

“I met a scholar in the forest. I helped him out and he paid for my services.”

“Really? Was this scholar human?”

“Yes.”

“And you could control yourself around a human?” now Lana looked surprised at him.

Freyan scratched the behind of his head in his embarrassment.

“Gilyon is a capable mage as far as I can tell. He helped me think clearly around him, with a spell of some sorts.”

“Is that so?”

“I… you know… Its not that I want to hurt anyone! I didn’t asked for this…” the sadness was clearly visible on Freyan’s face. He remembered the bodyguards he hired. They all dead now. Yes, most likely if they didn’t end up like him.

Lana stopped and looked at him.

“I pray to the Great Spirits that you are not trying to deceive me. I want to believe you.”

They continued in silence for minutes after this.

“So what were you plans for the rest of the night? Other than trying to bargain in a language you don’t know?” Lana tried to change the subject.

“I was supposed to wait for a buyer here on the main street. Yet there is no sign of him.”

“A buyer? For what?” the shaman almost laughed in surprise.

More fluent their conversation was the more convinced Freyan was how soothing the woman’s voice. Well especially in the moments she didn’t tried to scold her.