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EPILOGUE
The room was silent as Azrael lay there. Selene had long since fallen asleep beside him. His body finally, calming after the joys of the last several hours, his, mind, at last was able to turn from other concerns.
* Sharra * , he still had one last thing to deal with before rest could take him. His, promise, to Cerberus's girl.
*A zrael you, old fossil, what has you calling me this time of the night? * Sharra's cheerful thoughts touched his mind. Loving and welcoming as ever, how she ever stumbled into having a Childe like Magnus confused him. * How is Vincent? Is my Grand-Childe as lovely as ever? *
* Vincent is, well, and has Sired, yet another. The boy's name is Christian. I believe you will find him to be quite to your tastes, he was an orphan. Lilith is of course quite the girl; I am tempted to be jealous of your good fortune with Vincent. But that is not why I have called you. *
* I see, so tell me old friend. What has happened? * Sharra was always quick. Too quick, sometimes, for Azrael's taste. There would be no easing into this. No way to lesson the blow. * If you have something to tell me Azrael, go ahead. I am going to assume it is dealing with one of my offspring . *
* Yes . *
* If it is not Vincent, then I am going to take a stab in the dark. What has Magnus done now? *
* You are too intelligent by far. Yes, my call has to do with your black sheep Childe. Magnus has been accused of murder. I have a Rogue Childe here that has given me his name as one of the Lined Kin that killed both her Sire as well as her older brother . * This was not an easy task. Training warred with law now. It was a Rogue that demanded justice, not just an orphaned Kin, but a Rogues Childe. * I would never summon you, but the Childe is telling the truth. You know that no deceptions exist here. Her Sire had broken no law, violated no sanctions. Magnus offered him the choice of slavery or death . The Sire chose death, and his First-Born as well, the girl fled, her life bought by her Elder brothers death. She now seeks justice . *
* I see . * Her reply was curt. Anger was there, but strangely enough no disbelief. * And this Rogue is she willing to face me, to face Magnus with her accusations? *
* Yes, she is willing to brave a full council if need be. I have agreed to stand as her advocate. It is my word that no harm will befall her. Magnus has sworn to kill her, or so she says . *
* So be it. Do not be surprised when I tell you, you didn't have to go through the big speech. I believe the girl as well. My Childe did not turn out at all as I had hoped. He is cold, and follows the laws as if they were the only way. I can well see him hunting out Rogues, simply because they do not fit within the law, and branding them lawless. Yes, I will come, and so will Magnus. Innocent or guilty, the Childe is in no danger. Give her my word as well. And if he is guilty, I owe this orphan whatever aid she needs of my Line and me . I disowned that boy a long time ago. He will wish I had never made him, if I find out that he is performing such perversions of the law. *
* So be it. I will contact her tomorrow night, at her age I am sure she has been asleep for sometime now. And we will set up a time for the council. Will you be standing as Magnus's Advocate? *
* No, I disowned him, if he is innocent, he does not, need, one and, if, he is guilty. Then I would rather be thought of as heartless than support him. Now, enough on my, disgrace, tell me of my new Grand-Childe. You say he was an orphan? *
Azrael shared with her the story of how Christian came to be David's newest child, and how it tied in with Jenna and the charge against her Childe Magnus. Answering the many questions that she had in relation to what a Renegade such as that was doing being allowed to live for so long and why hadn't anyone thought to summon the Elders.
* But if what you say is true, and these children have no one, and are living in fear of us, how do we help them? *
*By doing as I am, I have opened my lair to them, opened a Covenstead. True it might take some time for them to accept that this is no ruse, that they are safe and welcome. But I have the time. *
* Yes, and for now, so do I. I had not realized that this situation had gotten so far out of hand. I will contact those here, and let them know of your findings. We will put an end to this disgraceful shame. These youngsters have a right to training and protection. It is just a shame that their damn fool Sires never got around to telling them that. *
Azrael held his peace. It would do no good for now to tell her the truth. That many, of, them had tried and had suffered for it. If the Lines chose not to wake up and accept their responsibilities, then fine. No need to drag up old ugliness. If not, then it was far past time to rub their noses in it.
* Well, I will see you in at the tribunal, and we will see if this Rogue Childe's accusation is true. And if it is, I will see justice. Give my boy a hug for me, and keep him out of trouble. *
*I will he is quite the lad now. His efforts are very promising. As I am sure you will see when you come, peace and safe keeping Sharra. *
* Safe sleep, and safe domain, Azrael . *
The silence heralded the end of the conversation. Leaving Azrael to wonder what life had next for him. The last year or more had proven to him that he was not near as set in his ways as he had come to believe. And if they were any indication, the next few would show him how little he really knew himself at all.
'Oh, Ga'Damn' . He thought to himself chuckling as he pulled Selene close again and sought sleep. 'Oh, Ga'Damn'.
ANOTHER MOMENT OF BABBLE
Well it would seem that we have made it to the end of yet another one of my books. This is getting sinfully simple as I go along. And before anyone asks, yes there is a third book coming, (giggle) .
Quick note here, one of the readers of my first book pointed out to me, as if I didn't know already, that Azrael is the Hebrew Angle of Death and retribution. And they really liked my choice in names. I do so love when someone who, actually, has his or her wits about them, actually comments on something other than the sex, in my book.
I won't bore you all with the same warnings that were in the first, other that to say play by all, means, play, but play safe. This is a real limited reading audience, and I would just as soon not share it with Death.
Thanks to all of you who helped me along the way. The group most importantly because they put up with me babbling day in and day out about who was doing whom and who was watching.
Special thanks of course, to my editor Amy who muttered, mumbled and griped, all the way, through this book. "Goddess Ronnie, we haven't even got DL-1 finished and sold yet, slow down why don't ya." Aren't you glad I didn't now?
So here's to seeing all of you in a few months. Be talking to ya.
Safe sleep, and domain.
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