of king’s, all the while, his three chosen ones attentively
following his lead. But he had seriously overestimated and
therefore failed in his attempts to instill in the three the
desire to evolve. He had learned that through will alone,
one could not convert a pack of wild dogs into a kennel of
pedigreed thoroughbreds. For these three, it would always
be the hunt, the blood.
Though he was the Master, it was he who was left to tend
to the carriage and the horses, securing shelter at the livery
for the animals for the rest of the evening and the next
day. He instructed the liveryman to have all prepared for a
departure after sundown. He then headed toward the
nearest pub where he was sure he would find his three
traveling companions. They were at a corner table, large
flagons of ale sitting untouched in front of each of them.
As he walked up, they were all chuckling quietly, probably
over some bawdy remark which Nathan had most likely
made about the barmaid serving drinks to customers at a
nearby table.
“May I join you?” he said, pulling up a chair and sitting
without waiting for a reply. “We are but one night’s ride
from Paris and our belongings have preceded us. I have
secured quarters for a month within close proximity to the
court. I am hoping to make introductions that will be of
benefit to you all.”
“Still trying to polish us up a bit?” sneered Nathan.
“Why ever did you choose us for the gift if you found us
so lacking?” asked Julian.
6