The tribe came to Koln, called Cologne by the French, along the river in the Rhineland. They found places to camp, stretched out in a line of smaller camps along the river, south of the city proper. They waved to boats from there, swam, even fished. It was summer, hot, and the Rhine was welcome. Daily, numbers of the tribe visited Koln, to gather members, information or to purchase goods.

      Many of the venders now travelling with the Goth set up to sell wares. The people of Koln were mostly German, friendly. The region had been along the routes taken by Germans and Romans both in their wars. The Rhine valley had seen much of those wars. And so it made sense so far as Claudia was concerned that they be there now.

      During the days, Claudia would leave John, leave him to his Guardsmen and fishing. She left John to act the Leader and went with her Ladies into the city. Merideth was showing now and feeling heavier and Claudia, Louisa and Elzbieta all being friends to her and to each other would walk together or perhaps ride bicycles. Claudia had all their best dresses professionally cleaned.

      She loved the Goth, had no large problem with being nobelest Lady of a nomadic tribe, but Claudia had been raised a lady of another sort, not titled, but wealthy, and the only woman of the household headed by her father. As much as she could neglect appearance when focused on data, she did enjoy a chance to have her hair treated in a salon, or to purchase cosmetics and shoes.

      Claudia tried to support the venders that traveled with the tribe, were part of it. She encouraged other to do the same. Internal commerce was important to a nation's economy, whether or not they had a fixed homeland. So, she bought dresses from the seamstress, jewelry from the silversmith, soft boots from the tanner. She told the seamstress and ladies how the pants she had discovered, which modern women rarely wore except to spend nights with others, were really very comfortable and practical underneath skirts. She made long skirts and gowns fashonable.

      Sometimes, Karina, Elonwey, or Adelle would walk with them. Adelle they liked very much, considered her a lady. Karina they all adored, but her personal uncontrived and earthy style made some feel badly when shopping for cosmetics with her. Elonwey was nice enough, but she had a longing for John that was probably a little mutal, which Claudia just could not approve of, even if she approved of multiple wives taken by others.

      Merideth and Louisa were both engaged to be married to Alaric, and no one seemed to have a problem with that.

      Sometimes Leonore, Sascha, Melitta, Helena and Jayne walked about with Claudia. This group could be very lady-like when they tried, especially Jayne and Helena, but overall they were geeks. Claudia would count herself a geek most of the time, when she was wearing worn dresses and her hair was hastily pulled back and she at her mobile.

      In all, Claudia found herself never short of female friends to talk with, whether it was about their men, or clothes, or soldering micro-circuitry.

She gave her nights to John.

      Claudia always appeared in camp at dusk or soon after, nicely dressed, and willing to speak to would-be members of the tribe who had been invited to camp. She would read stories or make them up. Always, Claudia would put herself close to John, hold his hand, or hang on his arm, smiling at the girls that fawned over him. They did that.

      When full night came, and everyone had eaten and washed, Claudia would go into their trailer. They had five living in it now and all were close.  They might have all shared one bed if they could fit and Claudia kept from saying it was improper.

      It was enough that she lay with John and smile dreamily at him as she overheard Merideth and Louisa discussing wedding plans, or Alaric's particular moans as they made love to him.

There were nights when they likely heard her moan.

      A few days passed, and those who went into the city began to hear that others were asking questions about them. That is, rather than the usual prospective tribe members or concerned parents who did not want their children to leave, there were others strange to the town and asking Kolners to give them information about the Goth. Friendly girls at shops Claudia had visited more than once told her this. They said they had not given away information, but that the men had felt threatening.

      They knew they had to move on. Again, there was the pressure to choose a safe course. The armies were yet on the move, creeping by choice, or by need to resupply, fight, and rest along the way. The VC had gone through Innsbruck, and their advance troops were beginning to scout the German border. The Egypt Guard was slowed by picking up much of the Hungarian and Slovenian Darkling Guard but was on the Danube with these extra troops and on their way west. In the northwest, the Darkling Guard still maintained border patrols and kept peace as they could.

      The other recent news was that America had officially joined the war, with troops flown in to join their Union Allies. They were shown in news programs often, though they hadn't seen much fighting. Now, they were still being flown into American bases set in friendly countries. Claudia had seen that Paris had been restored to peace after years of fighting.

 America, by arrangement with the remnants of the French government and the Union, had sent their nicknamed Sacred Battalion to police Paris with several other Batallions in support. With the surviving French Darkling Guard, and the private army led by Aje Morté, loyal to the Paris Haven, the City of Light had been freed of all EL forces, and rioting had given way to grieving and cleaning.

      On the opposing side, there were still the Russians to deal with; their army was massive. Plus, they had all the Swiss, the Spanish Army and the Army of Gaul as allies. As they were getting closer intercepted communicatons from the Gaul and Spanish became more common as did messages from the Swiss. The Swiss had split their resources between moving to intercept the VC still in Austria to their east, and moving north to join their allies. The Spanish Army had some troops already in the Black Forest between Gaul and Germany. More were on their way north. It seemed, the presence of the Spanish Army at their figurative back, had been what allowed the Army of Gaul to move so wide so early. Already, some of their number were in France, Belgium, and Germany. They were split between those that defended their contested border with France, and those that moved out to seek the Union and allied armies.

      The Goth, many hundreds now, perhaps even a thousand, were gathered all along the riverside to hear John speak. Patrick and Marek had rigged speakers and microphone so they could all hear him. Claudia looked over the number. The people had traveled here with them, or come out from Koln and its neighboring towns. Every day, people joined the end of the train and only the next night it was noted the number had grown. The continuing articles on their tribe, no longer only those written by Alaric, which were published from Berlin and republished in other markets, but from many reporters added to their own net presence and word of mouth stories drew people to seek them out, as much as they sought missing members of the tribe.

      A thousand was not so many, but their true number counted all those who stayed in their homes and shared their views. Most recently, gifts of cash cards had come to them from those who chose not to travel. In Koln, there had been an automobile factory that had just handed over several vans and small rugged cars to help them on their way.

      John was beginning to speak. He looked very fine in a new suit, which their period costumer had sewn from a batch of donated fabrics. Merideth was taking stills. Other media representatives were spread throughout the crowd, capturing video or sound recordings. Volunteers had cleared a circle for the Elders to stand in and be seen. John himself was standing atop one of the trailers, a microphone pinned to his cloak. He had finished with custumary greetings and thanks for gathering and then continued.

      "Here comes the inexplicable charisma," Alaric whispered.

      John spoke to the crowd. "I have decided, after much discussion with the Tribal Elders and my advisers, that we will go south along the Rhineland. There are enemies to the north, people who, for reasons of their own, would see our cause stopped dead. There may also be such enemies to the south. Yet, we are going. The reason I really want to have you all gathered here is to tell you something of war and fighting."

      The video records continued, flash cameras flickered through the crowd. John continued, "War is horrific. War is the settling of differences by setting the people of a one group against the peole of another group. There are no real rules, but that you fight an enemy. There is no real victor, both sides always lose people. Anything we hope to attain through war cannot compare to the importance of life lost." Translators spoke his message to cameras in various languages, " Yes, I carry a sword, the Sword of Peace, but what many already know is this," John said as he drew the sword. It gleamed magnificently in the sunlight as he held it upright. "Engraved on the blade of this sword, by one of our own craftsmen are these words: 'The Goth shall follow the Sword of Peace.' This sword is not to be bloodied by any people, but to be a test for myself, and any future leader of the Goth. Any who should attempt to use the sword to harm will not be followed."

      At this pause there was cheering and John waited for the crowd to quiet again. He said, "Soon we shall face more dangers, as some of our number already have. I want to assure you that we will survive. If any of our number is to fall, even if all fall, the message cannot be killed. I do not mean for us to be martyrs, however. I mean for every one of us to live. But, I do think there is a time for a degree of resistance. Putting ourselves between a force and those we wish to protect is just.

"Many politicians claim 'defense of lives' is their justification for war. A large-scale attack does not save lives without also taking life. No cache of weapons preserves peace, it only preserves fear of their use. Lives are saved when few fend off attack long enough for those they protect to escape danger. Striking back in violence is not right. Attacking those you think will soon attack is not right. Only fending off those who would kill people.

"I want everyone to know that, if it comes to being attacked, we will try to escape rather than fight. It is never cowardly to avoid real horror, only wise. If, in our escape, there is a time when you can choose to put yourself between a friend and danger, or just run, neither is wrong. I want you to know that if you do stand against an attack long enough for many to escape, you will have our gratitude and admiration, for protecting life is beautiful.

"If you stand against an attack and you slay a person who was trying to slay you or others, this will be forgiven. Never, I ask, never try to kill, but if death results of standing up against attack to protect others, you will be forgiven, for forgiveness, like the will to protect, is also beautiful. Accidents are forgiven people, violence and murder may not be.

"If it comes to being attacked, and you survive, be glad of it. Life is beautiful, but there will be pain in life. Do not feel guilt about what you might have done, or what more could have been done, or what has been done. Do not dwell on the pain, but let it inform your enjoyment of life. We are each responsible for ourselves. I encourage the helping of those weaker, but no one should feel it is entirely their duty. God takes each when it is their time, whether it be as a martyr to a cause, or old and asleep."

      John paused as he sheathed his sword and smoothed his jacket. He looked over the crowd, from left to right and back to middle. "We go south along the Rhine, and we go with Love as our battle cry and Peace as our sword, as one people, a tribe, not Poles or Germans, Christians or Jews, but one people, one tribe. We are Goth!"

      An enormous wave of applause moved through the crowd as they heard John's words. It might have been more polished if written down, but he had spoken it all from his heart and Claudia thought that came through to those watching. John had stopped speaking, stood with head bowed slightly. The cameras were still going and everyone spoke excitedly of the tribe, their message and their coming journey.

      Claudia looked up to John and her heart ached.

      "Ineffable charm gets them every time," Alaric said, he had several names for the draw John had. What mattered was that he had it, and it was real.

      Claudia watched as John leapt down from the trailer and stood among the Elders. The crowd rushed in. "Gently, please! No harm!" the Guardsmen called. John took Claudia's hand, kissed it. And then he left to touch those who rushed toward him. Claudia followed, smiling at all who were gathered, she had her own affection for these people.

      "I love you, too," John said to many of them. They often screamed that they loved him. Some called to Claudia, titled her strangely at times, Our Lady of the Thorns and the like.

      She always gave her most gracious smiles and waves.

      Rory and Hansel cleared a path before them, allowed John and Claudia to walk through the crowd to another small camp within the larger camp. There own trailer was here. John stepped forward quickly and spoke to his two guardsmen. They left him in the crowd.

      All about people had questions, shouted cheers or reached to touch them. "Can anyone really follow, even those not fully European?" someone asked.

      "Anyone who in their heart shares our beliefs can consider themselves adopted!" John called back.

      "Where will you stop next?" another shouted.

      "Likely Bonn!" John called over the noise, "It is a college town, we expect to discover many of our tribe."

      "Aren't you really a tool of Alexandria and its Vampyres?" a voice called just above the crowd and John turned to answer. Claudia looked for this speaker, wondering who would ask such a thing, it was not true.

      John opened his mouth, "We are—" John fell backward and as many screamed others caught him and lowered him to the ground. Claudia heard voices shouting that a gun was drawn.

      In an instant, Claudia took in the sight of John surrounded by followers and clutching his chest. She had to believe he was cared for. Claudia scanned for the shooter. So many people were ducking to the ground to avoid further shots, and were cringing away from the gunman, that he was not difficult to spot.

      It was a man, close enough that he had been able to to be heard and also to hit John with bullet from a silenced handgun. Claudia reached into her bag. The man held the gun with barrel skyward, shouting for those around him to get away. He would have to kill himself to escape and Claudia feared this was his plan. But perhaps he was unsure of his success. "You killed him!" Claudia called to get the man's attention.

      He spun to face her, lowering gun as he calculated, and all the time Claudia was in motion, rushing toward him. For a second, the gun's barrel faced her, and then it was drawn back to point into the assassin's own mouth. As he moved, Claudia moved, lifted the pressurized can of floral scented hair spray and aimed for his face. As the liquid flew into his eyes the man reflexively shut them and put his hands up before him, moving the gun from his face to the sky again.

      Claudia continued moving, half aware of the people running toward her, and the shouting everywhere. The assassin screamed, vision blurred. Claudia ran at him and knocked the man to the ground beneath her. Landing in a straddling position she quickly gripped the gun's barrel in her right hand and struggled to keep it upward. A shot fired from it. The gun was warm but Claudia held it still.

      "Let go," she said.

      He tried to throw her off him, and he was strong. Claudia threw her weight forward enough to pin the gun and assassin's hand to the ground, and to take the weight from her right leg long enough to place her right boot over the man's crotch. "Lose it!"

      Now others reached them.  Stronger hands than Claudia's wrestled the gun away and pinned the assassin's other arm. "Is John safe, there may have been others?"

      "He's safe," Alaric answered from just behind.

      Claudia looked at the man's face, he glared at her, hateful. "Alaric, take his boots," she said. She had her right hand free now and unfastened the vest he wore over his shirt. "Someone bring a wet cloth to wash his eyes," she said. "Sit him up."

      Claudia backed away from the assassin. Quentin and another Goth were at the man's arms. "Take his vest, anything that might hide a weapon, and his belt."

      Another Goth came to help strip the man of all his gear. They left him dressed in plain clothing and searched these for items. Elzbieta was the one that came with cloth and bowl of water. Claudia asked for a bag or box to hold the man's things. She rinsed and patted his eyes to help him see better.

      A cardboard box was brought and Claudia had all the items that had been taken from the assassin put in the box. "Was a bullet recovered?" she asked.

      "I have it," Alaric said.

      "Put it in the box," Claudia told him. "Now, lets find one of those police officers wandering around and give him into their care."

      It was easy enough to find one of the local officers. They had been observing the demonstration from the sidelines, once they had learned of the numbers involved. They had been delayed in getting through the crowd very quickly, after the shots were fired, due to movement of the masses. Claudia and Alaric walked with their prisoner who was escorted by Quentin and the fellow tribe member.  They came to the assorted police vehicles and were immediately surrounded.

      "This man shot my husband. You will find his weapon and the bullet and all his identification within the box."

      "We'll take him into custody," said one of the police, "The officer here will take statements." There was a gesture and then the assigned officer came to Claudia.

      She gave her story to him and was excused after she had given contact information for herself. The officer then interviewed Quentin and a number of other witnesses.It was quite some time before Claudia was able to seek out John.

      She opened the door to their trailer and found it full of Goth women. Elonwey, Masha, Helena, Merideth, Elzbieta, Vivianne; they were all there. Claudia stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Leonore's voice called from somewhere unseen, announcing it was Claudia who had arrived.

      "Claudy!" John called from the rear.

      Claudia squeezed past Louisa, Sascha, Adelle and little Maureen. She could see John then, sitting hunched over and shirtless on the end of the bed. Karina and Leonore were at his sides. Jayne and Melitta knelt behind him so there was no clear path between the rear window and his body.

      "Claudia, are you all right?" he asked her, "They wouldn't let me come find you."

      She had to smile. It had seemed strange to her when she had walked in. But they had taken care of him well enough, kept him safe as much as he hated it. "I'm fine. The police have the man that did this and plenty of evidence. They are sure to find who was behind him."

      "I have to go out there, show everyone I'm OK."

      "No, you need to rest," Karina insisted.

      "You've got a bruised rib," Jayne said.

"Broken," Karina cut in.

 Jayne continued, "It's a miracle your alive."

      "Just a bulletproof jacket," John said.

Claudia had not known, not for certain, though she remembered discussion of donated fabrics and new clothing. "He is correct," Claudia said, "there are people outside that believe he is dead. He has to make an appearance, if only to show he is not afraid. Fear is not what you want to show terrorists, it encourages them."

      "Then we'll all go with you," Leonore announced.

      "Fine, just help me get dressed, I'll be fine."

      Jayne helped John put on his jacket and as Lenore fastened it Melitta returned his crown to his head. John stood slowly, straightened his sword belt. With a nod he told them to go. Those closer to the door went out first and he followed. Claudia stayed at his side, Karina was on the other. Jayne, Leonore and Melitta followed, Sasha and Helena filling in between them and those most near the front.

      Withing this circle of women, John walked from the trailer and out into the thin crowd. As soon as they realized what was happening, that their Leader was well and making an appearance again, there was a great cheering. Soon, the crowd thickened around them. Those of the media soon discovered John had returned and having learned of the attempt rushed to question him.

      "I am fine!" John called out, "Someone did attempt to shoot me, to kill me, but I am fine!"

      The reporters soon gathered in close, asking a barrage of new questions. Did he want the assassin killed?  Had he been injured?

      "I have no wants regarding the assassin now in custody, except that he one day find peace," John told them.

      "Why do you think you were targeted?" someone asked.

      John gave a nod in the direction of their voice the crowd quieted slightly. "There are some who think that the very founding of this tribe is a scam, a plot conceived in Alexandria. That is completely false. Claudia and I with the other original tribe members started all of this on our own."

      "But there are those who have begun presenting evidence that you have ties to the High Lord's brood of Vampyres!" another called.

      John shook his head. "The only part of that which is true, is that at we both traveled with two friends of ours who happened to be Vampyres and related to the High Lord by several generations distance. They were our friends, we travelled together, there was nothing political involved. All Darkling, in my opinion, are as humans: some are very good and others are very bad, most are in between. No one is perfect."

      "We have no problems with the Union or any other government right now," Claudia called, "We only wish to point out to those to whom we have been misrepresented that we are not affiliated with any government."

      "Our plans are not changed because of the various actions taken against us," John announced, "We still travel south in the morning. Please excuse me now, I have to prepare for tomorrow!"

      John turned and moved back into the trailer. Claudia followed him inside. She could hear the cheering behind. Merideth and Louisa came inside after them but the others remained without.

      John hunched again and held his chest. "You are not really fine," Claudia said.

      "Of course not," John snapped, "the fibers of the jacket absorb enough of the impact so bullets won't penetrate, but it still hurts like Hell!"

      Claudia nodded. "Well, we let you appear to be strong for them, so now you rest for real. Whatever needs to be done the rest of us will have to do."

      John laid his crown on a shelf and continued undressing along the way. Soon he was on his back in the lower bed. Claudia looked to Merideth and Louisa. They both smiled to her. Good friends.

      "Let's gather all the Elders, our Arbiter and apprentice healer, the Guardsmen, and all the most loyal of the tribe, the ones that have been with us long or volunteered the most," Claudia said. "We need to make plans, while we are at it, we may as well order the vehicles and animals to all be brought closer together for the night, we are too spread out. I'll start by gathering the tech crew here as well."

      "We can both go out separately and pass the word," Merideth suggested, "It shouldn't take long."

      "All right, let's meet just outside. We'll make a fire and talk over supper."

                      †               †               †

      Supper had been made and initial orders to move camp into a tighter formation and to pack anything possible before sleeping the night had been sent out. The most loyal and ranked among the Goth had gathered as Claudia had asked. The Elders were closest to her, those of the tech crew not also Elders close, as Karina and Vivianne were. Rory and Hansel had been sent inside to bring John food and entertain him.

      "Are there any questions about anything that happened today?" Claudia asked. She watched as the group looked around to others within the group. They had all spoken to each other by now. "No? I want to be sure. I want no one misinformed so that their own logic requires them to doubt me, or John."

      "Is John really all right?" Quentin asked.

      Claudia nodded. "John is well, but it is also true he needs rest and feels pain. His suit was made of some of the donated bulletproof fabric. If not for that...well, he'd most likely be a martyr and on his way to being a Catholic saint already."

      "We are still moving on south like he said?" Mikolaj asked, "Aren't we?"

      "Yes," Claudia said. She had a smile for Miko.

      "And those things that they say about Vampyres?" Sascha asked. Claudia glanced at her casually, noted the amusement in her face. Sascha was one of the few who had been told the entire truth, so she asked what everyone needed to hear the answer to.

      Claudia grinned at her. "A year or so past, I went to Alexandria for the choosing. Along the way there, I met a young man, David, and fell in love. He turned out to be a Vampyre. During that time, I was held against my will, by another who was Darkling. When all was done, they put me back in the choosing as formality, and made sure I was given as apprentice to a Vampyre who is known by her taken name, Velvet. This too was subterfuge, as they intended me to be with her brother-in—blood, David, who was not allowed an apprentice of his own."

      Claudia looked about to see if they grasped that much. "You don't really love John?" Elonwey asked.

      Claudia gave her half a smile. Elonwey still longed for John. "I am telling you all this so that you will know the truth, and when different information is presented, you will understand how it is false. I loved David and he was a Vampyre. I allowed him to drink my blood. I drank his blood. But, I was, officially, apprentice of Velvet. Velvet took us on a voyage, the beginning of which took us through Varna. At the time, John was a taxi driver in Varna. She employed him our driver for the length of our trip.

"There was trouble involving Pepe in a city called Zakopane. If you need to know, later, what happened there, I will try to tell you, but I would rather not speak of it. All you need to know is that John and I were there, and both were hurt, however in different ways, by Pepe and the local priests. After that, John and I became friends.

      "As the four of us travelled together, John and I grew close. He fell in love with me. I cared about him, of course, but I also loved David. Some time passed."

 Claudia glanced back to the trailer. "There was an occasion when Velvet did something that upset John very much. She was, as I knew her, basically a good person, but what she did to John was wrong. He only stayed with Velvet and David a short while after that. He was upset, and probably planning to leave us, but it had nothing to do with being Darkling or Human, it was the sort of thing that happens when a relationship becomes toxic.

"When he learned of the war, he chose that time to leave, and quit being in Velvet's employ. As his friend, and concerned as he was for the states of Europe, I chose to leave David, for a time, in order to accompiany John.

      "This is how we came to meet the first of you, being two friends with a few traumatic things in our past, who wished only to save others the same kinds of pain. We sincerely have a wish for peace. And yes, we were personally involved with Vampyres who were related to the High Lord, but we left those relationships behind. There was never any political influence, only personal.

"Since then, I fell in love, again, with John.  John and I married. We've affected more people than we could have expected. I tell you all this, so that you have no need to doubt. It's my peace offering. I need you more than ever now, and would hate to see what we have built together destroyed by propaganda."

      They were silent, for about half a minute. "I think that you are often cautious when you speak, because you have seen how the words of respected leaders can be made policy," Merideth said, "you and John have always been afraid to tell us to love Darkling."

      "I heard John say today that Darkling are like humans; he explained that both have those who are really good or really bad, but mainly all people neither good nor evil by nature, but sort of in between. I guess we're all struggling the same way, to live well," Adelle said. "What I have not said, mainly because I have felt prejudice before, is that my job, before the war, was working in a clinic that served the Darkling of our city. When the Russians came, all our regular patients fled, and so I had no work, and could have been reported to the Russians as accomplice or sympathizer, so I left too. I also believe that there can be bad and good of all races. Certainly, we had kind patients and the soldiers were cruel and bigoted. But, also, we had some patients who were rather abusive or stole from us, while here I see humans that are very kind and understanding."

      Claudia nodded. "Personally I care for some Darkling very much, as I care for some humans. I only did not want to make it seem a rule the Goth had to have a love for Darkling. All we asked was that the Goth have no hatred toward any race based on differences. If you think about it, even Union law does not ask one to love Darkling, but to give them the same rights and opportunities they now give you. All you have to do is tolerate and share, that's all. There is no caring involved, no love, no contact. All John and I dare ask is the same the established law does for Darkling. We are different in our approach to conflict, regardless of law. We solve with peace not violence."

      "Some Darkling scare me," Miko admitted, "But when Poland was invaded, I realized that there were humans who could scare me. I was not brave enough to help with the very first efforts of the tribe, though I heard of them. I didn't want to see the Darkling refugees. But, now I feel different. I do not fear and I do not hate. I avoid only those who give me reason."

      "It is brave of you all to admit these things," Claudia said. "The truth is, John once feared some Darkling. He would admit it himself, I know. Those of you who lived in Poland might understand. Eastern Europe has a lot of Wolfbreed, or did until recently," Claudia paused, "They were common enough that people noticed bad ones and so grew to fear all the Wolfbreed. Vampyres were also quite feared. Now, John does not hate. He does not fear the unknown, only what he knows to be evil. It is all right to be scared, so long as you fight it."

      "When I was a boy, I remember realizing that the Faerie were not like me, they gave me the willies, the little tricks they could do and every other one claiming to be Sidhe. The Sidhe had blood sacrifices I tell you. Some of them ate people. It was long ago, but we all heard the stories living in the isles as we did. Sometimes, I meet one of the halfangels, we call them Faerie all," Patrick explained, "They still give me goosebumps, but that doesn't mean I want to see them hurt any more than I want to be hurt. My mum always said, if you befriend their kind they would reward you. Faerie stories and all. Well, when I fell for Ady here and made her my wife, she took me to Poland. She'd take me to the clinic. All sorts of Faerie would come in there, sick or weak, and the volunteers would help them out, get them treated by doctors. Well one day, it was quite busy and there was this slight little pixie, pretty little face and teeth made for tearing flesh. She just asked me to stay at her side. She'd been ill a long time, knew she was going to die, immune system not quite human or angel and failing. So, I sat and told her about Ireland and the happier stories. She passed on. Then a few days later, a man walks in, and he says I helped his daughter, says she was the Pix. Well, I told him she had died, it was the truth. And he just smiles like I'm an idiot for not knowing how I helped her. Then I thought, if she was old and dying who was this man? He had to be immortal. He smiles at me and then he hands me this leather case and says she left it to me as reward. Well when I opened it, there were these fragile old scrolls written in runes or somesuch. I looked to thank the man, but he was gone. Must have been an Angel, I swear. I gave the scrolls to a professor in Warsaw. He called me up, said I'd discovered some ancient epic of Ireland that connected people there with Sumeria, in his opinion, was worth a fortune and a huge historical find. A library in Ireland bought it. We bough our house and camper and had Maureen after we got all the money. They still give me creeps, but I pay no mind. The Faerie have a way of paying you back in kind. I wouldn't cross them for anything."

      The whole group were laughing happily at Patrick's story. Adelle was beaming and Maureen cooing and clapping.

      "I suppose we've all be afraid without reason. I've learned something, and that means a great deal to me," Claudia said.

      "All there's left to say is that we have nothing to truly fear, but we should be cautious. Having no fear of death doesn't mean to wish to seek it. Let's get everyone packed up. There's a whole lot of newlings out there, lets get them initiated, set with vehicles for traveling and such. Anything else?"

      The only words were in refusal and gratitude.