The moons and stars were hidden from sight, making that particular quiet night especially dark. The town guard had to carry torchlight to make their rounds ; but the man who came to my chapel that night carried no light with him. I came to learn that Movarth Piquine co uld see just as well in the night as in the day – an excellent talent, considering his int erests were exclusively nocturnal. One of my acolytes brought him to me, and from the look of him, I at first thought he was in need of healing. He was pale to the point of opalescence with a face that looked like it had once been very handsome before some unspeakable suffering. The dark circles under his eyes bespoke exhaustion, but the yes themselves were alert, intense , almost insane. He quickly dismissed my notion that he himself was ill, though he did want to discuss a specific disease. “Vampirism” he said, and then paused at my quizzical look, “I was told that you were someone I should seek for help understanding it.” “Who told you that?” I asked with a smile. “Tissina Gray”, I immediately remembered her. A brave, beautiful knight who needed my assistance on the subject of Vampirism. It had been two years, and I had not heard from her since. “You;ve spoken to her? How is her ladyship?” I asked. “Dead” Movarth replied coldly. And then, responding to my shock, he added, perhaps to soften the blow. “She said your advice was invaluable. She was tracking a Vampire” a pause, “It killed her.” “Then my advice was not enough” I sighed. “Who says it would be enough for you?” “I know that if a student doesn’t ask the right questions, the teacher cannot be responsible for his failure. I intend to ask you the right questions.” And that he did. For hours, he asked questions and I answered. but he never volunteered any information about himself. He never smiled. He only studied me with those intense eyes of his, commiting every word I said to memory. Finally, I could detect some weariness in his eyes. I would like to commit this tomorrow night. I must sleep and absorb this. “You sleep during the day” I smiled. To my surprise, he returned the smile, though it was more of a grimace. “When tracking your prey, you adapt their habits.” The next day he returned, with more questions. I told him of the Vampires of Eastern Malinor, the Volkihar, paranoid and cruel, whose very breath could freeze their victim’s blood in their very veins. I explained to them how they lived amongst the tree trunks, never venturing into the world of men except to feed. He left, and returned within a few days. True to his word, the man returned to my chapel. There was a fresh scar on his cheek, but he was smiling that grim but satisfied smile of his. “Your advice helped me very much” he said. “But you should know that the Volkihar have an ability you did not mention. They can reach through the bark of their trees without breaking it. It was a nasty surprise, being grabbed from behind.” “Terrifying”, I said, “You were lucky you survived”, “I don’t believe in luck” he replied, “I can land a thousand blows without losing my balance, providing I get the first strike” “So you must never be surprised”, “That is why I came to you. Again, I answered his questions, they taxed my knowledge. There was much to cover. The Bonsamu, who were indistuingishable from men except when seen by candelight. The Keerilth who could disintegrate into mist. The Yekef who swallowed men whole. The dread Telboth who preyed on children, eventually taking their place in the family, waiting patiently for years before murdering them all in their unnatural hunger. Once again, he bade me farewell. Promising to return in a few weeks. I nodded, knowing then that this man was on an eternal quest. He wouldn’t be satisfied but with the barest hint of how things were. He needed to know it all. He did not return for a month, and on the night that he did, I could see his frustration and despar, though there were no lights burning in my chapel. “I failed” he said as I lit a candle. “You were right. I could not find a single one.” “I brought the light up to my face and smiled. He was surprised, even stunned by the pallor of my flesh, the dark hunger in my ageless eyes, and the teeth. Oh, yes, I think the teeth definitely surprised the man who could not afford to be surprised. “I haven’t fed in seventy-two hours” I explained, as I fell on him. ::He did not land the first blow or the last.