He turned and stalked away, leaving the shocked and terrified mayor gaping at his back, and as soon as he had cleared the roofed porch he took to the air. He calmed down a little as he soared across the small town. After only a minute or so he landed in front of another, much more modest house. He knocked on the door somewhat more sedately this time. The man who answered it was also middle-aged, and a bit portly, but that was all that he and the mayor had in common. He was balding, and looked a little bit tired, but he smiled to see Aidan. "The letter reached you then."

Aidan nodded. "Yes. I came as fast as I can. But I've already talked to the mayor, and he refuses to even tell me what they've done with him."

Brandon shook his head. "Come in. No reason to let the whole street hear us talking."

Aidan stepped inside. Brandon dropped down onto a chair in the front room. Aidan perched on the edge of another chair. "What happened?"

Brandon sighed. "You know how seriously Shauna took her duty. There was a gnoll raid over in Balford. They were mounting an expedition to find their camp and drive them off. She felt that they might threaten Stonewood too, so she insisted on being a part of it. They did drive the gnolls off, but there were more of them than anybody had expected and the group suffered heavy losses. Shauna was among them."

Aidan sighed. He had almost not believed it. But it was true. She was gone. "I'll miss her," he said softly.

"As will I."

"What about Damien then?"

"This was about a week ago," said Brandon. "I took Damien here for the first few days. I was trying to figure out how to get word to you, but then the council turned up. They said that as an orphan he was a ward of the town, and that for his own good he needed to be sent away. I argued as best I could, but they wouldn't back down. I told them that he wasn't an orphan and that his father would come take care of him, but they..." he trailed off. "Well, if you spoke with the mayor you probably know what they thought of that. Never mind that you've been coming here for years and never harmed a soul. Never mind that you've been the best father you possibly could be to the boy, you're a vampire, so they have to save him from your evil clutches. Or something."

Aidan nodded.

"Damien said he wanted to write you, to let you know so you could come get him before they took him away. I figured that was the most I could do. I knew an elven mage who owed me a favor from way back, and they take that kind of thing fairly seriously. So I gave him the letter, and I guess it worked out."

"Yes. So far at least. Where is he now?"

"They sent him to Balford. It's larger and apparently there's already an orphanage there. I'm sure they'll have told the people who run it all about you though, so I don't know if they'll just let you take him."

Aidan sighed. "I have to try the legal options first, I think, before getting more creative. So I will go and ask. But no, you're probably right, they won't let me take him."

"What are you going to do?" Brandon looked a bit concerned.

Aidan smiled. "I won't hurt anybody there, if that's what's worrying you. I'm angry, yes, but scaring the mayor half to death is as much as I want to do about that, really. Tempting as beating in a few heads would be, it wouldn't do what's left of my reputation any good. But long before I was a vampire, I was a thief. I've stolen many odd things in my time. I think I can steal back my son."

Brandon smiled. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Aidan shook his head. "Honestly for your sake it's probably best to forget you ever knew me. Some people are not going to be happy at all about this, and I don't want you to get into trouble for it."

"Ah, they can't do much to me. I've been a woodsman all my life. If I have to go back to the forest, I won't mind. I'll go stay with my elven friend for a while, perhaps."

"I need to go," said Aidan, getting to his feet.

Brandon rose also. "Do you know the way to Balford?"

Aidan nodded. "Yes. And thank you."

"The least I could do, for Shauna's sake. I know she'd want him to be with you."