anner.bloodandgold(v2)-µÚ18½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
or¡¡the¡¡gathered¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡Faithful¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Druid¡¡priests£»¡¡and¡¡finding¡¡them¡¡quite¡¡unprepared¡¡for¡¡our¡¡departure£»¡¡we¡¡forced¡¡the¡¡door¡¡with¡¡our¡¡united¡¡strength¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨At¡¡once¡¡we¡¡took¡¡to¡¡the¡¡treetops£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡had¡¡done£»¡¡Marius¡£¡¡We¡¡put¡¡our¡¡pursuers¡¡far¡¡behind¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡before¡¡dawn¡¡we¡¡were¡¡hunting¡¡a¡¡settlement¡¡many¡¡many¡¡miles¡¡away¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡sat¡¡back¡¡as¡¡though¡¡exhausted¡¡by¡¡his¡¡confession¡£¡¡And¡¡as¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡there£»¡¡still¡¡too¡¡patient¡¡and¡¡too¡¡proud¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡him£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡how¡¡he¡¡had¡¡woven¡¡me¡¡into¡¡all¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡wondered¡¡at¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡Avicus£»¡¡the¡¡god¡¡who¡¡for¡¡so¡¡long¡¡had¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tree¡£¡¡Avicus¡¡looked¡¡calmly¡¡at¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡have¡¡been¡¡together¡¡since¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¨¡¡Mael¡¡said¡¡in¡¡a¡¡more¡¡subdued¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡hunt¡¡the¡¡great¡¡cities¡¡because¡¡it¡¡is¡¡simpler¡¡for¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡do¡¡we¡¡think¡¡of¡¡Romans¡¡who¡¡came¡¡as¡¡conquerors£¿¡¡We¡¡hunt¡¡Rome¡¡because¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡city¡¡of¡¡all¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡nothing¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Sometimes¡¡we¡¡meet¡¡others£»¡¨¡¡Mael¡¡continued¡£¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡shot¡¡towards¡¡me¡¡suddenly¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡sometimes¡¡we¡¡are¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡them£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡will¡¡not¡¡leave¡¡us¡¡in¡¡peace¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨How¡¡so£¿¡¡¡¨I¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨They¡¡are¡¡Gods¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Grove£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡as¡¡Avicus£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡are¡¡badly¡¡burnt¡¡and¡¡weak¡¡and¡¡they¡¡want¡¡our¡¡strong¡¡blood¡£¡¡Surely¡¡you've¡¡seen¡¡them¡£¡¡They¡¡must¡¡have¡¡found¡¡you¡¡out¡£¡¡You¡¡cannot¡¡have¡¡been¡¡hiding¡¡all¡¡these¡¡years¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡answer¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡we¡¡can¡¡defend¡¡ourselves£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡went¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡have¡¡our¡¡hiding¡¡places£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡mortals¡¡we¡¡have¡¡our¡¡sport£»¡¡our¡¡games¡£¡¡What¡¡more¡¡is¡¡there¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡say£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡indeed¡¡finished¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡my¡¡own¡¡existence£»¡¡my¡¡life¡¡crowded¡¡with¡¡so¡¡much¡¡reading¡¡and¡¡wandering¡¡and¡¡with¡¡so¡¡many¡¡questions£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡utter¡¡pity¡¡for¡¡him¡¡along¡¡with¡¡my¡¡contempt¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Meanwhile¡¡the¡¡expression¡¡on¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡Avicus¡¡touched¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Avicus¡¡looked¡¡thoughtful¡¡and¡¡passionate¡¡when¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Mael£»¡¡but¡¡then¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡fell¡¡on¡¡me¡¡and¡¡his¡¡face¡¡quickened¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡how¡¡does¡¡the¡¡world¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡Avicus£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡once¡¡Mael¡¡shot¡¡me¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡rose¡¡from¡¡his¡¡chair¡¡and¡¡came¡¡towards¡¡me£»¡¡bending¡¡over¡¡me£»¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡out¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡would¡¡strike¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡is¡¡what¡¡you¡¡have¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡my¡¡story£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡demanded¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡ask¡¡of¡¡him¡¡how¡¡he¡¡sees¡¡the¡¡world£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡answer¡£¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡my¡¡blunder£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡to¡¡admit¡¡to¡¡myself¡¡that¡¡it¡¡wasn't¡¡deliberate¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡did¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡hurt¡¡him£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡And¡¡this¡¡I¡¡had¡¡done¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Avicus¡¡had¡¡risen¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Mael¡¡and¡¡guided¡¡him¡¡back£»¡¡away¡¡from¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Quiet£»¡¡my¡¡beloved¡¡one£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡gentry¡¡to¡¡Mael¡£¡¡He¡¡drew¡¡Mael¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡chair¡£¡¡¡¨Let¡¡us¡¡talk¡¡some¡¡more¡¡before¡¡we¡¡part¡¡with¡¡Marius¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡till¡¡morning¡£¡¡Please£»¡¡be¡¡calm¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡realized¡¡then¡¡what¡¡had¡¡so¡¡infuriated¡¡Mael¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡that¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡had¡¡ignored¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡better¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡jealousy¡£¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡woo¡¡away¡¡from¡¡him¡¡his¡¡friend¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡Mael¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡his¡¡chair¡¡again£»¡¡Avicus¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡me¡¡almost¡¡warmly¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡world¡¡is¡¡marvelous£»¡¡Marius£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡placidly¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡e¡¡to¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡blind¡¡man¡¡after¡¡a¡¡miracle¡£¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡my¡¡mortal¡¡life¡¡except¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡in¡¡Egypt¡£¡¡And¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡myself¡¡from¡¡Egypt¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡afraid¡¡now¡¡to¡¡go¡¡there¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡afraid¡¡old¡¡gods¡¡linger¡¡there¡£¡¡We¡¡travel¡¡the¡¡cities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Empire£»¡¡except¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cities¡¡of¡¡Egypt¡£¡¡And¡¡there¡¡is¡¡much¡¡for¡¡us¡¡to¡¡see¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Mael¡¡was¡¡still¡¡suspicious¡£¡¡He¡¡drew¡¡his¡¡ragged¡¡and¡¡filthy¡¡cloak¡¡up¡¡around¡¡him¡¡as¡¡though¡¡he¡¡might¡¡at¡¡any¡¡moment¡¡take¡¡his¡¡leave¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡for¡¡Avicus¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡more¡¡than¡¡ever¡¡fortable£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡was¡¡barefoot¡¡and¡¡as¡¡dirty¡¡as¡¡Mael¡£¡¡¡¨Whenever¡¡we¡¡have¡¡e¡¡upon¡¡blood¡¡drinkers£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Avicus£»¡¡¡¨which¡¡isn't¡¡often£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡feared¡¡them£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡know¡¡me¡¡for¡¡a¡¡renegade¡¡god¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡said¡¡this¡¡with¡¡considerable¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡confidence¡¡so¡¡it¡¡surprised¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡this¡¡is¡¡never¡¡the¡¡case£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡continued¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡sometimes¡¡they¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Good¡¡Mother¡¡and¡¡the¡¡old¡¡worship¡¡when¡¡the¡¡gods¡¡would¡¡drink¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Evil¡¡Doer£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡know¡¡less¡¡of¡¡it¡¡than¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¡Avicus£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡boldly¡£¡¡He¡¡considered¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡weren't¡¡quite¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡answer¡¡me¡¡with¡¡truth¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡spoke¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡before¡¡her£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡his¡¡dark¡¡eyes¡¡rather¡¡open¡¡and¡¡honest¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Mael¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡him¡¡sharply£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡him¡¡for¡¡his¡¡frankness£»¡¡but¡¡Avicus¡¡went¡¡on¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡was¡¡very¡¡beautiful¡£¡¡But¡¡my¡¡gaze¡¡was¡¡lowered¡£¡¡I¡¡couldn't¡¡really¡¡see¡¡her¡£¡¡And¡¡they¡¡were¡¡saying¡¡words£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡chanting¡¡was¡¡frightening¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡a¡¡grown¡¡man£»¡¡that¡¡much¡¡I¡¡know£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡humiliated¡¡me¡£¡¡They¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡honors¡¡that¡¡were¡¡curses¡£¡¡I¡¡may¡¡have¡¡dreamt¡¡the¡¡rest¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We've¡¡been¡¡here¡¡long¡¡enough£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mael¡¡suddenly¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡go¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡quite¡¡reluctantly¡¡Avicus¡¡followed¡£¡¡There¡¡passed¡¡between¡¡us£»¡¡Avicus¡¡and¡¡me£»¡¡something¡¡silent¡¡and¡¡secretive£»¡¡which¡¡Mael¡¡could¡¡not¡¡interrupt¡£¡¡Mael¡¡knew¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡think£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sustained¡¡fury£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡couldn't¡¡prevent¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡done¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you¡¡for¡¡your¡¡hospitality£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Avicus£»¡¡reaching¡¡out¡¡to¡¡take¡¡my¡¡hand¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡almost¡¡cheerful¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡¨Sometimes¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡little¡¡mortal¡¡customs¡£¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡touching¡¡hands¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Mael¡¡was¡¡in¡¡a¡¡pale¡¡rage¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡there¡¡was¡¡much¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡Avicus¡¡but¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡now¡¡that¡¡such¡¡was¡¡very¡¡simply¡¡impossible¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Remember£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡both¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡live¡¡as¡¡a¡¡mortal¡¡man¡¡lives£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡forts¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡have¡¡my¡¡studies¡¡always£»¡¡my¡¡books¡¡here£»¡¡you¡¡see¡£¡¡Eventually¡¡I¡¡will¡¡travel¡¡the¡¡Empire£»¡¡but¡¡for¡¡now¡¡Rome£»¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡my¡¡birth£»¡¡is¡¡my¡¡home¡£¡¡What¡¡I¡¡learn¡¡is¡¡what¡¡matters¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡What¡¡I¡¡see¡¡with¡¡these¡¡eyes¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡from¡¡one¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡of¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡can¡¡live¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way¡¡if¡¡you¡¡like£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Surely¡¡you¡¡must¡¡take¡¡fresh¡¡garments¡¡from¡¡me¡¡now¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¡so¡¡easily¡¡provide¡¡them¡£¡¡And¡¡fine¡¡sandals¡¡for¡¡your¡¡feet¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡would¡¡have¡¡a¡¡house£»¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡dwelling¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡enjoy¡¡your¡¡leisure¡¡hours£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡assist¡¡you¡¡in¡¡obtaining¡¡it¡£¡¡Please¡¡take¡¡this¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Mael's¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡blazing¡¡with¡¡hatred¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡yes£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡whispered¡¡at¡¡me£»¡¡too¡¡angry¡¡for¡¡a¡¡full¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡why¡¡not¡¡offer¡¡us¡¡a¡¡villa¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Bay¡¡of¡¡Naples£»¡¡with¡¡marble¡¡balustrades¡¡overlooking¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡sea£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Avicus¡¡looked¡¡directly¡¡at¡¡me¡£¡¡He¡¡appeared¡¡quiet¡¡in¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡genuinely¡¡moved¡¡by¡¡my¡¡words¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡what¡¡was¡¡the¡¡use£¿¡¡I¡¡said¡¡no¡¡more¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡proud¡¡calm¡¡was¡¡suddenly¡¡broken¡£¡¡The¡¡anger¡¡returned¡¡along¡¡with¡¡its¡¡weakness¡£¡¡I¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡hymns¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grove£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡move¡¡against¡¡Mael£»¡¡for¡¡all¡¡the¡¡ugliness¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡to¡¡quite¡¡literally¡¡tear¡¡him¡¡limb¡¡from¡¡limb¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Would¡¡Avicus¡¡move¡¡to¡¡save¡¡him£¿¡¡It¡¡was¡¡likely¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡if¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not£¿¡¡And¡¡what¡¡if¡¡I¡¡proved¡¡stronger¡¡than¡¡both¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡I¡¡who¡¡had¡¡drunk¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Queen£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Mael¡£¡¡He¡¡wasn't¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡found¡¡interesting¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡my¡¡pride¡¡returned¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡stoop¡¡to¡¡a¡¡mon¡¡physical¡¡battle£»¡¡especially¡¡one¡¡which¡¡might¡¡bee¡¡hideously¡¡awkward¡¡and¡¡ugly£»¡¡one¡¡which¡¡I¡¡might¡¡not¡¡win¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡wise¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡good¡¡of¡¡heart¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡Marius£»¡¡who¡¡slew¡¡the¡¡Evil¡¡Doer£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡was¡¡Mael£»¡¡a¡¡fool¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡made¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡away¡¡through¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡and¡¡I¡¡could¡¡find¡¡no¡¡words¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡Avicus¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡me¡¡and¡¡said¡¡quickly£»¡¡¡¨Farewell£»¡¡Marius¡£¡¡I¡¡thank¡¡you¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡remember¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡I¡¡found¡¡myself¡¡struck¡¡by¡¡the¡¡words¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Farewell£»¡¡Avicus£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡answered¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡listened¡¡as¡¡they¡¡disappeared¡¡into¡¡the¡¡night¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡there£»¡¡feeling¡¡a¡¡crushing¡¡loneliness¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡my¡¡many¡¡bookcases£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡my¡¡writing¡¡table¡£¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡my¡¡inkstand¡£¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡paintings¡¡on¡¡the¡¡walls¡£¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡make¡¡peace¡¡with¡¡Mael£»¡¡surely£»¡¡to¡¡have¡¡Avicus¡¡as¡¡my¡¡friend¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡should¡¡go¡¡after¡¡them¡¡both¡£¡¡I¡¡should¡¡implore¡¡them¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡had¡¡so¡¡much¡¡more¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡one¡¡another¡£¡¡I¡¡needed¡¡them¡¡as¡¡they¡¡needed¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡As¡¡I¡¡needed¡¡Pandora¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡lived¡¡the¡¡lie¡£¡¡I¡¡lived¡¡it¡¡out¡¡of¡¡anger¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡what¡¡I'm¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡lived¡¡lies¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡done¡¡it¡¡again¡¡and¡¡again¡£¡¡I¡¡live¡¡lies¡¡because¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡endure¡¡the¡¡weakness¡¡of¡¡anger£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡admit¡¡the¡¡irrationality¡¡of¡¡love¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Oh£»¡¡the¡¡lies¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡told¡¡myself¡¡and¡¡others¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡it¡¡yet¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡know¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡6
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡FOR¡¡A¡¡FULL¡¡MONTH£»¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shrine¡¡of¡¡Those¡¡Who¡¡Must¡¡Be¡¡Kept¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡Mael¡¡and¡¡Avicus¡¡still¡¡hunted¡¡Rome¡£¡¡I¡¡caught¡¡glimpses¡¡of¡¡them¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Mind¡¡Gift¡¡and¡¡occasionally¡¡I¡¡even¡¡spied¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡very¡¡thoughts¡£¡¡Sometimes¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡their¡¡steps¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Indeed¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡Mael¡¡was¡¡actually¡¡tormenting¡¡me¡¡with¡¡his¡¡presence£»¡¡attempting¡¡to¡¡ruin¡¡my¡¡tenure¡¡in¡¡the¡¡great¡¡city£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡made¡¡me¡¡bitter¡£¡¡I¡¡contemplated¡¡attempting¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡him¡¡and¡¡his¡¡panion¡¡away¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡also¡¡suffered¡¡considerable¡¡preoccupation¡¡with¡¡Avicus£»¡¡whose¡¡face¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡forget¡£¡¡What¡¡was¡¡the¡¡disposition¡¡of¡¡this¡¡strange¡¡being£»¡¡I¡¡thought¡£¡¡What¡¡would¡¡it¡¡mean¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡be¡¡my¡¡panion£¿¡¡I¡¡feared¡¡I¡¡would¡¡never¡¡know¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Meantime£»¡¡other¡¡blood¡¡drinkers¡¡occasionally¡¡hunted¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡their¡¡presence¡¡immediately£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡on¡¡one¡¡particular¡¡night¡¡that¡¡a¡¡skirmish¡¡occurred¡¡between¡¡a¡¡powerful¡¡and¡¡hostile¡¡blood¡¡drinker¡¡and¡¡Avicus¡¡and¡¡Mael¡£¡¡With¡¡the¡¡Mind¡¡Gift¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡all¡¡that¡¡took¡¡place¡£¡¡Avicus¡¡and¡¡Mael¡¡so¡¡frightened¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡before¡¡morning£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡even¡¡given¡¡word¡¡in¡¡a¡¡lowly¡¡voice¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡never¡¡e¡¡to¡¡Rome¡¡again¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡put¡¡me¡¡to¡¡pondering¡£¡¡Would¡¡Avicus¡¡and¡¡Mael¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡city¡¡clean¡¡of¡¡others£»¡¡while¡¡leaving¡¡me¡¡alone£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡months¡¡passe