Fen turned toward the stunned farmer. The man stood there with his mouth slightly open, curved in a half smile, clearly totally shocked and awed. He flashed Fen a quick grin.
"I know I will have to go to my grave with this memory secret, but I thank you for the experience."
Bardolf and Abel had both seen the farmer. They might very well decide to attack and kill him, just to get back at Fen. At the very least, they would send members of the pack to kill his livestock as well as his family. Ordinarily there were few humans left with the knowledge of the Carpathian people, even there in the Carpathian Mountains.
"These vampires are extremely dangerous. They run with a pack of rogue werewolves they control. You and your family will be targeted. Is there a possibility of taking your family to safety and perhaps a neighbor would take your livestock?"
The farmer looked scared, but he shook his head. "I can send my wife and children to her mother's, but I'll have to run the farm myself. If I lose my livestock, or leave, we'll lose everything." He swept his arms out. "This is all we have. A man takes care of his family."
Fen sighed. He could see the farmer's point, but he wouldn't be taking care of his family if they were all dead. "Send them away tonight. Pack light and tell them not to return until you send for them. Forgive me, but in order to safeguard you as much as possible, I will have to take your blood, and give you a very small amount of mine. You will be able to reach me in an emergency. Even if I am too far away, I can send aid to you. The choice is yours."
If the farmer refused, Fen would have to allow him to be on his own. He would have no choice but to remove his memory of Fen's visit, which would make him ten times more vulnerable.
The farmer bowed formally a second time, this time with a deeper bow. "It would be an honor." He paused. "Does it hurt?"
Fen shook his head. "You won't feel anything at all."
The farmer stepped close, shotgun in his hands, exposing his throat. Fen gently removed the shotgun just as a precaution. He slipped into the man's mind. Costin Eliade had grown up on a farm as had his father before him. He was a good man, worked hard, was devoted to his wife and family. He was frightened, but hiding it well, determined to do whatever it took to protect his family and farm.
Fen was both careful and respectful in the taking of the farmer's blood. He took enough to feed and then soothed the man's anxiety, keeping him from being aware as Fen gave him a small amount of his own blood. Any time he reached out to Costin, he would know where the farmer was, what he was thinking or doing. He would know the instant there was betrayal-or trouble. He put a strong barrier in his mind, a warning that if he tried to give up the information about the incident to anyone-including his wife-he would be forever on his own.
Costin's intentions were admirable and he seemed a very honest man. Fen could find no hint of duplicity in his mind whatsoever. He meant to keep the Carpathian's secrets. Fen made certain there was no evidence on the man or his clothes that blood had been taken before stepping away, although one hand remained on the farmer to steady him. Perhaps he'd taken a little more blood than necessary, because he had both Tatijana and Dimitri to provide for.
"Get your family out of here tonight. I'll send aid to watch over your farm, both day and night until we locate and destroy the rogue pack and vampires. The moment that deed is done, I'll let you know," Fen assured the farmer.
The wind came in from the north, blowing with it a heavy fog. Gregori strode out of the dense mist, his shoulders wide, his silver eyes blazing. His sharp glance went from the farmer to the blackened ground and then to Fen. He raised a single eyebrow.
Fen managed to stop his grin just before it emerged. Of course Gregori would be suspicious of him. He was a stranger and with him had come two Sange rau and a rogue werewolf pack. Gregori didn't want those enemies anywhere near the prince. No matter how severe his wounds, he wouldn't trust his prince's safety to anyone else.
Clearly Gregori was already scanning the farmer's mind. He found the data needed and how Fen had destroyed the sliver of evil Bardolf and Abel had used to gain information. It was far easier and much more polite to pull the information from the farmer's mind. He wasn't questioning Fen or demanding why he would break a very hard rule, leaving memories of the Carpathian people in Costin Eliade.
He held out his hand to the farmer. "I'm Gregori. I understand you may need a little help protecting your farm."
Costin nodded. "Very much so. They sent a familiar, and he killed it." He gestured toward Fen.
"You'll need protection during the day as well," Fen said. "Rogue packs can be out in the sun. They'll usually come at you at dusk or dawn, but in this case, the alpha will send them in during the part of the day our people are unable to protect you."
"We've got a few people who can aid you," Gregori assured.
They can never, under any circumstances, be here if the Sange rau show up. The combination of vampire and wolf is powerful beyond belief, and killing them is extremely hard. Fen sent the information on the common Carpathian mental path.
Gregori didn't look at him or give it away they were in communication. I am certain you will be coming this rising to give us the information we need to destroy these vampires of mixed blood.
"I would be most grateful for anyone you can send," Costin admitted.
"At night, you will be protected by a couple of us, but your real danger is during the day," Fen said. "Should you have need, reach for me. Use your mind, even if you have to use your fear. I will hear you."
Gregori turned slashing silver eyes on Fen. You can walk in the sunlight? There was no mistaking the edge of alarm in his voice. He didn't exactly try to cover it up.
Fen barely inclined his head. If necessary, although it is not easy. He was not giving out any more information until Gregori shared more data with him. He turned to leave.
"Are you returning with me?" Gregori asked aloud.
Fen shook his head. "I need to attend my brother. He isn't doing as well as I would like. In the first battle, he and Zev fought off the rogues in order to allow me to get to the Sange rau. His belly was ripped open, his wounds severe."
Immediately he felt Gregori's sympathy as the Carpathian fell into step with him. "Do you have need of a healer?"
"I don't know yet. Allow me to examine him. Should I need your aid, I will call." Fen was reluctant to disclose Dimitri and Tatijana's resting place to anyone.
Gregori nodded. "I will tell Mikhail to expect you, unless, of course, you call for my aid."