"So you got me a prisoner to keep an eye on? That old wind-up toy looks like trouble. Keeping watch on him will take some effort, but if we really can lure the psionic overlord of the Tower of Rings into a trap, the job will be worth it!
But what's going on with Mirian?
Did you really give her a bottle of source blood?
Why are you so generous with it? We don't have much source blood left, and we still have to transform those three thousand people. We'll use up nearly all of it this time. If we want more, we'll have to wait until next May, when the Holy Blood Procession begins!
And with the Black Calamity in this state, there's no guarantee that Lord Payn will have time to organize that ancient ritual next May. If it gets postponed, rebuilding the Blood Vultures will become even harder."
As the crimson teleportation spell pulsed, Triss and Murphy appeared fully armed outside the deathly silent city of Xike, with Triss chattering away. She was clearly unhappy with Murphy for being "so generous."
She looked ready to grab him by the ears and give him a scolding.
Of course, Triss considered Mirian one of their own, and she didn't truly think giving her source blood was a waste. The problem was that Murphy was far too generous to his friends.
She lowered her voice.
"A small bottle of source blood, diluted, would be enough for Mirian to make thirty vampires. If she drank it herself, she might even become an exceptionally gifted vampire lady.
Tell me honestly: had you already planned to do this?
You say you respect Mirian's personal choice, but as her reputation in Transia grows, there's no way you'd really let her die as a human,