Chapter 3

Tyler worked in a dark, dingy bar in a port town. Customers smelled like their day's catch and salt. For most of the day he stayed in the bar or his small, meager room. Vampires like him weren't fond of the sun.

Halter loved its gossip. At night the pale vampire loaded ships. The sailors discussed the kidnapping. "King and queen reported they were goblins. That the case prob'ly ay witch 'hind the scenes commandin' em," a gruff grey bearded pirate said in an odd accent.

"I heard they's willing to pay his weight in gold," another sailor said.

An idea popped into his head. "So you'd say they'd give, just about anything?" he asked, careful not to betray emotion.

"Prob'ly, but we ain't no soldiers," the pirate said with a chuckle. Maybe, but he was stronger and faster by his own power than an army.

He made sure his boss was asleep before packing up. Tyler's possessions were a small sack of money, a sword, and spare clothes. The sheathed sword being hidden under a dark, frayed cloak. If he was lucky, he could get inside before the sun came up.