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What the Hell am I saying? What am I doing?

Ryder blinked and then smiled. It lit up his bearded face and crinkles formed by the sides of his eyes. “Thanks, I’ll do that. Just not for this.”

But this is the only thing you’ve gone up against that you’re not sure you can defeat.

Grayson though only said out loud, “Sounds like a plan. I see some of my roommates. I guess I’ll head over there.”

Eiji and Mairead were standing on the opposite side of the road. The silver trumpets blew again indicating that it was yet closer to the time of the parade, perhaps moments away.

“Good. We will meet up tomorrow and confer,” Ryder suggested.

Grayson nodded. Only then did Ryder’s hands slide seemingly unwillingly from his shoulders and fall to Ryder’s sides like dead birds.

“Uhm, one question before I go,” Grayson said, his lips twitching.

“Yes?” Ryder looked like he wanted the conversation to continue as well.

“Your cloak… you aren’t wearing a shirt under that, are you?” Grayson asked.

“No. Not pants either.” Ryder grinned at him.

Grayson let out a caw of laughter and shook his head. He waved to Ryder as he headed over to Eiji and Mairead who were both looking curiously at him and Ryder. Almost as curiously as Lawson was. He jogged over to his roommates who greeted him warmly. Well, Eiji greeted him warmly while Mairead began a soft interrogation.

“You’re with the Weryn again?” Mairead clucked.

“His name is Ryder. Not the Weryn,” Grayson corrected. He wondered if he should have even said that much. But he doubted he could stop her from finding out what she wanted to know. “He and Demos were the ones who brought me in.”

He hoped that this would be enough to satisfy her. She nodded.

“You shouldn’t waste your time on him though,” Mairead warned.

“Ah, why?” He asked, even though he already guessed.

“Because they aren’t taking fledglings from this class. Made a big stink about it,” Mairead explained. Her information was good. “And, even if they were to change their minds, they’re in the dog house. Not worth looking at.”

“I see,” Grayson said, seeing quite well what she valued.

“You don’t want to taint yourself by association,” Mairead continued.

“Then maybe you don’t want to hang out with me either?” Grayson asked. “You, too, might be tainted by association.”

His voice was cool.

“No, I’m not worried. Just giving some advice,” she said with a shrug.

Eiji’s dark eyes twinkled. “She saw you with Seeyr and Balthazar. She likes the company you keep.”

“Ach, Goda-sama, you ratted me out!” But Mairead didn’t look all that upset. “I’m just saying the Weryn are in a complicated position. You have options. It’s clear you have loads of options, even if you aren’t going to interviews just yet.” Her lips puckered as she spoke of Amara’s earlier actions. “You don’t want to mess it up.”

“I’m not worried about that.” Grayson glanced back over to where the Weryn were assembling.

Ryder was looking over the other cloaked Vampires with an almost paternal air, making sure that they were all settled. In contrast, Lawson glowered. He wasn’t wearing a cloak, Grayson realized. He wasn’t part of the parade. He was just there to what? Give Ryder a hard time? Lawson’s gaze was on him again. Grayson stared back steadily.

“I do not think that Vampire likes you,” Eiji murmured, barely moving his lips.

“The feeling’s mutual,” Grayson said.

“He reminds me of an old associate who would drink too much and let his temper lead him. He only had a gun. A Vampire has other weapons,” Eiji continued speaking in that low voice that Grayson didn’t even think Mairead heard. “Be careful.”