From: hutch@ibeam.intel.com (Steve Hutchison)
Subject: Kadrys: The vamp who came in from the cold...
Organization: Intel Corp., Hillsboro, Oregon
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 05:11:07 GMT

[ADMIN]
This is posted for Andrea Evans, except that I added on a bit at the
end of it.

===

Near the fireplace, the warm golden light gleamed on the wooden tabletop,
smoothed with use and polished with care. Etched into its surface was the
charcoaled outline of a chessboard, with only seven squares on a side. The
flickering firelight illumined the two men seated at the table: a genially
smiling man, who by his sunny hair and deeply bronzed skin had seen much of the
open air, and a truly mountainous warrior whose red hair, occasional strands
braided in the manner of the northern Ursu people, seemed almost to brush the
rafters. The two were leaning at their ease over the table, emptied plates and
full mugs before them. The massive redhead was craning his neck downward a
little, as they talked quietly together with the assurance of old friends.

The light that illumined the two men left much else in the Inn in shadow.
But that was as it always had been. Indeed, the Inn was famous as much for its
multitude of dark corners as for its clientele. But it was not out of those
corners that the man came, although he was dressed precisely the same as any
one of the Inn's lurkers: all in black, including a black cloak. He sauntered
silently toward the table from the direction of the bar, though no-one, not
even the inevitable knot of barflies, regulars, and Rabble, could recall seeing
him arrive there. He nodded amiably at 'Raelf, and eyed the warrior with
interest. Seated as the fighter was, he was on a more comfortable level for
such appraisal than usual. Beside his immensely muscled form, the new arrival
looked by comparison like a stripling, a tousle-haired youth. "'Raelf..." he
smiled in greeting, before facing the looming figure of the warrior again,
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your ..." (Here he moved his eyes
exaggeratedly up and up the redhead's towering torso) "... umm, ladylove?"
Kadrys' eyes glinted with rare, amused happiness, and he grinned like an imp.

---

'Raelf was in mid-swig, of course.  He choked, then flickered briefly with
a blue cast into Water and back, breathing beer could be painful.

"Whew.  Kadrys.  This is ar'Elya, and I never said ladylove.  Lifemate yes,
and usually not in full party-dude outfit.  Ray, this is Kadrys."

"Hey.  Goodtameetcha," the big man grinned affably and reached a massive
paw out to Kadrys, whose cold pale hand was almost lost inside.  The
vampire returned the grip with careful strength.  A pulse of heat seemed
to look inside him, and the vampire caught his own reflection in the green
eyes.  He suppressed a startle.

"Likewise.  Should I call you ar'Elya?"

"Yah.  Means `reflecting stone' in 'kan."

"Really?  What does 'Raelf mean?"

The giant warrior grinned.  "Means `jellicle cat'."

'Raelf howled.  "Does not, does not.  `curious wanderer' isn't the same."

The redhead simply swigged down half a pitcher of beer in reply, as
Kadrys watched, laughing quietly.

The blond man changed the subject.  "So what does `Kadrys' mean?"

The vampire shrugged, smiling.  "As far as I know, it has no meaning in
any language.  It is simply my name."

Mary walked up, bearing another two pitchers of Catamount Porter, and smiled
at Kadrys.  "Your usual, I suppose?"

"I'm afraid so," Kadrys replied, "I still have very circumscribed tastes."

She sighed.  "Well, you always tip well anyway."

"Hey, could be worse," 'Raelf smiled.  "Could be like the Black Drag On In,
on the otherside in Ak Ir'neg.  Got a minute or two, I'll tell you the story."

Mary considered, then sat down.  "Just a minute, then I'm back to work."

The story began.