JOHNAS WAS DETERMINED to gather the village's men at the Tavern again that evening. Father Thomas had informed him, by messenger that morning that Mathew had nearly completed the chain, and it would be ready in three days' time.
A rare smile crossed his face as he read the missive.
The message had been delivered by one of the Priest's pet altar boys. The urchin had handed him the message, a look of fear in his eyes.
Johnas wondered what the Priest had done to the boy before he had sent him on his errand?
And what he had told boy Johnas would do to him?
He had undoubtedly told him he would Bugger him senseless as the old Priest had done, before sending the child on his mission.
Johnas had instead given the boy a silver penny, which the ungrateful child had snatched from his hand, and then Johnas had sent the boy on his way with a dismissive wave of his hand.
The dirty little urchin had scampered off down the street, clutching his prize in his filthy little hand, like a rat with a crust of bread.
Johnas turned his mind to the task at hand.
He needed to spread the word about the evenings meeting, and he knew just the man to spread his message with the greatest efficiency.
Johnas retrieved his cloak from the hook by his large oaken door. Pulling it on, he made his way to the Wolf And Lamb Tavern.
He entered the alehouse, striding up to the bar, spying Robert leaning on the long wooden bar at the far end of the room, engaged in conversation with a stooped, old man who occupied one of the stools positioned there.
Catching his eye Johnas beckoned for Robert, the squat bull faced inn keeper, with a wave of his hand.
Robert strode over, with a look of disgust on his face, at Johnas bloated visage standing at the bar.
After much consoling Maeve, his only tavern maid, had confessed to Robert what Johnas had done to her in the alleyway that lay across the street from the tavern.
She had resigned her position, fearful that Johnas would return to make good on his promise to slit her throat.
She had then collected her wages that Robert owed her tearfully informing him that she was returning to her village.
Leaving Robert without anyone to help serve his patrons. Robert glared at Johnas over the bar.
"What can I do for ye?" he asked peevishly.
Johnas gave Robert a sour look before speaking.
"I will require the use of your backroom at six of the clock this evening, Robert. I have received word that Mathew is almost finished with his labors" He stated.
"I know I can depend of you to spread the news to the village men who come in to drink this day. Tell them to spread the word among as many men as they should meet."
Here, Johnas paused giving Robert a warning look.
"And make sure every man who comes in to drink is not over served for they will have much to do in preparation for our hunt for the witch.
I want them sober enough to comprehend my plans." Johnas finished, sliding a few gold coins across the bar in Roberts direction.
The Innkeeper picked up the coins from where Johnas had placed them, quickly tucking them into his pocket, before giving Johnas a curt nod of his head.
"Ye can count on me." Robert replied in a conspiratorial tone.
Johnas hastily exited The Wolf And Lamb with a flourish of his long black cloak.
"I'll spread the word for ye, ye old crow," Robert snarled to Johnas's back, removing one of the gold coins from his pocket, and tested it between his yellowed teeth.
Satisfied he slipped it back into his pocket.
"However ye old bastard, I will be damned if I won't serve my patrons whatever amount of ale they wish," he said with a sneer.
* * *
As the sun slowly moved behind the mountains, casting long shadows over the land, Vincent made ready for his clandestine journey into the village to discover what plans Johnas may have for Eldra.
Vincent had donned a worn black shirt, and trousers from the pile of garments by the door, and an old pair of leather riding boots, his frayed pants legs neatly tucked within them, on his feet.
Eldra stood before him, her hands fussing with his cloak pulling at the material.
Vincent took her hands in his to still them, raising them to his lips kissing them softly.
"Do not worry my little raven, I will return to you before the sun rises tomorrow. I promise," he said, hooking one finger under her plump chin, he tilted her head up so he could look into her worried eyes. Leaning in closely, he kissed her sweetly on the forehead, before turning to leave.
* * *
Vincent made his way through the darkness of the forest with determination, traveling through the trees, avoiding the main road into town, and heading instead towards the docks on the opposite side by the inlet to the bay.
He arrived at the docks, which lined the shoreline he pulled the heavy woolen hood from the cloak upwards, concealing his face from the dock hands gaze.
Vincent moved cautiously amid the crowds of mortals gathered on the wharf, slipped past the tightly packed bodies that swirled around him like leaves caught in the wind.
He walked unhurriedly in the direction of the town proper, blending in with the other travelers and sailors who were doing the same.
As Vincent moved he pulled the black cloak closer around himself, keeping his face well hidden from prying eyes, under the thick woolen hood he wore.
The moonlight shone brightly, his face glowing like that of a ghost in its illumination.
He silently cursed himself for not thinking of it before he had stepped out of the trees.
Vincent knelt down, lifting a handful of damp earth from the wagon tracks in the muddy road, smearing it across his face praying it would dull the reflecting light enough so that he would not draw any unwanted attention from passersby.
He could hear the raucous voices and music coming from the Bawdy Houses that flanked the streets near the docks.
The painted women plying their trade to the sailors, whose ships frequently stopped to unload goods and passengers.
Then subsequently picking up new passengers, and loading new cargo bound for foreign lands.
He imagined the sailors were the bawdy houses' most frequent patrons. Lonely men who, after spending long months at sea, came to the bawdy houses looking for much needed female companionship, before moving onto their next port of call.
A few of the women standing in front of the houses lewdly propositioned him, as he passed by the brightly lit interiors of the buildings.
Briefly glancing up, he noticed a plump girl with flame-colored hair in the doorway of one of the bawdy houses, leaning stiffly on the door-frame. She was flirting with a tall sailor, her bosom straining at the fabric of her green dress.
A fading bruise blemishing her otherwise comely face.
She had tried to conceal it with the heavy application of powder and rouge, and had failed miserably.
Vincent quickly averted his gaze as his bloodlust surged momentarily to the surface, his strides lengthening as he hastily moved past the bawdy houses, making his way towards the village's main square.
Vincent strode rapidly along the street, struggling to quell the bloodlust that had suddenly risen at the sight of the girl with the flame kissed hair, as she leaned in the doorway of the bawdy house.
He pondered what had caused such a strong reaction when he had noticed the girl there?
Suddenly it came to him, a terrible realization, it was her scent. He could smell Johnas on her.
His eyes flashed crimson at the memory.
He could not imagine Johnas visiting such a disreputable establishment, so why had the girl carried his scent so strongly upon her flesh, he asked himself?
A perplexed look crossing his countenance.
Vincent arrived in the village square as the clock in the tower, that loomed above it began toll five of the clock.
Taking in his surroundings, he spotted the Wolf And Lamb Tavern, the sign above its entrance emblazoned with an ornate carving of a giant grey wolf tearing at a lambs throat with its overlarge teeth, the sign swung lazily in the chill autumn breeze.
He stared at the lantern light shining through the tavern's windows illuminating the interior, for a moment before tugging the hood further down to conceal his face in its shadows.
He crossed the square, pushed opened the door, and made his way inside.
The tavern was overly crowded with men the mingled smell of whiskey, strong ale, and sweat radiated off the men within overpowered his senses. Vincent stepped to the bar, ordered a cup of ale then pivoted, he glanced around the crowded room for an empty table, wishing to find one well away from the bright lantern light, where he could sit unobserved.
Realizing he had no coin to pay for his drink, he artfully slipped his hand into the pocket of the drunken man standing closest to him at the bar.
He withdrew a coin unnoticed from the man's pocket, flipping it onto the polished top of the bar as the Innkeeper set down his cup.
He took it hurriedly, trying to conceal his pale hand as he did so, then turning away from the bar, he made his way to an unoccupied chair in the furthest corner of the tavern room where the lanterns light did not reach. Sitting hunched in the shadows, Vincent listened to the hum of the voices around him, catching scraps of conversations in the noise filled tavern room.
"Your full of shit, you never!" Cried a man to his left, banging his fist on the table as he shouted.
Another, sitting closer, snorted loudly through his bulbous nose as his friend finished a ribald tale.
Yet another stood up, abruptly knocking his chair to the ground with a thunderous crash, that was swallowed by the deafening clamor of the room around him.
An angry look colored the man's face when he almost tumbled backwards over the fallen chair, his companions bursting into uproarious laughter at his blunder. He righted the chair glowering around the table at his comrades, and sat back down, a sheepish look on his face.
His companions slapping him on the back, and calling for another round of ale for the table from Robert.
Vincent heard one of the men at the bar asking the tavern owner what had happened to the red-haired wench that used to serve there?
The Innkeeper's face flushed red as he informed the man that the girl had gotten herself into some trouble and had decided to return to her people, then rushed away to deliver ale to the men at the table.
A grim look passed over Vincent's face as he recalled Eldra's story of what Johnas had tried to do to her in the kitchen of her little cottage.
Then understanding dawned on Vincent as to why Johnas's smell had radiated so strongly from the girl's flesh.
He theorized that Johnas must have forced himself on the poor child, just as he had tried to force himself on Eldra, but sadly, it appeared the unfortunate girl was not as lucky as Eldra had been.
The girl having been unable to escape Johnas violent assault, the proof which was evident from the bruised on her face.
Rage flooded through Vincent at the thought of what she must have endured at Johnas's hands and he thanked the Old Gods that Eldra had been spared that fate at least.
Vincent listened for so long to the tedious conversations from the men surrounding him that he was beginning to feel vexed.
The banal talk was proving to be of no earthly value to him in his quest for information about Johnas's plans for Eldra.
He had begun to rise from his seat when, without warning the tav-ern's door was pushed inward with such force that he nearly toppled over his untouched glass.
The explosive crash rang loudly around the room, the force behind the thrust nearly ripping the door from its fame.
An impossibly tall, and powerfully muscled man entered the tavern, ducking his misshapen head as he moved past the entrance, where he was quickly followed by another, much smaller man who was concealed in the shadow that the massive man cast over him as his frame filled the tavern's doorway.
The giant of a man stepped to the side just far enough to let Johnas past, and Vincent growled deeply within his throat upon seeing him.
Johnas stepped into the lantern lit tavern, plucking fussily at his clothing with his hands, before gazing out onto the sea of faces before him.
The startled men had abruptly stopped talking when the massive man had burst through the doors into the room, and now they turned their attention to rotund man as he began to speak.
"Welcome, gentlemen!" Johnas boomed, spreading his arms as if he were to embrace them all, his voice reaching into the furthest corners of the room.
"It is heartening to see such a crowd gathered to hear what I have to say. Pray, please gentlemen rise, and make your way to the room at the back of the tavern that Robert has so kindly provided for us."
Johnas flapped his arms at the men, looking like a Goose Herd trying to drive a flock of unruly geese back to their pen.
The men reluctantly began to rise, sour looks upon their faces, as they reluctantly abandoned their drinks.
The legs of their chairs scraping across the oaken floorboards, leaving deep wounds in the wood.
Vincent rose, blending into the ranks of men moving grudgingly towards the private room at the back of the tavern.
Once inside Vincent sought out a distant corner of the over crowded space.
He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his head tilted down, and his body leaning casually against the corner of the wall.
He waited for the men around him to find their places so that Johnas, who stood at the front of the room, could begin to speak.
Some of the men jostled uncomfortably for position in the crowd of bodies, scanning around the room in searching of their drinking companions.
Vincent could see Johnas clearly from his vantage point in the corner at the back of the room.
Where he stood flanked by the massive man.
The giants muscles straining beneath his shirt, his sloping brow, flat nose, deep set eyes and almost none existent chin making him look like an ogre from a fairy story.
"I want to thank all of you for coming." Johnas began, his commanding voice carrying over the heads of the men assembled as droplets of sweat began to break out on across his forehead from the heat generated by the crush of the bodies in the small room.
"Mathew here," he paused, gesturing to the massive man next to him, before continuing. "Mathew has informed me that the witch's chain has been nearly completed, and will be delivered to my door three days hence"
Vincent's body jerked to attention, elbowing the bearded man who stood closest to him.
The man's head swiveled in Vincent's direction, giving him a deep scowl, before turning his attention back to Johnas.
Vincent pulled the hood lower over his face to conceal it, before moving as far away from the man as he could manage in the tightly packed space. "I have gathered all of you good gentlemen here tonight to ask that we make haste to begin searching the forest for the witch as soon as the chain has been delivered into my possession. Anyone who is willing I beg you, please raise your hand." Johnas's face scanned around the room.
The men shifted nervously under his searching gaze, glancing around the room none wishing to be the first to raise his hand.
"Come now gentleman." Johnas cajoled. " Surely there are some brave men amongst you who will step forward to join Mathew, and myself in our search?" Johnas's eyes began to darken as his ire rose.
"Have you forgotten what happened to the children? How the witch cursed them with the strangling death?" Johnas's voice rose ever higher.
If he could not bend these weak men to his will the bitch, Eldra would get away!
His eyes darkened ever more as he spoke.
"Damn you all! You cowards! Have you no spines?! Is there not a man amongst you, that will assist me in my quest to rid our province of this meddlesome witch?!" he roared.
The gathered men hesitated for a moment, then one by one they reluctantly began to raise their hands, shame evident on their faces. No man could stomach being called a coward in front of his friends. "Good! Good! That's more like it!" Johnas exclaimed, smiling at the gathered crowd.
"Come then, let us withdraw from this overly hot room, and return to the tavern proper. Where I shall buy you all a drink!" Johnas cried triumphantly.
Those gathered cheered loudly and began to move to exit the room, pushing their way roughly through the narrow doorway, nearly causing serious injury to any who had rushed to escape the stiflingly hot room ahead of the rest.
Vincent hung back. His eyes burning crimson with pure rage beneath the hood as he glared at Johnas, who still stood at the front of the room.
He resolved to kill Johnas that very night, rather than let him get his filthy hands on Eldra ever again.
As the room began to empty Johnas made his way towards the exit, Mathew following close behind him.
The large man had to turn sideways to get through the small opening. Vincent dislodged himself from the corner where he had been leaning and attempted to close the distance between Johnas and himself, but Mathew blocked his way.
As they made their way out into the tavern's main bar area, the village men crowded around Johnas at the bar making it impossible for Vincent to draw near enough to tear out Johnas's throat.
With a growing sense of frustration, Vincent slid back into the chair where he had been sitting in the shadow before the giant of a man had entered the room.
And as he sat he started to formulate a plan of how he might catch, and kill Johnas.
* * *
The clock in the tower across the square began toll in the distance, marking off the hours as Vincent sat seething, his eyes boring into the back of Johnas's head.
The rotund man remained at the bar flanked by the giant, while the others drifted around him.
As the clock toll again Vincent realized the hour was growing late, and he had promised Eldra that he would visit to her cottage on the outskirts of the village, to retrieve some of her things before returning to her.
Grudgingly Vincent rose from where he sat, moving unnoticed across the room, before turning back one final time casting a scowl in Johnas's direction, before stepping out into the moonlit night, and as he did, he made a promise to himself that he would return to kill Johnas before the week was out.
* * *
Finding Eldra's darkened cottage, Vincent moved quickly to collect the items she had requested.
He lingered over her dresses inhaling deeply of the lavender scent of her that lingered on her clothing, he then pulled a few of the garments from where they hung neatly, on the pegs in her armoire.
Once he had gathered everything that was precious to her, and placed them into an empty flour sack that he had found in the kitchen, Vincent slipped unseen from the cottages interior, mingling with the long shadows that stretched across the muddy road running before it.
He moved quickly as he made his way through the field towards the forest, then slipped amongst the trees and into the moon dappled darkness beyond.
He pondered over just how much of what he had discovered of Johnas's plans, in the stifling back room of the tavern he should tell her as he picked his way through the fallen leaves at his feet, and around the downed branches of the ghostly birch trees that encircled him.
He decided he would tell her only enough of what he had learned to convince her that she should leave this place with him.
He would get her someplace safe, and then would return just long enough to kill Johnas.
He relished the thought of sinking his teeth into Johnas fat throat and then tearing him limb from limb, bathing himself in Johnas's rich red blood.
Vincent's eyes blazed crimson in the blackness at the thought.
* * *
Eldra lay beneath the furs sleep refusing to come, as she waited for Vincent to return.
The bed felt empty, and she longed for the weight of him beside her, his arms wrapped around her holding her tenderly.
The feel of his hands as they explored her body, coaxing every pleasure from her flesh, making her cry out in ecstasy.
Eldra could feel a flicker of fire beginning to build in her center, at the thought his powerful body above her.
She called his image fully into her mind.
The wild mass of dark curls brushing his shoulders, the angular jaw line, sharp as a knife's blade.
His pale silver-blue eyes, that seemed to see into her soul, and the soft feel of his lips on hers.
With a shudder of longing, she reached her hands beneath the furs, searching for the place between her legs where he had spent so many hours bringing her desire to life with his mouth, his hands, and his member gliding deep inside her.
She parted the tender flesh reveling in the wetness she found there as she began to stroke herself lightly.
Moving slowly at first, then quickening her pace as her fervor intensified. She could feel herself rushing closer to the edge of release, a soft moan escaping from between her lips.
Her movements became more fevered, more urgent, and as she reached her climax her body spasmed beneath the furs.
The heat in her loins burned brightly for awhile, and then slowly subsided. She lay beneath the furs feeling the warmth of them surrounding her, and smiled to herself.
After a time sleep took her into its embrace, pulling her into a dream filled slumber of Vincent beside her, his hands and mouth exploring her body, bringing her to sweet release once more.
* * *
Vincent returned before dawn and placed Eldra's belonging onto the table before removing his boots clumsily, as he made his way to the bed where Eldra lay sleeping.
He silently removed his clothing and slipping beneath the furs beside her sleeping form. He then pulled her into his arms clasping her closely against his naked body and letting her warmth sink into him.
Vincent decided not to wake her, there would be ample time when she awoke to discuss his plans.
For now all Vincent wanted was to hold her warming flesh against him while she slumbered peacefully in his arms.
He knew that with Johnas coming for her soon, their time together was growing short, and this maybe the last good sleep that either one of them would have for a very long time.
* * *
Eldra awoke to find Vincent beside her as sunlight crept in through the open door, chasing away the darkness from the corners of the room for the first time since she had arrived.
Propping herself on one elbow, she gazed loving down on Vin-cent's face as he slept.
She marveled at the thickness of his eyelashes, she had never seen such thick, dark lashes on another.
And she loved how the furrows on his brow smoothed as he slept.
Eldra bent to kiss his forehead as he had so tenderly kissed hers before leaving the previous evening when she was suddenly seized by Vin-cent's strong arms as they enveloped her body, pulling her to him.
"What do you think you are doing, my little raven," he growled softly, burying his face against her neck, and kissing her along the line of her jaw.
She giggled, and squirming to push him away.
"I want to know what you discovered, on your trip into the village?" She demanded.
His visage darkened for a moment before he shifted her body beneath his own, and began to kiss along her neck again.
"Later." He purred against her throat.
"First woman, come let me show you how much I have missed you while I was away."
Vincent kissed his way down Eldra's body finding the place between her legs already wet, and waiting for him.
He could scent her desire as he plunged his face between the tender flesh he found there.
He explored her depths with his tongue, sucking at her nectar with his greedy mouth.
A powerful moan escaped Eldra as he continued his exploration of her with his tongue.
"Please stop, she moaned." Trapping his head tightly with her thighs.
"I want you inside me," she breathed, huskily.
Vincent moved over her positioning his member between the place his mouth had been, and when he thrust into her, Eldra grabbed the furs in her hands writhing on the mattress, as she cried out in ecstasy.
Vincent movements increased as his thrusts growing more ardent.
Eldra's breath became ragged as Vincent propelled her towards the edge of release.
When he ceased his movements, Eldra arched beneath him, thrusting her hips upwards towards to meet his.
He withdrew himself from her velvet depths, then using his powerful hands he flip her onto her stomach.
"Let me show you another pleasure, little raven." Vincent groaned, lustily. Positioning himself behind her, he raising her hips to his.
This time as Vincent entered her, she cried out with surprise, feeling him plunge more deeply inside her than he had ever been before.
Vincent moved slowly at first, steadying himself with a hand against the small of her back, then his pace quickened, his movements driving deeper as his passion rose.
They rushed towards the edge of the cliff together, with a few more deep thrusts of Vincent's manhood into the tender flesh between El-dra's thighs, they crashed over the edge of the cliff and down into the abyss, crying out in ecstasy.
Vincent collapsed onto the bed, drawing Eldra close to his body, as their flesh shuddered from the depth of their shared release.
* * *
After a while they rose, Vincent slipping into the garments he had worn the previous night, while Eldra moved to the bag Vincent had brought for her.
She emptied its contents onto the table, lifting random objects before her, and inspecting them for damage.
"It looks like everything from my list is here," she said, before picking out a deep purple dress with delicate embroidery at the neckline, that Vincent had brought from amongst the few dresses she owned.
She pulled it over her head, letting the skirts fall to the floor, then she nimbly laced the dress up its back, wrapping the ribbons around her waist, and finishing by tying then into a neat bow at her curvy waist.
"That will have to do," she remarked, turning this way and that, while looking down at herself.
"It would fit better if I were wearing my underclothing, and shift, but that can't be helped," she said.
Vincent was transfixed by her transformation.
It was the first time he had seen her in a dress that was not marked with mud, or torn at the bodice.
He moved closer, taking her hand in his, and spinning her around, before catching her in his arms, as she smiled broadly.
"I think that dress looks most becoming on you. I knew it would the minute I spotted it hanging in your armoire at the cottage," he remarked. Eldra glanced back down at the deep purple color of the dress once more before reaching up, and bestowing a quick kiss to Vincent's cheek.
"Why thank you, kind sir," she said, as she curtsied, dipping low, and then rose with a flourish of her arms.
"Bravo my dear." Vincent remarked as he clapped his hands in approval. Eldra, and Vincent both laughed.
"A true lady if I ever saw one." Vincent remarked.
A sudden look of sadness passing clouded his face, as he sat down heavily in the wooden chair.
Eldra rushed to his side.
"What is wrong, my dark lover?" Eldra asked, A note of concern shadowing her voice as she gazed down on Vincent seated in the chair.
"It's nothing, my Little Raven. I was just thinking that if I had met you before I became as I am now. I may not have been so fool hardy as to enter the Villa on the abandoned estate. Of how we could have had a long, and happy life together, blessed with many children, and perhaps even grand children," he said, with a tinge of sadness to his voice.
Eldra reached down towards Vincent, lifting his face up to meet her own.
"No, my dark love. I would not exchange what we have together now for anything else in the world," she said.
"I am yours, and you are mine, and that is all that matters. Not some might have been." She held his face in her hands, then kissed him on his cheeks brushing away his blood-stained tears as she would have their own child, if they could have had one.
Vincent rose, retrieving the other chair from where it sat by the empty hearth.
He took Eldra by her shoulders guiding her to it, gesturing for her to sit.
"I fear the time has come to talk of many things, my little raven, my only love," he said tenderly, before returning to his chair.
Eldra could feel the despair radiating from his body as he began to speak.
* * *
"When I traveled to the village last evening, I found myself in the area of the bawdy houses by the docks. While there I spied a young girl with flame red hair, whom I Later discovered had been raped by Johnas when she worked at The Wolf And Lamb. I could scent Johnas strongly on the girl from where she stood, talking to a sailor, in the entrance of the bawdy house. His scent on her was so overpowering I could perceive it from where I passed, some fifty yards away. She also had a fading bruise upon her cheek, that she had tried to conceal with a heavy application of powder and rouge. I am positive Johnas had put it there, when he struck her for resisting him, no doubt!" Vincent spat.
The bloodlust once again rising in his belly.
"Not knowing where Johnas resided, I found myself at the Tavern, thinking perhaps I might hear some talk of Johnas's plans from the men drinking there, or at least to give some hint as to where his house was located," he sighed and continued. "Gathering no useful information from the drunken men at the tavern, I was just about to leave, when Johnas entered the tavern with a giant of a man, he called Mathew. I believe the man was paid to act as body guard for him. Johnas had come to speak to the men in the tavern, to 'reveal his plans' as he put it. He spoke of a witch's chain, whatever that may be?" Here Vincent lifted Eldra's hands with his own.
"Johnas also spoke of his plans to begin searching the forest for you my love, only three days hence." Vincent finished.
He took a long breath, holding Eldra's gaze to his own.
"You must leave, my dearest love, before they start searching for you. If they should discover you here, I do not know that I could protect you from so many men. I will take you over the mountains, back to the village from where you came, before they begin their search."
Eldra started to object, but Vincent stopped her, pressing his fingers to her lips.
"Then I will return once you are safely away, to deal with Johnas." His eyes flashed red, causing Eldra to pull back in alarm.
They sat in silence for a few moments, then Eldra spoke.
"No," she said flatly. "I will not run. We will face whatever comes together, or not at all," she stated emphatically.
"We will stand or fall together and that is final!"
Eldra rose from her seat, moving quickly out the open door.
Vincent followed her outside, finder her standing with her face turned up to the late afternoon sun, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.
He placed his hands gently on her shoulders, turning her around to face him.
Eldra shrugged his hands away.
"Please, Eldra." Vincent begged. "Listen to reason. The man, Mathew is massive, if he comes for you while I am distracted with the others, I may not be able to protect you in the heat of the battle that will come"
"Then we must make sure that does not happen." Eldra replied, stubbornly.