“You ask me so many questions,” said the nymph. “Do I not get to ask anything of you?”

  “You certainly may. In fact, you just have.”

  A tinkling of laughter. “I don’t know much about the elves. They were dragon hunters once, but that was before the dragons fled from this continent. Now, in exchange, you tell me about the land from which you were born.”

  “I’m from the Barony of Loix, in County Niciaux- called Nic’ollo by those south of the border. It’s part of the Southwoods mark, which is owned directly by the King of Velois. The baron who rules there is called-”

  “-Little Vero, I asked you to tell me about the land, not the pompous peacocks preening atop it.”

  Vero reminded herself to stop treating Adeana like a human, no matter how fair the outer form she wore was. Instead, she began trying to whisper with her, as though she were trying to communicate with a strange highly intelligent animal. She explained the songs of birds heard there and the rushing of the water.

  “The soil was healthy and fertile. We cultivated large fields of wheat… Mama and I looked after a small potager garden with onions, carrots, cabbage. The terrain was gently rolling hills, we were far to the east of the Ruby Mountains proper. Just to the south of us was the Whitewood. Beyond that, the sea, and the Republic on its peninsula. There were no lakes there, but we lived near to a river which flowed down from the Ruby Mountains into the White Sea.”

  “Oh, Vero! That sounds beautiful! Many of my sisters are rivers, creeks, or other forms of running water. They’re flightier than I, always moving and rushing about. They can never stay put in one place for long. Ask me another question, if you like.”

  “Did your lover continue his association with the dragon slayers after his transformation?”

  “Yes, I think so. Or, at least some of them, I gathered that not all accepted his new form. His remaining allies corresponded with him in secret. I spoke to him only infrequently from that time on. My lake is pure and clean. While he breathed, we would swim, frolic, and commune with one another there within my depths. Once he was filled with the pollution of undeath, that was no longer possible. If he were to enter me once more, I would have washed away all his darkness, leaving nothing left but dead bones. After his change, he was no longer truly alive. He could experience love only as a memory, never as true feeling ever again. It was inevitable that we would drift apart. Now, tell me about yourself again. What did you use to grow into what you are today, and flower this way?”

  Vero had difficulty answering, as she could not understand the question. With Adeana’s guidance, she eventually realized the nymph was curious about her diet and exercise. Vero almost laughed realizing how mundane Adeana’s interests were, but the nymph listened to her exposition with rapt attention.

  At last, Vero posed her next question. “I presumed that this postern was built for an unbreathing creature, like a vampyre, to escape through. But if your waters are too holy for him to enter, how and why did he build this castle as he did?”

  “Tricksy little Vero, do I detect more than one question there? Yet, I shall answer all you ask to the best of my ability, because I find you fair to gaze on when you smile at me. This castle you see now was not the first built here, nor the second. Over the centuries many homes were built here, you shall see them if you climb to the current residence. The mountains crushed, undermined, and made them unsound. It’s only a matter of time until the structure of stone you seek today joins them. And another is constructed in its place.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know, Vero. I can feel that its hand is upon you. You carry its taint with you.”

  Vero’s hair stood on end. The – Thing – under the mountains. “You have powers of purification; can you free me from this taint?”

  Adeana nodded. “Temporarily, yes. If you have caught the Fiend’s eye however, his corruption shall work on you all the time you remain in these mountains.”

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  “I have no means to pay you-”

  “Pretty Vero, what use do I have for the coins or trinkets of men?” She stood. “If you wish to be cleansed, follow me.” Adeana took her by the hand and led her. “In exchange, you shall tell me about those you have loved.”

  “Well…” Vero began. “The one I love most in this world is named Jean. He’s tall and strong, a leader of men. When he found me, I was at my lowest and most wretched. He saw things in me I could not, and many things I still cannot. I was prepared to accept any abuse he wished to lay upon me, to bask in his attention only for a moment. To think back, it frightens me how I would have allowed him to use me. Yet, even totally within his power, he only ever chose to be kind and gentle with me. He was not the first man I went to bed with, though he was the first I ever loved. Today, I think I would give anything to be with him again.”

  “What keeps you apart?”

  “Many things. His money, his rank, his soldiers, his servants, his vassals, his family, his enemies… his wife.”

  “Is he the only man you ever loved?”

  “Oh no, there were many others. Although those flames never burned half so bright as his. There was a priest I lived with in Lusitan, a half-blooded dark elven warrior I traveled with across the Oasis Cities. And I won’t pretend I haven’t had fleeting affiliations with more basis in desire than love.”

  They emerged into another circular chamber, with a pool of water in the center shrouded by curtains. “If you were a nymph, I think you would be a fast-flowing river Vero.”

  “White water rapids, no doubt. With lots of sharp rocks, I’m sure.”

  “Have you ever loved a woman?”

  “My Mama, of course. Although that’s a different type of love than one shares with a man.” Vero felt fatigue crashing over her like a wave; the wine Adeana served with her fish was very strong.

  She continued, “My blood does run hot when I look on a woman’s beauty, the same as a man’s does. Dressed as a male, one becomes privy to certain conversations with men which would otherwise be exclusive. And women also treat you differently. I’ve met some women who allowed me to… satisfy myself with them, even after they learned the truth. The first fellow sapphiric I met bedded me as the masculine partner, I had no notion how one took the initiative with a woman then.”

  Adeana started removing her dress. Vero let her go about it, and focused her mind on answering Adeana’s question. “It was strange. I resisted those pulls for a long time- occasionally giving in to hire prostitutes. Then being pursued by lingering shame thereafter. The first woman I think I ever really loved romantically was Dora. She calls herself my wife and waits for me even now. Or, at least, I hope that she still does.”

  “Is something wrong, Vero?”

  “I feel rather tired. May I lay down someplace to rest?”

  Adeana smiled sweetly at her and pressed her beyond the veils into the pool of water. “The only bed is in my private chamber. I so rarely take guests. That’s where we are now.”

  Vero felt exhausted, but blissfully so. The water was as warm as a bath. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Vero felt danger buzzing.

  “Lay down and close your eyes. You appear about to fall over.” Adeana entered the water beside her.

  “The wine…” Vero felt her mind grinding, but slowly. “…there was something in the wine…”

  “Something to help you rest.” Adeana pushed Vero only gently.

  Vero was sinking beneath the water and could not rise. “Why…?”

  “I’ve brought you here to do as you asked, handsome Vero. My former lover once asked me to kill anyone who came this way, though I have special intentions for you.”

  Vero just barely kept her nose and mouth above the surface. Her limbs felt so weak. “Could have- let me die in the tunnel- don’t owe him… anything…”

  “Sleep now, Vero.” Adeana pressed Vero beneath her. “Sleep.”

  Vero lay paralyzed on the bed. She was awake, though no matter how hard she exerted herself, she could not rise.

  She believed there were figures near her, though she could not see them. Who were they? Adeana? The Black Palatine? One of his vassals?

  For a moment, she believed she saw Pentarch. Then Alexius, then finally-

  …Mama…?

  Vero lurched upright, and she was alone.

  Everything felt too real to be a dream. Where was Adeana? Vero refused to believe so pure a creature could consort with a vampyre. In any event, she must be found.

  Vero moved to the chamber’s only door. She opened it, to find that it led outside onto a warm flat plane beside a river, which flowed slowly into a placid lake. She could see the mountains, but only in the distance.

  Behind her, there was no longer a sleeping chamber, but rather the fortified camp of an Imperial Legion. The clothes she wore were unfamiliar, but she recognized the breast plate of a centurion. She was of about the height she ought to be, but her shoulders were broader. She felt her chin, and found the stubble of a day’s beard growth.

  A curious sensation.

  Vero put a hand to the hilt of the gladius on her belt, although it appeared that she was alone. She decided that she must be dreaming, but every sensation felt so real. She was so present in the moment, that it was impossible to believe that she was not really there. She moved to the edge of the lake.

  “Adeana! Are you there!?”

  Her voice traveled across the lake, but there was no response. It must have been something the nymph had done to her. This looked like her lake, but the mountains were too far away.

  “Adeana! Where are you!?”

  There was still nothing. Vero turned and entered the legion camp, because she could think of nothing else to do.

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