Celyn frowned at the question of blood. What did she know?
"Our families." He replied carefully, choosing his words as he thought of the human terms to use. "Would support each other with an alliance."
He shrugged, shaking his head with a small smile, catching his uncle's eye for a brief moment.
"Perhaps some would call us wild, but it is simply that my family does not choose to stay in the confines of a city."
***
It was a peaceful evening; only a couple of days off a full moon. At this time of night, most of the day workers had turned in, with the night shift taking their turn to patrol the citadel. They were used to Staunton by now, as he took his regular walk along the corridors. He was known as a notorious insomniac, explaining away his avoidance of the sun as being easily sunburnt. Questions were asked, yes, yet as he was still paying their wages, not many.
He did not hunt every night, preferring to take a bit here and there, certainly, he did not like to take a life within the walls of the town. With a place like Lourdes, there were many visitors from far off lands, so it wasn't too hard to find a victim. At the very most, a person might wake up the next day feeling a little weaker than normal, but no harm done.
As he approached the main hall, he paused, frowning. It was not often that he heard English being spoken, expect with himself and Malachi, yet as far as he was aware, Malachi was hunting further afield, scouting for their enemies.
"Good evening." Staunted smiled as he entered the hall. "I did not realise that we had guests."
Immediately, he could see the change in how the two men looked at him and he knew that they knew exactly what he was. Yet what were they? He could see from the way they breathed and their skin that they were very much alive, yet they did not smell quite as humans usually did.
Roe stood hurriedly, heading over to the sideboard to fetch a new goblet for him.
"My lord." He poured it and set it out for him.
Staunton smiled his thanks, yet he frowned slightly as he watched the way the man walked, noting that he was still in pain.
"You go on to bed, Etienne."
"As you wish, my lord."
Roe laid a hand gently on Valaria's arm, giving it a light squeeze before he left. She was in safe hands, at least.
Once the Frenchman had left, Staunton turned to their visitors.
"My name is James Staunton."
The younger of the two men stood. He looked to be barely out of boyhood, despite his muscular frame.
"Celyn Blackwood, this is my uncle, Oscar."