I told you I used to be a mercenary, back in my misspent youth? [ He believes he did. Anyway: ]

She hired me as an escort. I didn't realize what she had planned when I took the job, but I really needed the money and I was headed in the same direction anyway. We can't all be born into privilege, you know.

After a day on the road, she wanted to stop at an inn. She didn't tell me it was full of vampires until after we were both locked in. [ A sigh. ] What she wanted was somebody who could destroy the lesser vampires so she could conserve her strength for their leader. When they get really old, most magic doesn't work on them.