The Anvil (47 page)

He
was
about
to
say
that
when
one
of
them
stepped
out
into
the
sun
.
Obviously
they
didn
'
t
burn
in
the
sun
,
so
he
said
“
Okay
here
is
the
plan
we
stay
within
hearing
distance
of
each
other
but
fan
out
and
watch
the
ground
.”
They
launched
into
the
air
after
the
tall
man
mounted
a
white
horse
with
black
markings
.

He
had
said
he
would
meet
them
when
the
sun
set
,
but
Tom
doubted
a
horse
could
keep
up
with
them
when
they
were
flying
.
They
flew
for
a
few
hours
then
they
landed
and
they
all
ate
,
the
vampires
laughed
at
him
when
he
asked
why
they
were
eating
,
because
in
stories
they
only
drank
blood
to
sustain
themselves
.

“
Blood
is
needed
for
us
to
survive
,
but
those
stories
exaggerate
.
We
must
eat
for
energy
,
could
you
survive
if
there
was
only
blood
in
your
veins
and
nothing
else
was
being
taken
in
?”
one
said
,
making
Tom
feel
foolish
.

The
rest
of
the
day
went
quickly
with
nothing
interesting
happening
.
Surprisingly
the
man
was
waiting
for
them
when
they
landed
.
After
setting
up
the
camp
Tom
spread
out
a
map
on
the
ground
and
started
finding
where
they
were
and
where
the
nearest
town
was
.
It
was
time
he
sent
a
message
to
Alex
.

He
looked
over
his
shoulder
as
he
heard
footsteps
.
The
tall
man
sat
near
him
and
pointed
at
where
they
were
,
then
to
the
nearest
town
“
We
need
to
travel
south
-
west
from
here
.”
He
said
.

Tom
looked
at
him
,
as
far
as
he
could
figure
the
man
was
right
. “
Who
are
you
?
I
saw
you
once
before
,
when
I
was
training
in
the
forest
.
You
helped
me
battle
the
bandits
my
master
created
.”
Tom
asked
,
the
man
sighed
“
You
'
re
right
I
was
there
,
my
name
and
my
official
title
is
Lord
Joshua
of
Grealin
,
commander
of
the
sixth
regiment
,
keeper
of
the
eternal
flame
,
and
high
master
of
fire
.
But
you
can
call
me
Josh
.”
he
answered
.

Tom
'
s
eyes
widened
as
he
said
all
of
his
titles
. “
I
have
never
heard
of
the
eternal
flame
.
What
is
it
?”
Tom
asked
,
Josh
shook
his
head
“
The
eternal
flame
represents
hope
for
humans
,
it
is
at
the
city
Ponticallo
.
As
keeper
of
the
flame
I
must
watch
over
the
greatest
right
hope
of
humans
.
If
the
hope
is
for
something
evil
,
like
conquering
others
,
I
don
'
t
look
after
it
,
but
if
the
hope
is
pure
,
like
repelling
invaders
from
your
country
,
I
watch
over
it
and
help
it
.
That
often
means
looking
out
for
certain
humans
.”
he
answered
.

“
I
haven
'
t
heard
of
the
city
Ponticallo
.
And
you
speak
as
if
you
aren
’
t
human
.”
Tom
paused
for
a
moment
as
he
realized
something
,
Josh
was
very
tall
,
strong
and
surrounded
by
many
other
mysteries
“
You
aren
'
t
human
are
you
?
You
are
an
Immortal
.”
Josh
simply
nodded
“
And
as
you
might
guess
my
horse
isn
'
t
a
normal
horse
.
It
is
a
pegasus
.”
he
added
.

The
next
day
at
about
noon
they
found
the
town
,
Josh
had
stayed
with
them
,
flying
on
his
pegasus
.
The
vampires
went
to
buy
supplies
,
Tom
to
send
a
letter
to
Alex
,
and
Josh
to
send
a
report
to
his
leaders
.
They
met
at
the
inn
later
and
got
some
rooms
.

The
next
day
they
obviously
attracted
many
looks
,
a
group
of
a
teenager
,
an
immortal
,
a
pegasus
,
and
six
vampires
.
Josh
had
uncovered
his
crests
,
which
were
of
immortals
,
that
were
on
his
various
weapons
and
clothes
.
Tom
also
had
the
bronze
dragon
claw
around
his
neck
which
people
only
noticed
if
they
were
close
.