Rosamund did not see Lord Finn for a few days after that. She knew Sage was spending much of her time with him, but what they did, she didn't know.

 "Do you think he would hurt her?" Henry asked. "Lord Finn?"

 "I certainly hope not," Rosamund answered. "I fear she will find herself heartbroken, yet there is no way I can tear them apart. All I can do is worry."

 "Do you think he would make an honest woman out of her, marry her?"

 "It cannot be," she said quickly. "I do not think this will last for very long."

 "Rosamund. Blacksmith." Lord Finn himself stepped into the shop. "I have come to see your progress."

 "Two are ready, my lord," Henry said. "Three others must be made still."

 "May I see them?"

 "Here." Rosamund picked one of them up and handed it to him carefully. She watched as he carefully studied the handle and the blade.

 "And the other?" he asked.

 She handed him the other, and he held one in each hand as he assessed them both. 

 "They have been made well," he said. "These will be very useful, though I am not certain how much at the moment. The creature that killed that girl seems to have fled. Or it could be dead. I would not be surprised if we were to come across its carcass in the woods. Thank you, Blacksmith. Good day, Rosamund." 

~~~~~~

 As Rosamund walked home that evening, she saw Sage and Finn walking together along the path. Sage was smiling and chattering on about something or other. Finn was nodded and looking like he was following along with what she was saying, but his face told a different story.

 "Ah, Rosamund. Lord Finn tells me you and Henry have done excellent work with the swords," Sage said.

 "Well, Lord Finn is very kind to say so," she replied. "They are not all ready, though. We still have three more to forge."

 "I have no doubt you will do well," Finn said, giving her a small smile. "But for now, I will let you go home. You must be tired."

 She nodded. "Good night, Lord Finn. Do not stay out very long, Sage; it will be growing dark soon."

 Her sister agreed, but rolled her eyes as she did so. The pair continued on their walk, and Rosamund saw Finn glance back at her.

~~~~~~

 Rosamund awoke earlier than usual the next morning. The sun hadn't risen yet, and the sky was only just beginning to grow light. She got up and looked out the window. Nearby, she could see a figure pacing back and forth across the landscape. She couldn't see him well, but somehow she knew it was Finn out there.

 She dressed herself as quietly as possible, being sure not to wake her sister, and slipped out of the cottage , walking across the land towards where Finn suddenly stopped pacing, and looked in her direction.

 "You are up rather early," he said.

 "As are you," she said.

 "That is different. A young human woman such as you requires more sleep. Vampires have more strength, and need not sleep as much. I sleep very little, anyway."

 "Oh. Might I ask, how many vampires are there in the world?"

 "There are many of us now. At first, it was only us five, but there are more now."

 "How does one become a vampire?" Rosamund asked.

 "They must be turned by a vampire."

 "Have you ever turned anyone into a vampire?"

 "Certainly not!" She couldn't see his face well, but she knew he must have looked either shocked or disgusted. "My siblings have, but I have not. It is not a life I do not wish to grant upon anyone."

 "Would you turn my sister?"

 "Not unless it were what she truly desired. Do you think I have plans to turn your sister?"

 Rosamund shook her head. "I do not believe you do. Were it any of your siblings, I would think so. But you seem somehow...different."

 "I told you, Rosamund, I am just as bad as them."

 "Why do you like me?"

 "What?"

 "I asked, why do you like me?" she repeated.

 "I did not say I do."

 "You do not have to say it. It is so clearly true. My sister is very fond of you, yet you did seem entirely happy with her yesterday. And you have gone so far as to wake in the middle of the night to warn me about your siblings and tell me about vampires, even though it would cause more quarrels with your siblings."

 He was silent for a long number of seconds, staring at her through the darkness. She wondered, if he was a indeed a creature of the night, if he could see her better than she could see him.

 "You and your sister are very different," he said so suddenly it startled her. "I only met Sage because she discovered us, what we are. I am fond of her. But...if I had met you first, I would have preferred your company. Sage is passionate, a wild passion. She is daring and loud-spoken, but that is not a bad thing. It is simply that I think you are more like me. Calm and stable, ever the concerned elder sibling. I did not think Sage would become so fond of me so quickly. Now I believe I am quite stuck, I suppose until Father finds again and we are forced to flee."

 Rosamund wanted to reach out and take his hand in hers. She wasn't sure why she wanted to, but she did.

 "We can be friends," she said, "You and I. I think I would like to be friends with you."

 "Rosamund..." The sky was brightening now, and she could see him begin to smile. "I would very much like to be friends with you."