Annan was the last to return to Camp, and all eyes turned to him.
Annan ignored them—he hadn't found anything anyway. He put Lily down and let her return to the tent on her own, then headed to the still-quiet Tavern. He chose a glass of Fruit Juice, sat in a corner, and prepared to listen to the Gold Diggers brag.
"Champion, I'll head back first." Fulas hurried out of the Tavern, probably to tell the Camp Chief.
Annan didn't mind. The Gold Diggers had arrived.
They began showing off what they had found in Sorlen Heights. Some discoveries sounded almost legendary: jewels hidden in a latrine, a treasure map the Ratfolk had discarded because they couldn't read it, an entire wardrobe full of women's nightgowns—
Wherever Ratfolk ran rampant, they left no food or anything that looked like a weapon behind. That was how the Ratfolk in a Rat Tide ended up carrying such a jumble of things.
Women in skimpy clothes solicited customers in the none-too-warm Tavern, leaving with one Gold Digger after another before returning a few minutes later.
They cast flirtatious glances at Annan, their manner heavy with seduction. But the boy showed no interest in them. They would have paid him if that was what it took.
That night, as Annan was preparing to return to his tent, the blonde woman entered the Tavern and settled gracefully into the seat across from him.
"You haven't left yet?" Annan looked over her outfit, which resembled an Old Nobility ensemble, and said approvingly, "You really do look like a vampire..."
"You like vampires?" she asked, resting her chin on her hand.
"I'm just curious what a real vampire is like."
Wood didn't count. The only difference between him and a human was that humans ate everything, while