The Vampire's Crimson Kiss (Editing)

Chapter 36/Interlude in a Skiff

Mary walked to the dock, guiding Brachet along a deliberately long route through the warren of the tower. There was no sense in giving him useful tactical knowledge, and besides, she could talk.

"It is a shame the interview was so short. There is much to discuss, such as if the Princess could intercede with the Duke about the 80 people who, it was agreed, have to come to this place every quarter. There is great unrest about the selection," said Brachet.

"Discuss that you should," Mary said, "but in my humble opinion, you should do what the local commonalty do here."

"Which is?"

"Well, the medical treatment here is superb. There is not an ailment among the familiars that our lords cannot treat. They have three doctors among them from before the fall, very skilled and with a large stock of potions. If the choice is between painful malignant death and a year in service, many might be found to volunteer," said Mary.

"That is a suggestion most advantageous to both parties, yes," said Brachet, nodding.

"I have noticed many criminals being sent by others too, so spare your hangman," said Mary.

Brachet wasn't used to having sensible advice from a woman. "This we had considered, but worried that it might offend." he said.

Mary smiled as she walked. "There is one way to make sure that whatever is sent is acceptable to our lords."

"How is that?" said Brachet as they turned a corner and passed more slaves.

"To our lords, the barrel might contain spoiled apples, but they will ignore them if there is one or two choice fruits. There is nothing that will blind our lords more than a comely-faced boy and girl."

They got to the large hall behind the gate at the base of the keep. Brachet looked at Mary. "I can see you were one of the latter. And how might we recruit these people?"

"Once some have served and returned, it is a weak problem. Some towns have created a lottery. Each takes a chestnut... oh, but we have arrived." Mary stopped. "You will come again tomorrow perhaps? I know the Princess would enjoy your company."

Brachet looked around, undecided. It was getting dark. Dark was bad.

"That would be welcome, but I have much business which must be seen to. I told the captain of my ship I would be leaving tomorrow. I would greatly hear more of your advice as well; I value it highly," he had said, taking Mary's hand.

Mary smiled again and lowered her head slightly. The sucker liked his girls demure. "Well, if my Lord permits, I could accompany him on the skiff."

"I would welcome that," said Brachet.

Mary took Brachet's hand as she got onto the boat. She didn't need to; there wasn't much she couldn't walk comfortably on in her high heels.

"Ferryman. To the west docks by the safe route," said Mary.

The Ferryman nodded slowly and held out his hand. Brachet pulled out a coin from his pocket; Mary had seen he had been fingering the coin nervously for most of the interview. This wasn't to be lost; this was his ticket out of here.

Mary sat under the covered part of the skiff, out of the wind and rain and the views of the spies from the city.

"The important part of the lottery is that you make sure no highborn is picked by it, yet make sure you claim that they can be," Mary had said.

"How is that done?" said Brachet. He liked this woman; she wasn't scared to make the hard decisions which even most men would shy from. After the fall, it was a dog-eat-dog world and only the strong survived. She knew that; she didn't have any delusions like the King over morality. She had more brains than all the king's so-called advisors, and she did it all in high heels.

Mary looked around. The skiff's seats were covered in an old Persian rug, and she nonchalantly fingered some of the cords around her fingers. "Many white balls in a barrel and 80 black ones. The highborn girls hide a white ball in their hand before they reach in. When they pull their hand out, they hold a white one. Most girls are eager to learn. Or judge a pageant for the most beautiful; the nobles are judges, and their kin never win."

The skiff pushed off.

"Interesting. Tell me, I have heard rumors; I understand your masters make you perform despicable womanly acts," Brachet inquired innocently.

"Yes, their eyes can cloud the mind. It pleases them to make us perform the kinds of acts a common whore would object to," Mary said, sitting as closely as she could, looking directly at him.

"I wish I could rescue you from this," Brachet added.

"My deep shame binds me to them," Mary said, moving closer. "Look what they can make me do."

She began kissing him, and at the kiss, all his "knightly" reserve was lost. He pulled her close, and she began to reach for his groin.

"You wicked wretch! The ferryman!" Brachet said.

"He is a deaf mute and a hermit, no one will know," Mary answered. The ferryman was known to be discreet, which is why she had lifted the lantern to summon him.

Mary pulled Brachet into the covered area. The boat rocked and swayed like it was skimming over a heavy sea. The ferryman silently pushed the pole he used to propel the skiff into the mud bottom of the lake. The Ferryman pushed his rod hard into the mud and then twisted it when pulling it out. The skiff shook with greater violence. The Ferryman took the winding route from the keep to the near fishing village. The skiff trembled, but he did not lose his balance. He sailed expertly around all the razor-sharp wreckage biting at the unwary from under the water. The water was shallow here, and the ferryman used his rod in shorter, faster plunges into the bottom. As Mary had expected, by the time they arrived, the maneuver in the covered part of the skiff was over. Brachet panted to catch his breath. The skiff pulled into the village dockside. The ferryman put his rod down and tied a rope around the post in the water to secure the skiff.

Mary looked up at Brachet, getting up and straightening himself. Her reasons for her approach were simple and for Victoria. Despite Mary's insistence and long explanations, Victoria had refused to scrub her face for him. Victoria was practically one of them now and so only took Mary's best words as advice and then only when she felt like it.  Victoria's head was turned by The Duke's  love. It was clear. 

That night Jean wrote in his journal.

4:50 - from Coven to Landing via St Pauls on orders of B.M. She seduces the Badland warrior who was brave enough to enter the lower coven. They made love, puppy style, on the front bench. He appeared to have no marks or feeding behavior after his visit. B.M has not been converted yet? After love, they spoke indistinctly, including the words Princesses and Lottery. 5:10 arrive. B.M leaves with man to accompany to his tavern. Cleaned front bench from the fish smell. 6:40 B.M. returns from Tavern returned to the main coven tower, leaving a second stain on the bench. She carried his hat presumably to force/excuse his return at a later day. B.M. appears happy, singing a west-end fishing song to herself on the way back. 7:00 24+ crows circling tower. 7:15 took Doctor to landing, he is presumably looking for more victims for his experiments. 

This reminded me  that morning  I heard some children singing, 'Silver-neck, silver-neck, hide from her, or your back is a wreck.'