'And I thought: those bones have worshipped Her, too, but all in silence. They have worshipped my silver mistress, whose light has shone on them through all the centuries! And remembering this flute - or Szgany toy, if you insist,' (he scowled at Gorvi), '- I knew what I must do. And I have started!
'In my house are many windows facing north, the Icelands, and the cold winds that blow. I shall build baffles there, in the central level, to gather the winds within my manse! There, too, I shall build my instrument.' He looked at the bone flute where Gorvi had put
it down. 'For if a mere "toy" such as this, in combination with lungs such as mine, can make music fit for the ears of men ... how then a mighty orchestra of bones, and the lungs of the very wind itself? So shall I worship Her on high, while Wrathstack thunders to the songs of the long dead and forgotten!' He fell quiet and glared all about the table.
Gorvi nodded and put the flute down, and murmured wrily, 'Fit for the ears of men, aye ...'
'What?' Canker had heard him. His ears were sensitive to a fault.
But Gorvi only shrugged. 'I was merely ... savouring the phrase? Your appreciation of music goes deeper than we had suspected, Canker.'
The other sat back again, loosely in his chair, and likewise shrugged. 'It's a means to an end, that's all: to lure my silver mistress from the sky, and make Her my mistress proper.' He held up a cautionary, protesting hand. 'No, no! Not the moon itself, but the one who dwells there, who ... who calls to me.' He saw the looks that passed between them, gave himself a shake and sat up straighter.
Then too, as if for the first time, he noticed Nestor and Gore Sucksthrall. 'But what's this? Do common thralls and lieutenants attend your reception, Wran?' And turning his head the other way: 'Do you sup with servants, Wratha? Or is it perhaps that they're the main course?' And he leered at Nestor.
Wran said, 'Canker, you are plainly exhausted. Gore Sucksthrall here is a lieutenant, sure enough, but Nestor? This one has ascended: he has an egg. Indeed, he has Vasagi's egg, for the Suck has no more use for it! But I'm surprised you didn't sniff it out for yourself.'
'Ahhh! The vampire egg of Vasagi? This boy?' Canker leaned closer to Nestor and sniffed cautiously, as if at suspect meat. But in a moment: 'Yes, I see you're right!'
'And now if you'll hear me out, I'll tell all,' said Wran.
The others were all ears, except Nestor himself. He knew the tale well enough and could afford to let his attention wander a little. It didn't wander too far, however, for diagonally across the table, Gore Sucksthrall was glaring pure poison at him from furious, blazing eyes!
III
Lord Nestor of the Wamphyri
Wran kept it short: