“I, Grady Cole and my twin brother, Markus Cole, will volunteer ourselves to go to the other tribes and ask them for a meeting!”
“No!” Tabatha and Ada said at the same time.
“Why not?” Grady asked.
“They might hurt you or even kill you!” Ada retorted.
“And risk the wrath and fury of our father, the leader of the most powerful vampire tribe? I don’t think so!” Grady stated passionately.
Clayton went to Ada and wrapped his hands around her ample waist. “Their idea does hold sway with me, Ada,” Clayton whispered.
“But what if something happened to them, Clayton? I could never live with myself!”
“Nothing is going to happen to them! I know their tribe leaders, Sol the mediator, and Maryl Rosser, the seeker.”
“Yes, but are they trustworthy?” Ada asked as she looked at the man she knew so well and adored.
Clayton pondered for a moment. “Put it this way, Sol and Maryl will need our help if King George should go after them too.”
“But we may be dead by then!” Ada said with fear. “If King George went after Sol and Maryl first, they would tell the King of more powerful tribes of vampires. They could conspire with King George the second!”
“That would never happen. We own the farmland, and they don’t. And both Maryl and Sol dislike humans.” He looked around for a second. “Enough talk. I want this put to a vote right now! Who here favor my sons Markus and Grady to contact the other rulers and ask them to meet at a neutral location to discuss a peace treaty to thwart King George the second?”
All hands rose except Tabatha, Clayton’s mother, and Ada.
Clayton looked at his two favorite females. “The council has spoken. And remember, Beatrice and Milas, your two younger children, also voted in favor, mother.”
“Both of my children are weak. They will abide by anything you say or do, Clayton!” Tabatha spat.
“Mother, how are they to grow strong without encouragement? How are they to learn battle skills and mental preparation by staying here in the safety net of our tribes?”
“I am only concerned with their welfare, Clayton,” Tabatha said wearily.
“As I am, mother, but they will have to grow up sooner or later. Both are close to two hundred and fifty years old and never have been in a skirmish or a large-scale battle.”
“You are the head of the council. You make the call, son.”
Clayton bowed. “Grady! Markus! You may go. Mother, I submit to you. What message would you have your grandchildren say to Sol and Maryl?”
Tabatha’s face tightened in a smile. The fact Clayton had directed her to give the message was twofold. He let her create the narration, which was both a privilege and extraordinarily rare for a council leader to do, but it came at a price. Depending upon the information and how it was worded, it could provoke Sol and Maryl into thinking the message was a sign of weakness.
“I am honored, Clayton,” Tabatha said with uncertainty.
With the council in full session, it put additional pressure on Tabatha. She had to choose her wording wisely.
“Tell the two leaders we want to meet with them, and if they ask why do not tell them. Instead, if asked, tell them you were not told why. Do not put any urgency in your voices. The less said, the better. It might even make them curious enough to come.”
“And if they ask where and when grandmother?” Grady asked with respect.
“In one week where the trees yield and bend to the ground. They will know where the trees are located.”
Grady and Markus bowed.
Tabatha raised her hand in warning. “You will need to feast upon the humans to gain strength. But make sure the humans aren’t discarded where they can be easily seen.”
“Of course, grandmother,” Grady said as he nodded to Markus. They sped off through the crops that dotted the landscape.
“Do you think they will be okay, Clayton?” Tabatha asked with worry.
“They will be fine.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because if they dare lay a hand upon my family, they will suffer greatly, and they know that,” Clayton said as he watched his sons disappear.
Grady put out a hand to stop Markus. They were in a wooded area that was protected by smellers, but not of their tribes. He looked down at a plant.
“Quickly, grab that plant and smear it on your skin!”
“Why? What plant?”
“I know our smell comes from within, but we can mask the scent of the sweet peas a little to confuse them. This particular variety is called Matucana, and it’s very potent.”
“How do you know so much about plants and herbs? You’re a vampire!” Markus said as he quickly grabbed the purple and blue/green leaves and rubbed them against his skin.
“Be quiet, Markus, or you’ll give away our position!”
Markus looked at his brother. “But isn’t that the whole point of this venture? We want them to see us so we can have the dialogue.”
“I would prefer to consume human blood first before speaking with the tribal leaders.”
Markus heard ruffling of the tall grass. He looked up and saw a scouting party of three vampires coming from one direction and three more coming from another direction. “It’s too late for that.”
Grady had heard it too. Both stood up in the field.
The six vampires surrounded them. Even adequately fed, Grady knew there was no way he and Markus would be able to defeat that many.
A tall rugged-looking female vampire spoke first. “And who might you two be?” She sniffed the air. “Rubbing the Matucana plant to hide your sweet-smelling blood? A good tactic for someone about to attack!”
“We come here to deliver a message to Sol the Mediator and Maryl the Seeker,” Markus said hurriedly.
“Then why douse yourself to try to hide your scent?” The tall, rugged vampire inquired with no trace of friendliness.
“We wanted to feed before speaking with your tribal leaders,” Markus blurted out.
“Markus, shut up and let me do the talking!” Grady snarled.
“That can be viewed as an act
