Akaron Corvus Cometh.

She nodded as he talked, her eyes showing curiosity as he talked of this dhampir. It almost sounded like his version of a Vampire, which was what she was, and she was curious to know of what he spoke.

"I'm sorry," she said, shaking her head slightly, "there are no mirrors here. There are reflective surfaces in metals and the like, and there is always a pail of water or something, but as to making mirrors, we haven't been able to duplicate that yet,"

Then she stopped, halting their progress, the smells and sounds of the forge already in their ears, even this late at night. "Tell me of this dhampir you speak of." She didn't mention his appearance, having not known what he looked as before coming to the Vale.

"Dhampir are fell servants of the dark gods milady. They are wholly evil, consuming the blood of others to quench their unholy thirst." Akaron said, matter of factly. "They are mighty warriors, strong as ten men. As a member of one of the great clans, I was honour-bound to led warriors to purge their covens where we found them. I led one such expedition, at the head of 50 men. Doughty warriors all, skilled in the destruction of dark creatures. We had weapons of enchanted iron and silver, stakes of oak and holly, and silver tipped arrows anointed with wolfsbane. The thrice-cursed dhampir ambushed us, a coven of ten, they fell upon my flank and scattered my men-at-arms with red slaughter. It was only when my knights and I rallied them and struck back that we were able to stand, I drew forth my mighty sword, Darcwynd, the thrice blessed, and myself took the head of their sire. It was then that they ran howling back to their lair. We tracked them there, and purged their fell den with fire and the sword. By the end I had lost five knights and twenty men at arms, two more men later turned and had to be executed." Akaron said.

"I miss Darcwynd, such a sword, milady, you have never seen its like. But i suppose it is lost to me now. In any case, though you are even more beautiful then a dhampir woman, you cannot be on of their foul ilk, else you would have slain me when you first came upon me."

She slowed down as Akaron recited his version of what sounded like Vampires. She blinked, slowing completely, her eyes wide with something indefinable as she stood there, listening to his bloody account and watching his brow furrow with disgust and clear hatred for these creatures he so proudly slew.

Once he finished, she realised the death grip she had held on a fold of her black dress. She hadn't realised that she was holding it and was only made conscious of it when she let go. She looked down, distracted by the unconscious movement of her hand as it flexed to loosen the cramped muscles.

"Akaron..." she trailed off. "These... dhampir that you speak of..." she swallowed nerviously, suddenly grateful that the warrior before her had not come with his weapons attached. She suddenly wasn't so sure she could handle him, should it come to a fight. It seemed that one aspect of his life had been to hunt down her kind. A warrior especially trained for such battle surely had advantages over those who were not.

She sighed, suddenly seeming very weary. Shaking her head, she took a measured step backwards and whispered, her voice low and pained, the depths of her eyes pleading for understanding.

"I'm sorry Warrior... you must know..."

Then she changed.

Her changes were small, however the more drastic because of it. Her natural sexual allure was so much more in this pure form of herself as her fangs elongated in her mouth, her nails lengthening to clawtips on her fingers, her eyes filling up with a dark, voidal colour, her whites disappearing altogether.

"I am a Vampiress, Warrior. Tell me, is this what you call a Dhampir?" her hissed words came from between her teeth, her tone and voice seeming menacing simply because of what she was, though she did not intend it to be so.

Akaron's eyes went wide with shock. Instinctively he reached for his sword, soon remembering that it wasn't there. He quickly moved himself into a barehanded fighting pose. "Aren't you going to kill me then? Or are you taking me to your coven as a feast for all? Make your move dhampir i shant go quietly!"

At his reaction, she shook her head sadly and changed back into her mortal form. Sighing softly, she stood there, her head tilted to one side, as if studying him. Her eyes carried a deep sadness, a want and a need to be understood. Her sexual allure was still there... though for some reason it seemed dampened somewhat. She could not control it any more than she could control her need to blink.

"Warrior," she finally said, after a long, silent interval. Her arms were by her side, her stance carefully neutral. Oh, she could defend herself if need be, but she preferred not having to. "Is this how you thank me for my hospitality? My trust?" she shook her head sadly, "I will not kill you. I have not killed for," her eyes clouded as her voice got quieter, "-years. I will not start now,"

Her tone was softer, less threatening but never could she stop the undertone of menace that was lent to her because of her species. "Stand down, Warrior. I am taking you to the smithy. Nothing more." She sighed and then seemed to wilt somewhat.

"You... You aren't going to kill me?" Akaron said lowering his guard somewhat. "Then you cannot be dhampir, for a dhampir would never let me live. Maybe your people are related to them, but aren't evil, is that so?"

She smiled, relaxing her taut muscles just a fraction. She could still not be too careful. "I know that I am not evil. Here.. there is nothing that defines evil. It is simply nature. Sure, I need the blood of others to survive, but I do have a heart," she smiled again, her eyes twinkling a little with relief.

"I will not harm you. I would never wilingly harm anybody." she shook her head, the sadness of thousands dead at her hands apparent in her eyes. "People are what they are. It is their nature here. Did you ever stop to wonder if the Dhampir saw YOU as evil?"

"I care not, my duty and privilege was to kill them for the safety of the people on my family's lands. I even led expeditions into other fief's to aid the people of uncaring lords. In fact, I once saw the devastation left by dhampir on the people of one Marquis Limberry, due to his decadence and inaction. Once we cleared the covens, at great cost in valiant men, I myself ascended the stairs of his "Tower of Pleasure" as the commonfolk called it. I had planned merely to beat him for his inadequacies, but instead found him in the middle of an orgy. Milady, I tell you truly, my rage at finding him such whilst his people and my warriors were dying so terribly was vast, and i drew forth Darcwynd and pulled him from the harlots warmth, and there i smote him in twain. He was dead before either half hit the floor, and then I was put on trial for murder among the peerage. I was cleared when the circumstances were explained to the king's satisfaction." Akaron said, his eyes focused on Wraith's darkly beautiful form.

Strangely, her first reaction to his story was to laugh. "Oh my, is that supposed to tell me that you're an honorable man, or that I shouldn't get you angry?" but she really didn't require an answer. She was merely teasing.

She started off again, going in the same direction as she had been before. "Make no mistake though warrior, that you would not like to see my anger either. But, we'll be just fine. Curb your sword before you do anything rash. There are a multitude of people here. However they are all good people. Think before you act, warrior and you'll do just fine."

She smiled though, to take the sting from her words.

He merely smiled, "Lets find me a sword to curb first, and perhaps new clothing, i feel that what im wearing is a bit tight." he wiped his arm across his lips and felt something strange. "Milady, tell me, do i have fangs? like a wolf?"

She simply nodded and taking his hand, drew him across to a small fountain. The water gurgled out of the spout of a dolphin into a rounded basin.

It was to this basin that she pointed Akaron towards. The light of the twin moons and the starlight were enough for him to see his reflection should he peer into the water.

He felt his heart and faculties melt as she touched his hand and he fought to compose himself before she noticed. He looked into the basin and saw his new visage. On his head were two large horns swept back over his head and in his mouth were two massive, wolf-like fangs. He had a red beard and hair and was taller and more massive then ever he had been. He stepped back and looked at Wraith. "Milady, what manner of creature am i?

She shook her head, "To be honest, you're the first of your kind that I've ever seen." She shrugged, "I don't imagine that your cabilities now are far removed from your old ones, though I would hazard a guess that you are now stronger."

She paused, looking down at her own reflection, musing quietly, she almost whispered, "You are not falling in love my dear Warrior. It is simply an ability of mine... it seems that when Vampire's get to a certain power level, they exude sex, as it were."

She smiled brilliantly at him, thus ruining his faculties furthermore, "Its a burden as well as a gift at times,"

He smiled a wolfish smile. "At least its not just me then." He said, heading back toward the smithy door, he needed a sword, he would feel much more complete with a sword on his hip.

The Smith was what you would expect from a smith. Dirty, hot and smelling of a bitter metallic tang. Various tools lined the walls, a forge fire sat squat in the middle, its flames roaring.

The Smith, himself, was busy eating a small round pie. He made noises of self satisfaction while he smacked his lips. When he noticed them, though, he hastily turned around and grinned to Wraith in welcome.

"Ahhh! You bring me even more business my dear!" he bellowed.

Apon first sight, the smith would appear just like a human. Yet, on closer inspection, larger, pointier ears could be seen and he had a odd squashed nose. He was taller than Wraith herself and he had a good set of teeth. Of all that was around him, he looked impeccable. Not a speck of dust to be found on his blue clothing, however, soot smudged his apron to near blackness.

Wraith smiled and nodded, "Aye, and I have a few more pies for you if you would bump up his order?" she made it sound like a question, but she knew what his reaction would be.

"Of course! Of course! Say no more, all you needed to do was ask, dear Wraith." He grinned. Then he turned to Akaron, "My name's Erick. And what would you be needin' lad?"

"A war sword would be a good place to start." Akaron said. "two and a half to three feet long would be ideal, i will also eventually require a shield and heavy armor but the sword is more pressing at the moment. "My name is Akaron Corvus, by the by, it is my privilege to meet you. If i may ask, are you a half-orc? Your size and ears suggest such, in my original land we had half-orcs, though i have never met one."

Erick grinned, snorting through his odd flat nose. "N'ver heard of no orcs, but Wraith said the same thing when she met me, so it must be true!" he grinned even more. It was clear that this 'man' was a jovial fellow indeed, contrary to his animalistic appearance.

"Well, a war sword it shall be! I was a good smith back home, so don't worry. Leave it to me and you shall have everything you need Akaron Corvus!" he bellowed around another friendly grin.

"Let me size yer up... I can make that armor for yer too,"

Akaron smiled a wolfish smile "Many thanks Master Erick, if you dont mind, I have always had an interest in smith work, and would be honoured if perhaps you could share some of your wondrous craft with me? Mistress Wraith tells me there is no war, so i suppose i shall have to diversify my talents as it were."

Erick beamed. Which was to say, his oddly shaped teeth were more prominent than before and his odd nose made yet another snuffling sound that seemed to come when he was pleased.

"Of course! Of course!!" he beamed and swung a friendly arm around the Riada and steering him towards the forge fire.

"First of all, we'll train yer up on small thing... yer know, tools and the like. I'm proud to be havin a apprentice! Been too long!"

Wraith simply smiled. She knew that Akaron would be busy for a while yet and she had other business to attend to. So she called out to the two men that were chatting away, "Akaron, come find me when you're done and we'll speak of sleeping arrangements."

Then she turned briskly on her heel and was gone from sight.